'Reports of administration for 1918 of divisions and districts of the occupied territories in Mesopotamia. Volume I' [‎46v] (97/470)

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Arising from the water-logged condition of the ground, a further danger has
arisen, threatening entirely to destroy the rice fields. This is a weed known as
“ silhau,” a creeping water grass, which forms a tangled net over the whole surface
of the field where it is in evidence. It is purely a surface growth, the roots extending
possibly 1 foot to 2 feet below surface, but it effectually stops any cultivation.
No plough would deal with it, and it is a serious menace to the future.
The opinion of the local Arab is borne out by the Agricultural experts who
visited this area, that the only way of killing it is to smother it.
To bring the rice fields of Shamiyah to their highest productive capacity it
would be necessary to enforce a rest for two years at least and possibly three.
This time might profitably be spent in surveying the land, teaching the Arabs new
methods, carrying out irrigation schemes, and generally preparing for a renewal of
cultivation on modern lines.
Enough has been said above to show that, even under the most adverse con
ditions, the title of the “ garden of ‘Iraq ” is not wholly undeserved by Shamiyah.
With a suitable system of irrigation, the future is a very bright one.
Without undue exaggeration, there is probably no tract of land in ‘Iraq that
will so well reward the expert of the future.
5. Municipalities.— The municipalities of the Division are at present five,
Najaf, Kufah, Ja‘arah (included in which is Abu Sukhair), Umm al Ba‘rur and
Ghammas. This represents the order of their size and importance. The popu
lation of Najaf is estimated at 45,000; of Kufah at 7,000; of Ja‘arah at 6,000,
though with the garden population dependent on it the figure is probably nearer
10,000; of Umm al Ba‘rur at 4,000, and of Ghammas at 1,000. Each is treated
separately in the following report.
The municipalities are possibly, from an administrative standpoint, the most
interesting features of the Division. Their number is large and will become larger,
the population is dense, and the difficulties to be overcome considerable. There
is the additional attraction in that each is a unit which it is the object of the
Administration to make both self-supporting and progresive. It is through an
enlightened municipal policy that general advancement throughout the country
is most rapidly secured, as the people themselves almost at once are able to see
the benefits accruing from good management and their own efforts, since they
are early called upon to take an interest in the management of town affairs.
The municipalities are now more than self-supporting, with the exception
of Najaf, where the works to be undertaken are of necessity so important and costly,
especially in the matter of health improvement, that for a year or two it is probable
a grant in aid will be needed. In Kufah and Umm al Ba‘rur great public spirit
has been shown, the people undertaking considerable works of municipal improve
ment at their own cost. The benefit to themselves from such action is not only
theoretical, but, what they understand, practical: house property has gone up
five times in value, there has been a large increase in trade, and there are many
applications from outsiders to build. J
Throughout the Division direct collection of municipal taxes has replaced the
pernicious system of farms with very satisfactory results. In the case of ferries
alone is the farm system continued, as, owing in many cases to their distance from
the municipality concerned, direct control would not be advantageous. The house
tax of 10 per cent, per annum on the rental value is being imposed from the
beginning of the next financial year, and it is contemplated introducing the wharfaue
tax of an anna per bale and a mooring tax of half an anna per ton per day also
At Kufah, which is the great port, the collection of this will be largely facilitated
and its imposition justified by the construction of the wharf wall.
The future of Najaf undoubtedly lies in its being thoroughly opened no in
a good water supply and in the improvement of its communications with the outer
world; of Kufah, m careful town planning and the prevention of uncontrolled
expansion, and of Umm al Ba‘rur, in the increase of permanent brick buildings
and m the construction of a good river wall; of Ja‘arah, in the driving of a straight
motor road between it and Abu Sukhair, and in the reconstruction of the bazaar
Ghammas as it stands has no future; it should be destroyed and rebuilt on good
ground some three miles upstream. ^
In addition to these, municipalities will certainly have to be formed at
Muhannawiyah, Salachiyah and ‘Aqar. Turumah and Abu Shorah will follow!