The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1907-06-21
AWAKENING IN ASIA MINOR.
Railroad Extension Into Holy Land At
irnnts FOREIGN Capiial.

correspondent ul TIE hnHiuH llaHs'llHAy
In consequence ul the extension ut Il
railroad facilities, notably the Aleppo
branch Beirut during the past year has
added vast and promising regions m Ara
bia, Mrsupntamm aud ASIA Minor to ~
tributary territory. Beirut has become
commercial cunlpr uf the first importance
ia western Asia, and her trade Is bound
10 record higher and higher figures ~
years roll 10y and the surrounding country
Is developed. AS things stand, the rail
road from Beirut into the interior cannot
handle the increased traffic, aud plans are
being perfected for a tunnel through the
Lebanon, providing Tor an easier grade
aud increased capacity, Steps ate also he.
ing taken looking toward the enlargement
Of licirut's protected harbor, the only one
OF its kind On the coasts ul Asia Minor ami
syria.
The PROSPECTS, ol the city Of Beirut as "a
seaport and trade center are graphically
illustrated 10y the rapidly enhancing cost
nl living and the rise IN real estate prices
and house rents, the record OF increase
being - to 10 per cent. over rates rul
mg two years ago. Beirut Is cemenlhg
It's leadership a. an educational aud Ia
,mry center, and Is becoming known ~
that role throughout western Asia and
the law school at Beirut enjoyed through.
out the Roman empire IN past ages. At
Beirut are located customs and quarantine
headquarters Tor the syrian and CaIama
man coasts.
Owing To the extension OF the Beirut
Damascus railroad southwark to within a
lew hours ride by carriage or horsebach
Of Jerusalem, connecting at Derat with
the Haifa railroad which covers Nazareth
and Iiberias, Beirut bids fair to become
the chief center OF the immense tourist
traffic OF the Holy Land OF ChrlstendOm.
4 carriage road is being built from Gal
lice, through Samarla, TO Jerusalem. On
the Sea ol Galilee are being placed steam
launches BY railroad from Damascus the
tourists can visit the famous RUNS OF
Petra, southeast OF the Dead sea, ana
OF her historic sites beyond the Jordan.
Last year exports from Beirut amount
ed to about 100000, consisting largely
OF silk thread the amount being $500
bales. valued at Sl.OOOuOO, and waste silk
and cocoons. at SSUO,OUU Other items OF
expectation were wool worth $4,000
barley 100000 and tobacco 100000. Ia
ports TO the United States, according 10
consular invoices. show the following ship
ments IN 1906: Arabian horse, Si0,; btu
men. Slgil; books ArablcJ, S2i1; cotton
lace, Sob; Oriental sundry goods, SlOhO,
personal effects, 500; provisions lNyrlanl,
~. 500: rugs. SjlS9; tOmbac (PcrslanD
$50 and wool. S279.73l. The exports to-
Inc United States from Beirut mot lnclud-
ing Damascus. Ilata aud Iripolll during
the calendar year OF 1906 amounted TO
S32l, llU. as compared with Sl69,m9 iol
1905. and Sli3,lS for 1904.
Imports from the United States com
pris.d petroleum, oleomarganne, beer
canned groceries leather, WIRE nallS, cot
ton goods, drugs, paints, machinery, haid-
ware, furniture, etc, amounting To ABOUT
S}5O00O. as against S212,3Sr American Pc
troleum entered into competition with the
Russian product during the past year, ana
is likely to succeed, provided a reasonably
high standard OF quality Is maintained.
Petroleum engines are becoming an I'M
uortant article OF commerce throughout all
western Asia. American oil engines have
not so far proved their superiority over
British and German machines. These en-
rines are used tor irrigatng and milling
PURPOSES and the demand Tor them Is con
stantly growing.
Various industries Of Damascus flourish,
such as silk and cotton weaving, the
manufacture OF furniture, inlaid with
mother-of-pearl lin reality, the shell OF
an oyster found ON the banks OF the
IigIis). the manufacture OF copper ana
brass work, handsomely hammered out,
nlaid with silver or enamel and engraved.
The Damascus Mecca railroad Is com
pleted up to $50 miles and quite recently
Il staff of engineers went down to Medina
TO survey the line of Mecca. Construction
work is carried on most asslduously By
this line the pilgrims from Damascus gain
more than 30 DAYS. which but for the rail
road they would have to spend on camel
back. through rain or burning sun, &C
couling to the season OF the year.
As "A result OF the building OF the llalia-
Dcr'at railroad through Gailee, Ilalia Is
steadily growing in wealth and PopuIa
ton. Much of the grain from the Hauran,
formerly carried by camels to Acca, Is
now brought to Haifa by train. The lat
ter city needs a new custom house near
the railway station and warehouses. The
railroad is doing good business. Some years
ago the Deutsche Palestine bank opened
a branch office at Ilaita, and tins year the
Imperial Ottoman bank has followed sult
These banks lend money to small dealer
at nine per cent, and although the III
terest is high, the banks have proved OF
much general benefit to the people ur-
kew" saws Consular Agent I. j. Strive,
intends to make IIaifa "a central place.
Five new telegraph lines have been start
ed and the building OF a harbor Is likely
soon to be undertaken
The Cyprus government railway was OF
fciallv opened for traffic Oct. 81, l9l2
from Fai7agllsta to Ncosia, the capital,
distance of 35 miles. 1t is now BEN
extended from Nicosia to Morphou. The
harbor works at Famagusta were hnail\
completed in February, 1906. oPlhtiG1l}}o6 90 90
surance has been given ( of tbe fan;l;ty ii
curly thereto and egress therefrom
The sinking of an artesian well at Nico-
STA in 1905 was public work generally
considered of perhaps greater Importance
to Cyprus than any engineering under
taking since the British occupation. An
American boring plant capable OF drilling
to depth of 5000 feet was procured at
an expenditure of $3.50 and was installed
at Nicosia. At last accounts depth OF
some $50 feet had been reached. Through
out the island there is a General deficiency
of water.
Foreign capital, so much desired and 50
long needed in Cyprus, has commenced to
be invested in the island by the Anglo
Egyptian Land Allotment company, who
have purchased a considerable amount OF
property and who have entered into an
agreement with the government to estab
lish an agricultural bank. The operations
of the company are still in an elementary
stage.
WHITE MOUNTAIN ROAD WORK.