The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-11-23
JERUSALEM Is GROWING.
Total Population Reported to be Be-
tween $4,000 and 10000.

amelioration of the living conditions
OF the Jews there.
According to report made to the
department of Commerce and Labor
the population of Jerusalem, particu-
larly the Jewish part. has grown re-
markably and chiefly in the last 90
years. increasing in that period from
10000 to not less than 5000 out Of a
total population Of between 10000
and 10000.
The Jewish quarter within the
walled city," continued the report.
has long been crowded and tho new
arrivals from Russia and Galicia.
Bokhara and Yemen. Persia and
NJ MoroccO have spread over the out
skirts Of the city. mainly to suburbs
to the northwest. of the Jaffa road.
Sir Moses Monteflore. the Anglo
Jewish philanthropist Of tho 18th
century. did much for the ameliora-
tion of the housing conditions Of the
Jewish population Of Jerusalem. In
his honor q testimonial fund Of about
s6o.000 was collected in England
which has been employed in contin-
uation OF tho work he inaugsratsd.
The money Is used to mako al
vances to local building societies on
condition Of the members of the co.
cities refanding part Of the cost and
submitting their building plans for az
prevail to representatives Of the COM
mittee. The advances are repayab!e
without interest In 10 years from COM
pletion Of the scheme and the money
In then again advanced for a fresh en-
terprise. In this way five suburban coll
onies have been erected, each contain
irg 60 to 70 houses: In the newest Of
them the minimum amount spent on
each dwelling was $1,000. Their con-
struction' throughout is neat and SUBJ
stantial. though. owing to the re-
markable rise In the price Of land near
the aty. the site on which this colony
Is built cost four times az much PER
square yard as that of the older set
Elements. More space has been allow
ed for the roads and trees have been
planted along them.
Other religious denominations have
erected Immense buildings around Je-
rusalem, such as the Orthodox Greek
converts on the Jaffa road and the
Mount of Olives. the Roman Catholic
orphanage, and the German Protest
ant institutions by the Damascus
state and on the northern heights.
But they have not done anything con-
siderable for the improvement Of hous-
Ing or the good laying out Of suburbs.
The result is that between the abund-
ance or great stone churches and in
stitutes there are rows OF wretched
slums A few wealthy Boghara Je VS.
have built fine mansions, but there
are few rich members among the
other Jewish communities of Je-
rusalem. and few who can afford to
build for themselves a decent house.
The project has therefore been
mooted in England. Of forming a
small garden suburb outside Jerusa-
lem In which the houses could be let
TO the better class artisans who can
anord to pay rent OF $40 to $50 a
year. The idea OF garden suburbs
has achieved striking popularity I'm
England and Germany, and 1t Is rec
ognized as Offering the best solution
for the housing problem of the large
industrial cities OF our time, and at
the same time as fostering the love
OF the land and Of nature which the
modern concentration Of the popula-
ton In towns has threatened. At some
ittie distance from Jerusalem land
can still be purchased fairly cheaply.
and IL Is calculated that n substan-
~ 'Ne'o houoS WIN ndlI an acre
could be provided for about $1,000.
Ihe garden space could be planted
with hgs and olives and garden pro-
duce. foi which there is a ready mar
ket In the city and thus the tenant
would be able to make n little income
oy the care OF his land. The houses
would preserve the natural beauty If
tho SITE and the supervision OF tho
dwellings and the upkcep OF roads ana
common buildings would be in the
hahds OF "a local committee. Com
munication with the city would be
established by diligence or bus. nm
less the tramway concession. OF
winch so much has been heard. ma
t"rializes, In which case the line
l - ~ L.