Ogden Standard-Examiner | 1922-12-10 | Page 20 | Wrong Ideas About Africa

mm ideas 1 ABOUT AFRICAj Is Undeveloped Treasure House of the World, Say Explorers XEtt YORK, Dec. 9. Africa as the "continent of great mlsundersl and- 'ings." rather than the "dark continent," conti-nent," and as a land flowing with milk and honey instead of the last frontier' ii'or romanticists athrist for wild thrills, Is the theme of a report published by the Pholps-Stokes fund for an international interna-tional commission, which has .Hist rc-i turned from a ten months' Investiga-i tlon. The Immense and vuried physical resources re-sources of Africa aro virtually unknown un-known to civilisation, says Dr. Thomas i Jesse Joneu. author of the report, because be-cause previous researches were made lor private or ihe popular concept ion I of Africa was derived from Journalist lie accounts. He found evidence to convince the most skeptical that Africa is the "undeveloped "un-developed treasure house of the world" with every colony possessing precious, metals in commercial quantities and, possibilities in agriculture, animal hus- I'andry and waterpower that scarcely have been touched. Pour general misconceptions are! limiting investment of capital in Af- I tic-an industry and agriculture, ham-, pering th' efforts of colonial govern-, ments, and discouraging tile support; of missions. Dr Jones continues. The liirst concerns natural resources and scenery, the second the health eondl-, tlons of the continent, the third the Improvabliity of the people, and the fourth the European and American lh-Ifiuences. lh-Ifiuences. I "The most unfortunate and unfair lof all the misunderstandings is that i .the African people do not give prom-, of development sufficient to warrant war-rant efforts In their behalf," Dr. Jones icports. adding that the contrary is; shown "by their response to the missions, mis-sions, governments and commercial organizations or-ganizations " I "Africans," he goes on, "occupy positions po-sitions of importance in every colony; visited- There are physicians, lawyers and ministers who have completed the requirements of European universities j ,iud, while the number is small, it is sufficient to prove the capacity ot the people. "The clerical tasks of government, industry and commerce are very' large-; ly entrusted to young African men. The mechanical operations on rail roads and In construction are more and more being taken over by African workmen. Every mission gives em- phatic testimony to the value of the native teachers and ministers. ! "Nor are the possibilities of tho Africans Af-ricans to be judged only by those who have entered the ranks of civilization. whether in Africa. Europe or Amer-: lea. Their folk-lore, their handicraft.; their native music, their forms of gov-ernment, gov-ernment, their linguistic powers, all are substantial evidenced of their ca- j paclty to respond to the wlso ap- preaches of civilization." Evil influences originated with the white explorer and still persist, but Dr. Jones Is convinced that the native na-tive has gained more than ho lost through the whito man's advent, i "Ignorance, injustice, unrest in Africa Af-rica will always disturb the poaco oft mankind elsewhere," ho concludes. "The only cure for the so-called 'rising tide of color' and 'the revolt against civilisation,' heralded abroad with such anxiety by sorrr alnrmlsts of the pros-, eht time. Is in tho development of genuine gen-uine and sincere co-operation of peo ples of all races, based upon an edu-l ration of tho nativo masses and na-; ilVe leader In the common essentials of life."