722 THE ECONOMIC CONQUEST OF AFRICA BY THE RAILROADS. 



posts, which, much to their profit, are to-day centers of economic 

 prooress These advances have enabled the more alert nations to 

 acquire without opposition very favorable positions and to attain, 

 for the moment at least, an unquestionable advantage. 



„ „ Cijrurtruct"."ou projete.y 



Fig. l.-Map of Africa, showing railroads in opcrutiou uud under cuubtruction. 



An examination of the accompanying map (fig. 1) will show that 

 properlv speakhig there are but three railroad systems m Africa-tlie 

 Tunis-Algerian, the Egvptian, and the South African. The hrst 

 named is complete in itself. The other two will serve as bases on the 

 north and south for the great artery from Cairo to the Cape. As tor 



