The Washington times., 1904-09-18
LIBERIA GROWING
DESPITE ENEMIES
Great Britain and France
Want Her Wealth.
FIGHTS HER OWN BATTLES
Little Republic Will Wax Strong If
Capital VIII Take Hold Of
Her Resources.

Ground between two millstOneS-Great
Britain and France-the little negro re-
public OF Liberia deserves great credit
for having maintained it's independ-
ence. But it has done more than that
IL has prospered. in spite Of the attempts
Of the two great powers 10 gain con-
troll of its rich land. and has devel-
oped into a country which offers great
advantages to foreign capital" said
Ernest Lyon, the United States min
lister TO Liberia who called on Acting
Secretary Adee yesterday afternoon at
the State Department and introduced
J. F. Cooper.
Minister Lyon has been in Liberia
about a year. He had a slight attack
OF fever. and is I'm this country recup-
Grating and visiting his home at Baltl-
more. Minister Lyon is "a negro. and
a native Of Honduras. but has lived In
this country many years. His mother
was a native of Jamaica. and he has
travelled extensively In the West Indies
and Africa
The Spanish Consul
J. F. Cooper. the Spanish vice consul
al Monrovia. Liberia, accompanied Min
lister Lyon 90 Washington yesterday
ana was presented TO Mr.. Adee. with
whom he talked Of conditions iu Liberia.
MIR. Cooper returned 10 New York last
night and VIII sail at once for Africa,
where he has large commercial interests.
Minister Lyon returned 70 Baltimore.
but will go TO St. Louis tnls we *, and
expects 20 remain I'm the United States
for some time before returning 20 his
post.
Liberia is M like tine West In
,9s!!es said Miulst,~ Lyon 1T is rich
in all tropical products ard iu addition
has great mineral wealth There are
wonderful openings for saw mills. The
country has many valuable hardwoOds,
but little lumber has been cut Its dye
woods have been neglected, and fruit
Juices, which are sent 10 Europe iu
their crude condition and refined there,
should be prepared for market I'm IL
IBERIA. Canning factories should be es-
tabIishcd to make use OF the great
quantities OF fruit which go to waste
every year Then, companies should he
organized 20 ship bananas and other
fruits 10 the European markets.
No Manufacturing.
As yet there IS practically no manu-
featuring in Liberia. What IL needs is
capital The Government is doing all
# can 10 improve conditions and en-
courage the development OF industries,
but its resources are limited.
"A bureau Of agriculture was estab-
Iished a short time ago. and the com
missioner in charge is encouraging the
natives to plant and cultivate rubber
and ginger and other products which
command ready market
Coffee IS the chief product Of Lii
IBERIA. and the LiberIan coffee is uu-
Ouestiouably the best iu the world. The
coffee trees flourish. i'm all parts Of the
country. on the mountains and I'm the
valleys. and the product IS 80 excellent
that coffee merchants frequently label
coffee produced In other countries as
Liberian Java because it will command
"A better price.
Whites Number 400
"Of the million and quarter persons
In Liberia. 100000 arc natives. and the
rest are negroes. OF the descendants of
negroes. who have gone there from the
United States. tie West Indies. and
other parts Of the world. The white
population OF the republic numbers only
about 200. These persons arc chiefly en-
gagged in commercial pursuits.
Liberia was established as a home
for eX-slaycs from the United States,
and the United States has always taken
a sort Of parental interest in g. stu.
the little republic has been allowed 90
| night it, own battles and work aut It's
own salvation