Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1904-04-21

lately eStaUlSneu between NhAS POI
and the harbor of Alexandria, Egypt
hy the steamers of the White Star
line has brought Palestine much clos
err than ever before to the United
States. Actually, by means of the
regular service to Egypt. the trip can
be made from Boston to Beirut or JaF-
ia with but a single change and, as
result, Americans in greater numbers
than ever heretofore are finding their
way to the land of Bible story. Only
the other day large party of minis
tiers and SundayschoOl students from
the middle west. directed by profes.
sor from the University of Chicago.
passed through Boston on their way
to the Holy Land via Alexandria,
Even in summer-such is the eQuable
climate of the observation-disclosures find
the journey through the holy land
pleasant.
What. however probably is stimu-
lating American interest in Palestine
even more than the time-honorei
scenes and associations in the extra
ordinary development now going on
by which the country is being i'm
proved. even Amercanized. No long
er is it only the student of antiquities
who visits the country for the pur.
pose of study and recreation. United
States Consul Merrill at Jerusalem
says in a recent report Twenty
years ago not ter travelling statesmen
came into this country. Now there
are several score each year. This
fact shows that trade has increased
for these statesmen do not come here
from sentiment or for pleasure. Bus
mess interests, alone, prompt them. :
The fact is, a remarkable work Of
commercial exploitation is going on in
Palestine and Syria, hindered at times
by obstacles interposed through the
stupidity of the ottomon government
but in the main making very real
progress; so that there are those who
believe modern Judea to be about to
resume something of its ancient i'm
portanCe Time was at least down 10
the time of the taking of Jerusalem
by Titus, when Palestine was one OF
the best cultivated agricultural re-
gions in all the earth and even after
it had been reduced by the Romans to
provincial dependence, this produc-
tiyeness did not altogether cease
The blight which has fallen upon it
in modern times is due to Mohamme.
dan rule and not to climatic condi-
tions,
That the land can be commercially
rehabilitated. seems, from late consul
ar reports, to be beyond question. 1t
already lies near to one of the worlds
greatest routes of travel, that through
the Suez canal so that its products
can be conveniently and cheaply
transported to the east or to the west.
Besides, there is easy transportation
from Beirut to Mediterranean ports
and thence outward to every country
of the Atlantic coast.
But most important of all is the
project. now developing, Of a through
railway line from one of the Mediter-
ranean cities of Syria or Palestine
eastward through Afghanistan and IN
iia to the Pacific in lower or upper
China. Such line is believed by
railway experts to be as logical a
necessity as the Southern Pacific route
was in the United States. 1t would
he natural competitor with the
Trans Siberian Railway, over which i
would possess, by virtue of the pres
ent and prospective character Of the
lands trayersed, innumerable advan-
tages. When such a railway has been
built with a terminus at the eastern
end of the Mediterranean. there will
undoubtedly be such a revival Of ag.
riculture and industry in the holy land
as not even the most ardent Zionists
have dreamed Of
The modernization Of the country
which is at present going on is of it.
self worthy of notice There have
been built. or are now building. in
SYRIA and Palestine. four distinct lines
Of railway capitalized by Belgians or
Germans all Of which. with thor
numerous ramlfcations, will ultimate.
IN be feeders to the great continental
system proposed
OUb Oh THESE railway ~ Sltlla -
that from Jaffa to Jerusalem. the first
line of which was opened to traffic in
1892 II is now proposed to spread
this system. in accordance with the
original plan 50 that II will include
branch lines to GAIA Jericho and the
Dead Sea, with a stiH LONGER eNton.
sion TIP the Jordan valley 70 Damas.
Gus
Meantime the Turks are building as
rapidly rs POSSIBLE from the Jordan
eastward, a line from Haifa to Damas.
Gus. making a connection with the Da.
rascus- Mecca line. The long railway
runnng III north and south dreo-
ton. IN an example Of the progressive.
ness NJ the present.day Mohamme.
dams. for the capital was raised by
popular subscription among the No
hammedans in all parts Of the world
and Il Is being developed under mod
ern direction II will be a preferred