'Summary of correspondence relative to surveying operations and river conservancy in Mesopotamia' [‎23r] (45/96)

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(B) Sponson deck, both sides, forward and aft.
(7) Sponson deck cabins which contained officers' galley and W. C., Store room and
crew's galley and W. C.
(8) Canvas curtains all round lower deck
(9) Paddle floats.
(10) Firing irons for st ocking.
(11) Engine room tools and equipment.
With the exception of item 5 (cabin on the main deck forward) the " Rebel " arrived here
minus the whole of the above equipment and consequently useless for our work or indeed for
any purpose ; as the launch was required for urgent work, which would not admit of waiting
until the " Rebel's " gear arrived from Bombay, the marine dockyard was asked to fit her
up. The " Rebel " has now been handed over to us as ready for survey work, but she only
been provided with part of the equipment as follows :—
(1) Paddle floats,
(2) Sponson deck, both sides, forward and aft,
(3) Rough timber cabin on bridge deck, which admits sunlight and rainthcough the
openings between the roof boards.
(4) 'W. C. and bath-room on bridge deck,
and is therefore still far from being complete for survey purposes.
I would point out that the engineering surveys on which the " Rebel " is to be engaged will
have to be plotted as the work progresses and to suit this purpose the usual practice is for the
bridge deck to be converted into a drawing office. In the absence of a bridge roof and side
curtains this is impracticable and in my opinion the launch is now only adapted for the roughest
of survey work. As the first survey is to be made near Amarah I am counting on getting accom
modation in a building there for plotting the field work. It has been suggested that a
launch as ordinarily equipped for conveying troops, is suitable for survey purposes and that the
extras required for the " Rebel" are really luxuries ; the suggestion is unwarrantable.
I may say the survey stag are not looking for luxuries but simply for the ordinary conve
niences with which all river craft here are provided. The survey party will consist of at least
one, sometimes 2 British offiers, 3 Native Surveyors, 2 Sounding boat recorders, 2 gauge readers,
and about UO boatmen, sampanmen, and leadsmen, in addition to the " Rebel's" crew of 14 hands.
This does not include an armed escort which it is understood will be required and for which
some space will have to be provided. It is obvious that with the " Rebel " in her present condi
tion practically the whole of the survey party will have to remain in the open day and night and
as this is a mode of living to which they are not accustomed it would probably result in many of
them being incapacitated by sickness.
As it would be impossible to replace these trained river Surveyors it is of great importance
to the whole of our work that they be kept fit and efficient, but we cannot hope to achieve this
with the " Rebel " in her present condition. , .
E. C. NIVEN,
Assistant Director, River Conservancy*