The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-08-18
American Negroes Show
 Aptitude For Business

While the black men of Haiti have not given the world a very illuninat- ing example of the capacity of the ne- gro for se1f-government, in view of the present devastating struggle in Europe it behooves the white race to sing small about his superior culture and civilization. Looking the mat ter over, up one side and down the other, the Caucasian hasn't much to brag about Ignoring their blood thirsty cousins of the West Indies, and the recent downfall of Jack John son, the Americans of African des- cent may be pardoned the indulgence of little pride in the accomplish ments of their race while celebrating g in Boston today the fifteenth anniver- sary of the founding of the Negro Business League. In the half-century which has passed since the ternina- fion of the civil war, which placed new responsibilities upon the negro, as well as giving hm greater liberty, the progress of the race in commerce, industry and education has been slow but sure. In entering the business world the black man has been handi- capped by many difficulties and prob lens peculiar to his race, but the sta- tistics collected by the Negro Busi- ness League show that the last decade ana a half has been a period of great progress.
 The number of business enterprises conducted by negroes of the United States in 1900 was estimated at 2o,- 900. Tn fifteen years the figure has more than doubled, and it is declared that there are now 45,00o business houses controlled by persons of Afri- can descent. The black man has be- come financier as well as a. business man. as evidenced by the fact that there are now fifty-one negro banking institutions in the United States, whereas there were but@two in 1900. While it is admitted that some of these institutions are but tiny affairs, and none too stable, many of the ne gro banks are rich and powerful, and powerful, and as sound as any similar institutions operated by Caucasians.
 The number of drug stores owned by negroes has increased in fifteen years from 250 to 6s5- In this cir cumstance the Christian Scientist will probably see the reason for the great increase in negro undertakers, who now number more than thousand, as compared with 450 in 1900. The re- tail stores of all kinds owned by ne es compared with 10000, while negro wholesale establishments have in creased from 149 to 24o.
 The explanation of this great in crease in business is to be found in the increased prosperity of the negro IaFmef IL IS upon the farmer that the negro business man largely de- bends for his prosperity, since the ne groes. of the cities and towns are us ua11y poor and have a comparatively small purchasing power. In ten years the agricultural property of the ne- groes of the United States has increas- ed in value from SIT, ,4O4, ,68Se to $492, ,S92, ,218-a truly remarkable gain. The value of land and buildings alone increased from $6s, ,636.420 to ,s27S. S.5O1, 1885, or 2s3 per cent. The value of domestic animals owned by negroes more than doubled in a de- cade. Strange to say-in view of the proverbia1 fondness of the negro for ehiclen-the smallest percentage of increase. was in poultry, the value of which increased only 36 per cent. Sta tstics as to waternelons are not avail able, but it is safe to say that the negro farmers have not neglected that crop.
 Viewing these figures, the black brethren may view with complacency the eclipse of the valorous MT. John son.