The Dallas express. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1893-1970, 1922-06-24
Liberia struggline In the Most Affect
Poverty In the Midst of Ine0mpu-
tahle WenIth.


We are told that the greater por-
ton Of the West Coast OF Africa is
| fertile, but Liberia is situated In the
midst Of one of the richest spots on
the continent, but IL is the develop
ment Of its agricultural resources that
offer the greatest and safest source
Of immediate wealth. The soil Is most
productive and with the spirit of in
tensive cultivation of the valuable
native products a yield would appear
that would bring untold wealth When
you think of the farming in Africa
you get only feeble conception to
consider II in the light of our agri-
cultural customs There are parts of
the continent where the farm has been
very highly deveioped--where modern
farfn impiiments In use-but II is not
so in Liberia and those more back
ward provinces. You must think of the
farm in its crude state--the clearing
away of the brush and weeds and dig
ging holes where the seed or plant Is
deposited, Perhaps the greatest task
after that Is keeping under control
the luxurianI growth az the wild
vegetation--the superficial filling Of
the soil tends greatly to encourage
this noxious growth. It seems to the
visitor that ground cleared and then
plowed after the American and Eu-
ropean fashion would bring astound-
ing results, II the timed superficial
method employed by the African gets
a fair yield. 1t Is the Judgment OF
those who are best informed on the
subject, that Liberia abounds In min
eral weai.h-that much of its soil Is
underlayed with iron, copper, lead. sill
Yer. gold and even diamonds have been
found there; but II chief hope uf im-
mediate wealth lies in its farm pro-
ducts and fine timber, and In its de-
velopment 81 its palm kernels which
nave great market value. The writer
saw a large consignn ent consisting Of
thousands of five bii shel sacks being
loaded on the Abin s, the ship on
which he took passage from Africa
to Europe. This cargo represented
! thousands of dollars to the shippers.
BY industry like cargoes could be go
ing from Liberian ports-sent out by
Colored men. Many such consign-
ments would soon put the country on
its feet-little loans would not be
thought Of
It would hardly be wise to open up
the mineral resources of the country
while It Is in It's present feeble con-
ldltion-there would be no way In the
iworld Of preventing the strong powers
with which the litsie republic Is sur
grounded from over, Nnfng the cow
try ana taking charge of this coveted
wealth. When the country has grown
to the real dignity of an independent
lnation--when It shall have means Of
be time to exploit its mineral re-
sources. We shall see later on how
1 quickly the rich and powerful infiu-
ences took away from the people they
/ rightfulIy belonged to the gold and
my mind one Of Liberals greatest
needs today Is large consignment Of
II farmers and mechanics who are not
afraid Of work Practical men--naen
who are not looking for an easy
: berth give y some men Of tfiis kind
and In few years all that ! have
said OF possibilities would 'ie more
tilAsn realized.
The thing that impresses the travel
er even to European countries at this
Il time is the large number OF people
YOU find about the wharf and rail-
way stations grabbing FOR your bag
gage for what you are Wiling to give
them. But when you strike tho coast
of Africa this tribe increases seven
fold 1t was in Senegal that I had
my first experience with this phase
grounded by scores OF mtsn and boys
pulling for your luggage The lucky
fellow doee not hesitate to keep all
\ for himself. Ny trunk weighed be-
tween a5o and 200 pounds but the
walked Off with It--in one case he
carried 1t fully ten or twelve blocks.
/ II seems to the visitor that people
who are as willing 10 tackle hard task
like that would willingly consent to
Tor 81 the farm. These same crowds
meet you In LIbe, "a. Il seems that
the borrowing habit Is pract.,ed 70
perfection In the black Republic che
| frleEc with whom ] made my home
while there was called on from early
make loans. Nobody that Is lilxeiy TO
have money Will escape these request
ri had only beer there day or SO
hesore WIS asked TO make q loan.