The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1928-12-28
Africa and America Linked
By Worlds Latest Radio Service
Harvey S. Flrestone, Jr., Sends First Message
From Liberia To Rubber Company's DUN
Station In Akron Daily Reports On
Rubber GrouUth To FoLLow

Mr.. and Mrs. Harvey S. Fire
stone, Junior, now in the African
jungles, today broadcasted the first
message sent from the special ra-
dio station recently erected on the
Firestone rubber plantation in the
interior of Liberia, on the West
Coast of Africa. The message
was received at a similar station
on the roof of the Firestone fac.
tories at Akron, Ohio.
This marks a new era of COM
munication with the interior of in
accessible countries. Heretofore,
the method used was to send foot
messengers through jungle trails,
taking days to get in touch with
the outside world. Broadcasting
by radio direct from one continent
to another thus gives the Firestone
Tire a. Rubber Co. great advan-
tage in developing it's million acres
of rubber lands that were secured
from the Liberian government.
Although these properties are To-
Gated over 5000 miles from the
Firestone headquarters at Akron,
Ohio, it will now be possible to
send reports every day by radio
from the Liberian plantations to
Akron.
100000 Acres Laid Out
Mr.. Firestone, Jr., has been in
Liberia since early January. In
his first report by radio today, he
said that the Liberian government
officials were enthusiastically CO.
operating with Firestone in the
company's great undertaking to
make Liberia one of the important
rubber-growing countries of the
world. Mr.. Firestone said that
during the first year two $4,000
acre plantations had been laid out,
one on the Du river and the other
$50 miles south of the Du on the
Cavalla river.
Firestone engineers in the same
time had constructed over rs miles
Of roads and had built and estab-
lished headquarters on the two
plantations, with housing facilities
for the resident stats of 11S
Americans. Power plants for the
development Of electric power,
light and refrigeration had been
built, as we'll as hospitals and
trade stores for the benefit of the
Americans and also to supply the
needs Of the $1,000 natives who
are employed in clearing the jun
giles and planting rubber trees.
100000 Trees Planted
During the past year, according
to Mr.. Firestone's first radio re-
port, over 100000 rubber trees
have been planted on a total of
over $4,000 acres of cleared jungle
lands. This is a record in rubber
plantation work. 1t is the largest
number of trees set out and acres
planted by any single company in
the same length Of time. And Mr..
Firostono stated that the rate of
progress in clearing land and
planting rubber trees is being con-
stantly increased.
Mr.. Firestone reported that the
steamship sent over for service
had been placed in commission
along the Liberian coast and is
now linking up the Firestone plan
tations and the coast towns of Lii
IBERIA. He expressed the hope that
: Firestone will soon have its own
vessels operating directly between
New York and Liberia, making the
Atlantic passage in less than two
weeks. When this is done, it will
not only give Firestone an advan-
tage of from two to five weeks in
time as compared with other rub
ber-growing countries, but will
also greatly reduce the cost of
transportation.
Teach Natives Trades
Great progress in the develop
ment Of the F;restone trade schools
was also reported. Mr.. Firestone
said that the natives were very
anxious to learn under the instruc-
ton. Of the Firestone technical
staff. The dark-hued Liberians
are being taught to be carpenters
blecksmiths, plumbers, electricians
automobile mechanics, sanitary en-