Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1926-12-02


owners to operate. and In many cases
they took matters into their own
hands and forcibly put laborers to
work. Government regulations against
such practices were ignored. In re-
cent years these conditions seem to
have been greatly improved and a
more forceful government established.
The government, too. has made avail
able large funds for physical develop
ment OF the colony. In addition to
fostering railway building, the gov
eminent has itself constructed some
excellent motor roads in the plateau
country.
The big factor in appealing to
Italy, If she were considering such
purchase, undoubtedly would be the
| sparse population. Less than 100000
Inhabitants dwell in the 4S5,0OO
| square miles of Angola, 1t is esti-
mated, while Italy. with only $4,000
| square miles, has a population of
about 100000. In other words, al
though Angola is four times as big as
Italy, 1t has only a tenth of the ac-
tual population, or one-fortieth the
| density of population. Perhaps one
half Of the area of Angola at least
is suitable for colonization by Euro
peans. 1t Is obvious, therefore. that
it would form an admirable outlet for
Italy's surplus people.
| In the southern portion of Angolas
/ plateau is sort of little Transvaal
| Displeased with alien control from
which ordinary tricks did not seem to
free them. group Of Beers took the
wearisome journey across the great
Kalahrari desert and settled In this
remote region. Many persisted on the
road, but those who won through
have established solid communities In
which the Portuguese officials have
granted them the liberty and self
| government. In their communities
which they so much desire. In their
settlements, surrounded by houses of
| typical Transvaal architecture, and
with the great heavy wagons in use,
one might imagine himself thousand
miles away In the vicinity Of johann
nesburg or Pretoria.
Good Harbor at Loblto.
| At several points railways extend
| from the coast of Angola to the al
most temperate zone plateau. The
most important railway starts from
the middle of the long coast and ex-
tends some 300 miles into the interior
1t will eventually extend eastward
across Angola and into the Belgian
Congo to connect with existing Bel
gian and South African systems and
with lines to the east coast of At
RIGA. The Angolan port terminus OF
! this railroad is Lobito. with a fine
| harbor. Lobito Is an upstart among
the ancient coastal cities. Benguela
and Loanda and the middIe-aged town
of Mossamedes, having been born on
bare sand-spit only few years ago.
| The excellence Of Lobito bays har-
Dor is hidden as one steams toward
| 1t. The steamer seems headed for
barren cliffs with narrow, sandy
beach at their base. AS a matter of
| fact, however, 1t turns out when one
approaches closer. that the beach is
a narrow spit of sand mile or more
off shore. This sand-spit walls off the
sea, and behind it lies one Of the best
] harbors in Africa. 1t Is three miles
long and mile wide, sufficiently
commodious to hold easily ships to
handle the sea traffic of an empire.
| The harbor seems protected in all
winds and there is little tide Plans
for the development of Lobito bay
call for commercial port on the
sand-spit and a residential town on
| the cliffs.
Loanda, capital of Angola, also
has lines of steel extending into the
interior. and from Mossamedes "toy
railway" with narrow-gauge track
and tiny cars, runs across the desert
strip and into the hills.
All of the Angola coast is indebted
to the cold current that bathes 1t for
cool sea breezes and in general a
much more pleasant climate than its
latitude entities it to. But the cur
rent is especially benefcent to the
Mossamedes and Porto Alexandra
districts of the south. These are the
healthiest portions of the coast With
relatively low mean temperatures.
dry. cool air, and freedom from ma
larial mosquitoes. The cool current
also brings to the southern coast vast
schools of fish like the cod and the
chief industry Is fishing.