El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-04-10
BELGIUM LOSES
OWN TERRITORY
RETAINS CONGO
African ColonyIs One-fourth
as Large as All Europe
Combined.
HAS AN ARMY OF
1900 NATIVES
- rAsHINGToN D. al. April

~ TASHINGTON d. c., April 10
NJ Describing the Belgian Congo.
the National Geographic So
cietv. in a statement issued today, says;
Although Belgium now controls less
than 800 square miles Of her territory
at home, she is still possessed Of a col
ony one-fourth as large as all Europe
together. It is larger than the com
bined area OF all the countries now
at war, outside Of Russia That colony
II the Belgian Congo, with nearly
million square miles Of territory
In the Heart of Equatorial Africa.
This empire is carved out Of the
heart Of equatorial Africa, and includes
within its confines one OF the worlds
great rivers. the Congo, from which the
colony takes its name. The river has
a course OF about 5000 miles, and, with
its tributaries offers a wonderful sys-
tenn OF communication for opening up
the rich hinterland. It is estimated
that there are 5000 miles Of navigaole
waters in the colony. while the Congo
river is navigable for ocean steamers
for 100 miles upstream here IoLioMs
a section Of 200 miles Of rapids, above
which the river is nayigable Tor 1-VV
miles -.
Of Africa has lust begun. There has
been considerable difficulty IN inducing
European colonists TO emlgrate 10 Lnese
regions and begin new MONIES Hsl,
the Congo has the evil reputation OF
being no fit country for the WhlIe man;
and. secondly. a FEELING has existed
that permanent nome ne -
permanent burial without the paIe OF
civilization Therefore the promoters
of the Congo have mad 70 overcome a
great unwillingness arnong lnelr PsoP-S
10 exchange the comforts and uneer-
tainties Of the motherland for the
questionable advantages OF pioneering
in the Wild dark country Wnlch mas
successfully defied all progress Tor ten
Is Hot But EndurabIe.
Some advance. however, mas Deen
made, and the future or the eoIony
seems to be one Of promise AlJnoug9
the climate is generally not ana
moist, it is supportable oy the
white man The climate Of the coast
lands is least endurable Tor the EURO
peans. over a great part OF TINS Ter
rftory normal temperatures range De
tween 60 and 90 degrees. Rain IS eV-
eryWhere abundant The extreme neat
Of the day is generally renewed Dy
'-The white population Of this land re-
mains still negligible me lOldl POD
ulation has been estimated at 15,UUOOVV,
IN which are counted a mere 5000
whites. The native population Wnlle
overwhelmingly superior IN NUMBERS
has been aWed BY the Wnlte man M M
chine guns railways STEAMBOATS, anu
TELEGRAPH. and forms doclle ETor KING
BODY for the Improvement OF me laIo-
More than 1900 miles OF railway are IN
operation and IN course OF construc-
zion. Further. 1145 nils OF telegraph
communication have been esIaDllshed,
five wireless stations, and some 80 post
offices. Before the war, there was reg
ular Communication with Antwerp, a
steamer from that port calling every
fortnight
Agricultural Possibilities Grent.
"The agricultural possibilities Of the
Congo are great if modern methods Of
sanitation finally open II up 10 the
white man. It's flora is very rich and
varied. Among the products now cul-
tivated in its fields are coffee, cotton
yams, papaTs, pineapples, cassava, corn,
rice, peanuts. beans, bananas, tobacco,
sorghum and kaffir corn It's forests
abound in rubber vines, and the natives
are employed for gathering the rub
Der. which forms the chief article Of the
colony's export. Rich cabinet woods are
plentiful, and many import gums ana
resins are collected
An Of the domestic animals thrive
in this African country The list Of ma
tive animals includes the elephant the
hippopOtsmus. buffalo, antelope, chin
panzee, rhinoceros and crocodile.
Slaughter Of elephants for their ivory
has been prohibited, though the ivory
exports are still heavy, coming chiefly
from native accumulation OF the min
erals. large deposits Of iron. tin and
coal occur. and some rich deposits Of
copper and gold are found in the the
southeast
Has Native Army OF 1900
For many years this territory. as the
Congo Free State, first recognized by
the United States in 1854. maintained a
neutrality-suspicious. under the rule Of
Leopold OF Belgium It was formally
annexed to Belgium in 1910. It has an
annual revenue Of about S8.000.OOO. and
q public debt OF more than $50, 600, 600
The colony is defended by about
$1,000 native troops"