106 AMERICAN LUMBER IN FOREIGN MARKETS. 



This magnificent and extensive harbor work is being done by a wealthy 

 French company, and the same company has the concessions for the 

 Beirut, Damascus and Hauran Railway, a line which is now being 

 rapidly pushed to completion and which will be in operation next year. 

 This railroad, the first in Syria, will not only furnish an easy approach 

 for tourists to Damascus, one of the oldest cities in the world, and give its 

 famous bazaars an avenue to the world's commerce, but will also open- 

 up the Hauran, the richest and most inexhaustible grain country in the 

 East. This system of internal improvements is under the personal 

 management of Count Edinond de Perthuis and M. Rene" Emond, who 

 are backed by abundant capital from Paris. 



This new railroad runs through the most picturesque scenes of the 

 Lebanon Mountains and touches many of the thriving and beautiful 

 villages which are the health and pleasure resorts of Beirut residents 

 and even of people of wealth from Alexandria and Cairo. 



EXTENSION OF LUMBER TRADE. 



The wonderful growth of Beirut attracts many foreign importations. 

 Syrians welcome any improvements and machinery from the United 

 States. 



If American capitalists would send a few ships direct to this port, 

 even at the risk of small returns at first, a rich harvest would be 

 reaped later on. Lumber, at lower prices than the Austrian imports, 

 offers a readier return than any other American product, because this 

 land is almost bare of forests; and direct shipments of the superior 

 timber of the United States should easily compete with European lum- 

 ber in spite of distance. 



Syrian wools, silks, fruits, licorice, and the fine workmanship ol 

 Damascus could be taken back in return, and there is no reason why 

 a direct line of merchant steamships to Syria would not pay Americans 

 as well as Englishmen. 



Acquaintance and confidence will stir the Syrian merchants to action, 

 and if they are once started and are assured that their wools and the 

 products of their silk looms will find a sure market they will be glad to 

 cross the seas and exchange products with the United States. They 

 are particularly anxious for lumber, cheap woods for flooring, ceilings, 

 and general building purposes. 



THOMAS E. GIBSON, 



Consul. 



BEIRUT, February 15, 1894. 



