1 (12 )
2 (0). BuAsTING OPERATIONS.
3 66. Tharrawaddie Division, During the dry season, Overseer Hood,
4 with a small party, was employed in reopening the Kyoukmyoung passage in
5 the Thayet choung, a feeder of the Bawben river. The obstructions consisted
6 of large masses of friable argillaceous sandstone which had become detached
7 and fallen in from the impending rocks on cither side.
8 67. To render the channel fit for the passage of timber 45,819 cubie fect
9 of stone are computed to have been blasted with an expenditure of 100 Ibs. of
10 powder and at a total cost of Rs, 214.
11 68. It was proposed on the close of the above mentioned work to con-
12 tinue operations in the source of the Toungnyo river, but tle season was too far
13 advanced to admit of it.
14 69. Information is being collected regarding the number, positions and
15 size of the various obstructions which may yet be found in the channels of the
16 hill streams. The data required for a full report on the results of past opera-
17 tions is also in course of collection; but it appears doubtful, owing to absence of
18 records, whether correct information will be forthcoming as to the quantity of
19 timber made available by removal of obstructions in every instance,
20 (ec), CLEeanine oF StTREaAMs.
21 70. This work has been as heretofore confined almost entirely to thie
22 Tharrawaddie Division, where tle Forests are all worked under the Government
23 agency system. Several small sums have been expended by the contractors
24 in this work towards facilitating the extraction of timber
25 71 The process of silting up in the Shoaylay, the characteristic of all tho
26 Tharrawaddie strcams in their lower course, necessitated a reference to the Pub-
27 lic Works Department on the subject of this stream, near the embouchure of
28 which upwards of 2000 logs remained ncaped at the close of the rains.
29 As no permanent improvement can bo effected even with a large outlay, it
30 appears more advisable for the divisional ofliccr to make such yearly arrange-
31 ments by clearing the jungle and removing debris in the channel of the
32 stream as will facilitate and expedite the passage of the timber during the in,
33 undations.
34 (dq). SuRVEY AND EXAMINATION OF THE Forests.
35 72. As already mentioncd in paras 8 to 16, this work has been undertaken
36 in the Prome, Tharrawaddie, and Salween Divisions ; its concentration in one
37 division being no longer feasible owing to the junior officers in some instances
38 being required in their own divisions throughout tho season.
39 73. Prome Division. The late date on which the maps and proposals
40 noted in para 4 were completed, together with the death of the Assistant Con-
41 servator attached to this division, prevented Mr. Elsner from undertaking the
42 examination of more than enutch producing Tracts East of ‘the Irrawaddic and
43 deputing a party of surveyors to the survey of those on the West bank.
44 74. Several localities wore examined by Mr. Elsner in the North Nawing
45 and Pudday Districts and Cutch trees found in great abundance, but chiefly of
46 the smaller sizes; the only cxceptions to this being a Tract high up on the