Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-17
WEST AFRICAN CITY
NOW MODERN PORT
Lagos Rid of Disease
Spreading Insects and
Brought Up to Date.

Armed with experience in wiping out
yellow fever in the American tropics,
medical men have outwitted yellow
fever carrying insects in Western Africa,
according to reports from Lagos, Nigeria.
Lagos, capital of British Nigeria, Is
an example of the change in Western
Africa that has brought health to a
once diSeaSe-ridden region" says a
bulletin from the National Geographic
Society.
Lagos has been called the Bombay
Of West Africa because it is situated
on an island, but until recent years a
citizen of Bombay would have resented
the comparison. The island Is but a
few feet above sea level. Before the
British drained and filled the swampy
part of the island, Lagos was huddled
on the only dry spot.
Was Harvest" for Insects.
Insect hordes rose from the water
logged area and attacked the city. La
gos was harvest for the winged enc
mics, for sanitation was unknown, and
the streets between rambling rows of
huts of mud, sun-dried brick, odd pieces
of corrugated iron and battered oil cans
were mere shadowy Sits where feveriSh
men, women and children lounged
amid nauseating odors.
While all Lagos has not been made
over, several streets in the old portion
of the city have been widened; two
story, SpotlesSly white modern buildings
now occupy sites of dilapidated huts;
a handsome government building over
looks broad tree-studded lawn on a
quiet lagoon. A cathedral, its corner
stone laid by the Prince of Wales in
1925; schools and hospitals have been
built. Electric lights now throw their
beams into corners that the suns rays
did not penetrate; modern sewerage and
water systems have been installed, and
many of the once popular lounging
places of the inhabitants are busy bust
ness marts.
100000 Population.
"In 1897 Lagos had about 10000 in
habitants. Today the older city and
the modern suburbs, which occupy a
portion Of the former island swamps,
accommodate 100000 people. Only
1000 are white.
1.-The outer rim of the long lagoon
which incloses the southwestern coast
of Nigeria protected the early settlers
of Lagos from the ravages of the sea.
1t also protected native canoes, which
would safely emerge from the rivers
that intersect the coast and deliver
their cargoes of fruits and vegetables
at the Lagos market place.
1.-THE lagoon rim also hampered La
Cos growth in world trade, for ships
anchored at sea. More than $4,000
600 has been spent by the British to
dig a channel through the barrier and
to improve Lagos harbor works. Now
more than 20 ocean-gotng vessels may
be warped into the city's docks, which
are equipped with modern cargo han
ding devices.
Was Slave Market.
"Canoe-borne cargoes continue to
supply the Lagos market and some of
the articles find their way into export
lists. The recently completed railroad
which runs from the mainland opposite
Lagos, to Kano, Northern Nigeria, more
than TOO miles inland, is one Of the
principal factors which assures the
Nigerian capital its present position as
the leading British port Of the Gulf OF
Guinea.
Its rails penetrate some Of Nigeria's
richest agricultural regions and bring
to Lagos cotton, coffee, palm OIL ivory,
ebony, rubber and maize for export.
Lagos WAS discovered and first