f which are macadamised, and ten miles have tram lines. The
city's parks and open spaces occupy eighty-four acres. There have been
twenty miles of gas-piping laid, while the electric light is supplied by
forty-two miles of wire. The waterworks supply 600,000 gallons of water
daily for domestic use, exclusive of what is required for the mines and
street watering. The population of the town at the census of July,
1896, consisted of 79,315 males and 22,763 females, of whom 32,357 males
and 18,520 females were European, making a total European population of
50,877. It is believed that during the seventeen months which have
elapsed this population has been augmented to about 55,000.
THE STREETS OF JOHANNESBURG.
The streets of the city generally are about 50 feet wide, while the
principal business streets average 90 feet in width. Several of these
are flanked by buildings which would be no discredit to any provincial
city in England, while the array of shops have their windows as
artistically dressed with wares as those of Regent Street in London,
which gave me some idea of the character and good taste of the people.
JOHANNESBURG AS IT WAS AND IS.
A photograph of Johannesburg taken in 1888 revealed a thin collection of
galvanised iron structures, widely scattered over a roadless veld, while
that of 1897 shows a mature city, compact, with an aspect of age, well
furnished with churches, massive buildings, parks with trees over a
hundred feet in height, rich villas and artistic mansions, etc. It was
scarcely credible that in such a short period such a marvellous change
had been wrought. The wonder was increased when I was driven along the
length of Hospital Hill, and noted the streets of this suburb, bordered
by artistic and costly houses, luxuriant shrubberies, flower gardens,
and stately lines of shade trees. The marvel was greater still when my
conductor told me that as late as 1892--five years ago--this suburb, now
so flourishing, was a mere virgin grassy veld. "What, all these miles
of groves and gardens and villas sprung up since 1892?"
"Yes, so prodigiously rapid is the growth of vegetation, trees, climbing
plants and shrubs, when daily watered, that these shade trees which give
the suburb such an appearance of age have only been planted during the
last five years!"
KRUPP GUNS IN EDEN.
Now these picturesque and comfortable residences of such varying
architecture, whose furniture I could just see th
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