6
will involve." Further the Inspector General was requested to prepare, in con-
sultation with the Imperial Bacteriologist, a detailed plan for the consideration
of Government.
On November 18th, a correspondence was entered into with the Collector
of Bareilly—this being the nearest station to the Laboratory on the main line of
railway—with a view to discover whether there were any disused sarais in the
neighbourhood, from which a suitable one for a depôt could be selected.
26. An interview was arranged for the 28th December at Bareilly, and
after enumerating the requirements necessary for a depôt, the Collector
informed me that there would be little difficulty in getting ground within an easy
distance of the Bareilly Junction Station, provided Government is willing to
pay the compensation, but that he was afraid there is little chance of getting
a site with a suitable building ready to hand. In order that no time should
be lost the Collector requested the Tahsildar to make the necessary enquiries,
and at a later date to conduct me to any likely localities. On January 4th,
I proceeded with the last named officer, and found the most suitable site at
Kargiana, distance 2½ miles from Bareilly Junction Station. This plot of land
consisting of 12 acres, is well wooded with old mango trees, so that plenty of
shade can be provided for the Experimental animals. On receipt of necessary
information, including site, plan, etc., a report was submitted to the Govern-
ment of India on January 28th, 1898, putting forward—
(i) The advantages to be gained by instituting an Experimental station
in the plains.
(ii) The manner in which it is proposed that work should be carried on
at the depôt.
(iii) Information obtained with regard to a site for the depôt near
Bareilly Junction.
In the event of an alternative scheme for acquiring a site being necessary,
I suggested the advisability of prosecuting inquiries as to whether any disused
sarais could be found on the main line of rail between Bareilly and Saha-
ranpur.
27. At an interview accorded me by His Honour the Lieutenant-Governor
of North-Western Provinces and Oudh on March 21st, he was good enough to
inform me that, after hearing my explanations with regard to the proposed
'Experimental depôt,' he would not put any objections in the way of its been
established at Kargiana, within easy distance of Bareilly Junction.
At the present time this question remains unsettled, but is under the con-
sideration of the Government of India.
LABORATORY BUILDINGS.
28. Gas Machine.—Towards the end of the year 1895, a contract was en-
tered into by the Public Works Department with the firm of Messrs. Orr and
Sons of Madras, Agents for Messrs. Mansfield in India, for the erection of two
of their gas-making machines and gasometers brought to Muktesar from Poona,
holding respectively 300 and 1,000 cubic feet. The well for the former gas-
holder was constructed of stone and lined with concrete, the latter was con-
structed of bricks, pointed. One mechanic, representing Messrs. Orr and Sons,
arrived from Madras in May, and was followed by a second in June 1897.
These men finished their work of erecting the machines, etc., and left Muktesar
on the 31st of August 1897. During the first few days of September the
level of the water in the larger tank was found to be reduced, and, by the 20th
of the month, several thousand gallons had escaped, owing to the porosity of
the bricks. In a letter, dated 22nd September 1897, full details were submitted
to the Public Works Department Engineer in charge of the works, and informa-
tion received that it would be necessary to line the tank with cement, and, for
this purpose, a second estimate would have to be prepared and submitted to
Government, but that nothing could be accomplished until the end of the
rains in October. At a later date information was received that it would be
impossible to take the work in hand until the frost and snow had entirely dis-
appeared. Consequently, towards the end of March 1898, the remaining water
was removed and the tank cemented. At the present time, owing to the season