'Reports of administration for 1918 of divisions and districts of the occupied territories in Mesopotamia. Volume I' [‎81v] (167/470)

for some years to come, and cultivation will suffer if extensive schemes are under
taken. It is already necessary to make calls on the people for the repair of flood
banks and the clearance of canals, duties which they perform without enthusiasm,
and care should be exercised before new demands are made on the labour available.
The rates for labour are high, and despite the fall in the price of grain, show
no signs of abatement, for the demand continues as great as ever.
I am preparing figures showing the probable demand for labour for each w T ork
in the district, showing the number of men required, and the time at which they
are wanted, and this will further the organisation of labour. The current census,
when completed, will be of service in this respect.
12. Miscellaneous : Railways.—DuTing the year under review the broad
gauge line from Baghdad to Hillah and the narrow gauge line from Hillah to Kifl
were completed, while the earthwork for the Hillah Nasiriyah line was carried
beyond Jarbuiyah. Compensation was paid only for damage to crops. Two
trucks a day from Hillah to Baghdad are now available for passengers and one for
goods, which is allotted to merchants by the R.T.O. The railway is very popular,
and despite the raising of the fare to Rs. 5/-, the number of applicants for tickets
always exceeds the accommodation available.
Oil. —After various misunderstandings, the distribution of oil to the civil
population was undertaken at the end of the year. Shops have been opened in
Hillah and in one or two villages, at which oil is sold at fixed prices, but the needs
of the people were under-estimated, and the supply at present falls far short of the
demand. Several more shops are required.
Pensions and Subsistence Allownace. —I attach a note by Capt. Livesey who
was in charge of this work till the end of November. (Appendix G.)
Appendix H shows the numbers of each class of pensioner and the allowances
paid.
Billets. —I attach a note by Captain Livesey. (Appendix I.)
Jail. —The original jail building was small and unsafe and two prisoners
escaped from it. The new jail is satisfactory. It receives prisoners undergoing
sentences not exceeding two years from the Hillah, Musaiyib, Hindiyah, and
Karbala districts. Diwaniyah has its own jail, but it would probably be more
economical if all prisoners with over one month’s sentence were confined at Hillah.
The following report by Captain Livesey gives all the information required. There
are now two B.O.R.s as assistant jailors, but the question of reduction is under
consideration. Appendix J gives the number of prisoners received and the offences
committed.
Hillah Civil Jail. —A short report on the new prison building, together with a
record of prisoners, equipment, and the diet expenses for June, July, August and
September 1918.
1. New Jail Building : (i) General. —The building is a well-built sif which has
been adapted for this purpose. Though taken over on May 16th 1918. The
necessary repairs delayed the transfer from the old jail until 10th August.
It is owned by the heirs of the late Hasan Hammadi. The rent as for other
sifs, is somewhat high, Rs. 1,500/- per annum, but it was the only possible place
after local resources had refused to allow the lower portion of the sarai to be utilised
for this purpose. I may add that the sarai contained the old and specialised
Turkish prison.
(ii) Accommodation. —With some alteration, the prison should hold 200. Seven
partially open rooms, barbed wired above, contain 10 each. These have been
fitted with good doors and locks.
The remaining big rooms are immensely strong and have stout wooden doors.
All rooms and cells open into the central courtyard, from which escape to tlie
roof would be extremely difficult. Both the inner and outer boundaries of the roof
are barbwired and a sentry patrols between them. A strong wall has been built
to divide the Shabanah guard and jailor’s quarters from the prison proper It is
wired along the top and has a central gate the top part of which is barred through
which the guard can see the main prison yard and the sentry therein The mam
gate is a heavy structure. Thus there is a double gate, which is desirable and the
guard are separated from the prisoners.
(hi) Equipment—The inventory is attached.