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Founding The Congo State

Founding The Congo State image
Parent Issue
Day
5
Month
February
Year
1896
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

During my descent oí tlie Congo I had revolved over and over in jny mind the question. of the destiny oi the river. Seated at the pro-w of my baat, whicli led our ilotilla and daily watchlng the river developing itself, I was preoccupied witih these thoughts every leisure moment. There was, it seemed to me, no other power but England tbat eould interest itself with this part of África; and, as I 6aid, there Avas not a single white man in possession of any portion of the equatoiial belt, except a few traders had gathered. But despite numerous addresses in England upon this subject, I failed to awaken more tiian a geographical interest in Equatorial África. The terror oï the African climate iu general was too stroag upon everybody. Elsewhere, however, the reports of my addresses in the English newspapers were taking effect. After neary nine Eiontlis' buy ufe in England, the Ktag of the Belgians invited me to vteit hün, and I -as then informed of ate strong inclination to undertake África -v-hat I had been eo sternouKly advising Englisiimen to do. He was already president of the Aíriean International Association, which was about to eet on foot a humánitarian enterprise from the east ooast, and he led me to onderstand Chat if I were free from other engagements he would like to employ me in opening the Gongo basin to European influence and civilization. It was my opinión tliat the best way of setting about the work was to construct a light eurface rallway which should skirt the cataracts of the Lower Congo, and then to launch steamers on the upper waters, whlch I estimated would furnish about C,000 miles fo navigation. TVre argued rtbout this matter trom August to December, 1878, The test Belgián enSineers were consulted, but after the most elabórate calculatloas as to cost, it was finally decided that, as the expense would be great, we ehould' content ourselves witlh making wagon roáds past the cataracts, and build a eeries of military stations for the protection of caravans, and that the annual expenditure should not cxceed $60,000.- Henry M. Stanley, in the February Century.

Article

Subjects
Old News
Ann Arbor Courier