Mechanical Transport in the Colonies.
Page 3
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Continuation of Extracts from Governors Reports.
" I am confident that the transport problem in Uganda (lin be satisfactorily solved by the use of light motor lorries, and 1. am making provision in these estimates for the purchase of two more vehicles. It appears possible to obtain from India, at a very moderate rate of pay, men who are capable of driving motor lorries, and provision is being made for the engagement of three such persons. These men will receive further instruction from the European chauffeurs who are already there, and efforts will also be made to teach the natives to act as drivers. We have reason to believe that with the addition of the cars, the purchase of which I am recommending, we shall not only be able to cope satisfactorily with most of the Government transport, but will also be able to assistin the conveyance of produce from points at a considerable distance from the lake shore."
In the report of the Lagos Public Works Department, we find:— " Thers are a number of tracks, hush-paths ' as they are termed, intersecting the. country in all directions, but, as a general rule, they are unsuited for anything but bicycles, as there are many unbridged streams and swamps which would effectually bar the progress of fourwheeled vehicles."
" The nature of the traffic has not required. so far, the employment of macadam in the construction of the badan-Oyo roar], and the surface has been made up of a species of gravel containing a large percentage of quartz mixed with clay identical in appearance and character with that occurring in the laterite disintegrate. The argillaceous constituent. in this gravel causes the aggregate to bind hard and firm in fine dry weather, but puswsses the disadvantage of softening under heavy rain when the road surface is new or is not well laid so as to throw the water off. The rainy season does not, however, last long in this part of West Africa."
"There are many miles of roads now under construction in. the interior, one of which from Oshogbo to Ilesha is now approaching completion. Its length will be about 18Imiles. The same material is being employed for the mini surface here as in the case of the Ibadan-Oyo road, and it is assumed that mechanical transport will be introduced in the case of this road in the same way as that id the Ibadan-Oyo road. It is possible that this road may be extended to or toward Lokoja on the Niger."
It may be remarked, here, that the cost of the roads is only in the neighbourhood of 4.:200 per mile.
'Extra fressare on our space this week, owing to the Royal Show Repoq, renders it impossible for us to add ',sore than this half-page to the three Pages of last week. Further extracts, with a summary, will lie published next week. ED.]