The country is well adapted to agriculture and stock-raising. though its possibilities are as yet meagrely developed. The acreage in farms is estimated at less than 600,000. After the war of 1899-1902 three-fourths of the burghers soon returned to their lands. The Government made loans to aid them in raising the crops, and land was rented on shares under favorable conditions to the more indigent. Syndicates of farmers borrowed money in a large lump sum, massing all their assets together as security. The proceeds were to be used for only a given number of families. The number of live stock in the colony is unknown. The manufacturing interests are in their infancy. There are 11 factories for machinery. 9 for tobacco, 19 for mineral waters and ices, and 3 for explosives, several printing works, and numerous saw mills.
The imports for 1901 were valued at £3,670, 365. The figures for 1902 evidently quadrupled this sum. The main articles are clothing, pro visions, metals, and manufaetures of metals. The largest amount comes through Cape Colony, though almost as motel enters through Natal. Comparatively little comes via Delagoa Bay. The figures for exports are not given. The principal articles shipped out are gold, hides, cattle, wool, ivory, and ostrich feathers. The colony has rail way communication with the important sister colonies and with Portuguese East Africa. The mileage is about 700.
The colony was annexed to Great Britain September 1, 1900. Hostilities with the Boers definitively ceased in May, 1902. Certain privi leges were allowed the Boer population, such as the use of Dutch in the courts and public schools where desired. Civil government was to replace the military regime as soon as practicable. The colony is administered by a Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and an Executive Council. There are 20 districts. The capital is Pretoria (q.v.). Jo hannesburg, the principal city, is, however, to some extent an administrative centre. For the
fiscal year 1901-02 the civil revenues and expendi tures each were upward of $7,000,000. For the following fiscal year the estimated revenue in creased to nearly 820,000,000, derived from cus toms chiefly. Mines and railways also con tributed. For this last-named year the ex penditures were put at $1S,500,000, of which one-third was devoted to the South African constabulary, though most of this last-named amount would be recovered by the Transvaal from the Orange River Colony and the British Government. The total sum voted by the Im perial Government for the Transvaal and Orange River colonies in 1901 and 1902 was $40,000,000, including $500,000 for the South African constabulary and $4.000,000 for rail ways. The Boer public debt at the close of 1898 was $13,000,000, and against this was to be reckoned the value of the State lands, then not so valuable as now since gold has been found on them. The debt occasioned by the war is figured at $150,000,000. A total loan was to be floated of $175,000,000, to be guaranteed by Great Britain and based on the assets of the Transvaal and Orange River colonies. Productive public works will be undertaken. The seven banks in the Transvaal have a combined capital of £7,000,000. The weights and measures are those of Cape Colony. English currency and coins minted at Pretoria circulate. As to the military control, the colony is divided into five districts. The British commander-in-chief for all South Africa is stationed at Pretoria. There is a constabu lary. A volunteer force is also to be formed for the colony.
The population in 1896 was 1,094,156, of whom 245,397 were whites and 748,759 natives. The religious population is estimated as follows: in the Dutch churches, 63,000; in other Protestant churches, 53,000; Jews, 10,000; and Roman Catholics, 5000.