HOLY LAND RAILWAY

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jul 1, 1889

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 15, No. 25.

HOLY LAND RAILWAY.

APPLICATION has been made by Jos. Elias, formerly Government Engineer of the Lebanon, for a concession for a railway from Haifa, on the Mediterranean, about midway between Tyre and Cæsarea, by way of Lake Galilee, over the river Jordan to Damascus. Authority for the navigation of the lake and a priority of right for the extension of a line over any other applicant for three years is asked for. The line is to follow the river Kishon for six miles, going within three and three-quarters miles of Nazareth, and then ascending the valley to the water-sheds of the Jordan. The line will proceed along the northwest of the lake close to the plain of Genesaret, up the Jordan, crossing it about two miles below Merom. From that point the line turns toward the east to Damascus, a distance of one hundred miles from the coast. A branch line will go to Naova, the capital of the Hauran, with an option to continue on to Bosra, the ancient capital of Bashan.

The practical part of Mr. Elias's application is interesting. He estimates the population to be served at 500,000, or about 5,000 to the mile. Damascus has about 200,000 inhabitants, and there are ten towns with from 1,000 to 10,000 inhabitants and about 5,040 villages. Although the district is very fertile, only one-sixth of the arable land is under cultivation. There is an abundance of streams, however, so that the country could be easily irrigated.—Scientific American.