'The views and opinions of Brigadier General John Jacob, CB. Aide-decamp to the Queen; Aide-de-camp to the Governor General of India, &c. &c. &c.; late commanding in chief the British forces in Persia; at present commanding the Sind Irregular Horse, and Political Superintendent of the North-West frontier of Sind.' [‎37] (68/481)

37
most durable manner; while not only will the work
(quality being equal) be executed at considerably less
cost, but repairs must be much less frequently required,
and the nuisance of continually breaking up bridges be
avoided.—(1853.)
PLANS AND ESTIMATES versus A ROAD AND
CANAL.
We have occupied the country for fifteen years, and for
the last ten years and more it has been our own, yet still
this most important little piece of road in the whole province
is even in a worse state now than it was in 1839. There
have been far too many " plans and estimates," and too
many discussions for any work to be done; and now that
the thing has been given up to the tender mercies of " the
board," it may, I fear, be classed with a Chancery suit,
and we may expect nothing but plans, estimates, and wise
opinions to all eternity! Yet the business presents not
the least difficulty, and the whole might have been
accomplished in one season by contract, at a very mo-
derate cost.
It is as plain as the day, that to secure constant dry
communication by land, and straight communication by
water, between and , all that is necessary to be
done is to dig a canal from one place to the other, throw
the earth excavated to one side only, and on the top of this
bank make your road,—all the watercourses crossed by
the bank being of course bridged. What can be simpler
or better for the purpose ? This was proposed by me in
J 840 ; and, in spite of all the plans and estimates, I doubt
if anything better has been thought of since.
As things are now, the road by land—very bad at all
times^—is quite impassable for four months in the year j