es. The richest agricultural districts of both colonies are
far removed from markets. The through lines to the coast from the
great centres of industry will be choked with traffic. Both to
stimulate agriculture and to facilitate the operations of
commerce, additional lines and relief lines will be urgently
required. Moreover, if the construction of the most necessary of
these is undertaken as fast as the districts through which they
pass are pacified, employment will be provided for large numbers
of persons who would otherwise be idle and dependent on
Government for relief, as well as for many newcomers, who will be
a valuable addition to the population of the country. If there is
one enterprise which is certain to be thoroughly popular with the
old population, it is this. The one thing which the Boers will
thoroughly appreciate will be railways bringing their richest
land into touch with the best markets. And the British population
will be equally in favour of such a course."[318]

[Footnote 318: Cd. 903.]

Thus, six months before Vereeniging, and less than three months after
Lord Milner's return from England, the "big unfinished job" was well
in hand.

CHAPTER XII

THE SURRENDER OF VEREENIGING

[Sidenote: The gold industry re-started.]

With the beginning of the year 1902, the question of the ultimate
submission of the Boers had become a matter of months, or even weeks.
The guerilla leaders had been beaten at their own game. In spite of
the extension of the area of the war, the terrorising of the peaceably
inclined burghers, the co-operation of the Afrikander nationalists,
and the encouragement derived from Boer sympathisers in England, the
most important districts of the Transvaal and half of the Orange River
Colony were being restored to the pursuits of peace. The great
industry of South Africa was re-established, and agriculture was not
only resumed but even developing upon more enlightened principles
within the protected areas of the two colonies; while in the Orange
River Colony 150 new British settlers had been planted upon farms
before the terms of the Vereeniging surrender were signed. The story
of this steady progress is told by the mere items in the monthly
records furnished by Lord Milner to the Home Government. The gold
industry of the Rand recommenced in May, 1901, when, with permission
to set 150 stamps at