Reclamation of Lake Aboukir.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 852, 29 June 1888, Page 10

Reclamation of Lake Aboukir.

In March, 1887, a concession was granted bv the Egyptian Government for reclaiming Lake Abonkir. The works were commenced immediately, and have been pushed forward with an enterprise and despatch hardly known in Egypt. The contract for constructing the earthworks and masonry was placed m the bands of a local firm, while tho making of the pnmping machinery, iron buildings, iron chimney, &c., was entrusted to Messrs John and Henry Gwynne, of Hammersmith, London. The works were designed bjrMr James Abernethy, F.R.C.E., Past President Inst. C.E. / .. . . It may be stated that the area of land to be dealt with comprises 31,000 acres, and it is situated on the, borders of the Mediterranean. The land was highly cultivated and thiokly populated from,time immemorial, but early, in the last century a storm caused the sea to inundate it, and being slightly below the sea level, waßoompletely destroyed for agricultural purposes. What had to be done was to exclude the sea and pump the salt water into the Mediterranean. The pumping machinery was started op the

Btli March last, in the presence of a large and influential company, aud on the following day some trials were made to ascertain the efficiency of the plant, in the presence of Mr W. Willcocks, Assoo. M. Inst. C. E., of the Irrigation Department, Mr John Gwynne, M. Inst. C.E. &c., the builder of the machinery, Mr Sheppard, Assoo. M. Inst. C.E. (Resident Engineer of the Works), Mr Anderson, Mr Grant, junr., and Mr Murdock. The performance of both engines and pumps was Highly satisfactory, and the result of the tests proved that the percentage of efficiency had exceeded that of all other water-raising appliances on the same lift. On ■ Monday, March 23rd, telegraphic intelligence was received from. Egypt, stating that Aboukir was dry, the water having been pumped off in 456 hours with a consumption of 135 tons of coal. The net result, stated in figures, is that 2,900,000,000 gallons of water were lifted to an average height ©f 6 feet with the consumption oE fuel stated ; equal to raising 21J million gallons 6 feet high per ton of coal, or 9,600 gallons of salt water the same height for each pound of coal used, in other words, one pound of coal sufficed to raise 96,000 pounds of water 6 feet.

Abundant Nile water from the Alahmondieh Canal, bordering the Lake, will be allowed to flow over the land, taking up the remaining salt ; this water will also be pumped off, and after repeated washing the soil will be ready for cultivation. Land reclamation by tnis method is well known in Egypt. When reclaimed the land will, without doubt, be of immense value, seeing that it is only about five miles from Alexandria. A fair average rent for lands in Egypt is £4 per acre, and near cities as much as £l2 to £ls per acre is paid for vegetable growing. There is an increasing demand for land in Egypt, due to various causes, one' being the abolition of the corvde, implying that the fellaheen can devote more time to the cultivation of land.

A company has been successfully floated in this country for carrying out the works. It is styled the ‘ Egyptian Lakes Reclamation Company, Limited,’ with a capital of £300,000 in 60,000 shares of £5 each ; 7 per cent, interest being guaranteed for two years.