On this page
-
Text (3)
-
i * -^ , . i ¦ —.i jjj-.~i" r m# ^* / TH...
-
INDIAN PUBLIC WORKS * The river Godavery...
-
Tiik Oxford Commkmoration,— Oxford, duri...
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
The Sore Point. The Sore Point Of The To...
i * - ^ , . i ¦ — . i jjj-. ~ i" r ^ r ^^^^^^^ fc * ^^^ m ^ TtfcTli ^^ M ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ MlB ^ M ^ JfcMB ^ MM ^ M ^^^ BMMlM JHHHH ^ fl ^ Bpp ^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^^^ motion at tbe Carlton Club . It is remembered what effective use Mr . Abbaham Hat-Wajw * aade of his knowledge of the Tory party while Xiord Derb y and Mr . DrsBAEiii were staggering at the head of affairs . That gentleman , when the motion vas debated , had time to count the antagonists he hfffl wounded , for they rioted with vociferous vulgarity , after the manner approved by the
gentlemen of England , all the time he addres & ed them . This outburst was , of course , no more than a display of exasperated incapacity ; but the incident illustrates , in a sufficiently remarkable manner , the truth of the observation now so frequently heard in political circles , that the Tory party is losing , year by year , in numbers and in intellectual resources . The great public itself can appreciate their parliamentary speakers ; and as for their journalists , they who read them know them .
The inability to bear criticism is another sign , of failing powers . It is not necessary to the political life of a great party that it should circulate lampoons and scurrilities in reply to every suggestion of fault or failure . Yet thjs is the Tory method . In the inverse ratio they find it necessary to drive everlastingly in " a substantive-and-six" the fame of their two rhetoricians , to call their
secondrate talkers judicious when they cannot call them eloquent , to praise their property when they cannot praise their arguments , to allude to the first Duke as a compliment to the tenth , and to fatigue the public with perpetual complaints that the Duke of Argtxi , is a precocious Cabinet minister , and that Mr . 3 ? . PeeIi is allowed to be saucy in the House of Commons .
I * -^ , . I ¦ —.I Jjj-.~I" R M# ^* / Th...
m # ^* / THE IiEABEB . [ No . 324 ,, Satorbat
Indian Public Works * The River Godavery...
INDIAN PUBLIC WORKS * The river Godavery rises ia the western Ghauts , not far from Bombay , at an elevation of 3000 feet above the sea , and , after flowing 800 miles in nearly a direct course to the eastward , finally empties itself into the Bay of Bengal , about 400 miles north of the city of Madras . This mighty river drains a district containing 130 , 000 square miles , and , according to the season of the year , discharges from 1 , 500 , 000 to 150 , 000 , 000 of cubic yards of water per hour . About 8 . 0 miles from the sea it has forced a
passage , five miles in length , through solid rocks 2500 feet in height . The width of the stream at its surface during the freshes is 300 yards , and the depth at the same time not less than 180 feet . Beyond these hills the breadth of the river varies from 800 yards to one mile . During the monsoon Lt sometimes suddenly rises 80 feet , and submerges the whole surrounding country . Below the hills the Godavery spreads itself out in a channel several miles iu breadth through a soft alluvial soil , formed by the detritus washed down by its own swollen floods . About 30 miles down stream the Delta may be said to commence . This extensive tract of land was formerly constantly liable to inundation , so that frequently the only intercourse between
villages was by means of boats . Agricultural operations were , in consequence , fatally retarded , and it was almost as usual a thing for the crops to fail as to arrive at maturity . During rnany months of the year the roads were absolutely impassable , and at aft times so bad that the transit of floo ds cost 3 j | d . a ton per mile . And if in any particular year the people escaped a deluge of waters , their labours were equally neutralized by the effects of severe drought . From these two opposito causes the inhabitants of one of the most tortile districts in the world were nearly always compelled to import grain , and very frequently were reduced to the verge of Starvation . Under the mpst favourable circumstances the value of tho two annual crops did not pxceed 1 / . per acre . The facilities for irrigation were , however , so great and obvious , that in the year 184-8 Sir H , Montgomery ^ the Revenue Commissioner iu tho district of liajahmundry , recommended that an experienced ongineer should be inBtmoted to report upon tho capabilities of tho Delta . Tho Madrus * JPrqfits upon British Capital expended upon Indian Public Works , < $ v . if a . By Colonel Arthur Cotton , & lobnrd « 0 U Broth era .
