Publisher's Synopsis
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. 1893 edition. Excerpt: ... Ill Johannesburg. The journey from Kimberley to Vereeniging, on the Vaal River, which is at present the farthest extension of the railway, takes two days and two nights. When the cross-line from Kimberley to Bloemfontein is constructed through the Free State, and the necessity for going round three sides of a long parallelogram is got rid of, there will be a saving of about eighteen hours. Further improvements upon the northern part of the line may be expected to increase the speed, and the extension to Johannesburg, when all is finished, will bring that town within twenty-four hours of Kimberley. The connecting branch which is so much needed for the journey from Kimberley will not affect the railway distance from Cape Town, which has already been taken along the most direct line, and will measure something under a thousand miles to Johannesburg and Pretoria. Allowing for some moderate improvements in speed, it is hoped that before the end of the present year it may be possible to go direct from Cape Town to Johannesburg in two days and a half. The through trains will have sleeping-cars and kitchens attached to them, and the journey will entail comparatively little fatigue or discomfort. The present terminus on the Transvaal side of the Vaal River is a mere engineer's camp upon the veldt. It has only been in existence for a few weeks, and is still a confusion of tents and railway sleepers, luggage and cooking pots, in the midst of which I noted, on the afternoon of our arrival, the characteristic detail of no fewer than six pianos waiting for the ox-wagons which were to carry them away. Passengers and their lighter luggage are still conveyed in the wonderful circus-like vehicles slung on leathern straps and drawn by a team of ten or...
