The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1920-04-16
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There are huge areas of country emil
nently suited for grazing, and many Of
the leading authorities are of the opin-
ion that Rhodesia will in the near fu-
ture be one Of the greatest meat-pro-
ducing countries of the empire and the
world. The native cattle are small,
but hardy and fleshy, and satisfac-
tory breed is now being graded up
which preserves the good qualities Of
the native STOCK, while adding the
greater size of the imported bulls.
Great efforts are being made by the
British South Africa company to de-
velop the industry, and extensive ar
rangements are under consideration
for both refrigerating and canning on
large scale.
The staple product of agriculture
proper is "mealies" or maize, for
which there is a large demand among
the natives; but the soil is so prolific
that large variety of other crops can
be grown, according to the region and
altitude selected. Oranges and lem
ons and tobacco, of both the Turkish"
and the "Virginian" varieties are being
grown more and more largely, the Gull
tivation of tobacco, in particular, being
assisted by the British South Africa
company, which provides expert advice
and assistance, as well as curing
sheds and neutrality-suspicious. for
grading and preparing the leaf.
Lac Huar&ar.a CaHn.n
RhOdesia has been unfortunate in
experiencing many setbacks, which
might have discouraged or even
wrecked less courageous community.
The Matabele and Mashona rebellions
were, for time, a dangerous menace
to the country, and were only quelled
at great expense of time and money;
but wise and sympathetic treatment of
the natives have, it is hoped, eliminat-
ed, this menace for the future. The
unfortunate Jameson raid involved
Rhodesia in its consequences, not the
least of which was that, for time at
any rate, 1t was deprived of the wise
counsel and guidance of its founder.
The rinderpest outbreak of 1896
swept away large proportion of the
stock which was the mainstay Of both
settlers and natives; but modern SCI
ence has discovered means of prevent
ing this and similar epidemic diseases
among cattle, so that fears need no
longer be entertained on this head by
the farmer who takes the needed
measures of protection.
Lastly, both the Boer war and the
war with Germany have depleted the
country of large number of its best
men, at a time when they were urgent
ly needed for development. But now
the men have returned, for the most
part, and the material future of Rho
desia is bright one. With abundant
natural resources, fine climate, con-
genial society and most Of the convent
ences Of civilized life, Rhodesia offers
a fine future to those possessed Of
some capital-say, from $1,000 to f5,-
600; for the moment conditions are not
favorable for the settlement Of the
small man without capital. i
The political future is less certain,
but the majority Of the inhabitants,
looking to the advantage of settled
rule, undisturbed by political changes
at home, and backed by the ever-ready
check book of the Chartered company.
seem to prefer, for the present, at any
rate, to remain in statu quo. rather
than to essay the doubtful experiment
of either independent responsible gov
eminent or inclusion in the Union of
South Africa.