Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-12
IMPORTANCE OF BEIRUT.
Trade and Population of the Chief City
of Syria

Beirut is the chief city of Syria and Pales-
tine, commercially, Internationally and po-
litically. Its population is about 125,O0O a
considerable majority being Christians. in
Guiding 1900 foreigners. European and
American influences are already quite deep
ly enrooted at Beirut.
As the seaport of Damascus which next
to Smyrna, is the largest city in Turkey in
Asia. and with which it is connected by
railroad, and possessing the only protected
harbor on the Syrian coast, Beirut Is natu-
rally an important commercial center and
shipping point. Some 1900 tourists, among
whom at present Americans and Germans
predominant, pass through Beirut every
year. Its principal industries, beyond what
has been already suggested, are the manu-
facture of silk, olive oil and oriental
goods
Berut's foreign trade amounts to about
$13, 600, of which about 100000 are
itlports. England leads in exports to
France, in imports from Syria, the principal
goods'D and raw silk. respectively. I'M
ports from the United States average about
100000 year, the principal articles being
sewing machines, wire nails, beer, hard
ware and Photographs Exports to the
United States average about $4,000 year
No city or town of the Syrian littoral has
better all-the-yearround climate than
Beirut. Yet foreigners cannot escape the
humidity which prevail during eight months
of the year. 1t is considered necessary for
women and children of foreign birth to
spend at least July August and September
In the Lebanon. Frequently foreigners go
to Europe to recuperate.
In Beirut itself and in the adjoining dis
tricts there were, at last report, 1OJ resi-
dent Americans, including women and chill
dren; seventy of the number live In Beirut.
large number of naturalized citizens of
Syrian nativity reside in various villages
throughout the Lebanon.
The consular district embraces nearly all
Of Syria and more than two-thirds of
Palestine, besides the Island Of Cyprus.
Its total American population is in the
neighborhood of 725 souls. More than
S1OoO,OO0 of American money Is invested in
the district, principally In schools, churches
and hospitals ($S35, 600, but also in facto-
ries, farms and dwelling houses. In this
consular district there are 1915 persons of
Syrian birth claiming American protection,
and the consulate is constantly called on to
intervene in their behalf. The Syrian Pro-
testant College at Beirut, an American uni
versity, has an attendance of 600 students
from all parts of the Levant, including
Egypt, Greece, Asia Minor Persia and
Syria. Its teaching force of forty-one in
cludes twenty-five American professors and
tutors. The number of college buildings
has increased from 1 to II in thirty years,
and building operations are sui in progress.
school of commerce was recently added
to the other departments, of which the
medical is perhaps the most important. 1t
Is said to be the largest American institu-
ton of learning OF its high standard outside
of the United States.
The consular offices are located in the
second story of a new house near the Amer
lean University. rhe consul, Gabriel b
Ravndal, was born in Norway June q
1860. and educated at the Royal University
of Norway. He emigrated to the United
States in 1855, studied for some time at the
State University of Minnesota, served eight
years as manager OF a newspaper at Sioux
| l. alls, was a member of the South Dakota
state legislature and was appointed consul
at Beirut January o. 1855.
William Magelssen, vice and deputy con
sui, was born in Minnesota October 49, 1873
and educated in the common schools of tina
state, Luther College, Deborah. Iowa. anC
| the Jonesvlle (Wis.) Business College. He
was appointed to his present position II
January, 1899.