The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1953-01-24
Representatives Of the us. Mis-

representatives Oh the I'D. MIS-
sion discussed the possibility of
raising fruits and vegetables for
sale in Monrovia. Seeds, simple
tools, and other equipment were
supplied. The first season, the
people produced enough vegetables
for sale. With some of the money
they earned this way the village
bought three S0-gallon kettles Of
cooking palm oil. Use Of the kettles
resulted in a better product be-
cause there was less acid left in
the oil. Now, money is being in.
vested comparatively in an oil press
and a nut-cracking machine. More
young palm trees Of improved
variety have been planted. Head
Chief Anadu takes pride in the
five dollars year in 1914 to about
twenty-five dollars, now.
When the technical workers of
the Economic Mission first began
to 60 to the project at Dimeh-
Amino, which is about Is miles
from the capital city of Monrovia,
II took them about s hours of COM
bined walking and canoeing to
reach the place. Now by crossing
the fine new bridge over the St.
Paul River and following the new
road which has been built, the
traveller covers the distance in a
car or truck in about 30 minutes.
The United States Pure Food and
Drug Administration used to pro-
hibit the entry Of Liberian cocoa
into the United States because of
its poor quality. During the war
years, European markets were cut
off and the cocoa trees became
part of the jungle. One of the first
things Pinder did on coming to
Liberia was to encourage the
people to clear the groves and to
teach them to prepare their pro-
duct for market. They have re-
Gently set out 100000 young cocoa
trees. When these come to full pro-
duction, they will supply nearly
$50 tons Of exportable cocoa beans
each year, most of which goes to
the United States
The building of new roads has
had much to do with the expan-
sion in agriculture and industry. In
1888 there were about 200 miles of
roads in Liberia. In 1850 there
were over 1000 miles. With the
roads have come also demand
for all kinds Of goods from the
United States trucks, tractors,
bodybuilding and maintenance
equipment. Now, hundreds of farm
families can take their produce to
market in a day, whereas it used
to mean weeks of weary plodding
on foot. The produce arrives in
better condition and the farmer
can get better prices for it.
While these projects were going
on. the United States Mission and
the Liberian Government we're ad-
vancing survey of the entire
country covering its soil, forest and
mineral resources, future trans.
portation possibilities. and other
phases of economic life. The Gov
eminent of Liberia has expressed
a desire for United States techni-
cal cooperation in a long-range de-
velopment program based on this
survey.
Over a 5 to l0-year period the
program win concentrate on five
major fields: engineering. with
emphasis on road-building and nv.
dro-electric works: agricultural de-
velopment; further health services:
basic education: and improved
public administration. The Liber-
ian Government expects to contri-
butte 20 per cent Of its total annual
revenue or about one million dol
lars year. to these plans. The
annual rate Of United States spend
ing for the program reached $50.
900 during the year 1851.
In Liberia, u. S. capital has
found an open-door policy and a
stable government. Since 1926. the
Firestone Rubber Company has
leased land FOR the cultivation of
rubber AZ present the company
has rocco acres under production
and another l0.olo zcres Of rubber
trees which vii come into PRO-
duction within the next S years.
It's plantations contain model vil.
lagos 10 house the rubber workers
who are provided with modern
| medical care and disqualification.