- 67 -Year 1896 | Year 1906 | Increase Egyptians | Europeans | Total | Egyptians | Europeans | Total | Egyptians | Europeans | Total Supervision (600 G.M. and above per year) | 8 | 11 | 4 | 23 | 26 | 1 | 24 | 25 Inspection (36 G.M. to 48 G.M. per month) | 29 | 26 | 55 | 19 | 14 | 93 | -- | 48 | 28 Inspectorate Agency (16 G.M. to 35 G.M. per month) | 59 | 56 | 115 | 139 | 147 | 276 | 70 | 91 | 161 Labor class (under 16 G.M. per month) | 53 | 2,143 | 2,196 | 2,901 | 5,330 | 8,231 | 198 | 5,418 | 5,616 | 2,527 Total | 2,939 | 143 | 3,082 | 5,383 | 451 | 5,834 | 2,443 | 5,509 | 2,751 It is regrettable to note that Egyptians decreased by 10 in higher inspection, while Europeans increased by 48 in that period. As for those employed in the inspectorate agency, they increased by 161, of whom 70 were Egyptians. However, most of the Europeans who increased were in what is known as the labor class, whose salary is 16 G.M. per month or less. In this category, Europeans increased by 145 and Egyptians by 2,527.

Colonel Macaulay wrote that these figures are misleading and contrary to our intended policy for the future. However, the reason for the increase in the number of Europeans in higher positions is the rapid increase in goods since 1896. At that time, the old Egyptian employees were sufficient by following their old, slow methods. But when the work multiplied, it was not possible to adopt new methods without preparation. The advanced employees tried but did not succeed in adopting the new methods at the required speed. Since we had no choice but to transport the existing goods, we brought in men from Europe who were ready to do so.

We have begun preparing Egyptians for the required work some time ago, and there is no doubt that many of them will be suitable for higher positions in time. We have sent some of them to European railways at the government's expense to learn there. Learning there is good in some ways but not in all, and it is more suitable for the engineering branch than for the goods transport branch.

Furthermore, we have a strong need for Egyptian mechanical engineers. Whenever we undertake important tasks now, we are compelled to bring in a European as well to oversee them. This is particularly the case with electrical matters. It is not hidden that proper training for a mechanical engineer requires a long time and great expense, and this industry is difficult. If we want Egyptians to excel in it, we must encourage them to learn it more than we encourage them to enter most other fields.