Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1918-10-05

bn% HE district of Palestine which
contains the greatest posi-
81 bility of rapid development
under settled government
is the basin of the Jordan. Here, in
this great and unique chasm and its
tributary valleys, we have abundant
water, rich alIuvial soil. and semi
tropical climate, a combination which
under scientific direction should pro-
duce astonishing results. For centu-
ries the resources Of this region have
been neglected, writes DR.. E. w. G..
Mastsrman in the Sphere
In the north, the fertile plain Of the
Huleh, traversed by the four tributary
streams of the Jordan, IS capable with
little engineering of receiving irriga-
ton in every part. In some districts
at the head of the valley where this
has been done, very striking re suits
have been obtained In this district
red rice is now cultivated. At the
further end of the plain lies the marsh
and shallow lake of FL Huleh. Here
probably a good deal Of land might be
recovered for cultivation by drainage.
This was done to some extent a few
years ago by deepening the bed OF the
Jordan a mile or two below the lake,
and much marsh land was recovered.
To the south and west Of the Huleh
are splendid corn lands, hence the
lakes second name, Baheiret ell Khait,
the Lake of the Wheat"
In the Huleh valley a" a whole, rice,
maize, hemp, and probably cotton could
all he probably cultivated, while other
parts might be planted with poplars
for timber, and with apricot and peach
orchards, as is done with similar lands
around Damascus.
The district Of rocky, volcanic hill
slopes between the Huleh and the Lake
of Galilee is scarcely likely to afford
scope for irrigation, but in the great
descent Of the Jordan, $50 feet in nine
miles, there exists an economical
source of power sufficient to produce,
II properly utilized, all the electrical
energy needed for public and private
-'t 4iIttIiN illklGS dIOulU.
To the north of the Lake of Galilee
lie the two fertile and easily irrigated
plains, FL Bataihah-the Jordan delta
and El Ghuweir or Gennesaret. of
ms latter Josephus writes: Extend
ing along the Lake of GenneSaret. and
bearing also its name. lies a tract of
country admirable both for it's natural
properties and its beauty Such is the
Fertility Of the soil that it rejects no
pant and accordingly all are here Gull
uTated by the husbandmen; for so
genial is the air that it suits every
variety, The walnut, which delights
peyead other trees in a wintry climate,
grows here luxuriantly, together with
me palm. which is nourished by the
neat; and near to these are figs and
owes to which milder climate is as
signed"
Fish Supply Of Gennesaret.
0enneSaret is watered by several
streams, some of which in the deep
'4iryS through which they emerge
support groves Of lemons, oranges, and
e'aer trees. They also supply a num-
' oI mills. With a proper scheme
.'e ABUNDANT water reaching this plain
s"s1l he distributed to every part, and
at district be thus restored to a con-
Uloa at least as fruitful as that de-
@I'oe1 by Josephus as existing in Ro-
"l uiaes Jewish colonists have al
f 10 parts Of the district greatly
-..S' lo IFS productiveness. All along
northern shore. where some of the
l,."-9 feeding the lake are warm. he
-S IS specially good, but, indeed.
.s N9'',s Of the Huleh, of the Lake
'a+ea and of the Jordan itself
IN fish Of which the larger
vs.. are all wholesome and pala-
The fishing industry has not vet
pgtHo. -'' ''ie Oeiien' u liie
A.a 9eA.ug upon the lake f.om
rt >t and west are several valleys
ia their lower reaches contain
mat can he utilized for irriga-
l-.. "4. N their higher parts in many
tor contain rapidly descending
hr. even in some places water
nj '+.a7ie for supplying mechani-
ms e'- The greatest Of these is
rs1--.. --''h valley, up which the Haifa
The aNeends toward Damascus.
ar5 .4e Heiromax Of the Greeks,
o-.-. -'- shortly before the valley
b. mo The main Jordan valley
r-,. group of hot suIphurous
es5-. amid which lie the ruins Of
rs~s-. and theater Of the Greek set
t. Aiaatha. health resort for
e. .~.. CITY Gadara, whose abund-
IeWn the mountains i'm