Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-12-12
z|ON|STS TO SEEK
$l25,OD0,O)D FUND
Commission Perfectinq Pro-
gram for industrial De-
Vel0pment of Palestine.
PROMOTION OF FARMING
Drive for Money Needed Will Be-
gin in United States at
Early Day.
PROMOTION OF FARMING
BY HIRAM X. MoDERwELL.

BY HIRAM X. MODERWELL.
by Cable to The Star and Chicago Daily News.
Copyright, 1920.
JERUSALEM, Palestine, December
S.-Palestine is not flowing with
milk and honey" but the Zionist
commission has now perfected a pro-
gram for introducing modern science
70 bring water from the rock and
mama from heaven by means of the
zionist f25.000.00O (normally $685.
oVo.ooO) fund for which a drive is to
oegin in the United States within a
Few weeks. This marks the end of
the preliminary stage of Zionist di-
p!oInacy and propaganda and the be-
ginning of the practical stage of de-
seiopment and hard work.
Development Of Farm Land.
How hard this work is the writer
discovered on seeing the Zionist CO.
operative agricultural group at DIN
transform the rocks of mountain
into fertile farm. Here, where
formerly only were scrub bushes,
there Will be raised grain, vegetables.
cattle, poultry and trees under sci
entific direction. This is typical of
the heroic program of the Zionists.
and religious zeal to make an i'm
poverished land capable of sustain
ing hundreds of thousands of immi-
grants. The foundation fund, ac-
cording to the leaders here, is to
be devoted solely to economic de-
Judge Brandeis plan. and not to char
ity and relief, as heretofore.
Twenty per cent of the fund" said
Mr.. Ussishkin. chairman of the local
Zionist committee. will be devoted
to the purchase of land and the re-
mainder to house-building, industrial
and farm credits. immigrants settle
be an entirely productive investment.
The Jewish pioneer thus aided will
earn a living. immigration is now
strictly limited. but eventually, I'M
der scientific development. the land
will be able to support 100000 more
people than are now here. 1t Will
be a refuge for Jews who are vic
Tins of pogroms in eastern Europe
and a center of Jewish art and lit
erature."
Power From River Jordan.
Typical of the economic develop
ment schemes is the program of Pin
Gus Ruthenberg for industrial power
from the River Jordan, in which
Jesus was baptized.
This river" said Mr.. Ruthen berg,
"is capable of supplying power to
all the Industries of Palestine. large
and small, and also to lighting and
street railway plants. The plan will
include the irrigation OF a large part
of northern Palestine and the drain
ing of extensive malarial regions;
This will make possible the eventual
support of upward of 100000 purely
industrial people. The chief dam
will be just below the Sea of Galilee.
We expect to begin work next spring
and complete the main structures IN
two years at a cost OF t2,O0O,o0O
NORMALLY s1O.000.0 00)."
Approved by Commission.
The Ruthenberg scheme has the
null approval of the Zionist commits
sion, and it is understood that the
British government is favorable TO
1t. Since immigration was formally
permitted. three months ago. pioneers
have been arriving at the rate of
about 500 a week. Many are uni
yersity graduates. The average age
is twenty-five and the percentage or
women is seventeen. MOST OF the
work now being done is rock-break-
ing and road-mending under coop
erative contracts with the govern
ment because funds for land develop
ment must be awaited.
For the time being the Zionist or
eanization is so poor that 1t cannot
buy shoes for these pioneers. many
of whom crossed the seas as fourth
class messengers and came here from
the coast on foot One man came
without any belongings. save com.
plete set of Spinoza's philosophical
writings. But all are warned that
Zionism means terrific labor and suf-
fering for years. The immigration.
now limited to about 10000 annually.
will be increased as the pioneers de-
yelop land that will support an in
creased population. The technical
and economic difficulties would make
the Zionist program hopeless without
religious zeal. Only sweat and faith
can make Canaan a land of promise.