Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1902-02-13
FREE WATER FOR JERUSALEM.
Arch, Built by Solomon, Unearthed il
Mountain.

| In the days of Solomon. Jerusalem
was supplied with pure water in great
| abundance from SOlOmOn's pools and
! brought into the city by aquedUct.
These pools are constructed of heavy
masonry and comprise three great
| reservoirs between two shelving hill
sides standing on different levels. the
| one draining into the other. and CON
| sisting partly of masonry and partly
| Of rock cutting and cover about seven
! acres. They were fed by springs
| and are at the present time in very
| good repair. They are located in the
| hill country toward Hebron, about six
| or eight miles southwest of Jerusalem
The upper pool is $50 feet long by
233 feet wide and % feet deep; the
middle pool is 1923 feet long by 233 feet
wide and 80 feet deep; the lower pool
$50 feet long by IT'S feet wide and 50
| feet deep.
These pools were no doubt made by
the order of Solomon. Il made me
| gardens and planted trees-I made me
| pools Of water" (Ecclesiastes ri: .
| O.. About 200 yards above the upper
pool is a fountain The water from
| it is conducted by an underground
! aqueduct to the pools.
The later rains were lighter in
Palestine last spring than for many
| seasons before, the total fall being
| One-half the usual average Much suf-
| fering among the poor resulted. At
| present the water supply is dependent
| upon Cisterns, and when these are
| exhausted great suffering ensues. as
! the water is then brought into the city
from the hills or mountains. in skins
or jars upon the backs or heads of
human beings, and the water is near
ly as great an expense for the poor as
their food.
Modern Jerusalem has depended en-
tirely upon the rains for their water
supply, hence the water is very
precious and is not furnished free. but
sold. Although the past summer has
been very hot and dry, the lack Of
rain has been turned into a blessing
because it aWOke the people to a reaIi-
zation Of the fact that Jerusalem was
entirely dependent upon rainwater.
The first relief came through a Mo
Mammalian who undertook to bring
water by rail from "Bettir," the first
railroad station west of Jerusalem.
He succeeded in bringing in five tanks
daily, and sold the water cheaper than
Lit was ever sold before
Plans were made by an eminent
architect, who during his stay in
Jerusalem had become interested in
the situation, for bringing water from
Solomon's pools in iron pipes to
Jerusalem. He estimated the cost at
{ 5000, and that 5000 skins could be
distributed free to the poor every day.
The fourth Of July was dav of uni
versal rejoicing in Jerusalem. as a few
days previous the new governor, in
telegraphing his congratulations to
the sultan on the occasion of Ma
hornets birthday, asked that the dav
might be sfgnalized by permission 10
pipe water into Jerusalem, so that the
SuHerlng this year might be mitigated
and the poor people be supplied with
water freely. A favorable reply was
received, and plans were at once made
TO launch the new enterprise.
The course to be followed is princi-
paIIy that pursued by Solomon: past
the orchards, "Urtas," through Beth
lehem, past Rachel's tomb and Mar
Elias. across the plain of Rephaim
where David, parched with thirst in
his battle with Philistines. Ionged for
the water OF the well at the gate of
Bethlehem, and the valley of Gfbon
across the valley of Hinnom. around
Zion into the Tryopaen valley.
The work is now being pushed
faster than is usual with the Turkish
government. (This fund for bringing
water into Jerusalem has been on
hand since before the discovery of
America)
At one point, following the course of
the old aqueduct, the piping enters
a tunnel through a mountain between
Jerusalem and Mar Elias which is
about $50 meters in length This
tunnel is being enlarged and utilized
as sort Of reservoir to accumulate
the water and give it head for its out
How in Jerusalem. In exploring this
tunnel quite perfect arch was found
at one point, supporting the roof.