8-th, 2004 - 07: 2   (Posted By: Webmaster)
UNIA Colonization Program

THE COLONIZATION PROGRAMME FOR LIBERIA UNIVERSAL NEGRO IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION RAISING FUND OF TWO MILLION DOLLARS FOR BUILDING FIRST COLONY IN LIBERIA

[7 June 1924]

The Universal Negro Improvement Association is now starting to carry out its colonization plans for helping in the cultural, industrial, agricultural, economic, educational and social development of the black republic of Liberia, west coast Africa, as a permanent home for scattered Negroes of the world who desire to live in a country of their own where they may enjoy the benefits of real freedom, liberty and democracy. The good people of Liberia anxiously welcome to their country, their hearts and their ideals the sober minded, industrious, law-abiding, ambitious Negroes of America, West Indies, South and Central America and Canada who desire to settle among them and become a part of a peaceful, growing black nation.

The Universal Negro Improvement Association is now helping in this direction as the Jews are helping to build and restore Palestine. The Association has undertaken to develop four colonies in Liberia, the first to be built on the Cavalla River,1 to which the first group of colonists is expected to sail in September of I9Z4 from New York and regularly thereafter. The Association is to spend two million ($2,000,000) dollars on the development of each colony for public works and other utilities. They are now raising the first two million ($2,000,000) dollars for the building of the Cavalla colony.

The following plans are to be carried out for the building of each and every one of the four colonies, all government buildings, however, to be under the direction of the Liberian Government and all persons shall observe the laws of the Republic of Liberia accordingly. BUILDING PLANS GOVERNMENT

1 Court House and Post Office
2. Town Hall a. Public Safety

1. Police Station
2. Fire Protection
3. Hospital COMMUNITY INTEREST AND ENTERTAINMENT

1. National Theatre
2. Churches (2)
3. Large Public Hall
4. Public Park PUBLIC EDUCATION

1. Public Library
2. Public Schools (2)
3. Public High School (1)
4. College of Arts and Sciences
5. Trade School and Engineering Works PUBLIC UTILITIES

1. Electric Light and Power Plant
2. Water Filtration Plant
3. Sewerage System and Sewage Disposal Plant a. Transportation Facilities

1. Roads, Street and Pavements
2. Wharf and Dock and Water Front Improvement
3. Railroad 4-15 miles b. Commissaries (2) c. Dormitories (2) All those who desire to help the Negro under the auspices of the Universal Negro Improvement Association in developing himself are asked to subscribe to the fund of two million ($2,000,000) dollars now being raised for the promotion of the Cavalla Colony. The first group of engineers will sail in a few days to start construction work for the accommodation of the first group of colonists who will leave in September. Please help this fund with a substantial donation. 2 Address your donation to the "Colonization Fund, Universal Negro Improvement Association, 56 West 13Sth Street, New York, U. S. A." All substantial donations will be acknowledged by letter and by publication in the Negro World. Small donations will be acknowledged in the Negro World weekly.

THE FUND
Marcus Garvey . . . . . . . . . $100.00 Mrs. Marcus Garvey. . . . . . . . . 50.00 William C. Ritter. . . . . . . .. 25.00

Printed in NW, 7 June 1924-. Original headlines abbreviated. Reprinted in the New York World, 25 June 1924. 1. The Cavalla, or Cavally, River runs along the border between Liberia and Ivory Coast. 2. On 14 June 1924, Agent Tucker reported that the UNIA had already received $663.95 toward the fund (special report by Joseph G. Tucker, 14 June 1924, DJ-FBI, file 61). 3. Possibly William C. Ritter (1872-1934), Hungarian-born Brooklyn banker, philanthropist, and communal worker. Ritter was the founder of the Congregation Sons of Israel and vice-president of the Jewish Community House of Bensonhurst from 1926 to 1934. He was a member of the board of directors of the Israel Zion Hospital, the Brooklyn Federation of Jewish Charities, and, from 1914 to I927, the Young Men's Hebrew Association. Ritter was also a Mason and an honorary member of the Grand Army of the Republic (NYT, 8 May 1934; Jewish Daily Bulletin, 9 May 1934; Philip J. Cohen, executive director, Jewish Community House of Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, to Robert A. Hill, 16 November 1983). [7 June 1924]