Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-01-07
FARMS IN PALESTINE.
Colonies Of Jews Have Population Of
5c,OoO-life is Even Luxurious.

Wien the HOLY. land was visited by
tie late Sir Moses Montefiore in 1872.
the Jewish population Of Palestine
numbered about 500-a figure then
considered to be an enormous one.
Some 50 years later we find Palestine
Boosting of a Jewish population of over
50,0o0-a truly remarkable metamor-
phosis. The majority of these came
from Russia, Roumania and Galicia,
from which countries they fed from
persecution and tyranny.
it = these Very refugees vic have
tlrned the country in and around
Palestine into IL veritable garden OF.
Elder" and such places as Tiberias,
Galilee, Safed and Hebron. which not
many years ago were considered places
better fitted for the antiquarian and
tl.a Psychologist for the purposes ot
research than for the civilized nhabi-
tantS, are today prosperous jewish
colonies. With the financial assist
ance ard advice OF the Rothscnids
and other wealthy members of the
Jewish race i'll Europe and in the
United States. settlements have been
founded wherever suitable land could
pc obtained, and. as result. there
are oday exceedingly over 30 of these
settlements west of the Jordan alone.
The most important and largest of
these settlements or colonies is that
OF Ziehron, which alone comprises over
2iG0 acres, and boasts OF population
of some 100 souls. y Wel-known
Englishman who visited the country
elGquently remarks that the develop
ment Of these beautiful and pictures
que agricultural colonies is Il ro
nance OF realism. Millions OF WINS
and fig trees. olive trees, eitron trees
and orange trees have been planted,
while vast numbers of young mui-
berry trees are now feeding silk
worms" Zichron is a sort OF NINA
ture Palestinian Paris, Tor the people
here live somewhat luxuriously. Their
great Uinc cellars. stored with vine
and brandy manufactured here al
most rival thoSo of Rischon. This Is
truly a garden city. for it has u mag
nificent garden in the center"
Here is live answer to those who
constantly declare that the Jews as
farmers and agriculturists are hope
less failures. Among the innumerable
otter superb plantations may be NEIL
toned the Rischon-le Zion colony
fnear the port of Jafa), the Enron,
Rehoboth. Schweiah. and EmeiDsch
NAL colonies. Although not quite so
large es the Zichron colony. and una ble
to boast of SO large population,
Richon is. nevertheless considered to
be the parent settlement.
Founded IN 1882. with the assistance
OF a loan granted BY Baron Edmond
de Rcthsclild (Which mas already been
paid Off. there are now already plant
ed there as many as 100000 mulberry
trees and over half million vines.
This colon. also boasts of a hospital.
library and institute. and, many other
educational establishments A travel
err might thus make his way over
Palestine. north. south. east and west,
and vet. wherever he may east his
startled eyes. these miniature Pales-
tinian Parises will be espied on all
sides. In this way Ziopists all over
tie world hope to gain back The land
OF their fathers. The further prose-
cutior # this work. however is at its
present stage becoming gradually
somewhat more difficult owing to the
extremely hostile attitude of the Tur-
kish officials in regard to the sale OF
land.
The passport limiting the stay of
all poreign jews in Palestine 10 three
months is still in vogue. ana with
these and other restrictions Zionists
are low compelled to drop their lofty
ideals and aspirations: it is hoped.
however, for but & short time. The
Young Turks are extremely jealous
of THEN power, and are determined to
maintain the integrity of their hetero-
geneous empire against possible COM
plications. But it may be confidently
stated that if the Young Turks sell
fishly intend to limit Jewish enter
PRISE and activity in the empire in
this fashion, it is then clearly evident
I" the most optimistic and sympa-
thctic onlooker that the contamination
OF the economic and material regen-
Grafton of the Turkish empire will be-
come utterly impossible. - London
Standard.