1 ( 60)
2 95. This Grand Canal has been treated of in both the First and
3 New Baree Déab Ca. Second Punjab Reports. It was at first estimated
4 nal. to cost fifty-three lakhs of Rupees, and subse-
5 quent additions enhanced the amount to upwards of sixty ‘lakhs. But
6 although the estimate was carefully framed and adhered to as much as
7 possible, it became apparent during the last dfficial year, that the cost
8 would exceed the anticipated amount and would not fall short of ninety
9 lakhs or even a hundred lakhs, 4. ¢. one million sterling. ‘The revised esti-
10 mates are now nearly complete. Works, sometimes of greater number and
11 sometimes of greater calibre than had been expected, have become neces-
12 sary, and the rates of labor have preved much dearer than those calculated.
13 96. Of the main branch, which will be 265 miles long, 185 miles of
14 channel have now been excavated, and the
15 Western branch towards Lahore 60 miles have
16 been excavated out of 74. On the two Eastern branches only a few
17 miles of excavation have been commenced upon. The works at the
18 _head, which is of course the most difficult point in the whole Canal,
19 consisting of a deep cutting through a high stony bank, of heavy
20 embankments and of a regulator, are more than half completed. The
21 . defensive works, designed to ward off from the Canal the invasions of an
22 impetuous hill torrent and its feeders-have been nearly completed and
23 have withstood the floods of two years. Of the falls and rapids, thirty
24 in number, some have been completed, some are in progress, and some
25 have yet to be commenced, Oné escape of great importance (near
26 Sirkeean) has yet to be commenced ; but its accessory embankment is
27 ‘complete. Two minor escapes have also to be commenced. One prin-
28 cipal regulator has to be commenced and one minor regulator has been
29 completed. The bridges for crossing the Canal will be constructed at
30 intervals of 24 miles above the latitude of Lahore and at intervals of
31 4 miles below that latitude, and will be 115 in number. Of these some
32 few have been completed and some are in progress, but the majority have
33 not been commenced. Machinery has been obtained from England in
34 addition to that previously exported, and a great.number of implements
35 -have been made up in the temporary work-shops. New permanent
36 work-shops at the Canal Head Station (Madhopoor) on a handsome
37 scale have been projected. Some 500 miles of road in connexion with
38 the. Canal have now been made. Some 440,000 trees have now been’
39 planted along the banks,
40 Progress of the works.