Page:Bulandshahr- Or, Sketches of an Indian District- Social, Historical and Architectural.djvu/95

Engineer who represented to Government that it would spoil the look of the adjoining bridge, and would be nothing short of "an eye-sore." Fortunately the work was eventually allowed to proceed, and the effect of both buildings, though they are in very different styles of architecture, is greatly enhanced by the juxtaposition. Ordinary intelligence might have foreseen this result; and that such obstructive counsels should have been suffered to prevail so long against local enterprise, is a typical illustration of the difficulties that beset a district officer. He is placed in a position which apparently commands almost unlimited capabilities for doing good; but he soon discovers that, in whatever direction he attempts to move, some head of a department is already on the spot, watching to trip him up. As the river forms the boundary of the town to the east, and all the roads from that direction converge at the bridge, the ghát, with its four graceful towers, is seen from a considerable distance by travellers as they approach their destination. The total cost was Rs. 16,373. Of this sum Rs. 3,670 were contributed by the Municipality; the remainder had been raised by public subscription. As in all river-works, the most difficult and the most expensive part of the undertaking was the sinking of the wells for the foundation. This was all successfully accomplished without any professional assistance. The towers are octagonal in shape, of solid brick masonry, faced with slabs of red sandstone cut into panels and set in white stone frames. On two of these panels are recorded the names of all the subscribers, arranged in order according to the amount of their donations. These towers are finished off at the top with brackets and eaves, above which is a plinth supporting an open kiosque with a domed roof, the pinnacle of which rises to a height of 52 feet from the ground. The kiosques of the two towers that spring from the base of the steps are approached from the upper terrace on the road-side, and form pleasant places in which to sit and look out upon the river. The other two kiosques on the water's edge are unfortunately inaccessible, as the open screen-walls intended to connect them with the pair behind were vetoed on the ground that they might obstruct the stream. The stone pavement between the four towers has now become a favourite stage for the theatrical performances that are generally held during the festival of the Holi, when a canopy is stretched over the area, and the spectators throng the steps. Here too, a display of fireworks takes place during the week of the Annual District Show, some of them being let off at the foot of the steps, and others from the opposite bank, whence they