The development of East London through four decades of municipal control, 1873-1914
- Tankard, Keith Peter Tempest
- Authors: Tankard, Keith Peter Tempest
- Date: 1991
- Subjects: East London (South Africa) -- History , East London (South Africa) -- Economic conditions , East London (South Africa) -- Social conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:2560 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002413 , East London (South Africa) -- History , East London (South Africa) -- Economic conditions , East London (South Africa) -- Social conditions
- Description: This thesis is a study in Urban History which explores the development of East London, a port in the Border region of the Eastern Cape, South Africa, through four decades of municipal control from 1873 to 1914. The town had been established in 1847 as a supply route for the British forces during the War of the Axe (7th Frontier War) but the frontier nature of the port led to economic and physical stagnation during its initial 25 years of existence. Indeed, by the time that the municipality was established in 1873, there were still no streets beyond cart tracks, no established water supply, and sanitary conditions were medieval. The Town Council therefore had much to occupy its attention but lack of positive leadership resulted in failure to capitalise on prosperous economic conditions, while a depression in the 1880's led to a further truncation of growth. It was only in the 1890's that a combination of economic growth and vibrant leadership brought about rapid civic advance, with large-scale expenditure on street construction, as well as the establishment of electricity and a tramway system. The outbreak of the Anglo-Boer War in 1899 slowed progress, however, and a post-war depression placed renewed stress on the municipality. The thesis examines the progress of the town on a broad front, dealing with the issues of economic fluctuations, the growth of the harbour as the heart of the trading sector, the physical advance of the municipality, the search for a viable water supply, the evolution of public health and sanitation, and the establishment of the port as a coastal resort. In addition, it studies the conflict of social attitudes among the townspeople, the evolution of racial segregation, and the effects of the Anglo-Boer War on the town, with the influx of some 5 000 Uitlander refugees and the establishment of a Boer concentration camp. A final chapter attempts an analysis of the reasons behind the Town Council's inability to make the best use of its opportunities to foster the development of East London.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1991
- Authors: Tankard, Keith Peter Tempest
- Date: 1991
- Subjects: East London (South Africa) -- History , East London (South Africa) -- Economic conditions , East London (South Africa) -- Social conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Doctoral , PhD
- Identifier: vital:2560 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002413 , East London (South Africa) -- History , East London (South Africa) -- Economic conditions , East London (South Africa) -- Social conditions
- Description: This thesis is a study in Urban History which explores the development of East London, a port in the Border region of the Eastern Cape, South Africa, through four decades of municipal control from 1873 to 1914. The town had been established in 1847 as a supply route for the British forces during the War of the Axe (7th Frontier War) but the frontier nature of the port led to economic and physical stagnation during its initial 25 years of existence. Indeed, by the time that the municipality was established in 1873, there were still no streets beyond cart tracks, no established water supply, and sanitary conditions were medieval. The Town Council therefore had much to occupy its attention but lack of positive leadership resulted in failure to capitalise on prosperous economic conditions, while a depression in the 1880's led to a further truncation of growth. It was only in the 1890's that a combination of economic growth and vibrant leadership brought about rapid civic advance, with large-scale expenditure on street construction, as well as the establishment of electricity and a tramway system. The outbreak of the Anglo-Boer War in 1899 slowed progress, however, and a post-war depression placed renewed stress on the municipality. The thesis examines the progress of the town on a broad front, dealing with the issues of economic fluctuations, the growth of the harbour as the heart of the trading sector, the physical advance of the municipality, the search for a viable water supply, the evolution of public health and sanitation, and the establishment of the port as a coastal resort. In addition, it studies the conflict of social attitudes among the townspeople, the evolution of racial segregation, and the effects of the Anglo-Boer War on the town, with the influx of some 5 000 Uitlander refugees and the establishment of a Boer concentration camp. A final chapter attempts an analysis of the reasons behind the Town Council's inability to make the best use of its opportunities to foster the development of East London.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1991
Industrial development in a border area: facts and figures from East London
- Authors: Barker, John Percy
- Date: 1966
- Subjects: East London (South Africa) -- Economic conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Book , Text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/2634 , vital:20311