Government did honour to its judgment by selecting Colonel Arthur Cotton , late Chief Engineer of that Presidency . That able officer soon discovered that to develop the resources of the country there were four things needful : the river must be restrained from wandering in devious and ever-changing courses ; artificial channels must be cut to carry off the floods from the low lands ; the water of the river must be kept at a sufficiently high level to command the country for the purposes of irrigation ; and lastly , means must be provided for the cheap transit of goods and agricultural produce .
Owing to various causes , which it is needless to recapitulate , it was not until 1848 that the works were actually commenced , but , once begun , they were pushed forward with untiring and enlightened energy . These works were on a stupendous scale . Opposite the town of Hajalimundry the Godavery is about 3000 yards wide , and in the freshes rises 32 feet above its ordinary level . But , five miles lower down the rise is only 28 feet , while the ordinary depth was no more than 18 inches , owing to the great width of the channel . The distance from bank to bank at this spot measures 7200 yards , or rather more than four miles ; but of this space 2800 yards are occupied by low-lying islands , completely under water iu the freshes . These islets stand in the midst of four channels of the
respective breadth of 1800 , 1000 , 600 , and 1000 yards . This was the point selected for the construction of a gigantic weir , to raise the water 14 feet above the bed of the river . The masonry par t is 12 feet high , with a level surface 18 feet broad , used as a carriage "way , and a curved slope on the down stream side 30 feet wide . The islands are crossed by embankments three to eight yards high , and 12 yards broad at the top . Three main channels lead from the weir , one at each end and one at the centre ; the locks to admit boats into these being- 100 feet by 15 , with side walls 24 feet high , but on the western side the lock is 150 feet long . On the crown of the weir strong grooved iron posts have been erected , to receive planks , and thus raise the level of the water two feet and a half
above the masonry . This great work was begun in 1848 and completed in 1852 . The next and partially simultaneous measure , was to deepen and widen the channels leading to the sea . When finished , there will be seven main lines from the weir to tide-water , and two highlevel channels parallel with the coast , "in all , about 850 miles of first-class navigation , besides the creeks and branches of the river connected by them , together about 500 miles , and at least 500 miles more of second-class navigation ; so that the Delta , which contains about 3000 square miles , will be pervaded by ] 000 miles of canal , or one mile to every three square miles , by which goods can be conveyed at fed . per ton , and passengers at fed . per head . "
To obviate the danger of inundations , to which the Delta had previously been subject , immense channels ^ are being cut , which will carry off all superfluous waters to the coast . By the same means the Colair lake has been drained , and a tract of splendid laud , 24 miles long and 12 broad , lias been rendered suitable for cultivation . As the waters of the Godavery , like those of the Po , flow considerably above the level of the circumjacent country , it has been found necessary to raise
artificial embankments from two to four yards high and four or five yards broad at the top , from tho hills to the sea . At the mouth of the river there is an excellent port , the only good one on that coast , though tho entrance is somewhat impeded by a bar , which is now being removed by dredging , " and there seems no doubt tliat a passage may be kept of any required depth , a 3 the bar is situated at the upper end of tho bay , perfectly sheltered from the swell of the sea . "
To recapitulate : An enormous dam has been carried across the Delta ; seven navigable channels connect tho weir with the coast ; immense druins diminish the risk of inundation ; eighty miles of embankments restrain the river in its proper bed ; a safe harbour is being constructed ; ami several thousand men are now employed in improving the navigation of the Upper Goduvory , and iu opening a communication with the sea for 10 , 000 , 000 of people . These great results have boon obtained ut a comparatively small coat , Tho actual . expenditure up to 1853 was only 180 , 000 / ., producing an increased revenue of G 0 , 00 ( V ., or an annual profit of 33 per cent . Before- tho improvements of tho Delta mo completed , double that sum will no doubt bo expended , uncl the investment will prove still more lucrative . But l , hi « , in truth , is taking the
