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Show The Kiikimve as a Land-Owner. A subject very much discussed just now by those who interest themselves in the future of the country is the relation re-lation of the ruler of Eypt as a private pri-vate proprietor to his government. The khedive is often spoken of in England as the graeatest merchant in Eypt. Tins is not a fair discription; it is no more true than it would be to say that Lord Dudley is a great merchant because he works and sella the coal that lies under his land. But there is no doubt that the khedive is the greatest land-owner in Egypt. Hid inherited estates were large, he has added enormously to them by purchase, and now, on a very muderate estimate, the khedive and his family own one filth of the cultivable cultiva-ble land in the country. He has done much good in certain ways; his desiro for European improvements has led him to introduce much machinery and many improved methods of cultivation. cul-tivation. But, like most gentlemen farmers, the khedive lias not made hie farming pay, or, at any rate, his recsepts have not kept pace with his expenditure. Notwithstanding cer tain advantages he is alleged to posess in an absence of fiscal burdens and a special facility in procuing labor and ! water, the balance-sheet of Ismail l'asha docs not show a profit; he is in fact, an incumbered land-owner. Tho debt is variously estimated at from 00,000.000 to $75,000,000, more than half of which is funded. |