Why Kruger Made War; Or, Behind the Boer Scenes

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1900 edition. Excerpt: ... the future of the rand some views as to the possibilities of the mining industry To attempt any forecast of the future of the Mining Industry in the Transvaal territory is to attempt a task hedged about with very many difficulties. Perhaps the discussion of the question is a little premature. So many matters are unsettled, so little is known as to the intentions of the Imperial Government, that any positive opinions are both impracticable and impossible. One can only write in generalities. In the preceding chapter it has been shown that, at a moderate estimate, the Industry was charged with an expenditure of about.2,500,000 a year over and above what it should have borne with good government. Of this sum about 1,350,000 was excessive profit of the Railway and Dynamite Monopolies, and excessive secret service charges a weighty proportion. The Expropriation Of The Netherlands Railway What is likely to happen with respect to the Netherlands Railway? Surely the British Government cannot be bound by the terms of the concession regarding the expropriation of the railway? The aid the company gave the Republican forces in the war will perhaps be taken into account. In connection with this some very interesting questions of International Law crop up. As the head offices of the company were at Amsterdam, it was ostensibly a Dutch concern. But it has been proved beyond question that many of the Hollander officials remained at work on the line aiding the Republican forces and thus violating their neutrality! Then it is again arguable that, as the South African Republic owned large p