The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1896-03-19
TIE BlSKRAN OASIS.
a Small hut Besut.ful and Busy Spot In
the Sahara Desert.

the Sahara Desert.
The Biskran oasis. with its $50. COO
frees, Is only about two miles long,
and extends in half dozen little
villages by the Oued stream. Tho
Arabs, in their poetic phraseology,
style It variously the Desert Queen,
Inc Queen of the Gases and tho
Pearl Of the Desert. Seen after two
hays journey through barren, tree
less wastes, with its waving palms
and brilliant vertlure, it is sight
uifficult to rival. Biskra has several
tine buildings. of which tho town
hall, built in tho oriental style, with
cleaning cupola and forest of
dainty pillars, is the gem. 1t cost
10000. and is cheap at that figure,
but, of course, labor here IS had for
a Song.
The Oued BiskTa flows through
the oasis, and causes much of its
prosperity. The chief industry is
date raising. and nearly all the in
habitants own a little plot of ground
devoted TO this purpose, and gener-
ally their only source OF revenue.
BisLra owes much to the Compagnie
t,e 1'Oued Ell R'irh, who bored arte-
sian wells and laid out vast date
plantations.
They also erected fine casino,
and constructed tramway to the
celebrated Hammam Salahine. about
six miles distant - springs well
known to the Romans, whence Bisk-
ra was called Ad Piscinam. In con-
sideration of al these benefits the
company WAS granted various privi-
lsgos. They arc to enjoy for 80 years
the profits arising from the springs
and from $50 acres of land, besides
a large town plot
Biskra is practically the "key to
tho Sshara." and hence ever since
the French entered, in 1874, has
heen an important military station.
The lover of orientalism will find it
hero in q much purer form than in
sami. .Europcanized Algiers, and can
also enjoy an almost perfect cli-
mate. The district, however, is not
rainless. as is often supposed; On
the contrary, in winter there is a
fair share of rain. though not so
much as in Algiers, where this is
the weak point in the climate. Like
Algiers, it is beautifully mild, there
is no snow, and fer the majority of
the winter there is brilliant SUM-
shine and a very even temperature.
In the summer, however, it is al
most uninhabitablc. No one dreams
of staying there unless military or
other duty compels them. The heat
is intense, the water noxious, and
snakes and scorpions abound, whose
bite often proves deadly in an hour.
The country at this period is sub
ject to plaques of grasshoppers, the
ruination of all verdure and prod
uce. A very annoying malady called
"clou de Biskra." Biskra pimple,
prevails, which is said to resist most
treatment except change of air.
Westminster Reviow.
Material For Roads.
People don't always know what
they've got, and hare TO send out some
times for other people, who have been
taught something, to tell them. We had
one bad stretch Of clay that went around
hill that wac considered ahout as
worthless piece Of land rs there was
anywhere abc-t. Professor Votey came
10 see MS one day and told US 20 dig into
that hill and spread it out Oh that clay
road. and we did, and the lime il it
has given us road as hard as asphalt
and that will stand $4,000 pounds. 1t
was 1.-THE stone which the builders re-
jected" There's sand heap. Or stone
heap. or heap Of something that will
IL