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Altneuland

Jg. III · Heft 12 · Dezember 1906 · source: Compact Memory ↗
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ALTNEULAND

A MONTHLY REVIEW
for the economic development of Palestine

Organ of the Zionist Commission for the Exploration of Palestine

PUBLISHED BY

F. OPPENHEIMER, S. SOSKIN, O. WARBURG.
No. 12. Berlin, December 1906. Year III.

PALESTINE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.*)

When, in the sixties of the last century, the first attempts at the revival of Palestine were made by European settlers, they found the land an almost complete wilderness.

The first preparatory labours toward permanent settlement were therefore attended with endless difficulties.

There was the passive resistance of the local authorities to be overcome, the violent opposition of the neighbouring fellaheen to be fought, and at times even predatory raids on the part of the Bedouins to be repelled.

Harder still was the struggle with the diseases of the subtropical zone which soon made their appearance, and which one could escape only after having learned to adapt one's manner of living, in respect of food and dwelling, to the peculiar character of the new climate.

The greatest difficulty, however, which confronted the new settler lay in the unknown economic conditions. With the small capital he had brought with him from home he had

*) At the suggestion of the members of the Commission for the Exploration of Palestine, Messrs. Prof. Dr. O. Warburg and Dr. S. Soskin, as well as of Messrs. J. Kremenzky, engineer, S. Hepner, manufacturer, and J. Treidel, agricultural engineer and land surveyor, a committee has set itself the task of founding a Palestine Agricultural Society (limited liability company), whose object would be the laying out of plantations in Palestine, together with the carrying on of agriculture, cattle-breeding, agricultural subsidiary industries, and other undertakings furthering the interests of the Society. The business management of the Society is to have its seat in Berlin, the technical direction in Palestine. It is planned to limit the amount of the capital provisionally to 500,000 Marks; in order, however, not to lose a harvest season, the Society is to be founded as soon as 250,000 Marks have been subscribed. One share amounts to 1000 Marks; 10% of the amount is to be paid in at once upon subscription.