New Britain herald., 1926-01-09
|KASHNIR'S WEALTH
 REALLY WONDERFUL
Had Income Of Over Five
 Million a Year
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kashmir recently directs attention 10 one of the woathiest thrones in h. dta. The country famous as the land Of nightingnles and roses" is said 10 bring an income 10 it's ruler in excess of S5000,00O yearly. "Kashmir's real wealth, however, cannot be measured in terms Of money" says bulletin from the Washington, p. C.. headquarters Of tho National Geographic Society. "Anyono making list of the ten most richly endowed of Natures beauty spots would have 10 include. ina representative list, this vale set amidst tho towering Himalayus. One traveller asserts It is impossible 10 know what color and depth aud pro- portion are until one has visited this Happy Valley in the IIimalayas.' Complete Circle of Mountains
 "The State of Kashmir in India spreads over an area equal 10 that Of Minnesota ,hut it is usually the SO. called Happy Valley tha. is asso- ciatcd with inc name of Kashmir. Not on the slopes Of the Himalayas, but sci down deep among them. is the vale that has inspired so many writers of poetry prose, and music, and which, In former years, gave to the world one of the most beautiful and delicate of all fabrics made by human han1s--the Kashmir Cor cashmorc) shawl.
 "rhc Vale of Kashmlr, a wide. level plain S4 miles long and eo 10 25 miles wide, has been compared 10 q transplanted, peaceful Thames Valley, with girdle of high, snow capped mountains. Its charming combinations Of lake and mountain scenery, wooden chalcts and winding roads. are much like those Of Swift zerland. except that there is always q white horizon, a complete circle of snowy peaks. On clear day, the mountains glisten in the sunshine like "ho hattlemcnts and towers Of some fairy city of purest marble
 "Thcse mountains, the loftiest In the world, have helped 10 make kashmir the primitive beauty spot if is today. They are kashmr's strong est hattlements against the encroach- ments of the white mans civilization which has so greatly altered the more accessible parts Of India. No railroad enters Srinaear. inc capital of Kashmir, because the loose rocks in the mountain passes carry away everything along the mountain sides and not infrepuently take toll of human lifo.
 Latitude of the Carolinas
 with q latitude about that Of Damascus, or of the Carolinas in the United States, and q protecting wall Of mountains. the Vale Of kashmir has none of those extremes of heat and cold which make the districts 10 the north and south so uncomfort- able at times. Flowers and trees Of many varieties grow in profusion. Sometimes a sudden change in ten- perature nearby will result in a SnowStorm on the surrounding mountain peaks, q vivid anG interest ing spectacle from the valley. In the winter the mercury drops q little be- low freezing. During the sumner the thermometer sometimes shows a temperature of 1o5 degrees.
 "Thc weaving Of shaWls used 10 De the main industry, but those who made them were practically slaves. who were never allowed 10 leave Kashmir. It has been said that every shawl cost the eycsight Of ono or more persons. The shawl industry was brought 10 an end by the Franco-Prussian War in 1870 France had been the largest buyer Of kashmir snaWlS, but the indemnity imposed upon her by Germany left little money for foreign trade. About the same time famine wrought havoc among the Wcavcrs. Tho industry never recovered in Kashmir, al- though good imitation are made elsewhere.
 "A treaty between thc State of klshmir and the British Govern .ment, by which six shaWls of fine quality must be paid yearly is said 10 be tho only thing that prevents thn knowledge of the art from dying ont among tn" natives. One Of the most beautiful designs is the conc pattern; ;-another fayorite is the ring shawl which, though not transparent. is so soft that ii can be easily drawn through a finger ring. American whalcrs and sailing vessels blowing the Pacific fifty years ago invariably made their way into Inc ports Of India 10 obtain onc of these nrizod light wraps as a gift for in" women waiting at home. "Slain Street" \ River
 "Thc main surprise and the de- light Of this romantic valley today is SrinaEar. tle capital, rhc Venice of th" Eas'.' Through the vale winds th" Jhelnn River fed hy inc icy Himalayan springs, occasionally forming hoaulinl lakes of sk>-hlu" "3tCr. Tho Main Street of Srinagar js this river and tacinc th" river arr 'lo palac" of th" Maharaiah. the roycrnm.nt lmildin~s. and duolIinss Ou 'ho river and tho numoroue ca. I"'s that int"rs"ct if. lil- I5,o61 po0- rlc in oats. Oyer inc JhCum ar.
 uauv large bridges of wood. hUil, oI, piers of crossed horizontal logs. What the lj'tIc chalc'lil" horses lack in architectural cl"-ancr they mako up in pic'urespuonoss anl in 'hc spring their so1-covfr roofs blossom forth with fresh green grass. delicate mauve irises, and fin some cases with gorgeous scarlet Kashmir tulips.
 Near 'ho capital. and Eraciu@ fhc shores of inc lakes Of the Jhoum. ar" thc beautiful summer gardens Of many of the former rulers of inc country. Some Of them. snch as fho Shalimar. where thc Arvan vomh sang of tho pale hands he loved. arc