20th Oct.
'Tex years have elapsed since the time when' Stanley, ascending the Congo River and founding the stations of Vivi, Issanghila, Manyauga and Leopoldville, laid the basis of what was going to become the new Independent State. Thanks to the explorations undertaken till 1885 under the patronage of the "Association Internationale Africaine" and later on by the State Agents, the immense white spots that formerly extended over the map of Africa are not far from being covered. Until 1885, hardly 3,000 kilometres of river had been ascended by the steamers of the Association Internationale Africaine to-day, over 12,000 are open to navigation.
Whilst the State proceeded to the gradual occupation and to the pacific conquest of its provinces, it at the same time more and more extended its civilizing influence. Its territory was administratively divided into twelve
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.