Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-07-05
DEVELOPMENT OF AFRICA.
How England Is Forcing a Large
Trade-Th6 Slave Traffic.


American schemes for the extension
of trade with Africa have not met with
that degree OF success which the most
sanguine had hoped for. says the Iron
Age. Not many years ago IA promi-
nent New York merchant became
quite enthusiastic respecting the pros
poets of Liberia, sending out sugar
mills, encouraging coffee culture, and
aiding ia the deportation OF American
negroes, but the so-called republic"
now exists scarcely in name. In like
manner steamship project which for
time engaged the fostering interests
Of several New York gentlemen phil
anthropically inclined never took a
tangible form and passed oct OF mind.
But line of sailing vessels from New
York to Liberia has boon maintained.
and American exports OF manufactured
cotton to Africa through various chan
nels form considerable item. Mean
while England is building up a -four
ishing trade on both sides of the con-
tinent, on the west coast and at Ianzi-
bar. Trade with the colony Of Lagos
for the year 1897 amounted TO
81, 800, 900, and It il calculated that
the entire trade OF Great Britain
with the west coast last year amounted
to the approximate value OF go, 0OO,0 900
of imports and Sl3, 900 of exports,
comparing we'll with some portions of
India. At Zanzibar up TO the recent
breaking out Of hoStlltes, the whole
coast was continuous line Of British
Indian trading stations, and trading
increased rapidly to Sl0,000,000 per
annum, the greater part OF this being
in the hands Of British subjects. ''Un-
fortunately" as we are told by Arch
bishop Farrar, "this property attracted
the greed of cert lin German adven-
turers," Vho made bogus treaties"
claimed vast tracts Of country, and
proceeded TO take possession, despite
the remonstrances OF the sultan.
Furthermore, according TO the author
ity just quoted, 1.-THE whole trade OF
the coast is in the hands OF some TO-
900 British subjects from India, in
Guiding the ivory trade. copra, gum
opal, india rubber, hide aud grain
trades. These British Indians have
lent large sums OF money TO the Arab
ivory caravans They have also
invested their profits in mort
cages on the houses and plan
tations of the Arabs. feeling
quite secure under the shadow OF Eng
lish justice. The British In 1ians have
$500, 900 of floating capt. Al employed
at this time in the ivory trade in the
far interior, and unless some decisive
measures are undertaken by the Eng
lish government this large sum must
inevitably be lost" Englan appears
to have become inextricably involved
by joining in an agreement with Ger
many to MAINTAIN n blockade ''to put
down the slave trade" a feat some
what difficult of accomplishment where
every African and Arab trader is a
Shareholder either in will or deed.
Clearly enough, ii would now appear
the development of Africa what
ever this may mean, has received
check from which there will be tardy
recovery. 1t is surmi sed. however,
that traders in Zanzibar, while post
poning indefinitely the Relation OF
hopes for the commercial subjugation
OF the interior lake regioas accessible
from this point, my give a new i'm
petus TO the Congo Free State and to
efforts 20 penetrate tropical Africa
through the Soudan. The marvellous
achievements Of Livingstone's success
sor, Henry NJ. Stanley. OF whom full
advices have just come To hand, in
vest the subject with a new interest.