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(Prepared National between Great Brittreaty ain and her most dated the Kingdom of territory, Iraq, which has been before the representatives of the two countries for nearly three has recently years, been definitely ratified. It recognizes Iraqan independence take effect when Iraq becomes member of the League Nations. Iraq, present-day heir of ancient Babylon the valleys the Euphrates, has had an up-hill since the World war, in its transform itself into modern state. has constructive plans for physical development: but politics, ligion, and the age-old social customs of some of its people have interposed stubborn obstacles in the paths of the contemplated progress. The Iraqis have sought status comparable Turkey, Persia and the Hejas, all important and independent Mohammedan states, rather than that of mandated area on somewhat the footing smaller and less populous Syria and Jordan. Ever since the treaty of Versailles, placing the country under mandate Great Britain, became operative 1920, Iraq has obtained greater and greater degree of independence. the only one the twelve mandated territories which has king, parliament, and responsible government. As result of Iraqi insistence, the relations between mandatory and mandated territory were defined in 1922 treaty between the governments Iraq and Great Britain which looked to the termination of the mandate when Iraq could enter the League of Nations. This treaty was later vised twice with Great Britain undertaking more specifically to use her fluence to obtain membership for Iraq the League Iraq continued make Still later Great Britprogress. ain agreed drop this proviso and League membership for Iraq unconditionally in 1932. is the treaty altered that has now been ratified. Great Britain now has both military place in Iraqan affairs. British high commissioner resides Bagdad and advises the king international and financial matters. British air force maintained in the country under command vice marshal. British military officers training the Iraq and number British experts are employed in the various offices of the Iraq government. These contacts will continue under the new treaty after Iraq admitted the League Nations.
Restoring Its Irrigation. Embracing the potentially fertile valleys Tigris Euphrates and large stretches of semi-arid and desert lands, Iraq has always been primarily an agricultural and pastoral country. Babylonian and Grecian days the valleys irrigation canals and these were kept up by the Arabs in the days the Caliphate. The lands of Iraq exceedingly productive and its were highly prosperous until people when the Mongol Invasion destroyed the Irrigation embankments and headworks. Afterwards under Turkish rule Iraq became less and less much its once fertile prosperous, turned into wilderness and valleys The of thoughtful Iraq restore the works which the valleys possessed their golden age. This, during would tremendous vast amounts capital, which quiring Iraq present unable to command. The government has organized of Irrigation and under partment supervision slowly bettering existirrigation works and undertaking ing ones. the most important has been the construction steps weir in the of River permanent to replace earthen dams which Dijala constructed annually, only to be washed away flood season. Several river regulators and escapes were constucted in 1928, and canals were extended revive that were out cultivation and to bring passing tens thousands of acres new land under irrigation. Railway System Incomplete. In transportation agencies, other than has marked advance in recent years. for the country is ward along its rivers to the Persian gulf. But its customers and clients are chiefly to the and the northeastward across extensive deserts and mountain ranges. These barriers have not been bridged steel rails. Gaps still exist in the famous proposed railway that not products as far as the eastern Mediterranean ports by rail. There are close thousand of railway track in Iraq, but tirely an Internal system. At point does railway cross the Iraq border. The rail system, however, does perform two important functions in international trade. carries exports and imports to and from the port of Basra, head navigation the Shatt-alArab for connects Khanaqin near the Persian border with motor road over which carried Iraq's sizable transit trade with Persia. In the absence of railways to the north all of leaving and entering Iraq must move water through the Persian gulf. But within the last few years an efficient and rapid system has been set up for the transfer passengers, mail and light express overland tween Bagdad and Basra on the southeast, and Damascus, Beyrouth, Jerusalem and Calro the northwest. Good, hard-surfaced highways have been constructed through long sections of the river valleys. Across deserts that separate Iraq and Syria the ways are merely natural earth roads, but they are fair condition, and over them powerful American-built busses passengers, mail and express cover miles in 24 hours. The quickest mails, however, travel by the weekly service which extends from airplane Basra to Cairo. Airplanes fly approximately over the highway route for considerable part of the way between Bagdad and the At the point, Rutbah Wells, the Iraq government has established station which used for refueling and rewatering by both planes and automobiles, and there desert police force considerable strength maintained. At this station restaurant conducted. and are provided. the two great rivers only the Tigris can be used by bonts. An important freight service, moving hundreds of thousands of tons large river steamers, operated between Bagdad and Basra. Special draft river boats ply the Tigris up the river from Bagdad Mosul: and above the latter city considerable quantities of supplies are brought downstream on rafts. Below the junction of the Tigris and Euphrates the combined tidal stream known the The the has been merce greatly facilitated and increased since the war by the deeper and deepdredging by the Iraq government the bar at the river's mouth. Ships draft can now cross the bar low water and ships draft high water.
