45 neighbourhood. Public gardens are greatly appreciated and well treated by the population of Cairo.

Owing chiefly to the heavy increases in the cost of materials, building activity decreased considerably; this decrease had, however, begun before 1914. From 1905 to 1911, on an average, 938 building permits were issued annually; from 1912 to 1914 the average was 699, and from 1915 to 1919 it dropped to 464; meanwhile, the population has steadily increased, and the difiiculties of housing are likely to remain acute for some time.

Grave fears were entertained that the high flood of 1916 would cause the collapse of large numbers of the very poorly oonstracted houses existing in many quarters of Cairo. Systematic house inspections were undertaken, and the public helped the Department in its task. It was also made known that any signs of collapse, such as cracks and settlements, should be notified for immediate attention. These measures had excellent results, and though many houses collapsed, they had almost all been previously evacuated: 836 houses were demolished during the high flood year of 1916.

Perhaps an exception to the statement that no large undertalings have been in progress is to be found in the removal of the huge and ancient rubbish mounds immediately east of the town, which prevent any extension to the east of the old town walls. This removal is being condu'cted in co-operation with the authorities of the Arab Museum. The result will be to offer a great and salubrious site for a new quarter of the city.

The total expenditure on the Cairo City Service during the year 1919 was approximately £E. 247,000 as compared with £E. 174,000 in the previous year. This increase included an advance of £E. 33,000 upon maintenance works required to begin the restoration of streets to something of their pre-war condition of upkeep. A sum of £E. 13,500 was spent on the extension of new roads and paving in the old quarters of the town. The extension of paving and macadam in all parts of the town is among the first of the new works to be undertaken by the Department in the immL.iiate future.

26. Physical Department.

The Physical Department, since it was placed in more intimate relations with the Ministry of Public Works by its transfer from the Survey in 1915, has been increasingly occupied with the compultation of the quantities of water available and required in connection with the various great irrigation projects which the Government has in hand.

The Department now controls 61 meteorological stations in and outside Egypt, 71 river gauges and 220 rainfall stations. Particular attention is being given to weather forecasting, with special regard to the expected opening of aeri routes through Egypt. Astronomical photography with the observatory’s 30-inch reflector was recommended in 1919 after a lapse of several years.

The Physical Department is also charged with the execution of the law on weights and measures. 2,792 prosecutions for use or sale of fradulent weights and measures were instituted in 1919 as cotnpared with 4,433 in the previous year, and though during March and April administrative business was much interrupted, it may be inferred that attempts to defraud have appreciably decreased. The official sale of weights- and measures brought in £E. 1,625 as compared with £E. 2,611 in the previous year; the diminution is due to the more general adoption and commercial manufacture and sale of weights and measures of the Government pattern.

27. Antiquities Department.

In 1914 the Antiquities Department was engaged upon restoration at Kom Ombo. including the clearance of the northern exterior of the temple and the erection of a wall to stop sand drift; and at Luxor in the consolidation of the statues of Ramseb II in the court behind the great pylon. Sundry work of less importance was proceeding at Karnak, Dendera, Aoydos, Meir, Mit Pahineh and Sakkarah. In the Cairo Museum continued alterations to the roof necessitated the temporary rearrangement of the collection. In the same year a provincial museum was opened at Assiout, the Tanta Museum moved to new quarters, and a muesum was being prepared at Minia. All these museums were the first efforts of a new movement to develop the provincial centres of education. The Department’s new law worked House of Commons Parliamentary Papers Online. Copyright (c) 2006 ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved.