The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1853-04-18


The following letter, addressed to the Will
liamsburg Times, is written by an intelli-
gent colored manwho emigrated from Will
liamsburg,- New York, to Liberia, few
months ego. II will be seen that be is de-
lighted with the change in his condition and
prospects:
eGS MoxKovIA, Jan. cad, 1853. g
| promised to let you hear from me when
in Liberia, Africa, but also have been here
two months, cannot at this time give you
much account of the place. This little re-
public is SO far ahead of what expected to
find it, that your good people of the States
would scarcely think were narrating truth
IBERIA is fine fertile country. Things oil
every kind grow here. The people are more
comfortable in every respect, and enjoy
themselves much better than have ever
known them to do elsewhere. The houses
are very large and are built mostly of brick
and stone; they are two stories ard two
stories and half high, from 80 TO so feet
front, and from 25 to 40 feet deep. The
steps to these houses are composed of iron
ore-a substance on which the city is built.
Iron ore is as plenty in Monrovia as COM
mon stone is in Williamsburg. @
Most of those who farm are located on the
banks of the st. Paul river, about five miles
from the city, and some are doing well. AL.
len Hooper, OF New York. has been here q
little over two years. He had but small
means to commence with, but now has one
of the best coffee plantations on the river
He has seven thousand trees growing-twc
thousand of which are loaded with coffee
and he is Of opinion that next year all will
bear. Next ! will mention A. Blacklege
who is making about twelve thousand pounds
of sugar year, and some hundreds Of gal
Ions of molasses and syrup-all of which
will favorably compare with the best import
ed articles OF the kind.
Sweet potatoes, Lima beans, Indian corn
cassaca, plaintains, and other vegetables arr
raised up this river, VIII oh is 25 or 80 miles
long. A fine town is situated at the source
Of this stream; it is called Millsburg, and
containsn population of 800 or 1000 persons
the most of whom employ tn mselves in max
ing brick and hewing timber of all kinds TO
market.
have not the ability of describing the ad
vantages to be reaped in this country, no.
have / the time. My business is so much
better than ever it was before, that it takes
all my tire to attend to il.
One word as to the fever. My children
have all had it; SO have oil the emigrants wht
came out with us except my wife, myself
and two others. None Of them kept ihei
bed for more than two days. Tie fever is no
as bad as it is generally represented 10 be
have seen persons who have lived here fo
from two to twenty years and who never hat
liz at all.
This is great country for men and wo
!. men who love liberty and who love them
selves, for money can be made here.
Please to give my thanks to the gentlemen
in your city whose philanthropy was thu
cause Of my success. trust that you vii
publish this letter for the information o
. those who may wish to know something O
this country. My next letter shall be Ionge
and will contain much more information
respecting the colony of Liberia-a day-sta
of hope for the colored race.
JOHN d. JOHNSON.