The ingenuity of the Boer mind in getting the last possible fraction of value out of any transaction, is well exemplified in this matter.  One would naturally conclude that a deal so profitable would satisfy anybody.  But not so!  The piece of ground commands the approach to many valuable private plots and residences, and it was soon found that apart from intrinsic worth it might have a blackmailing value; thus towards the end of 1898, after the deal had been completed, the owners of these residences and estates were privately approached with the information that the coolie location, consisting of shelters built of scraps of iron, paraffin tins, and old pieces of wood, was to be removed to this site (probably to facilitate the transference of the present location site, which is also very valuable, to some other favourite), but that if sufficient inducement were offered by landowners in the neighbourhood, the decision would be reconsidered!

The grant of a Municipality to Johannesburg has often been quoted as an example of something done by Mr. Kruger in the interests of the Uitlanders.  The principal conditions of that grant are that all burghers of the State, whether they have property or not, shall be entitled to vote for the election of councillors; that each ward shall be represented by two councillors, one of whom must be a burgher; and that the chairman, or burgomaster, shall be appointed by Government and shall have the right of veto.  The elections in at least two of the wards are completely at the mercy of the police and of the poor Boers who have no interest whatever in the town.  The burghers in Johannesburg—­police, Boers, and officials—­who may number a couple of thousand, including the naturalized lot, have therefore a permanent and considerable majority over the Uitlanders, who probably number over 40,000 adult white males.

The scope and value of this grant were made manifest when the now notorious sewerage concession came under discussion.  The Municipality had upon several occasions endeavoured to get the right to introduce a scheme for the disposal of the sewage of the town, and had applied for authority to raise the necessary funds, but had been refused.  Suddenly a concession was granted by the Government—­they called it a contract—­to Mr. Emmanuel Mendelssohn, the proprietor of the Standard and Diggers News, the Government organ in Johannesburg.  He said that he got it for nothing—­possibly a reward for loyal services; but he also stated that he was not the sole owner.  The value of the grant was estimated by the concessionaire himself to be about L1,000,000 sterling, and in the lately published proposals which he made to one of the big firms interested in the Transvaal he indicated how a profit of L100,000 a year could be made out of it.  The Town Council unanimously and vigorously protested; but the Government took no notice of their protest.  They then decided to apply to the Court for an order restraining the