most narrow and ignoble view of the great benefits already obtained . In the first place , 1 , 200 000 acres of excellent land have heen drained , embanked , and irrigated , and the annual net produce ¦ raised from 11 . to 21 . 5 s . per acre . The exports have increased 126 , 0002 . yearly , while the impor t of food has diminished by 20 , 000 / . In transit alone , an annual saving of 70 , 000 / . has been effected , and consequently the people are enriched to that extent . Previous to 1846 , the average export of bullion—that is , the balance against the district —\ was 9 S , 00 CM . , , whereas in 1853-4 , a season of scarcity and drought , there was a balance of 3000 / . in its favour . In this latter year , the revenue was 16 per cent , higher , and the exports of produce 4 £ fold greater than in an abundant season before the works . The traffic on the new
canals iu that same year has been estimated at 180 , 000 tons carried 30 miles , and no fewer than 18 , 000 boats passed down the three main channels from the weir . It must be remembered that these arc the results obtained in the second year after the partial completion of the works . When the whole system of improvements shall be perfected , their success will be far more conspicuous . It is not too much to expect , that by that time the
Delta , hitherto scarcely able to support 500 , 000 wretched inhabitants , alternating between the fear of drought and of inundation , will be cultivated by at least 2 , 000 , 000 of a happy and prosperous people . The natural resources of the soil arc very considerable , and the facilities for producing cheap white and excellent salt are unbounded . Coal of good quality has been found in two or three localities , and timber can be had to an unlimited
extent . These stupendous works have been devised and executed by the orders of that Government which it is now the fashiou to abuse as neglectful of the material interests of the country entrusted to its guidance and control- According to the advocates of " Young India , " the ancient Hindoo and Mahomuiedan rulers far surpassed the government oJ the Hon . Court in the greatness and utility of their been
public works . Are they aware of what has done in the deltas of the Cauvery and the Godavery , or of the extent of the Ganges Canal ? Besides , with what sort of consistency do they upbraid the Indian Grovernment for not laying out more money on public works , when they also reproach them for running into debt ? These undertakings can only be accomplished by means of loans in the first instance . And there is nothing
to be expected at present from private companies , or from the introduction of English capital . The Manchester merchants deliberately refused a proposal " for forming a company to navigate the Godavery , and to bring down to the coast the excellent cotton of Berar , which is at present carried on bullocks' backs four hundred miles , at a cost ot nearly a penny a pound . In this case there was everything that could well be thought of to stimulate to enterprise ; everything was at stake ; but nothing has been done by them , and the whole matter has been left to the Government ; and had it not been for the energy and wisdom of the Madras Government , no step iu this matter of such vast national importance , aud such a vital point to Manchester , would have been taken . "
Tiik Oxford Commkmoration,— Oxford, Duri...
Tiik Oxford Commkmoration , — Oxford , during the past week , has been in the thick of " tho Commemoration . " The degree of D . C . L . has been conferred on tho following persona : —Prince Frederic William oi Prussia ; tho Prince of Baden ; Count Bernstorfl , Muslims Boy , Minister Plenipotentiary of the Sultan , the Earl of Clarendon ; the Earl of Elgin and Kincardine ; Lord Aflhburtons Sir Edmund Lyons , JJart ., Admiral Sir Kicharrf Saundera Dundas ; bir mmy Holland , Bart . ; Sir Coliu Campbell ; . Sir W . ll . am l'enwick Willi ams , of Kara , Bart . ; Major-General W Harry D . Jones ; Lord Abcrcorn ; Dr . Sandwith ; ana
DlNNKtt AT TIIK MANSION HoUHB . —TIlO Lord _ ftD < l Lady Mayoress , on Wednesday , entertained at tho ftian Hion House a largo party of notabilities , "" j ludrnfa ; tnc Archbishop of Canterbury , tho Bishop of W . nclu . * . or . Archdeacon Hale , tho Karl of Ilarrowby , Lord . «>»" Russell , Mr . Henley , Mr- Gladutono , & c Ac'OiPHNTH i'iiom t * ik Fiukwoukb . — Later " CCOUI ' have unfortunately shown that wo were mistaken «»» week m Baying that tlio display on the evening o i 29 th ult . paused ofT without casualties . On < : «< ^ resulted to a young man , who was Btruck on tlio with a rocket-stick ; and several of the lookers- " ! i w seriously injured . In one of those eases , total ° ""' wou caused by a blow from . tho stick of on « «• rockets ; and in two other cases partial bluulnosn oiw « c in tho same war .
-
-
Citation
-
Leader (1850-1860), June 7, 1856, page 14, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_07061856/page/14/
-