Syria: An Economic Survey 



Syria. The production of pearl-barley has not yet been attempted, 

 but would probably prove very profitable. 



E. Wine and Other Alcoholic Beverages. 



The production of alcohol and alcoholic beverages is the only 

 branch of industry subject to a special ad valorem tax of 15 per 

 cent, of which half is refunded in case the beverage is exported. 

 On the average the tax amounts to 15 to 20 centimes on every 

 gallon of wine, and 1 franc to 1 franc, 18 centimes, on a gallon of 

 the finest brandy. The total production of Syria amounts to about 

 3,510,000 gallons (worth about 5,000,000 francs), of which the 

 Jewish colonies produce about 1,040,000 gallons. The average 

 price of the dry wine is 1 franc per gallon, that of arrack,* 6 francs 

 per gallon. In 1910-1911, 9,938,360 pounds of wine were exported, 

 8,621,180 pounds of which from the harbor of Jaffa, including 

 the wine of the German colonies. Several by-products, such as 

 dregs, tartaric acid, and tartar, are exported from Eishon PZion to 

 Europe. Beer of an inferior quality is made in small German 

 breweries. 



F. Building. 



The fellah builds his house of whatever material happens ^to be 

 at hand, sometimes of stones, especially those gathered from the 

 ruins, using a mortar made of clay and lime. Otherwise he uses 

 a sort of clay brick, dried in the sun, over which he spreads a 

 mixture of clay, ground straw, and dung. In the cities better 

 methods prevail, and there are some skilful masons, especially stone 

 masons. The building stones of Jerusalem, Tantura, and Latakia 

 are beautiful. In Jaffa, on the other hand, an unattractive porous 

 tuff is used. In the European quarters of certain cities, for in- 

 stance in Tel- Aviv, the Oriental style of architecture has been 

 discarded. 



Lime is burned throughout the country, mostly in a primitive 

 manner. However, there are European lime-kilns in the larger 

 cities. In the last decade the production of square-stones, bricks, 

 stair-stones, door and window frames, blocks of cement and sand 

 has increased considerably in Jaffa, Haifa, Jerusalem, Tiberias, and 

 Aleppo. This industry was mostly in the hands of Jews and 

 Germans. Before the war began a silicate brick factory was being 

 erected in Jaffa. 



Timber is imported almost entirely from Europe and Asia 

 Minor, as the domestic woods are not suitable for building purposes. 



* A brandy. 

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