In a country which abounded in stone, the Komati Bridge was built of dressed stone imported from Holland, with the cost of a transit of 7,000 miles.
4 .-- _The Drift Question._ The Cape Colony Free State Railway ends at the Vaal River, 50 miles from Johannesburg.

Thence goods are transmitted by the Netherlands Railway at a charge of 8-1/2d.

per ton per mile, the rate being 3d.

over the rest of the line.
In order to escape this rate manufacturers resorted to the use of ox-wagons; Mr.Krueger forbade them the drifts in order to compel the transit of goods by railway.

This was another flagrant violation of Article 14 of the Convention of 1884, which called forth the intervention of Mr.Chamberlain.The indignation at the Cape was so great, that Mr.Chamberlain having asked the Cape Government, whether, in the event of war resulting, it would pay half the cost, and undertake the transport of the troops by the railways, the proposal was accepted by an Afrikander minister! Mr.Krueger yielded and re-opened the drifts.
5 .-- _Methods of Exaction._ A reduction of L100,000 was made on the railway tariffs; but in July, 1897, the duties on corn and food-stuffs were increased by L200,000.