Liberia 



<•- 



I recommend that the townships should have an area of six miles 

 square ; that all townships be laid out under direction of the 

 President ; that they be called into existence by public proclamation, 

 and in such proclamation the boundary of each be indicated and the 

 inhabitants dwelling therein be directed to elect and appoint the 

 local authorities, notifying their initial action to the Secretary of 

 the Interior, who shall immediately give publicity to the same ; said 

 township shall then be considered as properly organised. In the 

 same connection I think it will be found advisable that the native 

 districts be considered and treated as townships under the govern- 

 ment of the native authorities. In the Act, power of sub-division 

 and rearrangement under direction of the President ought to be 

 reserved. The native chief in charge, commissioned by the President, 

 will be treated as the local authority. 



The government of townships needs your attention. The 3rd 

 Article of the Act establishing the boundaries of counties of 

 the republic, and regulating towns and villages, declares that the 

 several townships shall be bodies corporate, but it is not settled 

 by whom the corporate authority is to be exercised after town 

 meeting has adjourned. The power of taxation was placed in the 

 hands of the town assembly which meets the first Tuesday in 

 October, and also the appointment of one treasurer and three over- 

 seers of police. Without warrant, as far as I can see, the assemblies 

 have appointed the commissioners to exercise executive authority. 

 The town assembly has not been altogether a success. I suggest 

 that a mayor and council, elected every two years, be substituted for 

 the town assembly, the elections to take place the first Tuesday in 

 October in specified years. 



The Act authorising the President to open certain roads in the 

 county of Maryland has been put into operation. Starting from 

 Webo, stations have been established, at intervals of one day's march, 

 at Tuobo, Ketibo, and Pan, Each coinmissioner is supported by a 

 police guard of twelve men. The upkeep of the stations and police 

 guard will necessitate an annual expenditure of $11,000. Of this 

 sum it is proposed to spend $1,000 a year in widening and improving 

 old paths, building permanent bridges and cutting out new roads. 

 The establishment of the stations was a matter of gratification to the 

 native population of the districts affected. 



The route suggested for the proposed water-way between Harper 



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