Observations in the Protectorate of Sierra Leone

MacKelvie, A. A (1936) Observations in the Protectorate of Sierra Leone. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to record some of the observations and opinions of the writer following experience in the Protectorate of Sierra Leone. Late in 1930 the Sierra Leone Development Company Limited commenced operations in the Protectorate. To develop haematite deposits near Marampa, Northern Province, (See MAP of Sierra Leone) it was necessary to construct a railway to the sea, shown by the dotted line on the map, a shipping installation at Pepel and a layout of the mine at Marampa. This works necessitated the employment of a considerable European staff and a very large native labour force, and was completed early in 1935. Numerous temporary camps for both European and native staff were used during this Construction period. Permanent camps, at Marampa for both European and native staff, at Pepel for European staff only were laid out and constructed. In 1933 the Company commenced alluvial gold operations the area covered being roughly that in the square bounded by latitudes 9 degrees and 9 degrees 15 minutes North, longitudes 11 degrees 30 minutes and 11 degrees 45 minutes West. Several Europeans engaged in this work resided in various camps throughout the district. From the beginning of operations in 1930 until June, 1935 the writer was responsible for the medical and sanitary care of all Company staff resident in Sierra Leone. The numbers employed, the large area covered, the nature of the operations necessitating many camps of different nature gave unusual opportunity for observation. The possibility was offered by facilities in the permanent headquarters camp at Marampa after 1933 of transforming opinions the result of previous experience into ascertained facts, and this paper is a record of such work. The practically complete absence of any publications on conditions in the Protectorate, added to the fact that the operations of the Sierra Leone Development Company are the first large scale industrial undertaking in the country, indicate that it would be of value to record observations on such problems as have proved of importance.

• Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Keywords: Public health, Epidemiology
• Date of Award: 1936
• Depositing User: Enlighten Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:1936-80071
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 03 Mar 2020 09:46
• Last Modified: 03 Mar 2020 09:46
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/80071