The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-10-16

orchards OF olives, almonds and apples,
and the brush and the dead wood of
these are used to make charcoal.
As to the use of coal itself, that Is al
most productive on account of the high
rates over the railroads. The same
charge is made for carrying coal as for
carrying silk, the rate being 81 per ton,
or about cents a ton per mile. Such
coal as comes here is in the shape of
briquettes. II sells for SIS ton.
Solomon's Pools
Another want from which the Holy
Land suffers is water. The rainfall in
the southern sections is something like
six inches and upward year, the amount
gradually increasing as one goes north
ward toward Galilee. The country has
always been one of pools and wells, and
today every house in Jerusalem has its
roofs so made that they drain into els
terms placed In the courts. In dry sea
sons water is sold, and the man who has
a spare ei5tern gets big price for his
surplus. Last summer the American con
sui received $50 for the water he sold,
and the American colony outside the city
paid $40 for a cistern half full.
Nearly all the wells of the olden times
remain, and are pointed out by the drag
oman. One can drink from the well
where Christ met the Samaritan woman,
and from that at which Jacob met and
kissed Rachel There are many els
terms scattered over the country, the most
of them shaped like great pears.
The pools of Solomon were connected
by pipes with Jerusalem few years ago,
and for a time 1t was thought that they
would supply the city with water. These
pools are on the highlands between Beth
lehem and Hebron. They are cut out of
the solid rock and 1t is said that they
originally held about 100000 gallons.
There are three of. them, ranging in
height from $50 to $50 feet They lie in
terraces one above the other, being of
varying widths. The depths are from rs
to 80 feet. If they were in good condition
they could supply vast deal of water,
but as 1t Is, the aqueducts which Solo,
mon built to Jerusalem have gone to
ruin, and there Is now only a four-incvh
iron pipe running from them to this city
The pipe comes In near the Dung gate
and goes from there to the Temple plat
form. / stumbled over it the other day
1 am told the water is used almost alto
gether for the Mosque of Omar, although
it is connected with the fountains of the
city and is occasionally allowed to squirt
there.
In addition to these pools there ara
many others in and about Jerusalem.
The pool of Hezekiah Is right In the
heart of the city, not far from the Church
of the Holy Sepulcher, and the pool of
Sloan. where our Lord sent the blind
man to wash, is in the valley. of Jehoso
phat, outside the walls.
Just now the Holy Land is suffering
from drouth and the people are praying
for rain. We have had one or two show
ers in the past few days. but more is
needed or the crops will fail. The most
of the inhabitants here are religious. They
believe in prayer. and Mohammedans,
Christians and Jews are now all hold
ing services at which they ask the Lord
to send water.
We had a slight rain yesterday and
more Is expected. The people evidently
think their prayers will be answered AS
I walked through David street I heard
two Mohammedans talking. Their Ian
guage was Arabic, but my dragoman
told me that one had just said to the
other:
How good God is after ALL We have
prayed for rain and, 10, 1t has come"
When the first shower began to fall
was standing at the door of my hotel. A
little girl passed. She had a platter of
bread on her head and the rain was pour
ing down upon it. She was wet to the
skin, but nevertheless she was singing.
I asked my guide the words of her song.
He replied "She cries. Praise God for
the rainl Praise God for the rain! Praise
God for the rainp "
& This little girl was perhaps years of