284 SOME MUNICIPAL ENGINEERING rKOHLEMS IN THE TROPICS 



remained of the principal buildings and gardens of old Khartoum, and this accounts, to 

 some extent, for the want of symmetry in the plan. The palm groves in the gardens form 

 one of the most attractive features of the city." 



The land to the south of Khedive Avenue vvas divided into three classes, and the 

 steps which were taken in connection with its allotment for building purposes, to ensure 

 some uniformity in the class of buildings and the preservation of amenity, are described 

 with reference to " Eegulations " in Section III (Buildings). 



The plan (Fig. 84) of the present city shows that the municipal boundaries enclose a 

 strip about 1^ miles wide between the Blue Nile and the old fortifications, which run from 

 the Water Works on the east to the White Nile on the west, a distance of about 4^ miles. 



The bridge across the Blue Nile has been recently completed and the railway carried 

 round to the New Central Station and thence to the Moghren Quays, thus completely 

 encircling the city. Under-bridges are provided on the Embankment and on Khedive 

 Avenue, but beyond the latter point the railway is practically at ground level. At present, 

 access across the railway is obtained by means of level crossings, but some of these will be 

 ultimately replaced by bridges. Incidentally, the railway embankment forms a protection 

 against flooding of the low-lying lands during extreme high Nile, and also mitigates the 

 sand drift from the surrounding desert. 

 ^'uture The new Khartoum has now almost extended to the limits of the original scheme 



of planning, and, with the construction of the railway, it became necessary to consider 

 the lines of future development. The determination of these has been greatly facilitated 

 by the fact that the greater part of the land surrounding the present town is Government 

 property. 



The lines of future extension shown on the plan (Fig. 84) were laid down in consultation 

 with Lord Kitchener at the time of his recent visit to Khartoum, and he has therefore 

 been able to complete the scheme initiated by him in 1898. 



It will be observed that the railway gives an opportunity for a girdle avenue round 

 the city, and that the continuation of the diagonal streets provides convenient radial 

 communication with the central area. A special feature is the prolongation eastwards 

 of Sultan Avenue till it meets the Embankment in a large ellipse enclosing a race 

 course, etc. The area between these avenues will be ultimately a superior residential 

 quarter. 



The extension to the south includes provision for three public gardens and a market, 

 and two diagonal avenues giving convenient communication to the railway crossings. 



The Zoological Garden is at the west end of the town, and the Governor, Major 

 C. E. Wilson, proposes to have it removed behind the site for the Museum, and to combine 

 it with a large Botanical Garden, as shown on the plan. The space between these gardens 

 and the railway and behind the Moghren Quays and goods station is intended to be 

 the Merchants' quarter. 

 Flooding All the land to the south-west of the city outside the railway is liable to flooding 



during high during extreme high Nile, but when reclamation works have been executed it is proposed 

 to lay out this area as a residential quarter. 



It will be noted that it is not proposed to continue the system of diagonal streets, 

 as their raison d'etre in a small garrison town is not applicable to a large city. The 

 inconvenience of the awkward plots formed at the crossings of these diagonals is referred 

 to under "Streets" (Section II). Where possible, the original "gridiron" system is 

 continued, as, owing to the direction of the prevailing wind already referred to, it is 

 desirable for the houses to have an approximately north and south exposure. 



