(Jewish Daily Bulletin)
Uganda, in Africa, once offered by the British Government to the Zionist Organization as a Jewish homeland, and where less than thirty years ago wild animals roamed at will and white men were seldom seen, is now an important source of Britain’s cotton, according to a bulletin issued by the National Geographic Society here.
“Uganda,” the bulletin says, “which is about twice the size of New York State, has become self-supporting. And 90 percent, of Uganda’s exports are cotton.
“The cotton crop in 1905 yielded about 350 bales. Now more than 200,000 bales are produced annually. There are about 1.700 white inhabitants among a total population of more than 3,000,000. More than a half million acres of cotton-growing land are tended by the natives,” the bulletin continues.
“Boats leaving Uganda, when not filled with cotton, transport, coffee, rubber, cecoa, sugar bananas and elephant grass used in the manufacture of paper; also rattan canes, which are suitable for the manufacture of furniture and tea and iron. A small quantity of tobacco and fax is grown and a small amount of gold and silver is mined.
“Where small native villages once stood the traveler now sees prosperous towns. Although the capital is a little more than a stone’s throw from the equator, in climate is not unpleasant. The thermometer reaches 115 degrees by day, but the nights are cool, the mercury sometimes dropping as low as 50 degrees.
“Contrary to popular opinion that central. Africa is jungle-bound, Uganda has a large network of roads linking up various trade centers. On the roads between important towns it is not uncommon to see natives riding bicycles and driving pleasure automobiles and motor trucks. And beside the road modern steel plows are often seen turning the soil that only a few years ago had never been touched by anything but the crudest implements.”
Meger S. Mintz of Newark was appointed executive director of the New Jersey State Region of the United Palestine Appeal to succeed Samuel B. Levinson, who resigned. Announcement of the appointment was made by Au?on Levinstone, state chairman. Mr. Mintz directed the recent successful $100,000 drive for the Appeal in Newark. He served as state director of the Keren Hayesod from 1923 to the latter part of 1925, and is now president of the Newark Zionist District.
The annual state conference will be held in Newark November 4.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
