Goldsboro semi-weekly argus., 1909-05-12
HFAIikG IN THE HJif LAMB.
The warm Baths Which Enjoyed
Great Distinction Under the Roman
Emperors Are to Be Revived and
Put to Good Use.


Emperors Are to Be Revived and
Put to Good Use.
The healing of the centurion prom
ises to be duplicated by the natural
agency of the waters in Palestine, if
present plans of development are car
ried out, and at the same time the
warm baths which enjoyed great dis
tinction under the Roman emperors
are to be revived and put to good use.
According to a recent report of the
American consul at Beirut, the Holy
Land abonnds in mineral springs, as
for instance, at Gadara (east of the
Sea of Gallilee), and at Hamamim Su-
leimani (east of the Dead Sea-. Their
temperature ranges between eighty
and one hundred and forty degrees
Fahrenheit. Intensely saline springs
exist along the banks of the Dead Sea,
all ~cathartic and useful in torpor of
liver and other diseases. None of
these waters are bottled or exported
except as curiosities by tourists. Es-
pecially celebrated are the hot springs
at Tiberias, which ever since the Ro-
man occupation have been renowned
for their curative powers, and in by
gone ages were compared to the fam
Gus waters of Baia. They may yet
become 'Syria's Carlsbad"
The present baths at Tiberias were
built by Ibrahim Pasha in 1888, dur
ing the Egyptian invasion. Additions
were made in 1890 by the Turkish
government, but the accommodations
are inferior and lack cleanliness. The
temperature of these springs is about
one hundred and forty-three degrees
Fahrenheit, and the waters contain
sulphur, chloride of magnesium and
iron. They are in many respects SIM
| liar to those of Carlsbad. The hot
springs of Tiberias are largely fire.
quented by natives from all parts OF
Syria and are reputed to cure chronic
rheumatism and various skin diseases
In 1887 Doctor Schumacher, of Hal
ia, was asked by the Turkish govern
ment to plan suitable modern baths
but the project was never carried out
owing to the fact that, according to {
firman, the baths could never be le
for a longer period than two years
and consequently no responsible les
see could be found to take them owe
and place them under efficient man
agement. All efforts by natives AM
foreigners to change the terms of tn
lease failed, the government consider
ing that the baths in their presen
state were quite sufficient for thei
purpose, viz, to offer free lavations fo
the poor. especially the Bedouins, an
a few single baths for natives o
lmeans.
At present the revenues of the es
taniishment accrue to Tiberias. Will
the annual rent, amounting to som
two thousand five hundred dollars
, flows into the national exchequer. I
Roman times the springs were calle
Ammaus. Pliny extols their sanator
properties. Roman villas, temple
: and baths surrounded and Herod
acropolis crowned the heights nea
, the thermal baths. Under America
or European management, with tt
e expenditure of fifty thousand dollar
a this watering place would become
q source of wealth to those concerne
The season lasts from February
q May. In Gal1ilee the climate is d
e | lightful in the spring, as tourists we
: know. A resort offering such batl
: and such historic associations wou
\ seem to have a bright future.