The Colorado statesman., 1911-10-28

In those hnndicrafts Tor Which tnero
is the greatest need in that country.
These are, primarily everything CON
nected with the construction or dwell
ings, both as to carpentry and as 10
masonry. In the towns large part
of the buildings are constructed OF
brick, stone or cement. and this form
of construction is that which is best
adapted to the tropics. The Drlck
used is mostly imported. though at the
present time a great deal is derived
from older buildings which have fallen
into decay and which have broken up
Brick-making would also be pront-
able industry.
Special attention should be given TO
all kinds of cement work for the pur-
poses Of construction of houses. cis-
terms and all kinds of drainage. Sani-
tary arrangements do not exist In the
couotry and in the city are woefully
primitive. A proper application OF
cement construction to these necessl-
ties would not only contribute TO the
health of the community, but would
be valuable In establishing higher
standards of decency and living.
Room in Liberia for Trained
Mechanics.
The center of the Americo-Liberlan
number of trained mechanics. The
application of the gasoline motor TO
navigation of the st. Pauls river ana
in machine shops is increasing ana
for the present It would seem that ele-
mentary knowledge of the principles
and applications of mechanics and the
care of machinery might well be made
a subject of instruction.
There has so far been little con-
scious effort to utilize native products
to the best advantages. The teachers
of an agricultural school could tender
an enormous service to the country Dy
the study of its natural resources, by
the cultivation by way of experiment
and demonstration of the crops or the
country, such as the coffee plant and
possibly the sugar cane, and by intro
ducing improved methods for the col
lection. preservation and shipment Oh
such natural products as palm oil ana
kernels, piassava fiber and rubber. IL
such an institution were designed Tor
both sexes, the industrial training of
the girls would naturally follow the
saue lines as have been developed by
the educational experts of the United
States.
The center of the America-Liberian
population is Monrovia, and such a
school as is needed should be located
in or near this place. There is plenty
of good agricultural land easily ac-
cessibie to Monrovia, while the proX-
unity to the town would in the first
instance be an important factor in
reducing the cost of the necessary
supplies which until the school Is
well established, must be largely pur-
chased.
New Era Dawning for Republic.
No gift of the American people to
the republic of Liberia could be more
valuable for development of the
country than such an institution. AS
an example of a wholly disinterested
concern in the welfare of the republic,
the gift would be most highly ap-
preciated. The people of Liberia be-
lieve that a new era is dawning. They
have placed themselves under the
guidance OF the OHllSu OldlSS VI
America, and they are looking forward
to the advent of their advisers as the
beginning of changed conditions. While
these changes encounter the natural
inertia which opposes any new move
ment, the present and future admins
trations of the country are in hearty
accord with these changes. No more
fitting time than the present could be
imagined in which to establish such
a school, which would be regarded by
the Liberian people as conclusive evil
dence that the interest the American
government has taken in their welfare
is as unselfish as those who have been
concerned in this policy believe.
OF course, the Europeans in Liberia
cannot understand that the United
States has no Interior motive, and that
1t is actuated solely by considerations
of sympathy and friendly feeling. Such
an educational institution as has been
discussed would in a large measure
counteract this influence of the for
eigrers now located in the country.