no 



NATURE 



[November 29, 1894 



THE NILE RESERVOIR. 



AN official memorandum upon the proposed modifica- 

 tions in the Assuan dam project has been drawn 

 up by Mr. \V. E. Garstin, C.M.G., Under-Secretary of 

 State in the Egyptian Ministry of Public Works, and is 

 published in Tuesday's Tiims. It will be remembered 

 that an account of the schemes for the irrigation of 

 Egypt was given in these columns a few months ago 

 (vol. I. p. So). 



Several arguments have been brought against the 

 Assuan cataract as the site for the dam. The first is 

 that this site is not the only possible one to be found 

 north of Wadi Haifa. The second, and, at first sight, 

 the strongest, argument against the proposal is that it is 

 impossible to lay down as an axiom that the Assuan 

 cataract site is the only feasible one for a dam, while the 

 river valley south of Wadi Haifa has been une.'cplored and 

 unsur\-eyed. 



Mr. Garstin criticises the arguments, and shows that 

 the project proposed best meets the case. In this 

 opinion he is supported by the English and Italian 

 members of the Technical Commission — Sir Benjamin 

 Baker and Signor Torricelli — who reported that there is 

 only one safe site for a dam between Cairo and Wady 

 Haifa, namely, the Assuan cataract. Subjoined is Mr. 

 Garstin's description of the scheme. The careful con- 

 sideration which has been given to the matter reflects 

 great credit upon the Egyptian Government. Science is 

 to be congratulated upon the action that has been 

 taken ; for the benefits that will accrue to it from the 

 investigations which it is proposed to carry out over the 

 whole of Nubia will be of the highest importance. 



The Council of Ministers on June 3, 1S94, approved in 

 principle of the proiiosed dam and reservoir at the Assuan 

 cataract, and directed the Ministry of Finance, when preparing 

 the Budget for 1S95, to occupy itself with the question of ob- 

 taining the funds necessary for the execution of this work. 



The project, as then submitted to the Government, consisted 

 of a dam with its crest at K.L. II4'00, which height would 

 have enabled wa er to be stored in sufficient quantity for the 

 requircmenls of Middle and Lower Egypt ; in other words, for 

 the whole country lying to the north of Assyut. 



Most unfortunately the construction of this dam would have 

 necessitated the submersion for some six months every year of 

 the celebrated Philx temples, as well as of a considerable num- 

 ber of Nubian monuments, which, although less known than 

 those of Phila:, arc of great importance to all those interested 

 in the history of ancient Egypt. 



The archruologlcal societies of Europe, upon hearing of this 

 proposal, protested against it in the strongest terms, and begged 

 the Egyptian Government to reconsider its decision, and to 

 endeavour to find some alternative scheme by which the country 

 might reap the advantages to be derived from a storage reser- 

 voir, without sacrificing the interests of science and archeo- 

 logy. 



The Ministry of Public Works, recognising that these jiro- 

 tests were founded upon reasons so strong as to command re- 

 spect, reconsidered the whole matter in detail, and endeavoured 

 to find such modifications of the original scheme as might re- 

 concile the interests of Egypt and of science. 



The result of its studies is the modified project which has now 



been submitted to the Egyptian Government. 



• • • ♦ • 



The modified scheme as at present submitted is of the nature 

 of a compromise ; it is hoped that it will satisfy the scientific 

 world, while, at the same lime, it will further the interests of 

 thii country. 



It is now proposed to build a dam at Assuan with its crest at 

 R.L. 10600, or eight melrei (26ft.) lower than that of the 

 original project. This work will of necessity store very much 

 less water than the high-level dam would have done. At the 

 same time a reservoir of this height will supply sufficient water 

 for the wants of either Middle or Lower Egypt separately, 

 although not for their combined areas. 



This will mean that the reclamation of the country will pro- 

 ceed more slowly than was at first proposed ; and when in 

 course of time the cmniry 10 the south has been explored a 



NO. 1309. VOL. 51] 



second dam can be made which will store sufficient water for 

 the needs of the rest of Egypt. 



This proposal is no new one, but has been fully discussed and 

 estimated for in Mr. Willcocks's report upon the different sites. 

 The great advantage to be derived from carrying out the work 

 in the above manner is that it will only submerge portions of 

 the Phila: island, while it will leave the rest of the Nubian 

 monuments untouched. A reference to Mr. Somers Clarke's 

 note upon these latter will show that their levels are all well 

 above that of the highest water surface in the modified project 

 as now submitted. 



As regards the PhilK temples, the main buildings will be 

 above high-water level altogether. It is true that the South 

 Quay wall, and .^ome of the smaller temples, would be sub- 

 merged if left unprotected. It will, however, be possible, by 

 the construction of a low water-tight wall, or by other means, 

 to so arrange for their protection that no damage will be done to 

 them by the water. 



To a certain extent the artistic beauty of the group will be 

 impaired, but in a land so full of interesting relics as is Egypt, 

 it is unfortunately impossible to carry out any great public work 

 without in some degree interfering with some one or other of 

 these. The only thing to be done is to try and minimise this 

 interference as far as is possible, and in the present case the 

 Ministry of Public Works thinks that it has succeeded in so 

 doing. 



As regards the details of the protection works to be carried 

 out upon the Phila; island this Ministry will consult the scientific 

 societies upon every point, and will endeavour, as far as lies in 

 its power, to meet their wishes in the matter. 



In order to still further minimise any possible loss to science 

 which might ensue from the construction of the reservoir, it is 

 proposed to carry out an archa-ological and scientific investiga- 

 tion of the whole of Nubia. 



The English societies very rightly impressed the necessity of 

 this work upon the Egyptian Government. The latter, although 

 both willing and anxious to carry it out, found it impossible to 

 do so, owing to the necessary funds not being available. If, 

 however, the reservoir be made this difficulty at once disappears, 

 as the cost of the above investigation will be added to the 

 estimate of the dam itself 



The Public Works Department has been directed to put in 

 hand as much of the work as lies within its scope and power 

 during the ensuing winter season. Topographical surveys will 

 be made and plans prei)ared ; the true bearings of the temples 

 will be fixed and the preliminary plans of all sites completed. 



This portion of the work being done, the Egyptian Govern- 

 ment will ask the European scientific societies to depute certain 

 of their members to come to Egypt and complete the work. 



In thi-^ manner it is hoped that a record and a knowledge will 

 be obtained of this most interesting country which will be 

 worthy of the present age, and which should be of the greatest 

 value to the scientific world in the future. 



NOTES. 



Where the good of science is concerned, the Goldsmiths' 

 Company is generally among the leading benefactors. With 

 characteristic generosity, the Company has decided to make 

 a grant of one thousand pounds for the purpose of prosecuting 

 research work in connection with the anti-toxin treatment of 

 diphtheria, and in aid of the manufacture of the serum. At 

 the request of the Company, the Laboratories' Committee of 

 the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons have undertaken 

 the administration of the grant. 



Reuter's correspondent at Rome reports that at a quarter 

 past six on the morning of Tuesday, November 27, an eiirth- 

 quakc occurred at Brescia, in Lombardy. The shock was fol- 

 lowed by subterranean rumblings. A simiLir, though less 

 violent, movement was felt at Bologna at nine minutes past six. 

 Kivc minutes earlier a sharp disturbance occurred at Vienna, 

 lasting four seconds. It was followed almost immediately by a 

 second slighter shock of two seconds' duration. Shocks were 

 experienced about the same time at nomodossola, Mantua, 

 Pavia, Paimo, and liergnnio, «hileat Rome the seismic instru- 

 ments gave evidence of disturbance. 



