PREPARATIONS FOR INCREASED DANGER. 189 C First.-The Kistna Delta Works. 5,000 men. Chingleput, Ponneri Second.-The Coast Canal completion, including branch navigation towards principal places by the creeks; sectioning the banks so far as to give 20,000 men. security against the spoil washing back with Nellore. heavy rain, or pressing on the banks; deepening the southern portion of Pulicat Lake; canalising Probably through the Pulicat Lake; the thorough cleaning and bottoming of the Southern Canal, and its extension to Sadras and into the Palar, Say 3,000 with formation of tow-paths through Cove- Chingleput. long back-water and where needed, so that when the navigation is opened, it may be really opened through. Third. The improvement and reforming of the Palar ancient channels (not ready probably 4.000 mon. until the end of August), and the supply and Chinglechannel of the Sholaveram Tank. men. North Arcot put. 'Fourth.-In Cuddapah the Oundakoor Tank Channel, which will improve cultivation, but not 3,000 mon. pay a profit; this is marked out. 'Fifth. The suggested embankments of Cortelliar and Narnaveram, which appear of very doubtful utility. The chief engineer for irrigation will not say more than that they are now so laid out as not to do harm. 2,500 men. Their effect will be to assist in conducting to sea the floods which, I think, should rather be retained upon the land; and I am averse, therefore, to these works being undertaken, but would prefer that the skill of the engineers should be directed to devising works for those rivers which may retain the water for use, lessening the force of the current, and thus avoiding the scour and washing away of the surface or sand deposit. on the land. 'Sixth.-In Kurnool no work of any magnitude can be devised, unless a railway extension from Gooty were feasible. No survey of this district has ever been made for the purpose, and it is said to be difficult in places. '8. It is suggested that the Kistna Delta Works be appropriated for Kurnool labour under voluntary contracts; if this can be carried out it should withdraw 150,000 people from the district. 9. In North Arcot there appear to be no works of any magnitude, except the Palar embankment near Vellore; and the cleansing of the Fort ditch will not only be an important sanitary improvement and advantage to the fort, &c., but will afford a valuable additional reservoir of water, suitable at least for cattle, at a place where it is much needed. 10. In Trichinopoly and Salem the chief engineer for irrigation considers that ample work can be given in the Cauvery embankment repairs and in tank repairs for some months. 11. All the works above referred to may be carried out by petty contract in the ordinary way under Public Works Department, except, perhaps, some work connected with bottoming the canal where daily labour may need to be employed. 12. If the Kistna Delta Works are undertaken, hutting and camp sites should be immediately selected, and the company of sappers from the canal, or another in relief, be transferred to make preparation, set out the works, &c., and if decided to be made available for Kurnool people, the Public Works should put themselves in communication with Kurnool contractors, specifying the rates to be given, and arranging for the march of men and families, while huts, &c., or materials sufficient to resist the north-east monsoon, are prepared, the men being guaranteed provisions for the march and for the return of themselves and families, say in February. LARGE PROJECTS FOR RELIEF. 191 13. The other works can be readily taken up without much preparation. เ The labourers from the Chingleput Railway who belong to North Arcot should be transferred to their own villages for relief, and the stronger to Vellore for work. The Chingleput labour should be transferred in a similar manner to South Canal and Pulicat. '14. As regards labour for Madras and its immediate neighbourhood, the junction section of the canal, the cleansing of the mud banks in the Cooum, the powder-mill works, and excavation of filter beds for the water-works, which should be promptly decided on, should afford ample employ. 15. It is well to note that there are two large works not noticed here, viz. the Bellary High Level Project, and the Sungum Project. The first would cost 1,40,00,000 rs., but could be only carried out during this famine to the extent of 50,00,000 rs; and the portion of work so executed would be of no use, or produce any return until the whole estimate be spent, as it is not a work the completion of partial lengths of which would be of any avail. The Sungum Project would employ a considerable amount of labour, but its return is very problematical, while the works named should employ all the able-bodied labourers on more important and on some minor works. 16. It is intended by the chief engineer for irrigation to have the Darampury taluk in Salem carefully re-examined to see whether some irrigation tanks might not be there formed. (Signed) BUCKINGHAM AND CHANDOS.' The hope with which all were buoyed up at the commencement of the period when this chapter was begun, had now died away, and in great gloom and deep CHAPTER VI. THE CULMINATION OF THE CRISIS. THE following fragment of a conversation between two gentlemen represents opinion in Madras in the beginning of August: First Gentleman: Two months hence his Grace the Duke of Buckingham and Chandos would be ready to give his coronet and the position he occupies to have a contract carried out which secured him half-a-million tons of grain. Second Gentleman: I think so, too. The extent and amount of distress, in the interior at least, will be something terrible. The problem which had to be solved at this period was a very serious one. Briefly stated, it was this: Under normal circumstances, one anna will buy in Southern India more than one lb. of grain; but at this time it would not purchase more than one half of a lb., or even that quantity. Rice in ordinary seasons sells at the rate of ten Madras measures for the rupee. In the last week of July it was quoted at three and four measures (which is as if the quartern loaf in England, instead of being sixpence, was nearly two shillings), whilst the houses of the people had been denuded of all valuables and necessaries, these having been sold to provide food to eat. It was clearly impossible for the people in Madras to cope adequately with the distress. The cost of living was increased to everyone. Those VOL. I. |