The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-11-26
JEWISH COLONIES IN palestine

When the prosecutions of tho Jews be-
came severe in Roumanis, in 1879: they
naturally turned to the Holy Land, and
in the following year two agricultural
villages, Zichron- ia akob and Rosh-
Pinab. were established. These coloni lists
suffered many privations and hardships
at first, for few of them knew anything
about agriculture, as they had been mer-
chants and mechanics in their former
home; but gradually they adapted them
selves to the new life, and at present these
villages are most prosperous. There are
thousand persons living on the 5000
acres of land belonging to Zlchron-
ia 'akob. The chief products are wine,
sesame and barley, fruits, honey. and
silk. The latest improvements in nVri-
cultural methods have been adopted The
village has bought and uses in common a
steam plow and steam mill. 1t has it's
own water works. the streets OF the town
are paved; 1t has nursery for raising
young plants and large cellars for the
storage of wine. Near it, and almost a
part of the larger settlement. is Tantura,
where 80 families live, supporting them
selves chiefly by laborn9,in large glass.
factory. but also cultivating the soil to
some extent. The 400 colonists of Rosh-
Pinah cultivate over 1900 acres of land.
Besides tho universal vine and mulberry
tree, they pay special attention to acacia
trees the blossoms of which are useu in
the large perfumery factory here. Here,
too is the centre of silk manufacture, the
silk worms from the other colonies being
brought 20 the steam mill Of Rosh- -Pinah
for spinning and weaving. Doubtless
colonization In Palestine would have ad-
anti Semitic prosecutions The year 1881
saw Russia in the throes Of Jewish
oppression, and some OF the exiles turned
hopefully toward Palestine. The aban-
doned land of Pethach- Thikvah was re-
occupied and new colony, Rishon
l'Zion, founded in 1881 Both of these
colonies are now thriying,s making more
than half a million gallons Of wine every
year, besides having 80. 600 mulberry trees
for tho silk worms, and thousands Of
trees bearing figs. apples. Ipomegranates.
almonds and oranges Organizations
were now started In Russia itself to aid
in opening more settlements. A society
OF the students of tho universities Of
Odessa Moscow, st. Petersburg, and
Harkov was formed, which resulted in
1884 in the colony Gadarah or Katra,
where some hundred students cultivate
the vine and fruits and manufacture
cognac. Ii has become an intellectual
centre producing more than one valuable
contribution TO letters and science, writ
ten I'm classical Hebrew. An international
Russian society was also formed, Ohave
Zion (Frlends of Zion), whose chief pur-
pose is the Support of the Palestinisn
colonies. Hardly year passes without
the foundation OF one or more colonies
until now there are % OF these agricul.
tural settlements. There are about COCO
colonists, who have 100 600 acres of land
under cultivation. While the chief pro-
ducts are wine silk and fruits, each col
ony has some speciality. Jossud-
Hama allah, for instance, cuItivates roses
Tor the manufacture of perfumory Merom
has $4,000 olive trees; another devotes
special attention TO cattle raising. and
these colonies east Of the river Jordan
raise large quantities Of wheat.
Weekly.