The Washington times., 1923-05-02
HAITI OFFERS To
SELL LAND To
AMERICANS
Stabilized Government Sees
Need Of Capital to Develop
Its Resources.

PORT AL PRINCE, Haiti, May
1.-THE Government is ready and
willing to offer every possible in
ducement to secure investment of
American capital in the vast, rich,
but as yet practically undeveloped,
natural resources of the Republic. !"
This is the message which Presi-
dent Louis Borno, of Haiti, request
ed International News Service to
give the American people. 1t is g.
message that comes direct from
President Borno's heart, for he has
dedicated his administration to the
development of what he considers the
most pressing need of the island re-
public-agriculture.
Torn by revolutions, strife, des-
pOtism for more than q century,
Haiti now is well on the road to
economic and financial prosperity
thanks to the efficiency of the United
States Marine Corps, which out OF
chaos has accomplished the UMPIRE
cedented fact of a Presidential in
auguration, free froms military coer.
cion or civil violence, at which the
incoming and retiring presidents
took part.
Due to the presence of marines
President Borno is enabled to make
his appeal to America for assistance
in developing the fertile lands OF
the interior. But the work of the
marines Is not yet finished. Nobody
in authority in the republic desires
to have them leave, least of all Presi-
dent Borno, who feels their stablizing
effect is needed until the govern
ment is more firmly on it's feet.
For the first time in history the
president is in a position to sell
vast tracts of government land to
foreign capital, preferably American,
at prices ranging from 81 to $500
an acre. The law permitting this
disposition was promulgated by
President Borno and his council OF
state, of twenty-one members, the
legislative and ruling body of the
republic.
Rich in Resources.
Haiti is rich in natural resources
Her lands are fertile, most of which
have not been titled. Petroleum, Zig.
mite and a few other minerals have
been discovered, and. already Amer
lean companies are forming to ex.
plot these products.
Coffee, the chief product of the
republic, grows wild. Last year
more than 100000 pounds were
exported. President Borno declares
this output can be doubled and trebl-
ed In a few years, with proper
cultivation. Cotton, sugar and log
wood are the other chief exports.
the four products comprising 80. 5
| per cent of the total export trade.
Inc volume Of trade in 1922 was
$IS'062' 4ol, an imposing figure con.
slderlng Haiti throughout It's entire
existence has never known scientific
agriculture.
1t is only natural. in view OF
HaiIs turbulent political history.
with Its graft and it's intrigues'
that there should be poverty in.
! tense poverty, iIliteracy, q woef,]
lack OF national feeling. Nearly
30 per cent of the population of
2'O5O'OOO can neither read or write
Provides for Education.
After agriculture is established
Borno wants to provide an ado
quate educational system. Hut
this cannot be done Without Tho
revenues derived from the farms
| Teachers in the few schools at
present are paid from SIS to AZ a
month; most of the people are
without means to send their chill.
dren to school. Farm wages now
are twenty cents a day; on gov.
eminent works wages are thirty
cents day-barely sufficient tn
sustain life. The people live ON
the tropical fruits, which, growing
wild, are abundant throughout the