The times., 1901-06-24
THE ZIONIST MOVEMENT
Progress of the Jewish Settlements
in Palestine.
Colonies Comprising sixty Square
Miles Already Established and
Said to BE FIourishinG-Spren OF
the Sentiment Among the Hebrews.


Miles Already Established and
Said to BE FIourishfnG-Spren OF
the Sentiment Among the Hebrews.
NEW YORK. June 23.-There are irdi-
cations that the Zionist sentiment IS
spreading among the Jews. The fourth
annual convention Of American Zionists
has just been held in Philadelphia, and
the fifth annual congress of the world s
Zionists will shortly be held in Europe.
Plans for the complete recovery of the
Holy Land by the Jews are going stead
lily forward. Large colonies have already
been established in Palestine. and every
month sees substantial additions to the
Jewish population of Judea.
Prof. r. Gottheil, of Columbia Uni
versity, said at the last Zionist congress,
held in London: 1t is time that the ma
tions understood our motives. oar pur-
pose is gradually to colonize Palestine.
we political Zionists desire a charter
from the Sultan authorizing US to settle
in our Holy Land, and we ask the Pow
ers to approve ard protect this charter.
The present Zionist movement began
four years ago. and was started by the
publication OF Der Judenstaat'' (the jew
ish State) by DR.. Theodore Herzl. enc OF
the editors of the Vienna Neue Freie
Presse." DR.. Herzl advocated the puT-
chase Of Palestine from Turkey, for the
purpose Of building Jewish State under
the sGzerainty of the Sultan and the pro-
lection of the Powers. He mapped out q
system of government, a national bank,
a military organization, and even sug-
gested a fag-white, containing seven
gold stars.
The book created a sensation, and when
DR.. HerzI called a congress of Zionists to
meet at Basle, Switzerland. 900 delegates
responded. Dr. HerTs plans were con-
siderably modified. The idea Of an inde-
pendent State was temporarily abandoned
as premature and liable TO injure the
cause.
But the visionary scheme had become
an idea, and with his usual pertinacity
and perseverance, the Jew set about TO
materialize the dream of Zicnism. The
first essential TO ultimate success was
money. Accordingly the Jewish Colonial
Trust. limited, was formed, with Sl0oJ9,-
Goo capital and head offices in London.
There are 2,0G0.GJ0 shares at IS each and
about 81. .0A0G0G has been paid in-not by
the rich, but by the poorer classes. In
this country 20.000 shares have been taken !
by almost as many subscribers. The trust |
was established not merely to furnish |
factories, build railroads and telegraph |
lines and TO help the colonists to q state |
OF financial prosperity.
In this country the movement was taken /
up in 1898. but because of the war with 1
Spain little was done. At the first con-
vention there were nifty delegates; at the I
one just held there were represented I2,-
600 members, liS societies from twenty |
eight States and eighty-nine cities, in
Guiding Manila, where there are forty
five Zionists in the United States Hospi-
tai Corps. and Matanzas, Cuba, where
eight troopers Of the Second Cavalry are
interested in the movement.
How far the settlement Of Palestine
has progressed is best shown by reports
OF the various settlements. These settle
ments occupy about sixty square miles
in Judea, Galilee. and BaShan, as the
eastern or Trans-Jordan portion Of Pales-
tine is called, or / per cent OF its entire
area
The Oldest settlement is at Mikveh
Israel. near Jaffa. containing GOO acres.
This colony is the agricultural centre of
the Zionists. An agricultural school with
100 pupils and fully equipped with the best
American implements, is located there.
Five miles TO the south is Rishon Zion, /
with 200 acres and 500 settlers. Their
principal occupation is the raising Of
sill1worms. There lse 20,000 mulberry
trees, wells, a fine school, a synagogue, .
a library and cask mandatory. In the
brated Carmel wines are shipped. The
factory is lighted by electricity generated
on the premises, and all the machinery Is
modern. Each family has a two-story
house.
Another five miles to the south is Wadi-
el-Hannin 0he Dale OF Roses containing
60 colonists The principal industry is
the cultivation of grapes. Adjacent is
Rehobath, consisting Of $500 acres and
20 settlers. EkrOn, further inland. con-
taius 1000 acres. Its 80 colonists raise
wheat, fruits. olives. and silkworms Cad
rach. TO the west, has SEQ acres. In which
are 2.0JJ selected burgundy vines Artuf,
at the foot of the Judean Mountains. con-
tsins twenty families. while kastinia in
Philistia, east OF Ashdod. supports 120
families Of Bessarabian Jews on its 1,20)
acres.
-Petakh Tikneh, north of Jaffa. is more
important colony. IL has 15e inhabitants, 1
who till $500 acres. raising oranges, lem
ons, and various flowers especially roses
and geraniumsj for essential oils Ell
Beiderah, north Of Tantura, contains 6.600