Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-25
HIGHWAYS PIERCE
DARKEST AFRICA
Growing Network of Roads
Being Extended, Aiding
Marketing.

A growing network of roads is being
extended into the once inaccessible
regions of Africa. Modern roads are
speeding the marketing of the products
of that vast, productive continent. the
human pack-carr1er is being replaced
by the motor truck and the passenger
car is relieving the burden OF the long,
suffering camel, according to road
survey of Africa, published as trade
information bulletin by the automotlve
division, Department of Commerce. Al
though the inadequacy of highway Ia
cilities in most countries OF Africa Is
still evident. the progress which Is being
made indicates the important role
which the automobile is destined to
play in the development of the abundant
resources of that continent.
Trade Stimulated.
The LAUGHING and execution of road
programs is being reflected IN general
stimulation of trade, exploitation of new
areas and enhanced buying power, the
survey shows. The vast distances to be
covered in Africa and the inadequacy
of real transportation have emphasized
the urgent need of good roads. In such
remote places as Dahomey, Senegal, the
Ivory Coast, Fez-names usually as
ISOLATED with travel and adventure
the advent of the motor car has been
accompanied by demand for new or
improved highways. These highways,
in turn, have created new demands for
motor cars. This development is OF I'M
portance not only to Africa, but the
worlds industrial countries for this
giant of continents is great store house
of raw products required by modern
industry products, whose delivery Is
being speeded by the automobile.
The two great rivers OF Africa, the
Nile and the Congo, are now linked by
q road which makes possible a regular
motor mail service and is proving an
important factor in the development OF
the resources of the Sudan and Eastern
Africa. Over this route a car can now
be driven from Port Sudan on the Red
Sea to the mouth of the Congo. A
new road of 600 miles is projected from
Alexandria to Luxor in the land of the
PharaohS and another is to be built to
Timbuctu. However, road construction
in Africa Is only in its initial stages
and vast areas of the interior remain
to be opened up by motor highways.
Roads are badly needed to tap the
palm oil resources of Liberia, to gain
access to the rich store of natural re-
sources of Ethiopia and there are similar
problems in connection with various
other regions.
Extensions Needed.
AS transportation needs are urgent
and funds are difficult to obtain, the
report suggests that much good might
be accomplished by the extension of
the present dirt or graveled roads, with
improvements to be made at future
time. The several countries of Africa
present such wide variety of topog-
raphy and cover such a wide range of
raw materials that each has its own
peculiar problem of the proper type of
highway to serve its needs. However, it
is pointed out, finance and administra-
ton, rather than technical difficulties.
are likely to prove the obstacles to
adequate road development in most
African countries.
The subject of road construction is
intimately related to the demand for
motor vehicles and therefore one in
which the American manufacturer of
such products is directly interested. Last
year United States automotive products
exported to Africa were valued at some
thing less than $11,000,0o0. There
seems to be little doubt but that the
road development at present evidenI
throughout this vast area will not only
greatly augment purchases of Ameri-
can motor vehicles of all kinds, but also
growing demand for wide range of
other United States products.