"لجنة النقل في بلاد الرافدين. تقرير اللجنة المعيّنة من جانب حكومة الهند بموافقة معالي وزير الدولة لشؤون الهند للاستفسار حول الأسئلة المتعلقة بتنظيم وإدارة السكك الحديدية والنقل النهري في بلاد الرافدين" [ظ‎‎١‎٨] (١١٤/٣٦)

26
Floating bridges.
Stores.
149.; The various floating bridges have been either made or reconditioned b^
the Inland Water Transport and this work has been practically all done in 1917.
The following are the bridges dealt with by the Inland A\ ater Transport; -
Qualat Saleh.
Amara.
Sheikh Saad.
Kut.
Dyala (Mouth).
Dyala (Cassels Post).
Dyala (Baqubah).
Baghdad (South).
Baghdad (North).
The bridge at Amara is a new bridge and was constructed by the Inland Water
Transport. All the other bridges were reconditioned; some of them were practically
rebuilt. Nearly all this work, also a big floating ramp for the Ordnance Department
at Baghdad, has been carried through during the past year and must have entailed
heavy but necessary expenditure. The upkeep and working of these bridges is in
the hands of the Inland Water Transport.
150. The Inland Water Transport Central Store is situated at Magil; the area
of the store yard is 22 acres, and the area of covered accommodation (sheds) is 2 * 04
acres. The staff employed numbers 11 officers and 562 men, 45 of whom are
British Royal Engineer ratings.
The average weekly receipts from all sources (taking over a period of 4j
months) amounted to 957 tons.
The average weekly issues of material were :—
General stores
Special stores such as filtration plant, hospital ships' gear, river
craft park, etc.
Tons.
559
356
151. The store yard is served by a deep-water jetty where sea-going vessels
discharge if so arranged by the Port Traffic Department. During the period Sep
tember 17th, 1917, to 25th January 1918 stores were received as follows :—
From England. From India.
Ships discharging at stores jetty
Ships discharging in stream
Tons.
9,766
607
Tons.
3,138
5,609
152. The Deputy Assistant Director, Stores, through the Director, indents
for all stores for the Inland Water Transport and the stores, except timber of sizes,
are all stored at the Central Stores. From this Central Store all departmental
stores in Basra and up-river are supplied. Stores for ships in Basra are issued
through a ships officer who is located in the Central Stores, takes delivery of stores
for each vessel and arranges distribution to the vessel.
The store accommodation has only recently been completed and final arrange
ment of stores was still going on. The buildings are suitable, well arranged and
well conducted, the whole arrangement being conducive to efficiency.
153. Stocks of stores are not excessive. Indents are based on keeping a reserve
equal to three months' issues, but in many important items the stocks held fell far
short of this. There may be a few exceptions to this, all, probably, capable of
explanation.
154. No opinion based on experience can yet be given on the benefits to be
derived from the timber pool agreed to last year. The new arrangement is not yet
in thorough working order.