Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-18

tion the desert which comes down to the
Now that the dam his been completed,
however. it will be NECESSARY to construct a
system of canals and bumping apparatus
to convey the water where 1t Is needed.
work at a cost of $10,OOO.OOO on similar
terms That is, they are to be paid in in
stallments as rapidly as the contract is
carried out, and it iscestimated that at least
ten years viii be necessary for that pur-
pose.
Various enthusiastic estimates are made
as to the area of desert that can be re-
claimed and the revenues that will be de-
rived by the government, and the Weaitn
that viii be added to the nation. but 1t will
be many years before expectations can be
realized, and so far as the cotton problem
is concerned, the demand for the Egyptian
staple will increase more rapidly than the
supply Egypt produces from 100000 to
200. coo bales. AS soon as the water from
the dam can be utilized the crop will jump
up perhaps 5000 or perhaps 100000 bales:
and gradually increase until the total
reaches 1.5O0.000 bales OF 500 pounds eacn'
There 1t must stop for years until the lrfi-
cation system is still further extended.
A considerabl portion of the land to De
improved belongs to private parties, Wno.
of course will have to pay their share OF
the cost Of the improvements indirectly. II
NOT directly. The government has already
sold a tract of 100. 600 acres to syndicate
which will build an irrigation system 10
bring 1t under cultivation, and sell II for an
advance. Most of the government iand -
sold at auction bureau under the min
lister of finance has charge OF such analrs.
and when a man wants to buy tract or
land he enters an application there TOT IT.
This fact is advertised in the official news
paners and bids for the same piece OF
property are invited from other people. The
applicant may be the only bidder. In most
cases he is but the fact that there can be
competition is protection against specu-
lators. and nobody can obtain large ., ttar'
During the last year 1854 acres were soio
In 161 transactions. The largest lot was
1900 acres. The remainder averaged less
than thirty acres. The unsold avalia Die
government land now amounts 70 1865
acres. and Is valued at $16,655.0O0, which
Indicates the extraordinary effect OF the
introduction of irrigation. The proceeus
Of the 6 594 acres sold during the year 1877
amounted to $1.116.Oo0. which is an aver
age of $40 an acre.
Opportunity to Buy Land
Poor men who want to buy land can Dor
row money for that purpose from the Ma
tional Bank Of Egypt at a low rate OF m
terest unon q government guarantee. This
benevolent feature Of a paternal govern
ment has done a great deal or good' al
though 1t was adopted only three years ago
in October, 1850. More than Jaw ,e,-
Is.
have taken advantage of 1t and nave DOT
rowed more than $2,O00.OO0 at 3 per cent
interest The bank makes the advances.
but the government. through the agency o,
its tax gatherers, collects the interest ana
principal when due at the same time as
part of the land tax. Thus the bank. being
relieved of the necessity of maintaining an
expensive staff of subordinates. is able TO
advance small sums at a relatively low rate
of interest The Insignificant amount
loaned to each enables it to distribute a
comparatively small sum among great
many people More than ene-half OF the
loans thus far made have been for less than
$3.50. and most Of them were payable in hve
The The Bank of Egypt having declined to In
vest more than sthe $e009O00 already
loaned. the government advanced 1t $l.ooo'-
600 additional for the SAME purpose
"There can be no doubt" Lord Cromer
says. and he has ia ken ID great interest In
this scheme 'thatthe Egyptian peasants
are beginning to realize the advantage of
owning their own FARMS and are learning
to take advantage Or the sBenevoience of the
The agricultural department is managed
with energy and great sca;cess. 1t is intro
ducing new methods and machinery and
seeds of new plants among the farmers.
and Is showing them how to get the best re-
suits from their labor but with all these
farmer In the United States Is as comfort
able and as Well off as the richest of the
fellaheens. The sod hVts in> which the
prairie pioneers lived during their first year
on the western homestead are palaces COM
pared with the filthy novels occupied by the
rope so destitute of comforts and all that
goes to make homes and happiness. The
poorest Italians are better housed and fed
and clothed. .r' f---.