WALLS OF JERUSALEM.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1237, 25 April 1914, Page 4

WALLS OF JERUSALEM.

MAKING WAV FOR TRAVICWkS. t .... :iio utrcois ui tho City v.-fll hiiiii tvit.fi t-lm ■ oise of the electric cam. and its mor< ■■ ■ aportanb thoronghlares will bo iuum-. ate<l at ills'.;t with tho brilliant d. 'Lfi.j filament-' Its old picturesque waks and i"'--i ; v<' to'.", is arc to be pulled down, ana tlio city is to have an adequate water supply. The rapidity with which Jerusalem is extending through tho retii'u of the Jews in such large numbers to the 0h. 7 of their forefathi :v- lias rendered those improvements necessary. Indeed, to the north and west ..I the old city there have sprung up within tho last decade large Jewish colonies, populous residential sections, as well as converts, hospices, institutions, schools ....d otner building, with tlio result thr' to-day there is a greater Jerusalem wuh.vut the walls than within.' Four separate tramway routes are to he laid down. They will all start from the Jaffa Gate, the principal entrance into the city, and run outside the city walls through the newer parts of Jerusalem. Tlie first, which will have a length of about two miles, will give easy access to what may be termed the business quarter of the Holy City, while the (second, of similar length, will link up" the large Jewish colonies to the north with the city’s principal entrance. The third will encircle the old city, embracing many, of its most historic .sites, such as Gordon’s Calvary, believed by many scholars to be tho seem* of tlio Crucifixion, the Tomb of the Kings, the AI on ill of Olives, and the Valley of Jelioshapli.it. The fourth line will run from the Jaffa Gate to Bethlehem, some six mill's distant, traversing what is perhaps the most sacred thoroughfare in the world, if teems with reputed holy places—sacred wells, tombs, and convents, The work of laying the rails is to begin this month, and according to tlie terms of the concession the syndicate have power to extend the lines in any direction .for a distance ol some 25 miles. The dly walls, which have a circumference of about throe miles, and rise in places to a height of 88^11, are now being offered by tlie. Government for sale as building material. It is expected. however, that eH’orts will he made to save isolated sections, more particularly the massive towers. Indeed, influential citizens of Jerusalem have formed a. .society and are approaching tlie Government with a view to preserving David’s Tower, which they propose to "convert into a museum. Of late years Jerusalem lias suffered greatly from the want of fresh water. "With the exception of a small quantity brought into the city from tlie. ancient pools of Solomon, near Bethlehem. by moans of a pipe which runs along the old aqueduct, the Holy City is entirely do)>emlent for its water upon the rainfall. Now reservoirs are to be built in the upper part of the valley ol the Brook Cherith at the springs of Ain Fariali and Ain Fomvar, where tlie water will be stored ami brought into tlio city as required. That Jerusalem is gradually being W< ■sterilised is evident. A few months ago a water-cart was brought out from England to water the roads, which had previously been sprinkled from skins. Then it was only a year ago that the Holy City was equipped with air efficient tel. phone service, while now its police a it- to have bicycles.