'The Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society. From January 1863 to December 1864. (Edited by the Secretary.) Volume XVII.' [‎220] (393/524)

REPORT ON THE LINE OF TELEGRAPH,
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where. At a moderate depth, say 3 to 4 feet, the soil is probably wet
throughout the year. At the time we examined it, it was a marsh
nearly the whole way, except in the plantations, where drainage i s
attended to. All the date plantations are intersected at intervals of
about 200 yards by canals, cut generally at right angles to the river,
and serving both for irrigation and drainage, they extend quite through
the plantations. It is probable that we saw the country at its worst.
the annual rise does not appear to cause any alteration in the high water
level below Basrah ; at our visit also rain had lately fallen, and the
high tides, consequent on the south-easter, were, 1 believe, a maximum,
I do not think it would be possible to carry an aerial line quite
close to the river bank, certainly not so near Basrah. The numerous
canals for irrigation and drainage are also frequented by boats, and
for 15 miles below Basrah, by boats of large tonnage, with masts 50 feet
high at least: the expense of raising the line a sufficient height above
the river to admit of the passage of such boats would be great.
If also it be desirable to keep the wire clear of the foliage of trees
&c. the groves are so close to the river as not to admit of a line being
carried between them and the bank ; indeed, in some parts, trees are
frequently falling into the stream.
I am inclined therefore to recommend a line carried close at the back
of all the date groves, which would be at an average distance of l to J
miles from the bank (except near Basrah, where it would be two to
three miles) as the only practicable plan.
Probably the poles would be sufficiently well secured by being
driven in 6 to 8 feet; but if the earth be built up round the poles to a
height of several feet, and well “ punned” or rammed, it would, when
dried, be a great support to them.
Whether a raised roadway should not eventually be formed along
the line broad enough for a horseman to ride upon, and so ensure easy
access to all parts of it, may be worthy of further consideration. An
average height of two to three feet above the plain would be sufficient
to keep it above the level of the highest floods, and in many places,
such an embankment is already in existence, in part at least. The ex
ecution of such a work would be very easy: a ditch on each side,
whence the materials could be tak eiqwould serve in some measure as
drains, and small bridges of date trunks would be required occasion-