Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-10
POOLS OF SOLOMON
JERUSALEM BLESSED WITH BIG
SUPPLY OF PURE WATER.
Fed by Fountains Famed in HOLY Lore
Pipe Line on Ruins of Ancient
Aqueduct.

William E.. Curtis in the Chicago Record Herald.
Jerusalem has recently been blessed with
new and abundant water supply drawn
from the famous pools of Solomon and con-
Quoted for nine miles through a nine-inch
pipe over the ruins of brick and stone
auueduct, through which it's fountains were
fed In the days before Babylonian captivity
There Is scandal connected with the
transaction, something about the misappro-
priation of funds, and good deal of criti-
cism was passed upon the late governor.
but it was such a remarkable event, so I'M
usual in a Turkish administration that IL
he had secured the money by highway rob-
berry he Is entitled to the everlasting graft
tude Of people who live here and thousands
who come to visit Jerusalem.
In the old days Jerusalem was abundantly
supplied with water. The remains Of foun-
tains, reservoirs and aqueducts show this
but during the recent centuries the public
has been compelled to depend upon a few
fetid pools and the rain water which ran off
the roofs into cisterns. Sickness and dis
tress prevailed so extensively during re-
cent drought that the governor was stirred
to action and purchased the pipe which
brought the water from Ain Salah (the
sealed fountain). at the rate Of 5000 skins,
that is, goat skins. day.
The Sealed Fountain.
The pools Of Solomon are three reservoirs
situated in a valley south Of Jerusalem.
The largest is $50 by 14S feet in size and As
feet deep, hewn in the rock and lined with
masonry. The second is 423 by 159 feet and
38 feet deep. and the third Is 3S1 by 22S feet
and 25 feet deep, while the hidden or sealed
fountain has never been measured. Solomon
refers to it in one of his songs, where he
says: MY beloved is like spring shut up.
a fountain sealed" 1t Is the subterranean
spring or reservoir which flows freely at
all times of the year and appears to be fed
by an artesian basin. Archaeologists assert
that the aqueduct which brought the water
to Jerusalem was built by the Romans. but
Solomon Is still credited with the enterprise,
and If he Is entitled to It, it is one of the
oldest Of human structures.
The people Of Bethlehem have been draw
ing water from these pools ever since scrip
a source Of supply. Some years ago the
Baroness Burdett-Coutts offered to restore
the aqueduct to Jerusalem which would
have cost her In the neighborhood Of $780,
600, but the Turkish authorities actually
demanded a bribe from her agents before
they would permit her to do this benevolent
act for the benefit Of the people. The gen.
ueman who related the circumstance to me
remarked that the authorities did not COM
prehend the irony of the situation, but were
so accustomed to demanding backsheesh
that they did 1t as a matter of habit. The
baroness was so indignant that she drop
ped the proposition.
Bethesda and Sloan.
There are several famous pools in Jeru-
salem in addition to the pool Of Bethesda.
of which I wrote you the other day.
In the twentieth chapter of Second Kings
we are told that King Hezelkiah digged
pool and made a conduit and brought water
into the city. The pool is still in good pres
ervation, In constant use, and Is in the
center of the city. among the bazaars and
next to the monastery Of the Copt priests
1t Is great basin In the natural rock, go
by 40 feet in size. walled up with masonry,
and was originally about twenty feet deep.
but has been partially filed up with rub
bish, and the water Is now not more than
twelve or fifteen feet deep. The families
living In the neighborhood come several
times a day and dip up what they need.
The famous pool OF Sloan is q nasty
place, with repulsive surroundings. Those
who visit 1t often wonder il the familiar
hymn,
By cool Siloam's shady rill,
How sweet the lily grows,
was intended as satire. as there Is no riil |
and no shade. and no lily would ever be
30 immodest as to grow in such q place
The Arabs call 1t Silwan these days, and II
Is on the slopes of the Mount of Offense
where Solomon Is said to have worshiped
heather Idols. directly across from the gate