69 421 1905 19i»G 191)7 190R 1909 Gross Revenue.

£E. 171,137 235,G69 298,557 322.5G3 331,662 Working Expenses.

£E. 118,754 161,469 213,354 251.959 259,623 Net Profit.

£E. 52,383 74,200 85,203 70,604 72,039 Ratio of Working Expenses to Gross Revenue.

Per cent.

69-4 68-5 71-4 78-1 78-3 Native passenger traffic (4tli class) has declined from 263.000 to 247,000 on account of a falling off in the number of pilgrims going through Suakin. Otherwise the returns are satisfactoiy.

Subjoined are statistics of the more important items of the import and export traffic for the last three years :— Sugar Salt Soap Sweets Spices Tea Petroleum Cotton stuffs Tobacco Gum Dhurra Sinisiin Dates Imports. Tons.

9,337 2,066 549 162 434 304 017 2,703 336 13.846 31,212 6,334 973 During the past year there have been three collisions, all clue to carelessness on the part of the native staff. Four raihvay employes and one telegraph employt have been killed, and so far as the public were concerned two fatal accidents occurred. This record would seem to compare very favourably with that of most European and American railways. The extension of the railway southwards from Khartoum was started early in April, and by the end of the year 110 miles had been laid and the line was open to Wad Medani. The celerity with which this work has been accomplished reflects the highest credit both on Captain Midwinter’s organizing ability and on the energy of the staff in charge of this work.

Ill conjunction with this work the line north of Khartoum is being relaid with 75-lb. rails instead of 50-lb. 130 miles of the track have now been completed. The old rails and sleepers are being utilized on the southern extension where the traffic will be lighter. When this work is completed, heavier loads can be run and the permanent way ivill be in a safer and more efficient condition than at any previous period of its existence.

14. Nile Navigation.

The early despatch of supplies destined for Wau has this year enabled all steamers and other vessels to be withdrawn from the Bahr-el-Ghazal before the sudd obstruction became serious. It is hoped that the steamer service to Meshra-el-Kak will he resumed early in 1910. The sudd-cutting machine has worked well, and it is proposed to construct a still more powerful one in the Khartoum dockyard.

Commander Bond has been busily employed in the erection of dredging and coaltransport jflant for the Irrigation Department. Twm powerful dredgers and a large towing steamer with four 250-ton barges will all he completed early in 1910. The new steamers for the Shellal-Halfa service have now been running successfully for twelve months, and should prove sufficient for many years to deal with the traffic, In Dongola House of Commons Parliamentary Papers Online. Copyright (c) 2006 ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved.