Arizona republican., 1913-07-23
RENTING AGRICULTURE IN MEsoPoTAMIA


 The irrigation works necessary convert Neso- potana into agricultural country somewhat district. But they are greatly facilitated by the fact that the two rivers, running parallel another through this district continually change their water level in comparison to one another It will therefore be easy by means of system of canals, carry the higher Euphrates in Upper Mesopoamia across the inter Vening country the Tigrs, whereas lower down, Tn the neighborhood of Root, water can be taken from the Tigris and sent through canals into the Euphrates. To a certain extent the old bed of the Euphrates and the remains of exceedingly old system or canals which have long since run dry, can be utilized for this purpose It will be all difficult a task for modern engineering o construct the necessary dams and reservoirs had it been possible in the middle ages cope with the sitting of the beds of the canals Mesopotama would become the barren wilderness that prosperous and civilized district Neither the expense entaed form an inslrnoIntabe barrier Very careful detailed calculations show an approximate be 80000000 he Euphrates section and 70 OOO OO0 marks for inc Tigris district The upkeep of the entire plant will require an annual expenditure of three and third million marks But it be borne hectares of land in the sections to be irrigated by the Euphrates and % 900 hectares of country neighborhood of the Tigris will be converted from useless desert into fertile agricultural district If we estimate the average net profits of hectare at 14O marks have yearly income or nearly 5loOoooO marks. The result would be that the invested capital after the necessary ductions had been made for upkeep, would realize l9 per cent in the Euphrates section, and nearly 16 per the Tigris district. climatic cond- tons approximately the the Nile, valuable commercial crops such as cotton, could be cultivated, and could be regularly transported to commercial by the railway and steamers of low draft plying on the two rivers in question. It would be quite wrong to suppose that the cheaper water transport would deprive the rail-
 way a greater part freight, the case of most articles going to Europe direct rail- way transport to the north would be dearer than he roundabout waterway, with it's necessary unloading and reloadng at the mouth of the river, including the high fees imposed passing the Suez canal At the present moment many important articles of commerce suffer damage in the course of the long water journey This is especially the with foodstouffs of all kinds, such coffee, tea and sugar; furthermore such goods tobacco, matches, etc, far too sensitive a long water journey in climate of this kind, pecialy the upstream route. Hence, homie development of Mesopotamia and of the whole Asatic Turkey brought about by the great irri- gation works contemplated, will be less dependent the Bagdad railway, and should sufficiency traffic for the latter under taking. There be serious question of the bulk of the traffic being transported by water the southern route, the entire existing conditions absolutely negative such suggestion.