(Jewish Telegraphic Agency Mail Service)
The cornerstone of the Jerusalem Commercial Centre on the Mamillah Road was laid in the presence of representatives of the Deputy District Commissioner, the various Communities and Moslem, Jewish and Christian merchants.
Dr. J. Thon, Managing Director of the Palestine Land Development Company, opened the proceedings, outlining the origin and development of the Commercial Centre idea. Five years ago, he said, prominent merchants of Jerusalem who realized the necessity of transferring trade from the inadequate unhealthy lanes of the Old City into the new part of Jerusalem, asked his Company to purchase the site of the Centre. A strong spirit of cooperation had developed among the merchants of Jerusalem with the result that all the three Communities would be represented in the centre. Jerusalem is the only city in Palestine where there was only one Chamber of Commerce.
Economic depression, disagreements among the merchants and other obstacles prevented the immediate realization of the plans. At last successful negotiations had been concluded between the Commercial Centre Company and the authorities for the opening of a new road from the Post Office to the railroad station via the new Centre.
The participation of A. Pierce, the Canadian industrialist who advanced a loan of £E14,000 to the Centre, and of the Zionist Executive which guaranteed the loan of sixty percent of the cost of opening the road to the station, had made the new centre possible.
Mr. Shelley, the President of the Jerusalem Chamber of Commerce, explained the importance of the Centre in the development of a strong commercial life in Jerusalem.
Mr. Pierce urged the necessity of making Jerusalem a world tourist centre.
A representative of the Centre read the scroll which is to be laid in the cornerstone and thanked the Palestine Land Development Company and others who had made the realization of the Center possible.
The Mayor of Jerusalem, Mr. Cust representing the Deputy District Commissioner, Dr. Ruppin and others were honored with the task of laying the first stones.
Fire partially destroyed the interior of the Anshe Chessed Synagogue in Linden, N. J., causing several thousand dollars damage. The fire raged for three hours before it was extinguished. Much of the damage was done to the front part of the synagogue. The auditorium and social room were damaged by smoke and water. The cause has not been determined.
As a result of the fire the congregation will have to worship temporarily in other quarters.
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