Selections from the Records of the Government in the Department Volume 18; Public Works Department Series (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1889 Excerpt: ...Ryves, then Acting Chief Engineer for Irriga NoVm23rd AuTMt lG87Lrnment, tion' took 160 million cubic yards 41s the average quantity of water stored by the tanks in one year, from which he deducted 45 million cubic yards for loss by evaporation and 32 million cubic yards as the reserve for the town supply, leaving 83 million cubic yards available for irrigation, or enough for about 11,000 acres. The then estimated average area of old wet cultivation was 4,980 acres, so that about 6,000 acres of additional area were expected to be cultivated. The average increased assessment was now however reduced to K3, so that the net profit became only R 18,000, thus: --B 6,000 acres at R3$ 22,000 Add average remission saved on old wet...... 7.SOO 29,500 Deduct for maintenance. 11,500 Nbt Pbofit. 18,000 4. In 1876 more reliable calculations as regards the amount of water available for irrigation were made, as was stated in the last chapter. The volume that could be depended upon amounted, it appeared, to 71-2 million cubic yards, or 1,922-4 million cubic feet. The former average area of irrigation was now assumed as 3,2S4 acres, though it is not very clear whence these figures were derived, and on the assumption that the increased water-supply available for irrigation would suffice for an area proportionate to that irrigated by the volume contained by the tanks when unimproved, the total area of irrigation was taken at 9,852 acres, giving an increased area of 6,563 acres, which would yield a gross revenue of R26,272 The net return thus became--R Irrigation revenue.......... 26,272 Add average remission 7,500 33,772 Deduct for maintenance 11,500 Total. 22,272 5. It was not, however, till the revised estimates were submitted in 1881 that the correct return was calcula...