--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Steed, H. L. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 12 number: 10 published: 1909-08 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'H. L. Steed, "Cape Town of Today," *Improvement Era* 12, no. 10 (August 1909): 768–774.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera12010unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera12010unse start_page: 768 end_page: 774 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1909-08) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera12010unse publication_year: 1909 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1909, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Cape Town of Today CAPE TOWN OF TODAY. BY ELDER H. L. STEED, OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN MISSION. In 1651, three vessels, under Jan Van Riebeek, left Holland and arrived in Table Bay, after a sea voyage of one hundred and four days. A few months later the fleet sailed away, leaving about one hundred souls to form the first European col- ony in South Africa. The first commander, Van Riebeek, a man of small stature, but of indomitable perseverance and varied ex- perience,was perhapsthemost capable man that could have been chosen for the post. His first work was to build the fort of Good Hope for protection from attacks by sea, and from natives on land. He took immediate steps to exterminate the wild beasts from the surrounding country. Statue of Van Riebeek, Cape Town. From this beginning Cape Town grew, until in 1904 the population (not including the suburbs) numbered 77,183, of whom 43,695 were of European extraction, and 33,488 of the GAPE TOWN OF TODAY. 769 colored races. The percentage of increase since 1891 is 72 per cent of whites, and 30 per cent of colored. Cape Town is 6,000 miles from Southampton, England; 4,600 miles from Madeira, and 1,613 miles from St. Helena. It has a number of fine hotels and beautiful homes admirably situated in the southern part of the city just in the shadow of Table Mountain and Lion's Head. Electric cars run in all directions from Adderley Street and as far as Wynberg, a distance of eight miles. One line follows the rough and rugged sea shore around Signal Hill to Cam's Bay, Lion's Head, Sea Point from the Sea. a delightful bathing resort, thence over the Kloof, or neck, join- ing Table Mountain and Lion's Head, via Sea Point and Clifton- on-Sea, thus encircling the Lion's Head, a distance of twelve miles. Cape Town is a most interesting city, and ranks as the metropolis of South Africa. Her great rival at the present time is Johannesburg, one thousand miles "up country," celebrated for its famous gold mines. It is surprising how rapid has been the growth of these two cities. About a century ago, they were prac- tically unknown to Europeans. With the exception of one small village, Cape Town is the only spot where the past generations, to whom South Africa owes so much, have left any tangible trace of their presence. The ad- vantages of Table Bay were early recognized by navigators; but no attempts were made to guard the vessels lying in harbor from the terrible effects of the north-westerly winds, and many a gal- lant ship, drivenaground in the shallow water, lies 'Mocked in the sand." The masts of a few may now be seen above water. Efforts have been made to recover the treasure sunk in many of these vessels, but with little success, for the rapidly shifting sands have long since hidden them from view. After several unsuccess- ful attempts to protect the bay, Sir John Coodes' design for a breakwater, at a cost of about $2,000,000 was ac- cepted by the Colonial gov- ernment; the first truck load was tipped by Prince Alfred on August 17, 1800! As the breakwater now stands, it is 3,640 feet long, with a light at its end, superceding the old Light House at Monille Point. The number of ves- sels the- dock in entering 1907 was 1,192 with a ton- nage of 3,933,905. Light House at Monille Point. Proceeding towards the town the dock gates are passed, and in the adjoining building the passengers' baggage is examined. Nearby are the remains of the Old Amsterdam Battery, a relic of ancient days. Nearby stands the Sailors' Home and Seaman's Institute erected at a cost of $45,000. Dock road leads into Adderley Street in whbh many of the principal buildings are situated. This street is the finest in the city, and was formerly known as "Heerengrachf'or "Gentle- men's Walk," or canal, along which was planted pine trees. It formed the fashionable promenade of the city. It is here that the bronze statue of Van Riebeek, ten feet in height, and presented to the CAPE TOWN OF TODAY. 771 city by the late Cecil Rhodes, in 1899, stands at the head of the Jetty and foot of Adderley Street. The pedestal is of quartzose sandstone from Table Mountain. Ascending Adderly Street, we see the Railway Terminus or Adderley Street. Cape Town, Africa The Dutch Reformed Church behind the Tree, First Church in Africa. n t^S* 2 Wsm 1 ,. ••: l.ii _^-— **"•»»«£ ^-' t-raacattiibBifeAd&M^^^^^fl ..:i The Railway Station Cape Town, Africa. station, erected in 1878, with a frontage of 150 feet. Just above the station are the handsome buildings of the General Post and Telegraph office, opened for business in 1887. Cape Town General Post Office. At the back of the Post office is the Parade Ground, laid out in 1699, nearly a quarter of a mile long, utilized each Wednesday and Thursday mornings as a market for the sale of mer- chandise of every description. The next building above the Post office is the bead office of the Standard Bank of Africa, built in 1883, at a cost of $160,000, and since much enlarged. A little higher up is the Dutch Reformed Church, the On the Parade Ground — Sale of Mdse. earliest edifice for public wor- ship erected in South Africa. The first structure was commenced in 1699, the clock tower, con- taining the clock which was sent from Holland in 1727, being all that remains of the old church. Beneath the floor of this church CAPE TOWN OF TODAY. 773 are the remains of eight of the old Dutch governors, a fact that has earned for it the name of the Westminster Abbey of South Africa. At the top of Adderly Street begins the Government Avenue which once formed part of the famous gardens laid out by Gov- ernor Van der Stel. This avenue is three quarters of a mile long, Standard Bank, Adderly Street, Cape Tcnrn. and well shaded with oak trees, some of which are two hundred years old. This is one of the most beautiful walks known and is visited bv hundreds of people who spend their leisure hours read- ing or walking in the shade of these majestic oaks. Facing on this avenue are the Houses of Parliament, with their beautiful gardens, completed in 1886 at a cost of $1,100,000, with a frontage of 264 feet and built of Paarl granite and brick. These gardens contain a marble statue of Queen Victoria, ten and one half feet high, erected in commemoration of the Jubilee. Just opposite on the other side of the avenue are the Botan- ical Gardens, containing fourteen acres covered with 8,000 varieties of trees and plants from all parts of the world, among them being many rare palms, orchids, etc. The Old Slave Market, Cape Town. In Van Riebeek square is an old building, now used as a na- tive school and church, which was originally the old Slave Market ffP^fiiSlhi •^sftiSlt-* -""vwjg '"' ' ' * SBftS* p "" .^^ ~ Ii4i^ IPwIKp fiv " "\*"~ ' htr* "%3#ijft . '«3^^'**^2^£ **&&& *» «*.. •~. ^***^*%$&£-' *V*fc < s^sr! ^^_^^^^^^^^-1 Woodhead Reservoir, Table Mountain; Capacity, 250 million Gallons Daily. Cape Town. where hundreds of human souls were bartered away and sent to other countries. The water supply of Cape Town is derived from Table Moun-