THE WASHINGTON ZIONIST
Editor - - - - FALK HARMEL.
Reading matter intended for this section should be sent to Falk Harmel, 466 H street, S.W., Washington D. C.
Business communications (including advertisements and subscriptions) should also be addressed to Mr. Harmel.
Advertising rates furnished on application.
A Traveller's View of Palestine
Rabbi Louis I. Egelson, of the Adas Israel Congregation, Washington, D. C., who has just recently returned from a tour through Palestine and Europe, speaks most interestingly on the observations he has made on his trip. He states that the Jews in the Holy Land seem to be infused with a new life, and that there is a steady onward march of modern civilization and methods.
Considerable progress along agricultural lines has been made. Wine culture has attained a very high standard while orange culture has also made great strides, the product coming from Jaffa being considered even better than those grown in Italy. The land, though altogether devoid of any system of irrigation, making use of no modern system of fertilizing the soil, is, nevertheless, very productive. It is difficult to estimate what an immense boon it would be to the land if modern machinery were employed in tilling the soil. It is surprising, but nevertheless a fact, that the Jews only own one half of one per cent. of the land in Palestine— considerably less than the German colonists.
WE PRINT ANYTHING
There is nothing too small, nor anything too large, if it can be printed we can do it
Under the present regime in the Ottoman Empire, conditions are favorable for the inhabitants, and particularly for Jews. They are now freer to settle in Palestine than ever before, for immigration restrictions against them have been removed.
Rabbi Egelson attended a session of the Turkish Parliament in Constantinople and was very favorably impressed with the earnestness and thorough business-like methods in vogue there. The strong national feeling with which the Young Turks seem to be possessed leads to the conclusion that they will not consent to the dismemberment of their empire—to have a part of their territory belong to anyone but themselves. The Turks now have to contend with the perplexing questions of the Greeks, Bulgarians, Armenians, etc., and it would not do, in their opinion, to add another, a Jewish question, as that would be an easy way to create anti-Semitic feelings against our people in a land where they have always lived in comparative freedom. It is imperative that the Jews bend every effort to purchase in Palestine as much land as possible. Now when land is selling at a reasonable figure is the time to do so. The future of the Jews in Palestine rests upon the efforts of our people to colonize it. Above all, capital is needed, more American capital which is speculative. It is necessary that some rich American Jews should interest themselves in the future of the country, not merely from the standpoint of philanthropy, but from an honest business standpoint.
Much has been written about the Herzl Forest, and when one speaks of it he pictures in his mind an immense forest of olive trees. It was, therefore, a great