70 there is ,ca steady if small increase in the receipts from carriage of passengers and merchandise.

15. R During the past year 1,110 miles of new roads were cleared and 117 new wells constructed.

Considerable work was carried cut on the routes from Tonga to Eliri and Eliri to Talodi, both important from a military point of view, and the latter was cleared by military labour. Q'here is no expenditure more necessary, both from a military and administrative point of view, than that devoted to improving the means of communication.

With regard to motor transport, ofie of the 40-h.p. lorries made a record trip from Khartoum to Kassala and back in February 1909. The double journey of 510 miles was performed in 6 days, and this success is of a nature to encourage the continuance of experiments in motor traction. Trials were also undertaken in the Bahr-el-Ghazal, and have shown that this form of transport will be practicable in that district during the dry season, when the roads have been sufficiently cleared. In the parts of the country where carriers are difficult to obtain and excessive mortality exists amongst draught animals the advantages of mechanical means of transport will doubtless in the long run prevail.

16. P The total mileage of telegraph lines maintained is now nearly 5,000. Major Turner, the Director, reports that in the southern provinces there has been much tampering with the wires b}' natives, who seem to be especially addicted to the stealing of lightning wires. Damage was also done by grass fires, and frequent trouble caused on the lower reaches of the Bahr-el-Zeraf by large herds of elephants, who have contracted an undesirable habit of scratching their backs against the poles, with unfortunate results as regards the regularity of the telegraph service.

The number of telegraphic messages dealt with during the past year amounted to about 405,000 as against 416,000 in 1908, the decrease being mainly in the number of official telegrams.

In the postal department, one additional service a week has been inaugurated froin Egypt. The money-order service continues to grow, the total of cash dealt with in 1909 being £E. 1,673,000 as against <i'E. 1,548.000 in 1908. There has also been a considerable development in the cash-on-delivery system, the number of parcels being 20,000, valued at £E. 27,000, as compared with 11,000, valued at £E. 15,000 in the previous year.

The total number of postal packets, exclusive of parcels, dealt with during the last three years is as follows :— 1907. 1908. 1909.

Ordimry ,, Registered . • 4 * Total .4 M , M...—... * ».

•4,075,000 125,000 4,800,000 5.013.000 176,000 5.189.000 V. PUBLIC WORKS.

17. P The funds allotted for public works in the Soudan in 1909 Were as under:-4 4 4 i (a.) From ordinary Budget (h.) I*Vom special credits .. .. (c.) Oonstriiction of houses for employes {(I.) hfaiutenance of Port Soudan ,.

i 4 • • « * Total « i i I 4 4 £E. 45.000 13.000 10.000 13,000 81,000 House of Commons Parliamentary Papers Online. Copyright (c) 2006 ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights reserved.