THAT interior part of Central Africa comprising Katanga Province, Northern Rhodesia, and Nyasaland possesses in its natural resources a vast wealth whose development has scarcely begun. A mineralized belt containing tremendous tonnages of high grade copper ore lies on both sides of the Katanga-Northern Rhodesia boundary. The holdings of the Union Miniere de Haut-Katanga, a Belgo-British concern, which include most of the known deposits in Katanga, consist of separate ore bodies scattered over an area approximately 200 miles long and 20 to 70 miles wide extending from Chilongo to Elisabethville. It seems likely that Katanga is really the greatest copper field ever opened.' North of the Katanga copper zone lies a second mineralized area containing tin and gold. Katanga, moreover, possesses sufficient radium to supply the markets of the world and by agreement with Canada divides equally with that country in the annual production of cobalt. Across the border in Northern Rhodesia recent prospecting has given good results, and it is now an accepted fact that a copper field of great significance exists along the Northern Border, extending at least 150 miles in a north-west and south-east direction and having a breadth of not less than 50 miles.2 A healthful climate, timber suitable for most purposes, and potential water power encourage commercial development.3 The labor situation is improving as an increasing number of natives become resident in the district. With the completion of the construction work on the railroads and at the mines a large number of natives will become available for productive labor. It is estimated that the substitution of coal for wood in some of the mines will release 4000 wood cutters.4 Exploitation of these minerals has been retarded in the past by the difficulties involved in transporting them to tidewater. Although the region lies within the watersheds of the Congo and Zambezi Rivers, communication is impeded by rapids, irregularity of flow, or shoals.6 This remote area was finally opened to world markets through the medium of the railway. A line by way of Broken Hill and Elisabethville reached Bukama, head of navigation on the Congo, in I918. The products of this interior region now reach the coast at several South African ports or at Beira in Mozambique. Freight for export can also be shipped by water from Bukama to Kabalo, by rail to Albertville, by ferry across Lake Tanganyika, and thence by rail to Dar es Salaam. In 1926, the Katanga Railway routed 64,500,00o kilograms of copper via Beira and I6,300,000 kilograms by Dar es Salaam.6 Thus, although its markets are in western Europe this region is forced to a costly export via the east coast of Africa.