ISBN: Ostalo
Godina izdanja: 1900 - 1949.
Jezik: Engleski
Tematika: Istorija
Kulturno dobro: Predmet koji prodajem nije kulturno dobro ili ovlašćena institucija odbija pravo preče kupovine
Autor: Strani

Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 1, 1944

Print length ‏ : ‎ 236 pages

Many modern history books err by layering the author`s political slant on top of the events of the day. The best remedy for this is to read contemporary materials such as this. They offer many classic insights that are still relevant today.

Lowdermilk was Assistant Chief Soil Conservationist of the United States. A Rhodes scholar, forester, agricultural expert and early land conservationist, he had observed drainage and eroision patterns in America around the world and esp. in the vicinity of the Yellow River in China. In 1938-39, starting out on the Mussolini Highway, he toured the Middle East. What he found almost universally were primitive sustenance farming coupled with poor land management techniques providing poor yields, along with evidence that the land had supported a far greater population in the past.

In Palestine he noted that thousands of villages that had been abandoned over the centuries (pp65) and came to the conclusion that the downslide began with the first Arab invasion, however Mukkadassi a 10th century Arab traveller describe the country as generally fertile. (pp70-72). However the Crusader who did bring trade also brough feudalism. Nachmanides reported in 1267 `that Jerusalem was laid waste and Judea was more destitute than Galilee`. Lowdermilk discerns that as trade decreased, the overlords squeezed the peasants and the peasants main goal became to earn just enough (they`d lose any excess anyway), avoid tax collectors and plundering nomads. And when they couldn`t they would become plundering semi-nomads themselves. He notes that in modern (1939) Palestine Arab landlords often take 55% of the gross yield and Arab lenders take interest on farm loans at a rate. between 25%-100% per growing season.

Lowdermilk had nothing but praise for the Jewish settlers who, having been rejected by most of the world, were desperate for a homeland. Initially they had followed the agricultural techniques of the local Arabs, but the rapidly improved on these methods and invented their own. For example they cross bred Dutch with local Syrian cows and produced a hardier breed suitable for the climate and more than tripled production. From 1936 to 1942 (the date is not clear) honey production grew 33% to 1.2 million pounds. `The Arab cow gives about 800 quarts of milk a year but he cows in Jewish settlements average 35000 quarts` (pp95). Orange trees are planted 200 per acre whereas California averages 100-120. He notes here that the Arabs have adopted the modern methods of the Jews. Chapter VII on the `Industrial Development of Palestine` is quite interesting noting that while the neighbouring countries all had a significantly positive balance of trade with region, even excluding potash from the Dead Sea and diamonds, and though much smaller Palestine had a larger economic output than any. Overall in 1937 there were 5600 factories created by Jews, more than 25% with more than 10 workers. `Palestinian Arabs have been stimulated by this Jewish initiative and are estimated to have established about 2000 industrial plants, generally much smaller`. (pp109)

He also adds substantial weight to the observation that Jewish settlement greatly improved the lives of local Arabs. He observes that Jews not only paid much higher prices for land because of greater need, but were unlike rich Arab landowners who when they sold land would transfer their serf-like tenants to other properties, Jewish farmers would indemnify them with cash so that they could get out of perpetual indebtedness and either buy land or start a business. (pp152) The British constructed hiways at public expense to which the Jews contributed 2/3 of the base; secondary roads to Jewish villages were built with Jewish labour at their own expense (pp111).

His most ambitious suggestion was the formation of the Jordan Valley Authority (JVA - Ch XI) based on the Tennessee Valley Authority in the United States. It was a comprehensive land management proposal and included what many people would think is a modern idea - the construction of a pipeline to the Dead Sea to replenish the waters for mineral extraction and generate of hydro electricity. The difference is that Lowdermilk proposed a pipe to the Mediterranean and current plans envision a link to the Red Sea.

And all this was written during the backdrop of WWII in Europe. Lowdermilk predicted that 4 million Jews would immigrate from Nazi held Europe and that the country, properly managed, had a capacity for about 15 million. Not that many survived.

Overall an incredible little book. I highly recommend it.