THE ENGLISH ENGINEER AT WORK ON THE NILE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6795, 15 May 1900, Page 2

THE ENGLISH ENGINEER AT WORK ON THE NILE.

■♦— ~ In -th-e "Royal G-eographical Journal for March reference is made to an in teresting report by ,Mr Willcocks dealing with the means for the permanent removal of the sudd, and. the reclamation of the vast swamps which adjoin the Nile. Briefly i»iv Willcocks suggests the immediate and wholesale introduction' of willows and poplars, especially the, 0 .fopner, which have, been found, on tlievViiss^ssippi and othei i rivers, to- be an effective . reclaimer ot I swampy countrj'. The Bahr-el-Jebal, it. is suggested, should.be. telcct^d for the first operations. Mr Willcocks maintains that willow plantations on as extended a sca'e. as possible should bo laid down near the edge of the sudd. "These willows would supply the stakes -for staking across deep overflows, and the cuttings ,for planting :in shallows. ... O.nce the willow plantations were established the alignment of the Bahr-el-Jebel should be fixed upon; and ; taking thirty metres as a suitable final width for the river, the staking, matting, and, planting of cuttings should proceed southwards. Once the rows of willows and poplars took root they would begin at once to form banks to the river, and the water, bsing confined to a single channel, would itself begin to clear its course of weeds." Mi 1 Willcocks's ' suggestions (says the "Standard") certainly appear to be> sensible and practicable, and the Egyptian Government will be well-advisEd to undertake experimental operations on the lines suggested. Should the .scheme prove a success, the rasultant benefits which must inevitably accrue to the Soudan will be enormous. The removal of the' Nile sudd is one of the most embarrassing problems which face us in Noi-them Africa, and no efforts should be left undone which can tend in any way towards its .■solution.