BELGIAN CONGO

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 177, 22 April 1919, Page 8

BELGIAN CONGO

.4 RICH AFRICAN POSSESSION,

No colony in Africa has a better econnomio future than the Belgian Congo, according to Edward V. Leplae, DirectorGeneral of the Belgian Department of Colonies,- writing for the Xational Association of Manufacturers of the United States. He emphasises the fact that tho Belgian Congo, with an excellent climate and great mineral resources, has in addition unlimited agricultural possibilities, enormous forosts, and thousands of miles of deep and easily navigable rivers for transport purposes. Mr. Leplae points to the constantly increasing agricultural activity throughout tho colony and. to the greater prosperity in consequence which the natives and foreign settlers aro experiencing as indication of the growing possibilities for American enterprise in the Belgian Congo. Tho cultivation of rice and cotton, ho explains, has been started among the settlers and natives during the last year or two, and promises to grow rapidly to substantial proportions, thus Jurther augmenting the already largo annual output for export of tropical and semi-tropical .agricultural products, among which rubber, cocoa, coffee, oil palms, and oil kernels figure extensively. • Tliero are over 700,000 square miles of heavy forests in the, Belgian Congo rich in valuable lumber. Mr. Leplae explains that in the past certain difficulties in transportation have hindered lumberingenterprises, but adds that.these difficulties can be, and shortly will be, overcome by the adoption of methods similar to thoso omployed on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. A huge trade in the near future is predicted from this one source alone. Tho barges which would bo used for transporting lumber could bo employed also to carry many other native products of {jho'fioil, and, at considerably less cost and inconvenionco than by the present railway and steamboat systems. Tho mineral wealth of the Belgian Congo consists chiefly of diamonds, |jold, copper, and tin. Some iron deposits have been found, and oil and oil-shale have been located-at several points. Development of the diamond, gold, and coppof districts has made some .good strides, but more activity here and a great deal more in the -working of the tin and iron initios is looked for as soon as it becomes possible. to' improvo transportation facilities to and from these districts.

Thus, in addition to an increasing demand for such customary articles as cotton textiles, hardware, building r.'alerials, railway equipment, cereals, and beverages, the markets of tho Belgian Cf.iigo a.re expected also to offer oxcellent opportunities, for the salo.of improved agricultural implements, mining machinery and equipment, tools, and cotton giLnories.