The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-05-05
The Palestine Railroad.

| Ine PaleSt1ne Railroad
Since the brief statement last month OF
the incorporation of the Palestine Rail
road we have learned additional facts
concerning it which give the enterprise
new Importance. 1t is certain to become
when completed, an efficient element in
Eastern politics. In case of peace. it will
be of continuous benefit to the nations II
connects; in case of war, it will give i'm
mense advantage to the power which con-
trolls 1T. AS was understood when the
charter was first made public, the Massa-
chusetts corporators are small factor
The real work is to be done with the
financial support of two large English
banking houses, and the charter was OBJ
tanned with the minimum amount of can
ital and number of incorporators There
are in the company Is men. with each
one share of stock at 800; s of the Is
live in Massachusetts, Just enough to
come within the law. Under the charter
the proposed road will extend from Cairo
In Egypt to Mosul, on the River Tigris
with branches to Jerusalem, Jaffa, Nablus,
Beyrout, Aleppo, Iskenderoon, and Ere
roum, if it should be judged best to build
them. In detail the route is described
as follows Beginning at Cairo. the road
runs northward on the Pelusiac branch of
the Nile to Port Said, the northern end
of the Suez Canal At this point connec-
ton will be possible with the lines of
steamers running between the Eas and
Europe. Turning eastward from Port
Said, the road will pass over the level
plain near the sea-shore, across the desc
late tract between Egypt and Palestine.
Soon after entering Palestine it. goes
through GAIA, Esdud, (the ancient Ash
dod,) and thence to Ramleh At this
place the branches for Jaffa and Jerusa-
lem will leave the main line, the Jerusa-
lem branch ascending the Valley of the
Nahr Rubin and Wadi Surar. 1t reaches
the city from the north and west of the
Glhon Valley, and the station will be at
or near the Damascus gate. Leaving
Ramleh, the main line runs north through
the plain of Sharon to point near the
ancient Bethar, whence a branch is pro-
posed to Nablus, the ancient Shechem.
Continuing northerly from Bethar to the
Abu Zabura, the road ascends that river
valley and crosses the Carmel range
through the Megiddo Pass. From Cairo
to this point the maximum grade is 20
feet to a mile, and through the pass it is
40 feet to a mile From the base of the
hill of Megiddo branch is proposed, to
run down the plain of Esdraelon, and
thence northward along the shore through
Acre and Sidon, and by the ruins of Tyre
to Beyrout. Iskenderoon lies north of
Beyrout at the northeast corner of the
Mediterranean Sea, upon the gulf of the
anne name. The main line passes from
Meglddo across the plain of Esdraelon,
by the base of Mount Tabor, and along
the west side of Lake Gennesaret. It
crosses the Jordan at or near Jacobs
bridge and follows up the valley. and
gradually climbs the Jebel Heish at a
grade of 60 feet to mile Crossing the
summit and descending the valley on the
other side, it stretches across the plain to
Damascus. Thence it is projected to the
Euphrates, to connect with the Euphra-
ties Valley Railroad, which is about to be
built by an English company. From the
river it extends to Mosul, and will con-
meet there with proposed railroad from
Diabekir and the Black Sea- Branches
to AlepTo and Erzeroum will be con-
structed as soon as desired after the com
pletlon of the main line 1t is the inten-
ton Of the officers of the road to push
its construction rapidly as soon as the
necessary authority can be obtained from
the Turkish Government. This author
ity is expected soon, through the exer
tloEs of the projectors and the English
and American Ministers at Constantine
Iple. The President of the road will de-
part in few weeks for London, Constan-
tinople, and the East.
Boston AdUertiSey.