The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1942-05-22
HAITI ECONOMY
SOLUTION seen
IN SHADA PLAN
Nv OTTO q. JANSEN

by OTTO q. JANSEN
washington, May "a (UP)-United
States government economists are
wacahing with deep interest an ex-
pertinent in Haiti which promises
to alter radically the entire economy
Of that Caribbean country and set
an example for other countries Of
the New World to follow.
If the experiment Is successful,
the French-speaking island repub-
lie may be able, in the not too dis
tant future, to avoid to large de-
gree the economic shocks and dis
locations which usually come to
countries with relatively undiversi-
fed economies.
The story Of Haiti's experiment
goes back to the months preceding
this country's entry into the war.
The European hostilities had greatly
reduced the demand for Haitis cot
ton, coffee, sugar and cocoa. Prices
were down and jobs were hard to
get.
Gets S5,OOO,OOO Credit
Haitian leaders brought their
problem to the United States, and
after considerable discussion 1t was
decided to set up a joint Haitian
American corporation, known as the
Societe Haitien- Americana de De-
velopment Agricole, to develop new
crops, increase and improve the
production Of old ones and, In gen.
eral, work out q long-range agricul-
tural program.
The United States Export Import
Bank supplied a 100000 credit to
SIADA, as the enterprise is now
popularity known, and its hackers
Immediately plunged into the job
Of making 1t work.
Anticipating an urgent need for
rubber as a result Of the growing
threat Of war in the Far East,
SHADA intensified the exploitation
| Of old rubber trees and began plant
ing new ones on an extensive scale,
The old trees now are supplying $50
pounds Of rubber a month. New
paintings total 100000 trees.
FerneIl the Spafkplug
SHADA Is well on the way to
becoming the second largest rub
ber-growing enterprise in the
hemisphere. It Is surpassed only
by the Ford plantations In the
Amazon Valley. It Is estimated thai
Haiti has at least 100000 acres suit
able for rubber production.
The spark behind SHADAs en-
ergy and enterprise Is its youthful
president and general manager,
Thomas A. Fennell. Fennell recently
came to Washington to confer with
President Roosevelt about SHADA's
progress.
He disclosed at that time tina
SFIADA would take on the Job o.
helping supply the United State
with sisal and medicinal plants for
merly obtained from the Far East
SHADA plans to plant $4,000 acre
Of sisal, q fiber-yielding plant which
can be grown relatively quickly.
Training Specialists
SFIADA has about 1000 worker
in Haiti's forests and cultivated
areas. The corporations main rev
enue is presently derived from cut
ting and caring for some 150,00t
acres Of forest turned over to i
by the Haitian government. In thu
future, however, when the rubber
trees and other plants begin Il
yield, SHADA expects to obtain
large part Of Its revenue from these
sources.
At present, SHADA Is training
over 100 Haitian youths as techni.
clans, supervisors and other spe.
cialists, and Is looking for more mer
for similar training.
Haiti and SHADA need more
educated young men who are twill
ing and ready to roll up their sleeves
and tackle the job no matter how
lowly and strenuous part or all Of the
work may be-" Fennell said during
his visit here.
It is reported that organizations
similar to SHADA may eventually
be arranged for other countries, pos
sibly' Ecuador mad the Dominican
Republic.