Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1914-05-21
Jerusalem Made New.


hum with the noise of electric cars and
its more important thoroughfares will be
illuminated at night by electricity. Its
old picturesque walls and massive towers
are to be removed, and the city given an
adequate water supply. The rapidity
with which Jerusalem is extending,
through the return of the Jews in such
large numbers to the city, has rendered
these Improvements necessary. To the
north and west OF the old city there has
sprung up. within the last decade, large
Jewish colonies, populous residential
sections, as well as converts, hospices,
schools, and other buildings, with the
result that today there is greater Jeru-
salem without the walls than within.
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 jerusalem.
The first, which will have a length OF
about two miles, will give easy access 10
what may be termed the business quarter
of the Holy City, while the second, OF
similar length, will link up the large Jew
ish colonies to the north with the city's
principal entrance, while the third will
encircle the old city, embracing many OF
its most historic sites, such as that be-
lieved by many scholars to be the scene
OF the Crucifixion, The Tomb OF the Kings,
the Mount OF Olives, and the Valley OF
Iehoshaphat. The fourth line will run
from the Jaffa Gate TO Bethlehem, some
six miles distant, traversing what is prob
ably the most sacred thoroughfare in the
world. II teens with holy places, sacred
wells, tombs, and conYents. The work
of laying the rails is TO commence next
April, and according 10 the terms oil the
concession, the syndicate have power to
extend the lines in any direction within a
distance OF twenty-five miles. The city
walls. which have circumference OF
about three miles, and rise in places TO a
height OF thirty EIGHT and one-half feet,
are now being offered by the Govern
ment for sale as building material. II is
expected, however, that efforts will be
made to save isolated sections, more
particularly the massive towers. Indeed,
influential citizens Of Jerusalem have
formed a society and are approaching
the Government with view TO preserv-
ing David's Tower, which they propose
to convert into national museum.
OF late years Jerusalem has suffered
greatly from the want OF fresh water.
With the exception of small quantity
brought into the city from the ancient
pools of Solomon, near Bethlehem, by
means of pipe which runs along the old
aqueduct, the Holy City is entirely de-
pendent for its water upon the rainfall.
Now reservoirs are TO be built in the up
per part OF the valley Of the Brook Cherith
at the springs OF Ain Fariah and Ain
Fouwar, where the water will be stored
and brought into the city as required. A
few months ago water car was brought
out from England to water the roads,
which had previously been sprinkled
from skins. A year ago the Holy City
was equipped with an efficient telephone
service, and now its police are TO have
bicycles.
All over the country modern methods
are being brought into vogue. On the
rich plains OF Sharon, lying between Jaffa
and Jerusalem, one may detect modern
harvesting and reaping machines driven
by steam, as well as threshing machines
operated by motors. This is a vast inn
provement on the old-fashioned methods
OF reaping by hand and threshing out the
corn on the primitive threshing floors by
oxen. The extensive orange groves
around Jaffa are now being irrigated by
water raised by motor-driven pumps. At
Jaffa the French are 10 build harbor,
which is certainly badly needed. On the
Dead Sea motor boat has been placed,
and similar craft are now TO be run upon
the Jordan and the Sea Of ofGalilee, carry
ing both passengers and freight. Upon
the shores of the Sea of Galilee a fish
curing and sardine factory is to be estab-
lished. A few months ago the Govern
ment began the construction OF a railway
from Aculeh, on the plain Of Esdraelon,
near Nazareth, to Jerusalem, passing
through Jenin and Nablous. The rails
have already been laid across the plain TO
Jenin. This line will join up the Holy
City with Damascus. Then the French
have granted concession TO build line
from Ryak, in the north, to Ramleh, a
station OF the Jaffa and jerusalem railway.
from which point il is expected to be
continued later southward into Egypt.