Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-12-28

The Financial status Of That Historic
Cry.

The british consul ii Damascus. IN .
report which has lately been issued BY
the foreign 0fsice. gives some interest
ing information ia regard . the eondi-
ton q that city and its EeighborhOod.
says the Lons1on Times Damascus
sends - ieyrOut and other towns IN
syria hoer. grain and fruits. while IN
se11rd - the necessaries Of life Il Is
practically supporting, with the ex-
eeptAyn u Manchester manufactures.
Cotton goods were formerly al home
mate. but the great eheapness Of
British cottons has destroyed the home
production TIE trade Of the place Is
almost stationary from year to year; II
there IS "a increase IN the tradein an
article one year there - a corresponding
decrease the next. for Injuries are
scarce and the necessaries OF life viii
onlY hnclUate with the population.
while the exports depend on the har-
vest. which rarely fails
The population IS gwen az about 2lo,-
600, ~ which about ts0, 900 are Moslems.
The number is supposed % be increas-
ing. but 10 mgzt be slowly, for the old
walls still surround the greater part of
the population. and the houses built out
side are very few. The poverty OF the
Christians and Jews Is remarkable. the
Moslems having 81 late years absorbed
the trade and wealth - hich were former
" ia the hands OF the others. The Mos
lens steadily increase IN wealth, while
the Christians and Jews Is steadily de-
cline. This unusual state % things is
said % be due - he loss Of the through
trade - bayC.aa, 10 the difficulties
which those who are not Moslems en-
counter Ia business and 10 the insol-
vency Of the government. The DaInas-
Gus bonds, which were repudiated to
the extent OF e5o0. 600, were mostly held
BY Christians aud Jews. and the repaid
alton was = heavy blow 10 them.
But il appears that the wealth of the
place has considerably increased in the
last thirty years, and IL is probable that
Damascus VIII still further increase
when the railways now projected from
the coast are constructed The ex-
portation OF licorice root. however,
seems 90 be doomed By the discovery OF
root of a superior quality in Asia Minor
ans sisgrvhere. Apricots form one of
the chicf products OF Damascus It is
estimated that in good year no fewer
than l. 900 toas are gathered. Large
quantities. are sent fresh into the neigh
boring towns and villages, while the
rest Is dried or made into paste and cx-
ported to Egypt. Hemp, too. is an i'm
portz.nt local production. Local indus
tries are numerous and some are of i'm
portance. The chief Is weaving
There are about 1000 looms for cotton
wool and silk weaving. The .-s'
producc calico. curtains AID divan GOV
ers. the material used for the long coat:
worn by Moslens and for the cloak:
which cover tho native women from
head ~ foot. A hand loom can turr
out thirteen yards Of striped cottor
cloth per day, but the average days
work does not exceed seven yards Tn,
cotton looms are constantly At work
while the wool and silk looms are FIRE
quently idle Tho manufacture o
ropes. harness. hammered iron, cope
md brass work Is among the other IN
dustries- The ornamental brass work
and mother-of-pcarl inlaid work ar,
chiefly supported ~ the travellers. VIII
pay exorbitant prices