'Reports of administration for 1918 of divisions and districts of the occupied territories in Mesopotamia. Volume I' [‎222v] (449/470)

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Tobacco .—Tobacco is grown at Bakr Baif, between Bawa Nur and Piwas on the
Diyalah, and brought into Kifri for sale. No Turkish maps of boundaries exist, but
the inhabitants as far as Piwas consider themselves as belonging to Kifri. Hence
this tobacco is in the Kifri district.
Agriculture under British Administration .—As stated above, we found the
district inhabited by a mere fraction of its former population. Small winter crops
existed, but no seed for saiti crops. Plough cattle were very scarce. In fact the
district was a starving ruin.
Measures were taken to resuscitate agricultural prosperity. In a completely
agricultural people the only way to bring back prosperity is to provide them with
the means of agriculture.
The first step, therefore, was to provide seed for, and to assist cultivators to
obtain seed for, saifi crops and to put canals into a state of repair. In May and June
saiti seed was imported, with the assistance of Civil Officer Ba‘qubah, and the canal
dams in the Diyalah built, and the Qarah Tappah, Kashkul, Baradan and Zangabat
canals repaired.
Cultivators were induced to return to their villages. No figures are available,
but between May and September 30 villages were repaired and reinhabited.
A very large saifi crop was produced, as a result of which price of wheat fell
from Its. 800 to Rs. 350 a ton. On our first occupation it could not be obtained
for Rs. 1,500 a ton.
Merchants were persuaded to visit the Hai and these brought back, it is believed,
over 300 head of cattle. Cattle are also being obtained from Revenue Board. Mules
would be most useful and are considered more valuable than oxen.
Money advances were sanctioned up to Rs. 50,000 for agricultural advances
and were distributed whenever good security wns available.
Wheat seed was brought up to Table Mountain by train. 250 tons were collected
at Table Mountain, but owing to distance of Table Mountain and the shortage of
local transport and the lack of assistance by military transport, the seed is not yet
completely removed. The quality of the seed is favourably commented upon.
4. Municipalities. —There are three towns in the Kifri district, each constituted
a"> a Muncipality.
For a month or two after our occupation the Municipalities were not solvent.
In Turkish times the income was derived from octroi imposed on all imports,
which brought in about 1,000 q.s. a month, from half slaughter-house tax 500 q.s.
a month, from tax on transport animals about 250 q.s. a month, brokerage tax on
sale of animals, ground tax, fines and an allotment from Tamattu income.
At Tuz Khurmatu an c alwah for the sale of vegetables was instituted and the
iltizam of this realised Rs. 470 for six months.
The remaining taxes were collected by the Municipal staff.
At Kifri Rs. 2.494 was realised in five months from the iltizam of the slaughter
house, ground hawkers’ tax, transport animals’ tax, brokerage tax.
For the forthcoming year the farm for these four taxes will be put up to auction
in each of the three Municipalities.
At Kifri a house tax was instituted, bringing in a monthly income of Rs. 500.
Weighing fees were collected as a blockade measure, but it is very difficult to
decide in what form they should become a Municipal tax. In Turkish times octroi
was imposed on grain, but such a tax at present would discourage its import and this
is the last thing we wish to do. It looks as if the backbone of Municipal revenue
should be the house tax. One feels one wants to get at the tradesman more. A
note on Municipalities by an experienced officer would be of great use.
Perhaps the main duty of the Municipality is town conservancy, including
both (1) town repairs and improvement and (2) sanitation. In most Municipalities
there are to be found men who of themselves will turn their energies to the former,
but there are few who will do aught but completely disregard the latter—at any rate’
as far as our methods of tins and incinerators are concerned.
Khans .—There are 10 khans in Kifri, 3 in Qarah Tappah, 2 in Tuz Khurmatu.