The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-01
TRANSPORT BETTER
IN SOUTH AFRICA
Packet Service Meets Weekly
Express and Connects I'm
portant Shipping Centres.

CAPE TowE, South Africa, Oct. T.
Operating in conjunction with the au-
thorities of the Belgian Congo, COM
rnunication has now been established
between the Union of South Africa and
Dar-es-Salaam on the east coast of
Africa. The Belgian steam packet meets
the weekly express from Dar-es-Salaam
at Kigoma and conveys passengers and
goods TO Albertville. Thence the journey
is continued by rail to Kabalo. on the
Lualaba River (the Upper Congo).
At Kahalo passengers and goods are
transferred to river steamers, which
convey them, when the depth of water
permits. via the Lualaba to Kukama,
the present rail head OF the Southern
Congo Railways. From there the Jour
ney liz continued by THIS line and after
ward by the Rhodesian and the South
African Railways via Elisabethville.
Livingstone, MafelSing and Kimberley to
Cape Town. At present this journey
takes almost three weeks. and Ii is.
therefore, no serious rival to the coast
wise shipping.
When the railway is completed be-
tween Kabalo and Bukama the time re-
qujred for the Journey will be con-
siderabiy shortened. It is already highs
significant that It should be possible
10 board train ut Cape Town and
book 20 Dar-es-Salaam, travelling In
comparative comfort through what was
n short time back unknown Central
Africa to a port on the coast a little
south of the Equator.
The TancanNilxa farritarNs 10 ax.qil pff In
regard TO railways. The Central Rail-
way, which runs from Dar-es-Sa-
liam to Lake TanganyllSa. was COM
pleted In the beginning of 1914, and the
military authorities were. therefore, able
to use II during the war. This line has
been disposed of as a working concern
by the British Salvage Commission to
the Civic Administration Of the Protec-
torate.
All the bridges which were destroyed
during the war have been restored. while
the rolling stock and locomotives which
were put out Of commission by enemy
action have been salved and repaired.
Additional rolling stock. which had been
imported from India and South Africa
for the needs OF the campaign, has been
purchased by the Civil Administration,
with the result that a very adequate
service for both passengers and mcr-
chandise extends from coast TO lake.
How far this line will pay for itself Is.
however, questionable. Large portions
OF the plateau around Dodoma. for in
stance, are unfertilc. and other tracts
which are more promising are still TN
used.
To the north runs the Usambara Rail-
way, starting at the port OF Tanga and
proceeding through the richest country
in the territory as far as MOschi. on the
heights OF Mount Kilimanjaro.
just before the war the Germans had
prepared the track and even partially
laid the rails for the continuation OF
thu line from Moschl TO Arusha which
is another valuable portion of the rich
usam5ara district. This extension, how
ever, has never been completed. The
rails that We're lid were taken up and
used for tho construc, on of the military
railway between Moschi and Vol. via
Taveta. This line was laid compare
lively early IN the campaign and Is still
In existence. 1t connects the Usambara
line with the Uganda Railway by cross
Ing the practically waterless Serengetti
Plains Now that TanganyiSa has come
under the British mandate the value OF
this connecting line can hardly be over
estimated.
In addition to these lines the Germans
had projected the construction OF rail-
way to run from Kllwa 10 Wiedhafen,
on Lake Nyasa. The territory has been
surveyed. but no work has been started.
Il IL considered advisable to delay tho
construction ~ this line until after the
New I.angenburg district has been con-
nectod with the Central Railway BY q
line which would pass via New fringe
to Kilossa. and also until Victoria Ny
ANA has been linked up by line rum
ming from Mwanza TO Tabora. Both win
form important links In the African
trunk system.
a glance at the map Is sufficient 10
show the value OF these projects. They
can only materialize. however. when the
country Il more opened up or when more
IL known OF the territory 20 enable ita
government to raise loan sufficiently
secured on tho country's assets TO permit
OF It's undertaking this expenditure.
-
HEADS TOXIC UNIVERSITY.