Our Daily News Letter

(By Our Jerusalem Correspondent)

Age-old neglected Palestine made a long leap forward today in its effort to catch up with civilization, when the first complete modern water supply system was inaugurated in Jerusalem. The establishment of this water supply system, which solves a problem that has worried and troubled Jerusalem from time immemorial, is a credit to the new spirit that has been introduced into the country by the Jews.

The significance of this achievement, which only the inhabitants of this ancient city who have suffered almost continually from droughts can fully appreciate, was stressed in the brief but impressive ceremony which took place this afternoon on the Franciscan Hill, on the outskirts of Jerusalem. On the summit of the Franciscan Hill there has been erected a steel-section tank, which is to be the gravity reservoir for the water supply. The water is pumped up from the Ain Farah springs, which are some 270 metres below sea-level, to this gravity reservoir 834 metres above sea-level. The works were constructed by Sir John Jackson, Ltd., the British engineering contractors, at a cost of £E.52,000, which is borne by the Palestine Government. They have been completed three weeks ahead of the scheduled time (three months) in the contract with the Municipality.

His Excellency, the High Commissioner of Palestine, and all the religious dignitaries and heads of communities, as well as consuls of foreign powers, senior government officials and an assemblage of notables, were present.

Following an introductory address by Mr. Nashashibi, mayor of Jerusalem, Mr. A. Koch, manager of the Jerusalem Water Supply, delivered an address on the conditions of the water supply in Jerusalem and the difficulties which had existed from time immemorial, owing mainly to the topographical situation of the city. Several attempts had been made in the past to remove this natural inconvenience and to secure for the inhabitants a wholesome and reliable supply of water. The ancient work of the King Solomon Pools and Ain Arrub, with the aqueducts to Jerusalem, the large artificial reservoirs in the city, were built during these early days. During the subsequent downfall of Jerusalem the old works fell into total disuse and the lack of water became frequently and inordinately felt.

After describing the individual cistern water supply, Mr. Koch declared that upon the arrival of the British forces into Jerusalem, the shortage of water had become serious, and to save the situation the water works of Ain Arrub were constructed by the Army. It was just a little over eight years ago then, that for the first time in history a piped water supply had reached Jerusalem. The work of restoring and developing the old works at Jerusalem by the Jerusalem Municipality was then described by Mr. Koch, who also gave details of the subsequent efforts of the Water Board to secure an adequate and permanent supply for Jerusalem, including the attempts to tap the springs at Urtas. He then went on to relate the details of the offer to Sir John Jackson. Ltd., and their successful work in completing the scheme. The Ain Farah water, which for thousands of years peacefully ran down in the valley, 600 meters below Jerusalem, would now fill daily to the top the huge reservoir which supplied the city in a few moments.

Lord Plumer, in his address, declared that in any community, to make real progress or even to contemplate schemes of development every one of the essentials of life in that community were dependent upon more than emergency measures, and he was glad to observe that in Jerusalem they had discarded emergency for practical measures. The measure they had come to inaugurate that afternoon was another of the same character but of more extended capacity.

Lord Plumer declared in ringing tones that the people of the country, or all sects and classes must not leave it to those in authority at the time to carry on such measures of development and amelioration for if they were desirous of achieving any successful results they must learn to combine and cooperate.