Jerusailem Halts on Water Supply But Gets Power

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 67, 19 March 1936, Page 10

Jerusailem Halts on Water Supply But Gets Power

JERUSALEMJ crusa Lem .is still without its promised supply of water, although the pipe lines laid from the springs of Rus el Ain (about 39 miles away and 2620 feet below the level of Jerusalem) and the tine-: pumping sta tious arc ready for use. Delay lias heei) caused by new pipes having to be substituted in place of defective ones. 'Hie plan lo give Jerusalem a water supply was originated by Air. Alavromatis, a Greek citizen, who, before the World War, had obtained a concession from the Turks tu supply water, elec tricity and tramway. Concession Divided Since then the concession has been divided, not without costly litigation that went as fur as the Permanent Court of International Justice at The Hague. The construction of the water pipe line was reserved for the Government, the concession fur the supply ol electricity was given tu a private Brit ish company, and the trolley plans pigeon-holed. Jerusalem has adopted a bus system instead. The division of the concession may have been necessary, but the opinion is still held that had the concessionaries for electricity been allowed lo proceed with the original plan of concurrent water and electricity de.veiupm.ent, not only would Jerusalem have had watei at least three years ago, i,ut it wouri also have had both s 'al i- nnmodities at a lower price. Large Influx Expected. With the elimination of Jerusalem’s proverbial water shortage, a large in tlux of new residents is expected, many would-be settlers having ..ecu hitherto deterred by the shortage. Tais wifi mean an increased demand for electrical energy which, with its fines already overtaxed, the Jerusalem Electric Cor poration would probably not be able io meet, with its present equipment. So the company is constructing a high tension main around Jerusalem which will be able to supply all parl.t of the city. The line is expected to lake care of all the present and near future needs of Jerusalem for domestic consumption. Although it could also be used for industrial power, no great boom iu manufacturing is expected in the city because of the still unsolved difficulties of transportation to the seaports.