The Chronicles of a Contractor - George Pauling

Condition: Good. DJ is good apart from some handling marks and wear on edges and folds. Book is clean and tight with some age related marks on end pages.
Format: Hardcover with DJ
Published: 1969 (Books of Africa)
Pages: 264
ISBN:

A civil engineering contractor of international repute and a great Rhodesian, George Pauling built the major part of Rhodesias railway network, including 1,531 miles of Rhodes Cape to Cairo Railway, and the tough Beira to Umtali line.

He came to South Africa from Britain aged 20 and in 1877 founded the firm of Pauling & Co. Ltd. Backed by the banking house of dErlangers, the Company expanded its activities throughout southern Africa, to the Holy Land, Greece, South America, Great Britain, India and China. In these, and other, lands railways, tunnels, bridges, dams, harbours and public works stand as monuments to his drive, business acumen and engineering skill.

He travelled to every corner of the globe but it was to Rhodesia that he gave much of his time and energy, influencing the shaping of its early days. In 1895 Rhodes appointed him Commissioner of Public Works in the Chartered Companys administration in Salisbury, and he later assumed responsibility for the Departments of Mines and Posts.

Although his story is modestly told it is packed with the interest to be expected of so colourful and dynamic a personality. The reprint contains a full-colour map, some 70 illustrations and 9 appendixes additional to the original edition.