41 forms an integral part of the general scheme, and until the pumps are working and more water has been provided the full benefit of these undertakings will not begin to be felt. However, the lowering of the drainie levels, consequent upon the work executed, had already sufficed to improve the higher lying areas.

The Nile in 1916 satisfied spring cultivation till the latter half of March, a fair length of time, but afterwards the river levels fell so low that the reservoir at Assouan was heavily drawn upon; it was again at one time necessary and possible exactly to double the noi’mal discharge of the river. The flood was a month late in reaching its maximum, and for a short time there was reason to fear that the failure of 1913 would be repeated, but the river rose in September and the cultivation dependent on its increase was assured, with artificial support. Forty years ago a similar flood left some 900,000 acres unwatered and uncultivated, and was attended by famine; in 1915 not more than 50,000 acres went unirrigated, and this area was largel} composed of islands, foreshores and other scattered lands; but, while the reduction of loss gives the measure of the help afforded by the barrages at Esna and Assiout and by the general betterment of the irrigation system, still the failure of a considerable area of cultivation marks the need for further independence of the natural conditions of the flood.

For economic reasons a restriction was placed upon the area of cotton cultivated. With the water thus released from the service of cotton the cultivators in the north of the Delta placed 100,000 extra acres under summer rice. At the price of £10 per acre of crop, this harvest rep'resents £1,000,000.

In the summer of this year many areas where water is usually lifted on to the land by steam pumps were irrigated by freei-flow; the policy was not without risk of injury to the soil from over-watering, but was of the greatest value in economising fuel which was now running extremely short in Egypt.

At the beginning of the year the Physical Service was transferred to the Ministry of Public Works, and the closer co-operation of the two has been of great value in relation to the study of the Nile and its water supply.

The Nile spring and summer supplies of 1916 were good. The flood was high, and its particularly long duration at high levels caused much anxiety. There is a large annual expenditure on works for strengthening and improving the Nile banks, but when high flood levels are unduly prolonged the hanks become saturated and are then in danger of slipping and breaching. In 1916 the fall of levels in the Soudan was long delayed. The basins in Upper Egypt having been filled, were unable further to reduce the volume of the flood passing through Middle and Lower Egypt, and the river in its lower readies was higher in September than it had been in August.

As regards works, the situation this year took a decided turn for the better, and the annual grant, which had been reduced -to very nearly half its pre-war figure, began to rise again. Larger credits were mainly wanted to meet the increased cost of labour and material, but they also stimulated the preparations and studies for post-war schemes. The chief works carried on were the continued protection of Nile banks and remodelling of canal outlets. The latter improvements mean a great gregate saving of water which can be used for irrigation elsewhere, while the land irrigated from the remodelled outlets is less liable to injury from over watering. Before a given canal is taken in hand the matter is fully discussed with the local cultivators, and it has been found that the object and advantages of the work are thoroughly appreciated.

During the year, in conjunction with the* Soudan Government, important investigations were conducted in connection with the Blue Nile and its water supply.

In 1917 the summer supply in the Nile was remarkably good, and the flood high without becoming dangerous. It would* have been different had not the contribution from the River Atbara been so moderate, for the Blue Nile flood was a hign one and the White Nile flood exceptionally high. A report was received of high levels on Lake Albert.

This year preliminary drawings were completed for the proposed Sennar and Gebel Aulia dams on the Blue Nile and the White Nile respectively. Raw materials for the manufacture of cement were found in a convenient situation, and it was decided that a factory should be erected near the site of the Sennar dam, which would also supply the v/orks at Gebel Aulia. The two dams, both engineering works of the first magnitude, have been widely discussed, and the schemes are at present (April 1920) under investigation by the Nile Projects Commission, which has been appointed for the purpose. I may here appropriately give a very brief account of [3437 y—2] G House of Commons Parliamentary Papers Online. Copyright (c) 2006 ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved.