The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1889-10-24
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4 CsnaI BnsIt ny Joseph which HAS Never
C<sseA Its O1lce-
How many Of the engineering works
OF the nineteenth century will there be
In existence in the year 6000P Very
few, We fear. and still less those that
will continue In the far-off age TO serve
useful purpose. Yet there is at least
one great undertaking conceived snd
executed by an engineer which during
the space OF 1900 years has never
ceased its office, on which the life Of .
fertile province absolutely depends to-
day. We refer TO the Bahr Joussuf--
the canal OF Joseph built according
to tradition, by tho son Of Jacob, and
which constitutes not the least Of the
many blessings he conferred upon
Egypt during the years Of his prosper
Gus rule This canal took us rise from
the Nile Mt .Asiut, and ran nearly par
allel with it for nearly $50 miles,
creeping along under the western cliffs
OF the Nile valley, with many bond
and winding, until Mt length II gained
an eminence. as compared with the
river-bed. which enabled it TO turn
westward through q narrow pass and
enter d district which was otherwise
shut off from the fertilizing floods on
which all vegetation In Egypt depends
The northern end stood seventeen
feet above low Nile, while at the south
ern end 1t was at an equal elevation
with the river. Through this cut ran
perennial stream, which watered a
province named the Fayoum, endow-
ling it with fertility and supporting q
large population. In the time Of the
annual food a great part Of the canal
was under water. and then the rivers
current would rush In more direct
course into the pass. carrying with ii
the rich silt, which takes the place Of
manure and kecps the soil In state
0f constant produettveness.
All this. with tho exception of the
tradition Tint Joseph built il, can be-
verified to-day, and it is not more sup
position or rumor, Until eight years
ago it was firmly believed that the de-
sign has always been limited to an ir-
rigation scheme. larger, no doubt, than
that now in operation, as shown by
the traces OF abandoned canals and by
the slow aggregation Of waste water
which had accumulated in the Birket
81 Qucrfn. but still essentially the
same in character.
Many accounts have been written by
Greek and Roman historians, such as
Herod6tus, Strabo. Mutianus and
Piny. and repeated in monkish legends
or portrayed in the maps of the middle
ages, which agreed with the old lore
OF the district. These tales explained
that the canal dug by the ancient Is
raelite served to carry the surplus
waters OF the. Nile into an extensive
lake lying south Of the Fayoum. and
so large that 1t not only modified the
climate, tempering the arid winds OF
the: desert and converting them into
tho balmy airs which nourished the
vines and the olives into a fullness
and fragrance unknown in any part Of
the country, but also added to the food
supply OF the land such immense guam
titles OF fish that the royal prerogative
Of the right Of piscary at the great
weir was valued ut $3.50, 600 annually.
This lake WAS snid to be $50 miles
round, and 70 be FAyigated by fleet
OF vessels. while thewhole circurufer-
ence was the, scene OF industry and
prosnerity - Enoinearin imp