'Mesopotamian Transport Commission. Report of the Commission Appointed by the Government of India with the Approval of the Right Hon'ble The Secretary of State for India, to Enquire into Questions Connected with the Organisation and Administration of the Railway and River Transport in Mesopotamia' [‎51v] (102/114)

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APPENDIX J.
From Colonel E. Dickson, Director of Local Resources. Mesopotamian Expeditionary
Force, to the Deputy Quartermaster-General, General Headquarters, Meso
potamian Expeditionary Force, dated Baghdad, the 8tii January 1918.
In view of the very limited time available for arrangements to put in train for dealing
with the collection, cleaning and distribution of the forthcoming harvest, I am patting forward
the attached memoranda hoping they may be of assistance in deciding some of the problems
which inevitably must be tackled in dealing with large tonnages which have to be collected,
cleaned, packed and distributed by several different forms of transportation.
Railways. The necessity, if practically possible, of the main line going to Hillah is quite evident, and
requires no further comment.
Light Railways. A most useful extension of iigh f railways would be —
(1) To Tuerij.
(2) To Jerboiyah.
(3) To Kifl.
I have not touched on this question, as I believe the Director of Supplies and Transport
has been addressed from your office on the subject.
Memorandum from the Director of Local Resources, to the Deputy Quartermaster-
General, General Headquarters, Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force, dated
the 7th January 1918.
Harvest, 1918.
Distribution of Grain and Fodder Crops.
Cr0 P s ' The First Revenue OSicer states that the following will be availabe for the Force from the
grain crops to be gathered in the harvest commencing May 1918 ; —
Wheat and Barley—
Tons. Tons.
From Revenue payments in kind ., .. .. ,. 67,000
Available for purchase .. .. .. .. .. 33,000
90,000
Bhoosa —
From Revenue payments in kind .. .. ., .. 85,000
Available for purchase .. .. .. .. .. 65,000
150,000
Total .. .. .. 240,000
It is doubtful whether the land, railway and water transport likely to be available in June
next will be sufficient to deal with more than the revenue tonnage, but bearing in mind the
advantage to be gained by procuring the greatest amount of grain ani foddsr possible, the
suggestions now put forward for consideration are upon the basis of handling the whole of the
estimated amount.
As a preliminary to deciding upon a scheme for the taking over of revenue supplies and
arranging purchases prior to distribution to the Force, it is necessary to settle upon the points
at which revenue grain and fodder is to be received from the cultivators ; and, having decided
upon these points, to fix upon the more important centres where grain can be cleaned and
bagged, and bhoosa pressed into bales prior to transport.
The First Revenue Officer states that he will have granaries at the places named in column
(1) below, and that the amount to be received in revenue payments in kind will be approxi-