Evening star., 1898-03-12
THE EGYPTIAN IRRIGATION SCHEME

C0ntrOversy Between the Engineers
and the ArchaeOlogists.
From the London Tines
The khedive in council has approved a
contract just concluded for the construc-
ton Of two great dams for the storage and
control of the water of the Nile. For many
years past there has been exhaustive ex-
animation and discussion of different plans
proposed for the attainment of this object.
From this complete and scientific investi-
cation of the whole question the plan now
adopted has emerged as the best and most
satisfactory solution of a great problem.
Englishmen, at all events, will think none
the worse of it when we say that it is a
compromise. Mr.. Willcocks, to whose
ability and diligence IL, investigating the
whole subject 1t is scarcely possible to pay
too high tribute, arrived three or four
years ago at the conclusion that the best
site for fmpounding the water of the Nile
is just above Assuan at the first cataract
But there was one grave objection to the
scheme as it originally stood Ptolemy IL
had built temple to Isis. whose tears, by
the way, are the legendary cause of the
rise OF the Nile, upon the Island of Philae,
and that island would have been almost
submerged had the Nile been held up to
the extent proposed. Our readers doubt
less remember the storm of controversy
that ragged round this point What is tenn
N
work involving the prosperity of millions
of human beings? Are base commercial
motives cried the archaeologists to over
ride everything in this world and is a
priceless monument of antiquity to be lost
to mankind in order that a few more fella-
heen may grow cotton and millet? Vari-
GUS solutions were proposed. Philae was
TO be surrounded by masonry as solid as
the dam Itself. and was to be thus secured
against all anticipated dangers. One dis
tingu1shed engineer was prepared to hoist
the temple bodily and underpin it, so
to stand permanently above the highest
water level Mr.. Willcocks himself il we
remember Alright, discussed its removal
stone by stone and it's re-erection on a
neighboring island which will never be SUBJ
merged. The actual solution is more pro-
sale. The dam is to be built on the un-
rivaled site at Assuan, but ii is not to be
carried to the height first proposed. A
head of forty-six feet of water now satis-
ffes the engineers and does not alarm the
archaeOlOgists. OF course the water supply
is greatly reduced, for the originally pro-
posed head of water was some five meters
greater, but If something is lost much re-
mains. Cost is reduced and the provision
of water is perhaps as great as Egypt can
profitably utilize for some years to come.
This great dam will serve the double pur-
pose of storing water in relief of the dry
season of abnormally low Niles and OF
mitigating the violence Of exceptional
completion In five years, present a mod
crate bill. They are to receive f16O,000
year for thirty years from the carrying out
Of their contract. That is a payment of
nearly five millions. but the credit is very
long, and the present actuarial value is
probably about half the sum. 1t NAV be
confidently stated that without the credit
Of the British government Egypt could
never have come within speaking distance
of so good a bargain. The annual pay
ment will be saved three times over in
security from floods alone. The great
work, which will be carried out under Sir
William Garstin's able supervision, with it's
subsidiary system of canals both for irri-
cation and for transport, and with the ac-
companying drainage system, the import
ance of which is now fully recognized, will
constitute such an addition to the sum of
rational happiness and prosperity as It
does not every day fall to the lot of the
most well-meaning rulers to make.