470 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[September 1, I'Jll. 



tor>' with a part of the centre will see the reforms completely 

 applied July 1, 1912. 



The government, moreover, is anxious to have the task accom- 

 plished and whenever it can be done without grave inconveni- 

 ence, she anticipates the set dates. Sales of land are now being 

 conducted in the three zones, and have been for several months 



bend. The first one is shrinking and rapidly diminishing. It 

 indicates the territories set aside for the Great Lakes Railway 

 Company, ten million acres for every five million dollars spent. 

 Two lines already laid have cost 50 million francs (10 million 

 dollars), and caused a grant of 20 million acres of forests worked 

 bj' the government on half shares with the company. 



Raiujo.^d Tr.\in at Leopoldville. 



past on the basis established by the new government. Companies 

 and private individuals are settling. The ta.x in foodstuffs is 

 also, from now on, abolished in the three zones. 



But the zones do not comprise the entire area. Large spaces 

 remain, the forest reservations where all harvesting is prohibited 

 for the time being for the sake of preserving the native plants. 



These were the grants of territory to land-owning companies 

 under the old government. The Belgian State could not abolish 

 these concessions, but has not given up the idea of bringing about 

 their relinquishment. Negotiations are being carried on with 

 the title holders of monopolies or property, the government being 

 anxious to secure uniformity throughout the whole system. The 

 results — obtained sometimes at great sacrifice — are considerable. 



One of those thus re-purchased involves the immense terri- 

 tories of the Southwest, where the Kassai Company had an actual 

 monoply : in who?e profits the State had a h.nlf share. This 



A Large River Steamer on Mari.ve Railway at Leopoldville. 



The undertaking of a new line towards Lake Tanganika will 

 cost another five million dollars, but the concession of land will 

 not be extensive this time. The company agrees to limit itself 

 to the forests already granted, only increasing the proportion of 

 its shares in the profits of their working. The immense areas 

 left for future concessions are thus immediately thrown open 

 again to the initiative of free trade. The other two important 

 spaces are also disappearing. 



These represent the concessions granted to two old companies 

 of land-owners: The .•\bir (Anglo-Belgian Indian Rubber Co.) 

 and the Societe Anvcrsoise du Commerce au Congo (Antwerp- 

 Congo Trading Co.). By agreement, dated May 23, 1911, these 

 two companies abandon their monopoly, relinquish their right 

 of ownership, and keep only their stations and plots of land for 

 plantations, agreeing to bring them into working order. Belgium 

 gives up her share in the profits. Eighteen months after the 



Native Houses. 



monopoly is abolished. Belgium has given up her share in 

 partial compensation and her shares in the profits have been 

 done away with. The old territories which the Kassai Company 

 used to work, but where competitors are settling now, are merged 

 in the first zone. 



But three great vacant spaces still remain: to the east of 

 Lualaba, to the north and to the south of the great Congo river 



Hotel on the Matadi-Leopoldville Railroad. 



approval of the agreement by the Assemblies, the territories, 

 worked by the companies, will be opened to free harvesting. 



The extension of the reforms to the whole territory is thus a 

 certainty. It now nears completion, and will be accomplished in 

 a year's time. We may from now on declare nine-tenths of the 

 enormous territories of Central Africa open to free harvesting, 

 open to free trade, and open to free labor. 



