Adventure Magazine Cover — page 197: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Ask Adventure ~ §. Connection of Egypt and the Sudan by rail. The two outstanding objections to a connection by rail between the two countrys are: (a) Political reasons. Z (b) Enormous upkeep of a line laid across the esert. The-line would not necessarily have to keep to the river-bank. 6. Line to Kassala. A line is now in the course of construction from a point six miles east of Thamian Station on the Atbara-Port Sudan line to Kassala. The purpose of this line is to open up the fertile delta of the Gash River north of Kassala. A com- pany known as the Kassala Cotton Co. have been granted a concession for growing cotton in this area and have entered into an agreement with the Sudan Government. The line is expected to be working by October, 1924. Total length, about 217 miles. This new line when completed will be of great economic and commercial 1 tance as it will enable quick transit for cotton to Port Sudan. For further information see publication No. 1. 7. Suakin to Tokar. No line exists. A light line owned by a private company exists in Tokar itself, being used to convey cotton from the Tokar cotton-fields to the local market. It is then loaded on camels and brought to Suakin. 8. No. 10 Station to Kareima. This line is the connecting link between the main line and Dongala Reach. From Kareima a ferry connection across to Merowe. This is of commercial importance as the produce of Dongala Province is brought down the river to Merowe and is then taken across to Kareima and put on rail. 9. Publication No. 1 will give you all this infor- mation in detail and recapitulated form. ' 10. Big progress is being made in construction Of irrigation dams in this area. A large dam is in the course of construction at Makwar—to be called the Makwar Dam and canalization to irrigate an area of 300,000 feddams for the purpose of cotton- growing. The dam is expected to be completed in 1925. 11. Yes. 12. You can obtain a map which will serve your purpose from the Survey Department, Khartoum. In concluding I would point out that the upkeep of railway line in the Sudan is very expensive. During the rainy seasons the line is invariably washed out in large lengths, and traffic is sometimes held up as long as three weeks. My personal opinion is that the Sudan has a big future in front of it, and as the country progresses financially large strides will be taken to link up the interior, especially south to the Abyssinian frontier, as a connection with Abyssinia by rail would divert a large proportion of traffic through the Sudan which at present is practically monopolized by Eri- trea and Bnitish East Africa. = I am enclosing five papers dealing with the Sudan in general which may interest you. Pearling in Mexican. Waters Mere troubles than pearls: Question: —“Are any of the pearl beds of Mexico in reserve? If so can you give me name of the location? Is any license or permit required? What would it cost? 187 Can you give me an idea of how the oysters are handled after being brought to the surface? Would a 38-foot auxiliary be large enough for the coast? How many oysters will one good diver—without diving-suit—bring up in a day? What is the average pearl worth? What is the general appearance of the land as seen from a boat? My partner and myself are thinking of outfitting one boat—Columbia River type—and going down the coast just to see what we can see. How many different kinds of trouble are we going to run into? We spent three years on the Alaska coast, from Cook Inlet to Ketchikan, on fishing-boats. Have some knowledge of navigation. But we haven’t the least idea of what we will run into in the way of apne duties, etc. Can you help us a little on that We are not starting out with the notion of making a fortune; just of having a —— of atime. Please do not use my name,”’—E, L. C., Dayton, Ore. Answer, by Mr. Mahaffey :—At present I can not conscientiously advise you to ramble around the coast of Mexico on any such expedition as you mention. If I were you [ would strike south to the coast of Central America, as around there you will find more chances and a better deal all round. Regarding the pearl-fisheries on the west coast of Mexico, they are pretty well controlled by Mexican firms, and more and more the motto is “Mexico for the Mexicans.” It takes a great deal of red tape to secure a concession for pearl-fishing, and quite a sum of money; also time. I do not know locations of reserve pearl-shell beds but do know that sections of the coast are reserved for a time. These locations are usually put up for rent to the highest bidder, who pays for rent, also ex- ploitation tax on shell and pearls taken. It takes a man with much knowledge of the general cussed- ness of the Mex and especially of the sea-going Mex, who is, if it is possible, more cussed than the average. After pearl oysters are hauled up they are opened on the spot, not left to rot on the beach, as practised in the South Seas. It is a hard job to keep the openers from stealing you blind; and if you do catch one, under present conditions it would do you very little good, as they would tell him not to get caught next time and go 50-50 with him (the police). Mexico is the paradise of the I. W. W. nowadays, and if you have any dealings with the sea-going Mex you will have more gray hairs than you have now! I have no idea of how many oysters a diver can bring up. About as easy as figuring the length of a piece of string. It all depends on thickness of oysters, depth of water, danger of sharks, ability of diver and so forth. The boat you mention should be big enough. Almost all the west coast of Mexico is rocky or with mountains a short distance from the coast. For data on the coast buy Hydrographic Office Publication No. 84; costs 90 cents. It gives you dope on coast from San Diego to Panama. It also gives size, price and number of charts covering the coast. The best country for your purpose is along the coast of Costa Rica and Panama. I have been all along the coast!a number of times, and that is where I would go if I were (you. DOOLK (© 5}