WALLS OF JERUSALEM.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 59, 16 April 1914, Page 8

WALLS OF JERUSALEM.

OftAKING WAY FOR TRAMCARS.

Very shortly the sacred streets of the Holy City wiW hum, with the noise. of the electric cars/ and its more important thoroughfares will be illuminated at night: with the brilliant electric filament. Its old picturesque walls and massive towers are to be pulled down, and the city is to have an adequate water supply. v The rapidity with which Jerusalem is extending, through the return of the Jews in such large numbers to the city of their forefathers, has rendered those improvements necessary. Indeed, to the north and west of the old city there have sprung up within the last decadelarge Jewish colonies, populous residential sections, as well as convents, hospices, institutions, schools, and other buildings, with the result that to-day there is a greater " Jerusalem without the walls than within. Four separate tramway routes are to be 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. The first, Ivhich will have a length of about two miles,: will give easy access to what may be termed" the business quarter of the Holy Gity, while ■ the second, of similar length, will link up the large Jewish colonies to the : north with the city's principal entranet. 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 the. scene of the Crucifixion, the Tomb of the Kings, the [iSlount of Olives, and the Valley of . Jehoshaphat. \ ['The fourth line will run from Jaffa I Gate to Bethlehem, some six miles distant, traversing what is perhaps the tiribst sacred thoroughfare m the world. l it teems with reputed holy placessacred wells, tombs/ and convents. The work of laying the rails is to begin this month, and according to the terms of the concession, the syndicate has power to extend the lines in any direction for a distance of sofae 25 miles. The city walls, which have a circumference of about three miles, and rise in places to a height of 38£ ft, are now being offered by the Government for sale as building material. It is expected, however, that efforts will be made to save isolated sections, more particularly the massive towers. Indeed, influential citizens of Jerusalem have formed a society and are approaching the Government with a view to preserving David's Tower, which they propose to convert into a museum.

Of late years Jerusalem has suffered greatly from the want of fresh water. With the exception of a small quantity,brought into the city from the ancient pools of Solomon, near Bethlehem, by means of a pipe which runs along the old aqueduct, the Holy City is entirely dependent for its water upon the rainfall. Now reservoirs • are to be built in the upper part of the valley of the Brook Cherith at the springs of Ain Fariah and Ain Fouwar, where the water will be stored and brought into the city as required.

That Jerusalem is \ gradually being Westernised 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 an efficient telephone service, while now its police ai« to have bicycles.