Page:Gazetteer of the province of Oudh ... (IA cu31924073057352).pdf/201

RAE 193 seasons. of this land might in the course of some years be raised from Rs. 5 to Rs. 8 per acre in consideration of the supply of water, the receipts then would be Rs. 600 per annum or 11 per cent.; but making allowance for the proportion of failures of wells which fell in, and for the accumula- tion of interest before the rents are raised, the landlord would consider hirnself fortunate if he got 7 per cent. These wells are made without mortar, and at least 2 per cent would have to be deducted from this sum for repairs and replacing fallen wells by new ones. On the other hand, this deduction should be more than counterbalanced by the increased security from bad debts which the landlord attains. A masonry well. saves the crop from drought, and the rents are paid up oven in dry On the whole, a prudent aud careful investor in irrigation wells should expect 7 per cent. for his money, and as he can get 10 or 15 per cent. by loans to agriculturists, we need not wonder at mere capitalists not being tempted into this speculation. Other points of interest may be noted. In no less than six of these wells water was reached at an average depth of 14 feet. The greatest depth at which water was met was 42 feet, the greatest depth to which the well was sunk before reaching the spring was 67 feet. The average cost of a six pur well would appear to be Rs. 9 per cubit of masonry, being cheaper than in Lucknow. Construction of masonry wells.—" A site having been chosen, a circular excavation or dahal' is commenced of a diameter considerably larger (for convenience of working) than that of the intended well. This excavation is carried on until the moist nature of the earth reached, shows signs of water being near. The 'niwár' or circular rim of wood of the proper size is then lowered down and placed on the ground, and on this as a foundation is commenced the brick-work or 'girgaz' of the well which in the first instance is only raised to a certain hoight, so as to weight the niwár and cause it to descend as afterwards explained. The excavation is then proceeded with, but now within the cylinder or girgaz just constructed, and the niwár, with the brickwork resting on it having no longer a support, sinks to the extent of the depth excavated; at the same time the water, which generally at this stage of the work oozes out plentifully, has to be constantly drawn away. The excavation continues and again the niwár sinks, and thus the operation is repeated until at last the spring or múslá is reached, when it only remains to completo the brickwork resting on the niwár, raising it to the level of the upper soil. "From the above description, it will, I hope, be easily seen how much the cost of construction of wells depends on the nature of the soil to bo traversed before reaching tho spring. We will suppose that two wells of equal dimensions have been built, either in the same village or in different localities. We will also suppose that the spring in each was found at an equal depth, and that the bricks employed in the construction of these two wells were of the same dimensions and cemented with mud. Still under conditions so similar the cost of construction may widely differ. In the one instance the soil excavated may have been of clay nearly throughout, and the brick cylinder may have been made to sink without any difficulty; in the other instance, the soil may have been excavated under very great difficulties for sand, or sand partaking more or less of the nature of quick- 25