'Summary of correspondence relative to the administration of the Port of Basrah and measures for the control of the shipping traffic in Mesopotamia.' [‎17v] (34/134)

so
Sub-Enclosure IV.
APPENDIX D.
No. 80-A.-16.
Basrah, 3rd March 1916,
D, A. & Q. M. G.
Memorandum-
With reference to your No, 1I79-1-Q., dated 5th January 1916, detailing the
points on which my advice is required I attach herewith a further note on improve-
ed transport facilities between Qumah and Amarah on the Tigris and Qumah and
Nasiriyeh on the Euphrates.
(Sd.) GEORGE C. BUCHANAN, Colonel,
Director-General of Port Administration
and River Conservnacy~
Further note on proposed River Conservancy operations in Mesopotamia after an
inspection of the rivers concerned.
In my preliminary note dated 14th December 1915 to the Secretary to the
Government of India, Marine Department^ I discussed various proposals for the
improvement of navigation on the rivers Tigris and Euphrates above Basrah and
©n the Shatt-al-Arab below Basrah after studying such data as was available, but.
I pointed out that in the absence of any engineering surveys an investigation on
the spot was the only means of ascertaining to what extent, if any, improvements-
could be effected.
(2) I arrived in Basrah on the 1st January 1916, but owing to the great scarcity
of river craft and the urgent demand for all available vessels for military purposes
I was unable to get outside Basrah until the 14th February 1916, a delay much to
be regretted but which under the circumstances was unavoidable. I have however
now had an opportunity of making a personal inspection of those portions of the
rivers requiring immediate treatment, and I submit this further note on the under
standing, however, that the views expressed herein are subject to confirmation or
otherwise when surveys have been made.
The Tigris between Qurnoh and Amarah.
(3) Sir William Willcocks in his book " The Irrigation of Mesopotamia, "
stated that the very existence of the Tigris as a river was threatened in this reach
by various large streams which took off from the main river and in three specified
cases he designed waste weirs with crests 50 centimetres fl9'68 inches) below low-
water level in order to retain the bulk of the low-water flow in the Tigris proper.
These weirs were to be solid masonry and the estimate for the three was
about £45,000. I am in entire accordance with Sir William Willcocks' diag
nosis and I propose to put in hand working surveys, of the various canal junctions-
at the earliest date.
(4) I noticed on my inspection the usual bars and difficult crossings which
one would expect to find on a river flowing through an alluvial plain and also a-
number of awkward bends and I can quite understand that in the low-water
season, navigation between- Ezra's- Tomb and Qualet Salih is- extremely difficult.
I noted six places where engineering surveys are required and these will be
made as soon as possible.
(5) When all the surveys enumerated above are completed, I will consider
the practicability of executing the following works :—
[a] Lowering by judicious dredging of the various bars; and casement of
awkward bends.
{b) Construction of temporary emergency weirs for the next low-water
season which will keep the bulk of the low-water flow within the
Tigris.