Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1894-09-01


The British consul In Damascus, in a ~
port issued by the foreign Office. gives meme
interesting information ia regard 10 the
condition 81 that city and ia nelqhborhcod.
Damascus sends TO Beyroot and other
towns In Syria -four. grain and fruits,
while in regard to the necessaries of life
II IL practically self supporting. with the
exception Of Manchester manufactures.
Cotton goods were formerly all homemade,
but the great cheapness Of British cottons
has destroyed the home production. The
trade OF the place II almost stationary from
year to year; II there Is nm increase In the
trade In an article one year there Ia cor
responding decrease the next, for Injuries
are scarce and the necessaries OF life viii
only fiuctuate with the population, while
the exports depend ON the harvest, which
rarely fails.
The population Is given at 10000 of
which about 10000 are Moslems. Tho
number IL supposed TO be increasing, but
1t must be slowly. for the old walls still
surround the greater part OF the popula-
ton, and the houses built outside are very
few. The poverty of the Christians and
Jews Is remarkable, the Moslems having
OF late years absorbed the trade and wealth
which were formerly In the hands of the
others. The Moslems steadily increase In
wealth, while the Christians and Jews as
steadily decline. This unusual state OF
things IL said 20 be due to the loss OF the
| through trade to Bagdad, to the difficult
/ ties which those who are not Mosems en-
counter in business. and to the insolvency
| OF the government. The Damascus bonds,
which were repudiated to the extent OF
| 100000, were mostly held by Christians
and Jews, and the Reputation was heavy
blow 10 them.
But IL appears that the wealth of the
place has considerably increased In the last
thirty years, and II Is probable that Da-
mascus will still further increase when
the railways now projected from the coast
are constructed. The expectation OF liquor
ice root. however, seems TO be doomed by
the discovery of roots OF a superior quality
In Asia Minor and elsewhere. Apricots
form one Of the chief products OF Damas-
Gus. IL Is estimated that In good year no
fewer than 1900 tons are gathered. Large
quantities are sent fresh into the neigh
boring towns and villages, while the rest
Is dried or made into paste and exported to
Egypt. Hemp. too, is an important local
production.
Local industries are numerous and some
are OF importance. The chief Is weaving.
There are about 1900 looms for cotton.
J wool and silk weaving. The first produce
! calico. curtains and divan covers, the ma
!, teriai used for the long coats worn by
Moslems. and for the cloaks which cover
the native women from head to foot. "A
hand loom can turn out thirteen yards oil
striped cotton cloth per day, but the aver
age days VIC K does not exceed seven yards
The cotton looms are constantly mt work
while the wool and silk looms are frequent
ly idle. The manufacture OF ropes, harness
] hammered iron, copper and brassworl
are among the other industries. The or
namental brasswork and mother Of pear
inlaid work are chiefly supported by trav
elers. who pay exorbitant prices.-LondoI
Times