ROADS, BRIDGES AND DRAINS 63 



The cost of drain-digging on low-lying, flat estates is gener- 

 ally taken at about 3 to 3, los. per acre. These costs are for 

 ordinary drains, 3 feet deep, 3 feet wide. Roughly speaking, 

 about one halfpenny per cubit foot excavated is what drain- 

 digging to a reasonable depth costs. When specially deep 

 drains are dug the cost is increased, as extra coolies have to be 

 put on to convey the soil excavated from the ditch to the top 

 of the bank and deposit it there. About five shillings per acre 

 per annum should be sufficient to allow for the upkeep of drains 

 on flat estates. Where there is wash of soil and drains are often 

 filled up, costs are inevitably much increased. 