Products and Industries. Although some progress has been made recent years toward the velopment of industry and the extracmineral wealth from the ground, Iraq still predominantly agricultural and pastoral country. This condition reflected the and Imports. During the fiscal ports the exports, including year goods transit, amounted to about $40,000,000, while the valued approximately Dates, valued at close to the list exports, followed cereals and and $2,500,000. Among the leading wool, articles imported were textiles, ued approximately and worth $3,000,000. The few carried on on small scale. The Iraq dents maintain factories for spinning, knitting, making. and ufacture, copper smelting and flour milling. until the country will have an Important place among the regions producing Two financially strong companies have cessions to explore and develop the oil supplies, and both have Iraqan brought producing wells within the
The Christopher State bank closed of steady Charles the president, said. Silliman, ninety, Civil war veteran and county treasurer of Peoria county 1869, died at Chenoa. Louis Matson, farmer, was gored to death his barnyard Galesburg. John Merritt, who Greenwood Island the Mississippi river near Alton, drowned while ing ducks. Following heavy run last week the First National bank of Kansas, closed. The bank was capitalized $50,000. George Heikes, former sheriff and later treasurer dead his home quois county, Watseka from paralysis. Special trains carried thousands of University of Illinois students their homes Friday and Saturday for the holiday recess. Classes will be sumed January Ernest E. Conners, watchman the Wood the Madison County Laundry company, died Alton from bullet wound suffered in encounter with burglar the laundry. Theophilus Cunningham, eightythree. for years member of the state board the Illinois Baptist church and one of the founders of the Young Men's Christian association Centralia, dead. The Chicago Medical society nounced that free medical service would be provided Chicago's unemduring the winter. Needy ployed cases will be reported to the society charitable organizations. Jacob Hopkins, former judge of Chithe of DeKalb grove acres for unemployed have been clearing the dead trees and underbrush. The wood free to the needy for fuel. given Claude Dibble, forty, vice prestdent of Moore Brothers Stove died the Evanston hospital. He graduate of Yale scientific was school and Inventor. He also was head the Joliet Civic Music organization. Andrew ("Rube") Foster, the star pitcher the who was Leland and the American noted baseball teams negro died at Kankakee. He Chicago, ganized the Negro National league Kansas City in 1920. Olaf Gustafson, and his confused warning bells and signals, stepped Into the path of limited train on the Chicago. North Shore Milwaukee railroad Oakton street station in Niles Center and were instantly killed. After five prisoners had escaped from Cass county jall, the board of supervisors voted to repair It. The board figured that It costs more chase fugitive prisoners than would to make repairs. men escaped week ago, three escaped last July, and escaped in August. Cook county taxes land, minus buildings, payable next be reduced substantially. board of review decided unanimously to value and reassess all real estate, buildings, in the cepting that all the savings decreed will be obtainable in the next general tax bills. Former Clerk Harry Adkins turned to the city of Marion $900 of $1,125 found due the shortage city when he was suddenly removed from office last spring and Grady successor. Adkins appointed had been indicted for embezzlement. He intends pay the which the commissioners have agreed drop the charges. Gilderoy Settles, who claimed relationship Abraham Lincoln and Robert Lee, was burled Rushville. Settles' mother was Mary Ann Lee Garlock, first cousin of General and his grandmother, Mary Ann Lee, claimed be related both to the Confederate leader and to the Union Civil President. Everett missing from his Sapp, home Rockford for week and first thought slain, was arrested Minneapolis with Miss Helen Shaner, former Freeport girl," disappeared with him. Sapp, age was arrested the request of Rockford police and agreed to walve extradition Illinois, where he is charged with larceny. The sequel to an argument over the theft blanket months was written when the six-year-old son of Glen Amundsen, Durand, found his father's body hayfield. Stewart, Brodhead roadhouse died of revolver wound proprietor, inflicted Amundsen during quarthe blanket. grand jury failed to indiet Amundsen. He had committed suicide. The Illinois state penal farm near Vandalia has been placed under quarantine for spinal meningitis. Officials said only one case had been discovered, but every precaution had been taken to prevent the spread the disease. More than 300,000 apples representing profits $9,000 have been sold unemployed World war veterans Chicago streets since Decemloop ber the Cook County council the American Legion announced. stands were special mit to aid the families the needy
