Farmers' champion. (Elgin, Okla.) 1912-1922, 1921-10-19

pers Certain Of these regions are
said TO be among the most fertile In |
,hc world. producing In abundance not |
only the finest of wheat aid barley, |
hut grapes, apricots, peaches. nectar
Ines, pomegranates, figs and melons
which are unsurpassed among the
fruits Of the temperate zone. Cotton
and tobacco thrive, and roses, as well
as other flowers, glorlously deserve
the frequent association Of their
names with that OF Persia
Now Has Chance to Develop.
The day Is at hand as one Of the
hy-products of the war. when Persia
has the opportunity TO begin TO learn
from British experts. not only how
TO reclaim more desert land by build
/ ing better aqucducts and 10y throwing
harrnges across mountain gorgcs to
store the surplus Of the spring fresh
cts, but how 20 establish closer com.
/ munication with the outside world
/ and To develop her great potential re
/ sources
Lacking in the energy initiative
I and cooperative spirit necessary tn
develop their country themselves. the
Persiuns have suffered from the ieal.
Gus rivalry ~ their nelghhors, and
from Secluson forced by nature, but
belied by their central geographical
location, In all the recent history
ing disturbances Ia the Near and Mid
die East
In spite Of her position as II YER
table Asiatic Belgium, Persia is
strangely cut of from world inter
course by those same natural bar
riers which so affect her climate.
At the opening Of this century not
q single highway suitable for wheeled
conveyances pierced the mountains to
the plateau. A>few foreign officials
and infrequent venturesome travellers
made their tollsome way by caravan
over tortuous passes 10 the Persian
capital or 10 other Persian cities. and
the Perslans themselves for the most
purt stayed nt home. But about 1900
government subsidized Russian com
pany opened a post road, AS mill
tary-commercial venture. which
climbed from the Persian port OF
EMAIL, on the Caspian sea, TO the
capital city, Teheran.
Five years ago three or four post
carriage routes and narrow gauge
railway running five and Il half miles
from Teheran to n suburban shrine
were the only competitors OF the pie
turesque but slow-moying caravan.
Teheran's Fine loestion.
No one knows how long there has
been city where the present capt
tai Of Persia stands. II has not al
ways been called Teheran, nor has II
always been In the same spot; but a
city has existed In the locality as far
back MS Persian history reaches,
Such suitable site could hardly be
! overlooked II Is NJ an altitude ~
nearly 4OOp feet at the foot OF tower
ing mountains. NJ the junction Of three
= great Asiatlc caravan routes, near
mountain passes, and beside an ample
supply OF water Favored In these
ways, II has accumulated a population
Of more than 10000 since the begin.
ming Of the Nineteenth century.
The latitude is that of Cape Hat.
N'iuNs = li' "'''NS ~
exceedingly hot and dry. but II one
!, wishes the luxury of n summer resort
II IL at his door.
: Although occupying an ancient site.
:. Teheran Is modern city. II has
: been the capital of Persia only III.
!, tie more than n century, and has been
+ an important metropolis for much
: shorter time than that.
In journeyng to Teheran from the
, Caspian sea, so sudden Is the tran
p sition from desert to city that before
r one realizes that the journey Is at
? an end he finds himself clattering
= across the stone causeway over the
: moat toward the most surprising OF
!, gateways, great multicoored facade
Z overlaid with o CAV mosaic Of gllsten'
p ing tiles and topped with numerous
I minarets ornamented In the same
fashion.
e Teheran II one Of those numerous
I cities between the Near and the Far
u East which calls for c modification OF
i Kipling's oft-quoted line; for here
= East and West have met. but have
, not mixed.