Page:Provincial geographies of India (Volume 4).djvu/194

178 flourishing sea-port of the Eastern world ." Much progress has been made in recent years. The whole of the import trade is now conducted alongside modern deep-water wharves lighted by electricity and equipped with hydraulic cranes and spacious sheds. Extensive accommodation has been provided for the inland vessels trade, and the mooring accommodation has been doubled. Some years ago, the existence of the port was in imminent danger. The deep-water channel above Rangoon was being diverted further away from the foreshore on the left bank of the river on which Rangoon stands. At the same time, extensive erosion of the river bed on the left bank threatened to undermine the wharves and jetties. It was decided to build a training wall, two miles long, to force the river back to its former course. This important work was completed early in the year 1914, at the cost of £920,000. The wall is constructed of rubble stone deposited on a foundation of brushwood mattresses; the top consists of slabs of reinforced concrete. The scheme appears to be completely successful.

A project of building an entirely new port at Dawbôn, below the Pazundaung creek, is under consideration. One advantage will be the avoidance of the Hastings shoal, at present a serious impediment to the entrance of the harbour. The new port, if established, will be equipped with docks for which no room can be found in existing circumstances.

In 1921—22, the total value of the sea-borne trade amounted to £89,000,000; to which exports contributed £53,000,000 and imports £36,000,000. The affairs of the port are administered by a Board of Commissioners, most of the members being ex-officio or nominated by Government. In 1919—20, the revenue of the port was £523,049, the expenditure £449,593. There was a debt of £2,986,200.