392 MANUAL OF THE NILAGIRI DISTRICT. 



Ctl. XVIII. In a lofty and isolated mountain district like tlie Nilagiris, 



^ wliicli was formerly sparsely populated, difficult of approach, and 



Public but little known, to obtain access from the surrounding low-lying 



^^""^^; districts by means of roads to its elevated plateau was the first 



Ron da. problem which Engineers had before them ; and the subject 



of providing intercommunications to open up the plateau and 



make it everywhere more accessible has ever since engaged 



their attention. The passes rising up to the plateau which were 



first constructed were too steeply and unscientifically traced to 



allow of their being permanently retained. Large sums of 



money had subsequently to be expended in replacing them by 



proper roads fit for w^ieeled traffic. The existing passes, placed 



in the order of their construction, are — 



1. The Kotagiri Pass on the south-east. 



2. Ths Sandapntte Pass on the south. 



3. The Sisapd.ra Pass on the south-west. 



4. The Segur Pass on the north. 



6, The Coonoor Pass on the south-east. 

 6. The Giidaliir Pass on the west. 



Of these the first and two last have been succeeded by new 

 roads ; the third is but little used ; the second has been aban- 

 doned. In the year 1863-64 the more complete and correct 

 roading of the district was actively begun, and has since been 

 systematically carried out ; but owing to limited funds these 

 roads have been too much hurried on, quality having been sacri- 

 ficed to quantity. The object seems to have been to make as 

 many miles of road just passable for carts as possible, and not 

 to expend too much money on their gradients, straightness, 

 bridging or surface. The result is that the district possesses a 

 large number of roads, most of which are indifferent in their 

 original construction, and which will have to be improved as the 

 district advances in prosperity. It would perhaps have been 

 better if the roading of the district had been more concentrated, 

 portions being taken up and properly completed before other 

 parts were begun. 



The only trunk road of the district is that which runs from 

 the east in a westerly direction between the present railway 

 terminus at Mettapollium and the south-east edge of the Wain^d 

 at Gudalur, through the only district towns of Coonoor and 

 Ootacamand. Towards this arterial line flow feeders : most of 

 these join it at Coonoor, which is situated on the top of the 

 plateau at its south-east edge. One feeder taps the north-east 

 portion of the district in the neighbourhood of Kotagiri and 

 Kodanad, where there is a growing tea industry ; a second 

 high level line ruijs cast along the edge of the plateau to liady 



