The Denver Jewish news., 1919-12-31

planning engineer TO make Jerusalem
modern city. according to Prof. Pat
rick Geddes, who is preparing plans
for. undermining the ancient Jewish
capital. and has been commissioned by
the Zionist Organization 10 design
buildings for Hebrew University in
Jerusalem. A grent deal in that di-
rectiOn has already been done since
General Allenby's entry, declared Prof.
Geddes to L. NJ. Epstein of the Pales-
tine News Agency.
He told his interviewer that he diff
fers entirely from those who regard
it as hopeless to improve Jerusalem
mantle aspects. am very hopeful of
| seeing beautiful city Of Jerusalem
in the future. The frequent impress
siOns of hOpelessncss in this respect
are completely mistaken so far from
becoming n mere Museum. of the past.
Old Jerusalem will be better town
| than ever. 1t is a simple matter as
old cities go. one of moderate and de-
tailed study and improvement, such
as 1 find going on already, as from
the recent cleaning up which was be-
gun after General Allenby's entry"
1.-The work of the "PrO-Ierusalem
Society" continued Prof. Geddes. lis
already encouraging for the new Je-
rusalem. Take for instance its estab-
lishment of Looms. The recent cere'
nony on the occasion of initiating ap,
prentices is full of hope for the future.
Well-to-dO houses are already being
furnished by products of the Looms.
as well as working people being cloth
ed by them. The clearing of the old
sentinels walk along the ramparts OF
the city is also very welcome. and
the cleansing and clearing of the fesse
round the walls and old castle will
complete this great improvement. ]
am particularly iuIprsssesis-by the sd-
mirable work of Mr.. Ashbee ns Civic
Adviser. 1t Is full Of taste and skill !:
and. best OF all. of human sympathy
and consideration. as well as historic
feeling.
"Of course. you have met the au-
thorities here?
Eyes, l first met Col. Storrs in Lon
don; and it is exceedingly encourag-
ing to have Governor like him. so
actively interested in every detail of
Jerusalem and bringing together rep
,esentatives of the. different religions
/ aud onv,,,,r,pi tiac fn op.nnnru fp in the
| improvement of the city. I have also
met the Chief Administrator, General
Sir Harry Watson and found him also
most sympathetic
stein asked, recalling previous attempts
to improve the appro4ch to This last
remnant of the Temple and which have
pot been a success.
improvements of col Use are possible
in this. like every quarfV of the city ;
and it seems not impossible to make a
small but real Improvement of access.
etc, and without displacing\ the Mo
grebein Village
You have visited the Jewish Col
unies?"
| Il had too rapid n visit to u number
of the Colonies. l visited the excel
lent Agricultural School. Mikveh
Israel: and also Rishon lie Zion. where
there is great hope Of planting the
sanddunes. In the north / had a day
or two Mt Haifa, which is in an eN-
ccllent position q am making sugges-
tions for its improvement at the re.
auest of the authOrities). and thence
went to Zichron Jacob, where ! saw
| the work of the lamented Aaron Aaron
sohn at Atlit (his Experimental Sta
tion). / visited Tiberins. and Rosh
linah. which was also pleasing
"And Tel Aviv?"
"Yes. l was there too. 1t is good
beginning but not perfect. Even now
its plan can be improved"
what can you say of the future He
brew University"
II am glad to say that DR.. Weiz-
mann has gone over the site and build
ing with me. and we hope TO begin III
1920. utilizing the old house of the
late Sir John Gray-Ifill and commenc-
ing by adapting all the out-building'
as Research Laboratory of Chem
istry, etc We are thinking, of course.
of future buildings. but no plans are
yet ready: as the site had to be care
fully re-surveyed. The general policy
seems to be to begin on II small scale.
To gather few research students
first of ALL seems to be the wisest
plan. and then when the University
has made reputation for actual work
done, it will soon attract students,