The Evening Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1917-1920, 1917-12-31
MESOPOTAlHA

1T is no exaggeration to say that
the whole worlds peace, its progress
and prosperity hang largely upon the
settlement of the many problems as
sociated with the unique country OF
Mesopotamia." In these prophetic
words are summed up the observa-
tions of a noted English scholar after
more than twenty years spent in this
land of ancient wealth and splendor.
Now the prize for which Germany
is giving her life blood in an effort
to build a Mittel Europa, Mesopo-
tamia is destined within the next gen.
Grafton to again become a garden
spot Of the world with the utilization
of its vast resources.
In Mesopotamia sprung up the first
civilization of the world that lasted
through the Dark Ages, to be handed
down to the later generations in
Europe. Here arose the mighty splen-
dor of Babylon and Nineveh, to be
swept away by the terrible force of
the armies of Cyrus. 1t was the son
of this mighty warrior, Cambyses,
who led from Mesopotamia an army
that wrested Egypt from the Phar-
aohs. The feats of prowess of Darius
and of Xerxes, who is credited by
history with having mobilized and
maintained in the field an army of s.
000,0 900 men, all had as their back
ground the ancient glory and might
of the nations inhabiting Mesopotam-
ia.
But the land flowing with milk
and honey" is no more. In its place
is now a fertile expanse of land
overgrown with thistles and thorns.
The rich alluvial deposits brought
down by the two great rivers, the
Euphrates and the Tigris, have been
allowed to go uncultivated. The
whole country has been practically
deforested, the very roots of the trees
being sold as fuel to the deplorably
paoc -populace. Under the despotic
and corrupt rule of the Turks, Meso-
potamia, a. country Astounding IN
wealth of resources, has been robbed
even of the historic relics that have
come down from its days of ancient
civilization The authorities have
permitted the mounds of Babylon to
be used as a quarry, and the we'll
made bricks of Nebuchadrezzar can
be seen in the older house of Bagdad
and the small towns on the Eu-
pirates.
But, notwithstanding the gross
neglect and corrupt pratices of the
Turks, Mesopotamia holds in store
future wealth for that nation which
will utilize its vast resources. This
country contains many underground
rivers of valuable petroleum which
find their way to the surface in
many places. The rich alluviaA
plains abound in clover, fact which
proves the vast possibilities of the
land for raising the wheat and other
grains the countries of Europe must
import. There are also excellent
prospects for the cultivation Of cot
ton, for the further extension of the
fruitful date gardens and the orange
groves, for the breeding of ponies,
and the rearing of Angora goats
which produce the famous silky wool
so highly priced by manufacturers.
The development of these resources
is a matter of utmost importance to
the nations of Europe.
The Anglo-Saxon race for more
than a century has done much to
foster improvements in this afflicted
land and overcome the oppressive
measures of the Turks. British
firms have opened up the neglected
roads, have begun to utilize the pc
troleum supply and to transform the
land from a fruitless waste to q
productive paradise. But the pro-
gress Of transformation has been
halted by a conflict in which Germany
is trying to obtain mastery Of this
land of possibilities. Allied with the
kaiser in this effort are the Turks
the robbers who have pillaged the
land for past generations. The future
development of Mesopotamia into 6
productive power depends mainly or
the permanent expulsion of the Turk
and those who will be influenced b!