Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1921.djvu/950

 898 FRANCE : — FRENCH WEST AFRICA AND THE SAHARA

A submarine cable from Brest to Dakar was completed in April 1905, so that the French West African Colonies are now independent of foreign cables. There are three other cables, one Spanish one French West African, and the third belonging to a South American company.

One railway connects Dakar, Rufisque and St. Louis (165 miles); an- other one Thi^s and Kayes (Upper-Senegal-Niger) 435 miles (350 miles open).

There is a river service on the Senegal from St. Louis to Kayes, the former a principal town of Upper Senegal-Niger (490 sea miles) on the Senegal river, during the I'ainy season, and extensive works for the improvement of the river have been carried out. The Senegal is closed to foreign flags. Dakar, the principal port, is in regular communication with French ports by the steamers of 4 French lines, and with Liverpool by a British line. In 1919 1,109 vessels of 2,277,988 tons entered and 1,093 vessels of 2,179,988 tons cleared the ports of the colony. Works are in progress for the ex- tension and deepening of the harbour, the erection of sheds and workshops. The dry dock at Dakar which was completed in 1908, can take boats 630 feet long. The Bank of West Africa (established June 29, 1901), with a capital of 6,000,000 francs, and reserve funds 3,920,000 francs, was founded for the purpose of carrying on financial, industrial, or commercial operations ; it has a branch at Dakar, and agencies at St. Louis, and at Rufuquer. La Banque Francaise de l'Afrique Equatoriale has a branch at Dakar.

H.B.M.'s Consul- General at Dakar (for French Western Africa, including the Sudan). — R. C. F. Maugham,

Consul at Senegal. — Y. H. J. Huckin.

French Guinea lies on the coast between Portuguese Guinea and the British colony of Sierra Leone, and extends inland so as to include the terri- tories of Koumbia, Dinguiray, Siguiri, Kouroussa, Kankan, Kissidugo, Beyla, Macenta and N'zerekore. The area is about 95,218 square miles, and the population was, in 1920, 1,851,200, including 1,200 Europeans (1,100 French). A regular system of Government lay schools has recently leen introduced all over French West Africa. The principal products are palm oil and nuts, rubber, millet, earthnuts, rice, gum, and coffee, which is grown in the Rio Nunez region. There is an experimental garden near Konakry (the capital) where the culture of bananas, pineapples, rubber trees, and other plants is being tried. Futa Jallon contains cattle in abundance. In 1919 there were 420,000 cattle, 102,000 sheep, 2,000 goats, and 2,800 horses. Gold is found in the river Tinkisso and in the Bour£ and Siecke districts. Imports in 1919, 25,918,941 francs; exports, 23,735,011 francs. The principal exports were rubber, cattle, ground nuts, hides, wax, wool, and palm-kernels. Number of vessels entered in 1919 was 169, of 288,614 tons; number cleared 173, of 292,780 tons. A network of roads is being made to connect with the railway station from Konakry to the Niger. The French Guinea railway which runs from Konakry on the coast to the Niger at Kourassa (366 miles long) was opened in January, 1911, and in August, 1914, was continued to Kankan (412 miles from Konakry). The jetty 1, 066 feet long, at Konakry has been completed. In the colony there are 2,556 miles of telegraph and 43 miles of telephone line, with 6 miles of sub- marine line. The Colony is connected by cable with France and Pernambuco; also with Freetown, Monrovia, and Grand Bassam. Konakry is visited regularly by the steamers of two French and one English company. The budget of the colony provided for 1920 the sum of 13,124,800 francs.

The Ivory Coast lies between Liberia and the British Gold Coast Colony. It has common frontiers with French Guinea and Upper-Senegal- Nigpr Colonies. France asserted and obtained rights on the coast about