, 1923-01-15
Potentially of AHocdtcd Territoru

the ability of Great Britain and
france TO meet their debts to the United States
treasury, entirely too little has been said concern.
ing the 93O,OOO square miles of former German ter.
rltory in Africa acquired by those countries no
spolls OF war. In order to acquaint the people of
this country with the great potential value of those
coiohles something of their resources is not out of
place at this time, since those victors in the wor
are pressing down on Germany for reparations and
"fe keepihg silent about the things already gained.
Ohe OF THESE territories, Tanganyika, is that
part OF former German East Africa that was nj.
Iocated to Great Britain. Its total area is about
565,O0O square miles, equal to the combined orao
OF ONO, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Iowa and
missouri. Along the eastern border of the old Ger.
man colony is a strip Of about 10000 square miles
f Rni Nv went 10 Belgium and now forms a part of the
beiglan Congo. Tanganyika has a coast line of
5oO miles, which includes at least six natural bor.
SoEs SmaI towns are at each of those points, suf.
tlclently large to handle the small ira dc that comos
from a country so completely undevclopcd.
In July, 1922, Tangauyitn was made the sub.
!ect OF a special report TO parliament in which ey.
listing conditions in the territory are thoroupbIv
reviewed ana its future prospects estimated. In 1921
tEeFc were oaly 2,lt7 whites to l,179,OOO natives
o. one ''h-te .naa to LOO blacks. Under conditions
now existing il Is not surprising that the trade ~
Tanganyika gives no Indication Of Inc great natnr,
al wealth OF the country. Last year the imports
reached a value of s~6,3GO,000 and the exports were
worth S5,I3o,G0O. The former, were mostly mann.
factures, foodstuffs, clothing. and macbinarr
while the latter included sisai, cotton, copra. COT,
fee, grain and nuts. Si
But the British government is ~exertinp itse1f 70
N@S w bO AOuhl eNeTN-
where. Several agricultural experiment stations
are maintained. The total number of cattle Is al.
: Pe aCa oG Sl41 1000 and the sheep and goats number
5,aoS,OOO. The Tanganyika forest department was
not established until the end of 1920, but already
investigations have revealed the presence in large
Quantities of valuable timber, principally "Penc;I
cedar" Yellow Woods" and many others for
which common trade names do not exist, "West
African mahogany is found growing to a giant size
areas. "'se
Mining prospecting was prohibited until june.
19z!, out IN the one year since then 1876 claims were
registered for prospecting for gold, diamonds, sill.
yer, copper, asbestos, mica, molybdenum, coal, salt
and soda deposits. Licenses have been granted for
mining coal over an area of $50 square miles.
ihere are indications of mineral oils, but prospect.
ing for oil is not permitted at present. Because of
the undeveloped natural resources, there are no
manufactures, and only 500 miles of narrow gIo go
railways, and 1900 miles of motor roads.
1t is apparent that Tanganyika is essentially
similar to large sections of the United States be.
fore they were made available to settlement and
development. There is every reason to believe that
the territory will eventually yield riches compar-
able to those of groups of our wealthiest states.
That wealth will be fully revealed long before the
time set for final payment of the British debt to
this country, and can bedepended upon by the Brit.
lsh government to meet a very large share of that
obligation.