THE ECONOMIC CONQUEST OF AFRICA BY THE 

 RAILROADS." 



By A. FocK. 



The division of Africa among the European powers through the 

 definition of spheres of influence is to-day an accomplished fact. 

 Nevertheless, the lines so arbitrarily traced on the map Avill never 

 constitute a barrier against any economic advances. There will be 

 always an industrial and conunercial warfare, which will allot to 

 each European nation its field of action and its lines of advance into 

 the interior of the Dark Continent. 



For, until economic supremacy is assured in a colony, political 

 domination is little more than a name.^ The attainment of the 

 former should be the sole aim of the latter: without it a government 

 will, so to speak, snatch the chestnuts out of the fire for the benefit of 

 its competitors. 



The first step after the military occupation is the organization of 

 the civil and administrative branches; then the duty of the power is 

 but begun. But, above all other things, it must immediately open 

 up some means of comnnmication at once sure, rapid, and economical. 



The African problem at this tiuie, therefore, resolves itself into a 

 question of the construction of a system of railroads. Since the con- 

 tinent is too compact to be opened through waterways, the only prac- 

 tical means of reaching the interior is by recourse to the locomotive. 



Everything considered, the railroad is the peaceable but none the 

 less decisive force which, ably directed, will determine the industrial 

 and commercial supremacy in Africa. Some European countries, 

 more inspired that their rivals, realized this fact long ago. Taking 

 the lead, they have unrolled I'ibbons of steel toward distant inland 



a Translated and abridged, by permission, from the Revue Generale des Sci- 

 ences I'ures et AiMJliquees. Paris. Mar. in, 1004. 



6 " Wliere economic supremacy subsists political rivalry is not danjierous; 

 where political supremacy subsists economic rivalry can undermine it; where 

 neither subsist e<'onomic invasion jii-events iiolitical invasion l)y a rival." Alex- 

 ander Ular: England, Russia, and Thibet. (The Contemi)orary Review, Decem- 

 ber, 1902.) 



SM 1904 — --46 T2] 



