Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-09-22
Civilization in The Holy land.

a correspondent Oh lNe IIOhuon JCUtSH
World states that The railway between Jala
and Jerusalem ia in course OF construction.
AS the distance to be covered between the
two places is only about forty or iiits miles,
the railway cannot take long to complete,
80 that we may within few months expect
to hear that the locomotive is running regu-
larly. The construction of q, railway is not
the only sign of progress The country is
rapidly changing in every direction. Jafa,
the beautiful" as it was of old designated,
is changed out of all knowledge. The old
wall which surrounded the port, and which
probably existed when Jonah embarked an
board the PbGnician coasting vessel in
which he sought to fly, hes been pulled
down, warehouses and magazines, built
after European models, have been con-
structed upon its site. suburbs have grown
up around it, whole quarters 0! the oder
city have been rebuilt, and The place goes
far ere long to justify its ancient designation.
1t is we'll cleaned and lighted, and the couu-
try all round is one vast orange grove. For
miles along the road to Jerusalem the trav-
eler sees nothing but we'll kept vegetable
gardens and orchards, raising some of the
finest produce imaginable. The orange
trade Is growing in Importance and value
year by year; and if some enterprisiDg ship
ping firm would establish line Of steamers
trading direct with the Palestine coast, so
as to avoid the expense and loss incurred by
reshipping everything at Port Said or Alex.
andria, highly lucrative fruit trade could
be done with the Holy Land.
The best proof of the progress made IN
this part of Syria is to be found in the fact
L \. nj In Of IaN Ne 10 no
had now at any price. Many places in the
rapid rate. Nsblous, the ancient Sichem
or Shechem, s quite manufacturing town
It's specalites are soap and boots. Another
town changed beyond ali recognition is
Bethlehem. A few gears ago the place was
neither more nor less than a collection OF
dirty novels. Pavement was unknown; and
after rain or in winter, the roads we're in.
passable. Now Bethlehem is neat and
clean little townlet, well paved and lighted,
and passable at all times. Its houses have
baeu rebuilt, and, most suggestive of all,
the dwellings have glass windows, u stri.
king sign OF progress. Indeed, the growing
use of glass throughout Palestine and Syria
ia a most remarkable indication Of the
changes which are gradually coming over
the country The tiny port Of Caesarea,
Oh ce an important Roman harbor, is on the
high road to regaining its former trade q
COLONY of Circassians have settled there,
while the Turkish Government has made
arrappements for building custom house,
80 that vessels may regularly land their car
goes there.
Beyrout is becoming an important city.
One. half of the place has been rebuilt in ac-
cordance with modern notions. 1t is sup
piled with water, is lighted with gas, is we'll
paved, and has corps of scavengers-a de-
cided novelty for an Oriental city. 1t can
boast two paper mills and an omnibus com.
pany which runs very good service of ve-
bicles to Damascus, over one ofthe only two
roads that exist in the whole of Syria Its
inhabitants have increased fourfold in the
last five-aud-twenty years, and the tonnage
of the vessels frequenting the port has risen
to over hundred times what it Yves quar-
ter of a century ago. In another twenty
wears Beyrout will be the most important
maritime city on the shores Of the Mediter.
rauean. It Is In and about Jerusalem, how.
ever, that the most striking changes have
beer accomplished. Jerusalem is losing
something of it's Oriental character day by
day, and, on the whole, the loss is not to be
regretted. The city gates are no longer
closed at uight. Church bells are allowed
to be tolled. The members of the different
religious denominations mix together much
more than q few years ago and there is less
friction in the relations between the author
tiles and the non-Moslem communities.
Outside the walls of Jerusalem new town
of imposing proportions and extent i7 grad
ually rising.-London POSI-