Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-12

q
crease. The Ecole Centrale is the prin-'
cipal agency for the training of agricul-
tural and industrial school pupils. It's
students can choose from more than
100 courses, covering the fields Of agri-
culture, industry and civil engineering.
The service technique was organized
in 1928. One Of its principal detectives
was the promotion Of industrial educa-
ton. At that time only two teachers
in Haitian schools had had technical
instruction in agriculture in an educaS
tional institution of any standing.
The first job of the Ecole Centrale,
therefore, was the training of teachers
for agricultural and industrial school,.
Graduates of the school already have
played a notable part in helping the
Haitian farmer to a more intelligent
utilization Of the natural resources -
the island.
Illiteracy Is General.
Rural education in Haiti has problems
all its own. Even today, IS per cent of
the adult peasants are illiterate. They
do not even speak the oficial language
Of the country. Poverty goes hand in
hand with low standard of living
In addition to the physical handicaps
! certain other factors add difficulties to
the problem. The lure of ti.- Sity -
| strong. The peasant desire to be -
gentleman" living in luxury, such as
he supposes surrounds all city dwellers.
In order to get promoted to this class
he feels that he must obtain clerical on
commercial work. and if possible to &C.
into some of the so-called learned pro-
| LESSONS.
| Hence the service technique has the
problem of providing the children of
| farmers with an education that will
stimulate In them desire to remain on
the farm and develop its resources. Sew
eral score rural farm schools are liz.
operation. These give instruction !.
| garden work. manual training and ag-
riculture. There is also a program of
| agricultural extension. Through fairs
and other means many thousand adults
are reached and receive some measure Of
scientific instruction.
Experiment Stations Opened.
The service technique maintains a
number of experiment stations. The
general aims are to discover and DEM
onstrate means for improvement of agri-
culture and to improve the quality of
the livestock and seeds and plants used
Dy farmers. Among other achievements
| these experiment stations have culti-
waited several improved STRAINS of cotton,
which 1t Is believed, will improve the
production OF cotton throughout Haiti.
Coffee Is fundamentally important to
Haiti and the service technique main
tains coffee experiment station. Here
various problems Of coffee production
are studied. Most Haitian coffee is sold
to France. and by improving and stand
ardizing the grade the service technique
hopes to be able to increase the market
Tor Haitian coffee In the United States.
Inc service operates vocational train
ing schools for boys and girls and live
STOCK experiment station. together with
virtually the whole field of Haitian arri-
culture. and 1t is able to help the farmer
at almost every turn.
Public Works Developed.
The public works department carries
on work that has been an essential
element in the program of material
improvement Of the American adn,iris-
tration. More than so individual
projects have been under way. The
department OF public works EMPLOYS
ABOUT 700 persons. with q ratio of about
ESQ Haitian employees to one American.
MAJOR projects to which the depart
ment recently has devoted its atten-
ZION are the extension of the Agricul-
turai college at Damien. the Palais de
Justice and the combined government
warehouses at Port au Prince. In these
Gays transportation Is the kew that
unlocks the door to economic develop
ment. Haiti finds, as have other co,1n-
tries, that its short-haul Transportation
can best be performed by motor We
| nlcles. Most Of the long hauls can he
done better by water, due to the COM
pact size Of the island.
Inc program falls into three main
pnaSeS-first, the construction, as fast
| as possible, Of q system of vehicular
roaos connecting all the principal towns
ana cues; second, the improvement
de to
costs and make possible the use of the
ROADS In all seasons and weather condi-
lions; third. the provision of durable
road surfacing. The third phase has
only been reached here and there.
Haitians Replacing Americans.
The public works department has
charge OF the telegraph and Telephone
system. 1t carries on q wide range Of
other activities, all relating to the con.
SSrucC!on, improvement and operation
OF public works. 1t also operates a.
radio broadcasting service.
Inc Garde dHaiti has duties as
OF any other similar force in the world
american officers are the directing
heads OF the organization, but Haitians
provide fair share of the officers of
lower grade. About 40 per cent of the
captains and lieutenantS are Haitians.
Inc navy has provided the medical
personnel, but Haitians, trained for this
~ork, gradually are replacing the
The garde performs all the police
and military functions of government
IN an area OF approximately 10000
square miles, with a population Of an
proximately 2,200,0 900. There is an aver
age OF one guardsman for every 500 in
habitants. 1t is charged with the main
tenance and operation of all naviga-
tional aids in Haitian waters; the con-
troll OF trafic and the registration of
motor vehicles; the care of prisoners
and the insane.
II ne Is TO do everything that he NAV
De called upon to do, the guardsman
must be versatile man. The garde
mas charge OF all organized fire depart
ments on the island, and carries out
many investigations for other treaty.
departments During the recent dis.
turbances the garde proved its mettle
and its dependability
AirpIane Landing Fields Provided.
In the isolated parts of the republic
communications present a serious
problem There are many sections
without bridges, roads and trails. The
garde maintains 293 miles of telephone
lines, and 1t has also laid and main
tains 10 airplane landing fields. Plane
communication has now been assured to
Haiti. e' -
One example may be cited to illustrate
tne marked Improvement made in mill
tary communications. The Village of
Hinche was formerly the center of ban
dit and Caco operations. Airplanes
from Port au Prince and Cape Haitian
now deliver Official and personal mail
three time week at Hinche station.