File 2764/1904 Pt 2 'Baghdad Railway: General negotiations 1908-10.' [‎68r] (144/799)

must be remembered that communications are sometimes cut for weeks owing to the
absence of bridges (the post was delayed the other day for a fortnight), and great loss
ensues to the whole district, in order to avoid which heavy tolls would be willingly paid.
"^It has been estimated that the tolls of the present bridge of boats at Mosul during the
nine or ten months of the year when it is open to traffic, are worth some £T 3 000 to
£T. 4,000. ’ ’
18. The project for connecting Mosul with Aleppo by a service of automobiles, has
been repeatedly referred to, and it has been twice suggested that it might be worth
while—if only by way of advertisement—for some enterprising company to send a car
along the route to investigate. Surely the idea is not unattractive':— u Across the
great Syrian desert from Aleppo to Nineveh and back via Palmyra and Damascus.”
March and April would be the best months for the purpose.
19. The exploitation of the hot springs at Hamam Alii is perhaps rather for local
enterprise, but cannot be overlooked in the most cursory review of “ opening's ” in the
district.
20. Again, as matters rather of local interest, the possibilities of stock-farming
and the introduction of various crops, fruits, and vegetables hitherto unknown in the
district occur worth careful consideration. The sweet potato, hopes tartar oats, sulla,
clovei, suggest themselves amongst others m this connection. An experiment on a very
small scale is being made by the writer The lowest of the four classes into which East India Company civil servants were divided. A Writer’s duties originally consisted mostly of copying documents and book-keeping. with the last two ; but it is not yet time to know
with what result.
Attention may perhaps be once again called to the apathy which seems to prevail
in British commercial circles with regard to the possibilities of this district. Perhaps
it has none ; but it seems a pity at ail events not to come and look.
Annex 2.
»
Rainfall and Temperature in Mosul (City).
Note .—The following information has been most courteously given by Herr
Doubba, Imperial German vice-consul in Mosul, who during the past two years has
made regular scientific observations for the meteorological office in Berlin.
Bain-fall (in millimetres).
1908.
1909.
October
November
December
•• •• •• •« ••
0-2
23-3
60-7
20-9
75*6
61*3
1909.
1910.
January
February
March
April
May..
.. •» •• •• ••
35*1
94-2
15-5
72*8
6-1
62-6
(to Jan. 24.)
Notes
on Temperature, Mosul (City).
1908.
1909.
Mean temperature—
October..
21 -0
21 -2
November
• • • • • • •• ••
11-5
14-3
December
..
6-3
9-6
1909.
1910.
Mean temperature—
January..
February
•• •• •• •• ••
•• •• «• •• ••
5-4
8-1
Minimum temperature, January 1909
Maximum temperature, July 21, 1909
.. 6 degrees of frost centigrade.
.. 46 *7 centigrade.