- Description: In the early 1950’s the area of the eastern Cape Province adjoining the Transkei was the object of an intensive study known as the Border Regional Survey and five volumes have already been published. This work is a more detailed investigation of one aspect of the economy, namely the growth of manufacturing industry. Its importance lies in the fact that not only is the African population increasing rapidly, but that effective rehabilitation of peasant farming in the Transkei and Ciskei must necessarily displace large numbers from the land. Expansion of manufacturing industry would appear to be the most effective means of providing remunerative employment for these people, Moreover, the government has embarked upon a policy of encouraging the establishment of factories on the periphery of the Bantu areas, and the eastern Cape is an important area in this general scheme. It may well be the most crucial testing point of the whole policy of border industries', because with its large Transkeian hinterland it is the area most in need of expanding employment opportunities; but, at the same time, by reason of locational and other disabilities, it is the area in which industrial expansion may be most difficult to achieve. , Digitised by Rhodes University Library on behalf of the Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER)
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1966
- Authors: Barker, John Percy
- Date: 1966
- Subjects: East London (South Africa) -- Economic conditions
- Language: English
- Type: Book , Text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10962/2634 , vital:20311
- Description: In the early 1950’s the area of the eastern Cape Province adjoining the Transkei was the object of an intensive study known as the Border Regional Survey and five volumes have already been published. This work is a more detailed investigation of one aspect of the economy, namely the growth of manufacturing industry. Its importance lies in the fact that not only is the African population increasing rapidly, but that effective rehabilitation of peasant farming in the Transkei and Ciskei must necessarily displace large numbers from the land. Expansion of manufacturing industry would appear to be the most effective means of providing remunerative employment for these people, Moreover, the government has embarked upon a policy of encouraging the establishment of factories on the periphery of the Bantu areas, and the eastern Cape is an important area in this general scheme. It may well be the most crucial testing point of the whole policy of border industries', because with its large Transkeian hinterland it is the area most in need of expanding employment opportunities; but, at the same time, by reason of locational and other disabilities, it is the area in which industrial expansion may be most difficult to achieve. , Digitised by Rhodes University Library on behalf of the Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER)
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1966
A socio-economic study of East London, Cape Province, with special reference to the non-European peoples
- Authors: Bettison, D G
- Date: 1951
- Subjects: East London (South Africa) -- Social conditions , East London (South Africa) -- Economic conditions , Rural-urban migration -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3387 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013496
- Description: From Forward: The development of gold mines in the Orange Free State is likely to be to modern East London what Kaffir Wars were to old East London. "The Fighting Port", as it is commonly called, is the nearest harbour to these mines and is linked by good rail, road and air facilities. A wide variety of industry is already established. Development is likely to be rapid. At present the City contains over 80,000 persons, and with the addition of peri-urban suburbs has doubled its population in just over fifteen years. In the past is has claimed to be the healthiest holiday resort in the Union. This year a City-wide campaign has been organised to fight tuberculosis, as the City's statistics indicate that it has one of the highest rates of anywhere in the world. Within twelve years two government sided commissions of enquiry have sat in the City and reported on the administration and living conditions of the city's African populaton. Extremely strong adjectives have been used to describe, and drastic recommendations made to improve the socio-economic and general conditions of the African people. Under the holiday atmosphere of the City lies a very serious, complex, and potentially dangerous human problem.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1951
- Authors: Bettison, D G
- Date: 1951
- Subjects: East London (South Africa) -- Social conditions , East London (South Africa) -- Economic conditions , Rural-urban migration -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3387 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013496
- Description: From Forward: The development of gold mines in the Orange Free State is likely to be to modern East London what Kaffir Wars were to old East London. "The Fighting Port", as it is commonly called, is the nearest harbour to these mines and is linked by good rail, road and air facilities. A wide variety of industry is already established. Development is likely to be rapid. At present the City contains over 80,000 persons, and with the addition of peri-urban suburbs has doubled its population in just over fifteen years. In the past is has claimed to be the healthiest holiday resort in the Union. This year a City-wide campaign has been organised to fight tuberculosis, as the City's statistics indicate that it has one of the highest rates of anywhere in the world. Within twelve years two government sided commissions of enquiry have sat in the City and reported on the administration and living conditions of the city's African populaton. Extremely strong adjectives have been used to describe, and drastic recommendations made to improve the socio-economic and general conditions of the African people. Under the holiday atmosphere of the City lies a very serious, complex, and potentially dangerous human problem.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1951
- «
- ‹
- 1
- ›
- »