FORESTRY OF WEST AFRICA. 243 



requirements and consequent clearances as compared 

 with our available wooded area, and the future steadily 

 increasing wants. 



In dwelling on this subject the people must however 

 look ahead, and, as far as can be done, anticipate the 

 requirements of the future, and not selfishly endeavour 

 to reap all they can in the present, regardless of the 

 legacy to be left to their country and children. 



We all have heard and can estimate the great 

 advantages that follow on the opening up of a country 

 by railways. Bearing in mind the references in the 

 preceding two paragraphs, estimate what then would 

 be our timber wants additionally for stations, carriages, 

 sleepers, telegraph poles, their wear and tear, and 

 occasional renewals, creating a timber demand of 

 considerable magnitude. 



In the Gold Coast Colony, behind Lagos, and in 

 other parts of that side of Africa there are large 

 tracts of land now almost valueless, I may venture to 

 say, from being in a measure inaccessible. To such 

 land railways would soon give an appreciable value 

 by opening up fresh markets, and allowing of the 

 advance of .settlements into their depths at present 

 iminhabited and unknown. Their introduction would 

 be followed up by an increased circulation of money, 

 increased vested capital, and consequently pro- 

 portionally greater credit of real worth — of much 

 moment to any Colony, much more so to our Posses- 

 sions in West Africa in view of future opening up — rise 



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