125 C Railways.

The setback to trade, which was the first result of the outbreak of war, affected the railway traffic seriously. Much export traffic was lost, though this was in part due to the bad rains of 1913 and consequent diminution of the export of millet. The temporary suspension of the irrigation works in the Gezira also diminished the traffic receipts. By cutting down services, suspending all operations that were not absolutely essential, and by utilising reserve stores as far as posible the early and difficult period was safely tided over.

The revival of prosperity in 1916 relieved anxiety as to the financial situation, but the difficulty of getting necessary stores and material, particularly coal, persisted till the end of the war.

The services of several members of the railway staff were lent for the campaign in Palestine. A certain quantity of rolling-stock was also spared with some difficulty for the same purpose.

It is a matter for satisfaction that in spite of these difficulties not only was the ordinary traffic of the country regularly and efficiently carried, but the unprecedented demands for camels, cattle, sheep and grain for Egypt were met without hitch or failure.

The most important consideration now is to make good deficiencies in permanent way,- rolling-stock and river vessels, which have seriously deteriorated during the past five years.

There is urgent need for materials to relay the line between Haifa and Abu Hamed and some little way south. It is extremely difficult to obtain sleepers at a reasonable p'rice, but expenditure on this item must be faced.

An allotment of £E. 140,000 was made from the general reserve fund of the Government in 1919 for the purchase of locomotives and wagons.

Passenger Traffic.

Receipts have risen in 1919 from £E. 120,544 to £E. 138,564.

Goods Traffic.

The total tonnage carried has declined this year from 288,136 tons to 206,888 tons. The decline is due to the failure of the 1918-19 dura crop, the export of which declined from 87,990 tons to 13,309 tons.

Apart from this goods traffic has been satisfactory, the most noticeable feature being the unusually heavy date traffic.

Steamers. Nile Navigation.

The Steamers Department which controlled the whole of the river traffic on the White d Blue Niles and their tributaries south of Khartoum, was incorporated with the railways on the 1st January, 1918.

The craft of the Department at the time they were taken over were in a condition which showed the strain caused by the exceptional difficulties and dangers of Nile navigation, and during the war it was impossible to undertake systematic renewals.

The plant and machinery of the Kliartoum North Dockyard are inadequate, and there is a shortage of barges, specially for cattle. Twelve new barges are on order or in course of construction.

The general manager intends to proceed steadily with the renovation of craft, but anticipates that it will be some years before the service is in a fully satisfactory condition.

The traffic south of Kliartoum has declined owing to the Gambela (Abyssinia) export of coffee and import of salt being below the average.

Great difficulty has been experienced in keeping the Bahr-el-Ghazal free from sudd blocks, and much delay to steamers has been caused thereby.

On the Halfa-Shellal Reach renovation was undertaken from 1912 onwards, and this service is now thoroughly efficient.

House of Commons Parliamentary Papers Online. Copyright (c) 2006 ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved.