The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1914-03-21

Bethlehem, Past Sacred Weiis and
Tombs-First Rails Will Be Laid In
April-Motor Buses For Syria.
What will amount to revolutionary
change i'm the Holy City is involved in
the plan, soon to be carried out, to pro-
vide Jerusalem with a modern electric
street car service and with electric
light. The city is also to have a much
needed adequate water supply.
In order to effect these improve
ments the engineers have come to the
conclusion that it is necessary TO pull
down the picturesque ancient walls
and massive towers of the city.
The rapidity with which Jerusalem
is extending through the return of the
Jews in great numbers to the home of
their ancestors has rendered these inn
proyementS necessary To the north
and west of the old city there have
sprung up within the last ten years.
says correspondent of the London
Daily Express, large Jewish colonies.
popuIous residential sections. as well
as converts, hospitals. institutions,
schools and other buildings. with the
result that today there is greater
Jerusalem without the walls than
within.
Tramcars Past Sacred Spots.
-Four separate tramway routes are to
be laid down. They will all start from
the Jaffa gate, the principal entrance
into the city. and run outside the city
walls through the newer parts of Jeu-
salem The first, which will have a
length of about two miles, will give
easy access to what may be termed the
business quarter" of the Holy City.
The second, of similar length. will link
up the large Jewish colonies to the
north with the clty's principal en-
trance. The third will encircle the old
city, embracing many of its most his
toric sites. such as Calvary, believed
by many scholars to be the scene of
the crucifixion. the tomb of the kings,
the Mount of Olives and the valley Of
Jehoshaphat.
The fourth line will run from the
Jaffa gate to Bethlehem. about six
miles away, traversing what is per-
haps the most sacred thoroughfare in
the world. 1t teens with holy places
sacred wells, tombs and converts.
The work of laying the rails is to
begin In April. and, according to the
terms of the concession. the syndicate
has power to extend the lines i'm any
direction foT Il distance of some TWEEN
ty-f1ve miles.
The city walls. which have a circum-
ference of about three miles and rise
| In places to q height of thirty eight
and half feet are now being offered
by the government for sale as building
material. 1t Is expected. however. that
efforts will be made to save isolated
| sections. more particularly the massive
towers. Indeed, influential citizens of
Jerusalem have formed Il society and
| are approaching the government with
view to preserving David's tower
which they propose to convert into a
museum.
Reservoirs to End Mater Shortage.
OF late years Jerusalem has suffered
With the exception OF a small guam
tity brought into the city from the
| ancient pools of Sloan. near Bethle
hem. by means of a pipe which runs
along the old aqueduct. the Holy City
is entirely dependent for its water
hA faIl
to be built in the upper part of the
valley of the brook Cherith, at the
| springs Of Ain Fariah and Ain Fou.
war, where the water will be stored
| and brought into the city as required.
'That Jerusalem is gradually being
westernized is evident" says the cor
respondent Of the Express. "A few
months ago water cart was brought
| out from England to water the roads
which had previously been sprinkled
from skins Then 1t was only year
ago that the Holy City was equipped
| with an efficient telephone service
| while now its police are to have bicy
cles. Then, not only in Jerusalem, but
all over the country, modern methods
are being brought into vogue. On the
rich plains OF Sharon. lying between
jana and Jerusalem, one may detect
modern harvesting and reaping ma
| chimes operated by motors.
This is vast improvement on the
old fashioned method Of reaping by
hand and thrashing floors by oxen"
| Damascus, where Paul sojourned
after his conversion, and perhaps the
very road on which suddenly there
shone round about him light from
heaven" is soon to witness the coming
of British motor omnibus as part OF
a plan for motor service between
Bagdad and Beirut, distance Of oves
600 milaa