Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-09-29
JERUSALEM, THE GOLDEN.
CLEANED BY C0NQuER0R
Holy City Profits Greatly During Its
Occupation by British
Palestine Army.
NEW WATER SUPPLY FOUND
What Turks Could Not DO in Rulc
OF 400 Years Royal Engineers
Have Accomplished In Less Than
Two Months.
ny w. II. MASSEY.

JERUSALEM, September est is
doubtful whether the population OF any
city within the zones OF war has pro-
fitted so much at the hands Of the con-
queror hs that Of Jerusalem. In little
inore' than half year q wondfous
change has been effected in the con-
dition of the people.
One of the biggest blots upon the
turkish government Vt the city was
inc total failure to provide an adequate
water supply. Whrt they could not. or
HIS Malsstys royal engineers accom-
piished in IL little more than two
months. The picturesque water car
rier is passing into the limbo of for.
gotten things. The germs that infected
his leathern water bags will no longer
endanger the lives Of the citizens. and
the deadly perils which Turk in cistcrn
moved.
For its water Jerusalem used to rely
mainly upon the winter rainfall TO I'LL
It's cisterns. Practically every house
has its underground reservoir. But
many had fallen into disrepair. and
most Of them required thorough clean
ing. To supplement the cistcrn supply
the MOSQUE OF Omar reservoir hhlved
With bethlehem tho water which flowed
from near SoiomOn's pool down AN
aqueduct constructed by Roman engi-
.neers under Hcrod before the Savior
Was born. This was not nearly suf-
hcient. nor was it constant a supply
as that provided by our army engi-
neers.. They went farther afield. They
round a group OF springheads in an
absolutely clean gathering ground on
the hills yielding some 1900 gallons
an hour' ana this water. which was
11nn hi to waste, is lifted TO the top
through long pipe line into Jeru-
salem. Supplies run direct 70 the hos
pitals and at standpipes all over the
CITY the Inhabitants take AS much as
they desire The water consumption
or the people has become ten times
what II was last year.
The scheme does not stop at Lutttng
up standpiDcs for those who will fetch
the water. Tho water level of the els
terms Is low, and as they arc getting
emptied. the authorities arrange for
renliing them on tho one condition that
they are hrst thoroughly cleaned out
and put in order. y householder has
merely TO apply to the military gov
ernor FOR wafer, and sanitary officer
inspects the cistern. orders IL 10 be
cleansed and sccs tha. :; is done. the
certifcat e that the c!stcrn is clean. end
the engineers run Il pipe 10 il and II is
hlled.. no matter what its capacity may
be. Two cis,erns were recently re-
p!en!she with between 10000 and
10000 gallons OF water from the hills
The installation OF the supply was
preliminary Investigation and survey OF
the ground was made on February II.
3nd Il scheme was submitted four days
later. owing 10 the shortage OF trans
port and abnor!naily bad weather. work
could not be commenced till April -.
MAN. miles OF pipe line had 20 be Ia III
and a powerful pumping plant erected.
but water was ncinc delivered to the
people on Jerusalem on June -. There
has not been a stoppaEe or u hitch.
medical authority tells me the
health OK the community is wonderfully
good and there is no suspicion OF
cholera, outbreaks OF which were fire.
quent under the Turkish regime. Gov
ernmeni hospitals are established In AL
large ccnicrs. and frequent medical
treatment is given TO the INDECENT.
Many thousands OF natives in the past
few months have come forward of their
own free will 10 be vaccinated. Typhus
and relapsing fever, both lice borne
diseases. used TO claim many victims.
but the figures are falling yer? rapidly,
due largely. no doubt. TO the full use
10 which disinfecting plants are put in
all areas IN occupied territory.
In Jerusalem an infants welfare
bureau has Keen instituted, where
mothers are seen before and after child
birth. infants clinics are being estab
lishcd. Il body OF health visitors is In
process OF formation. and kitchen is
about 10 be open 10 provide food for
bahics and the poor. The nurses are
mainly local subjects. who have TO un-
dcrgo a thorough training, and :herc
is no one here who does not confidently
predict Il rapid fall in the infant NOR
tally rac, which was fully dozen
times that OF the highest of English
Gowns.
The spadcwori was all done by the
medical STAFF Of the occupied enemy
territory administration. Some volun
tary societies are now assisting, and
Inc enthusiasm of the American Red
Cross units, which have. recently ar
will enable all TO carry on great
and beueficient work,