File:South Africa and the Transvaal war (1900) (14781442815).jpg

Identifier: southafricatrans08cres (find matches)
Title: South Africa and the Transvaal war
Year: 1900 (1900s)
Authors: Creswicke, Louis
Subjects: South African War, 1899-1902 Transvaal (South Africa) -- History
Publisher: Edinburgh : T. C. & E. C. Jack
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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e engine might be hoisted by a hiddencharge of dynamite, and the machine and its drivers turned towreckage. During the war the railway service required qualities ofendurance and courage equal to those possessed by the bravestsoldier in the field. SOUTH AFRICAN INDUSTRIES At present South African industries (outside of agriculture andpastoral pursuits) may be said to consist of mining and railways.The railways, in spite of heavy rates, have made a great mining in-dustry possible. What could they do in respect of other and ordi-nary mdustries ? It is a question of rates. Given recognition ofthe principle that railways should be the most essential part of thegovernmental plant spoken of by Lord Milner—plainly to be usedfor developing the country, and not for the use of extracting revenueto which it is at present put, not gold-mining alone, but a hundredindustries would presently flourish. On the Rand there are alreadygreat engineering works contending against many difficulties, and 154
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South African Railways especially the cost of labour. These works execute repairs for themines, make castings, and even manufacture new machinery. Agreat future industry, which for the present is impossible on accountof want of railway facilities, is the exploitation of the rich iron ores ofthe Transvaal. It is stated that a syndicate with large capital hasbeen formed to undertake this work on a large scale when the con-ditions are favourable, and within the next few years it is probablethat the Middelburg district will have smelting furnaces, foundries,rolling mills, and all the varied works of a young iron and steelindustry which may eventually take a leading place in the world.Mr, Carnegie recently stated that the iron ores of Britain will beexhausted in twenty-five years, and those of the United States insixty years. The extensive deposits of the Transvaal should lastfor centuries. Another possible future industry is the distillation of oil fromthe shales of the Eastern Transvaal

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