The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-04-06

The Route Projected.
boston Advertiser.l

lAoetou AuNuihSchsl
Since the brief statement last month
of the incorporation of the Palestine
Railroad we have learned additional
facts concerning it which give.the enter
prise 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 it connects; in case of war, it
will give immense advantage to the
power which controls it. As was under
stood when the charter first was made
public, the Massachusetts 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 obtained with the mini
mum amount of capital and number of
inc0rporators. There are in the company
ID men, with each one share of stock at
800; 8 of the 10 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, Jafa, Nablus,
Beyrout, Aleppo, Iskenderoon, and Err
zeroum, if it should be judged best to
build them. In detail the route is de-
scribed 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 connection will be possible with
the lines of steamers running between
the East and Europe. Turning eastward
from Port Said, the road will pass over
the level plain near the sea-shore, across
the desolate tract between Egypt and
Palestine. Soon after entering Palestine
it goes through GAIA, Esdud, (the ancient
Ashdod, J and thence to Ramiah. 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
Gihon Valley, and the station will be at
or near the Damascus gate. Leaving
Ramich, the main line runs north
through the plain of Sharon to a point
near the ancient Bethar, whence a
branch is proposed to Nablus, the ancient
Shechem. Continuing northerly from
Bethar to the Aba 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 mile, and through
the pass it is 40 feet to mile. From the
base of the hill of Megiddo a branch is
proposed, to run down the plain of Es-
draelon, and thence northward along. the
shore through Acre and Sidon, and by
the ruins Of Tyre to Beyrout. Iskende.
room lies north Of Beyrout at the north
east corner. Of the Mediterranean Sea,
upon the gulf of the same name. The
main line passes from Megiddo across
the plain of Esdraelon, by the base Of
Mount Tabor, and along the west side Of
Lake Gennesaret. 1t crosses the Jordan
at or near Jacobs bridge, and follows up
the valley, and gradually climbs the
Jebel Heish at grade of 60 feet to a
mile. Crossing the summit and descend.
ing the valley on the other side, 1t
stretches across the plain to Damascus
Thence it is projected to the Euphrates
to connect with the Euphrates Valley
Railroad, which is about to be built by
an English company. From the river il
extends to Mosul, and will connect there
with proposed railroad from Diabekil
and the Black Sea. Branches to Aleppc
and Erzeroum will be constructed as soor
as desired after the completion of the
main line. 1t is the intention of the
officers of the road to push its construc
ton rapidly as soon as the necessary
authority can be obtained from thu
Turkish government. This authority il
expected soon through the exertions ol
tie projectors and the English ant
American Ministers at Constantinople
The President of the road will depart in
a few weeks for London, Constantinople
and the East.