9 jr 22 that time was too short to allow the contract to be put up to adjudication in the usual manner, and on its recommendation the Government made direct arrangements with Messrs. Aird and Co., who had the necessary plant ready, and could be trusted to complete the work within the time available.

18, Land Reclamation.

The policy of -the Government during the last few years in declining for the present to entertain offers from individuals or companies for the purchase of large areas of Government waste land with a view to their reclamation has caused some dissatisfaction, and an explanation of the reasons for this attitude may not be out of place.

Land reclamation in Egypt is primarily a question of a jDermanent supply of water combined with suitable facilities for drainage. During the summer months the dominating factor is want of water to irrigate the cultivated area, and there is no question of the capacity of the canals—which have? to be large enough to take the much greater volume of water required in the hood season—to carry as much water as is available, the problem being entirely one of distribution, so as to ensure the cultivation of the largest possible area.

In flood time, on the other hand, Avhen the quantity of water is far in excess of any possible requirements, the volume distributed is limited by the capacity of the canals, and especially the great trunk canals of the country, the size of which is in direct relation to the areas which they serve, It is therefore obvious that any important additions to the land under cultivation must necessitate exceedingly costly enlargements and ultimately the remodelling of the present system.

In these circumstances the attention of the Irrigation Service has for the last ten or fifteen years been concentrated upon the improvement of the summer supply, and, with the raising of the Assouan dam, a considerable extension in the area under summer crops will be possible without increasing the land under cultivation, and therefore without any great alterations in the existing canals.

Before, however, any proposal to extend the cultivated area can be safely entertained, the problem of providing an adequate flood supply and efficient drainage must be studied in a systematic manner. The Government must determine what areas are to be reclaimed, make the necessary provision for irrigation and drainage, and then, and not till then, consider the opportunity of inviting private enterprise to undertake schemes of this nature. The preliminary steps for collecting the requisite information on these important points are now being taken, but a considerable time must elapse before the stage of dealing with various proposals put forward for land reclamation can be reached.

In concluding my repoi't on this branch of the Public Works Department, I take the opportunity of mentioning that Mr. A. L. Webb, C.M.G., the Adviser, retired at the end of September, after fifteen years in the service of the Egyptian Government, during which many public works of the first importance were brought, under his direction, to a successful comj)letion. He was succeeded by Mr. C. E. Dupuis, Inspector-General of the Soudan Irrigation Department, the latter’s place being filled by Mr, P, M. Tottenham.

V. PUBLIC WORKS, &c.

19. State Buildings.

'J'he total cost of the buildings in course of construction during the year is estimated at XE. 488,000, distributed as follows :— £E. Ministry of Justice .. .. .. .. ., .. 23,000 Afinistry of Eduention .. ., .. .. .. .. 132,000 Ministry of the Interior .. .. .. .. .. .. 68,000 Ministry of War .. .. .. ,. .. .. 134,000 Asylums .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 123,000 Post Onices .. .. ,. ., ,. .. .. 8,000 Total .. 488,000 In addition to these works, the Department has been engaged upon alterations and repairs to existing buildings to the value of £E. 70,000.

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