these evils especially in areas where sugarcane is grown. It has now been proved that the worst affected lands can be completely regenerated at a comparatively small cost by a system of permanent drains combined, in the first few years, with the restoration of the soil by means of surface washing, green manuring, etc. As the nature of the subsoil decides whether any artificial drainage is required or not, extensive subsoil surveys are in progress. Observations of levels of water in wells are being carried out in the areas irrigated by the existing canals as well as in areas that are likely to be irrigated shortly. Several reclamation schemes have already been prepared and a few carried out. An important departure recently introduced is the execution of such schemes on co-operative lines, the owners financing the schemes and Government providing the investigating and constructing agency. The question of utilising drainage water for irrigation purposes so far as its salt contents will permit, is also being considered. It is also worthy of note that an up-to-date hydraulic testing station has been installed, where meters, modules, etc., used on irrigation channels are tested. Investigations are also being made with regard to the value of sewage effluent as a manure for various crops, with good results. Other small irrigation works.-There are numerous bandharas or weirs built across streams to raise the level of water. sufficiently high to command the lands to be irrigated. There are about 300 of these works in the Nasik Collectorate and there is also a large number in the West Khandesh District. The supply of water from these bandharas was inadequate and cultivation suffered thereby. Rs. 35,000 were spent on improvements and repairs of these works during the year. SOUTHERN DIVISION The only important irrigation works in this Division are the Gokak Canal in Belgaum and the Dharma Canal in the Dharwar District. The rainfall was timely and well-distributed, and there was not much demand for water for irrigation. The total area irrigated by capital works was about 10,000 acres against 18,000 acres of the previous year. RAILWAYS 1. The total length of railway open for traffic in the Bombay Presidency (including Sind) was 5,513 miles including 210 miles of line newly opened, viz. : (i) Jamnagar-Kuranga Railway, 66 31 miles; (ii) Okhamandal Railway-Kuranga to Adatra, 37°02 miles (iv) Petlad-Bhadran Railway, 13 41 miles; (v) Motipura-Tankhala Railway, 23 83 miles; (vi) Gadhakda-Mahuwa Railway, 32 09 miles; and ; (vii) Tagdi-Dhandhuka Section of the Botad-Dhandhuka Extension, 5'92 miles. CHAPTER VIII VITAL STATISTICS AND MEDICAL RELIEF OT for more than 30 years has so low a mortality been NOT recorded in the Presidency as during 1922. The total number of deaths registered was 452,581 or over 45,600 fewer than in the previous year which was itself a year of exceptionally low mortality. The death-rate for 1922 was 23.61 compared with 26 for 1921 and a mean for the ten years of 3716. The following table shows how this compares with other parts of The death-rates for England and Wales and London were 12.9 and 13 4 (provisional figures) respectively. Excluding Bombay City and Sind the death-rate for the Presidency was 23.81 against 28 04 in 1921. The death-rates for Rural and Urban areas in the Presidency as a whole were 22:49 and 28 26 against 23 89 and 34 84 respectively in 1921. Of the districts, the highest death-rate (30 ̊48) was returned by Nasik and the lowest (15 32) by Panch Mahals, which also had the lowest death-rate in the previous year. The death-rate for Sind was 12 42 against 15 72 in 1921. There was a very marked excess in the urban rate, nearly 21⁄2 times that of the rural, but this is attributed partly to faulty registration in the rural areas. Curiously enough, both the lowest and the highest death-rates occurred in Cantonment areas, namely, 1'49 in Santa Cruz and 37.67 in Kirkee. Over the Presidency as a whole births exceeded deaths by 168,189 (equal to a "natural increase" of 0.88 on the population) compared with an excess of 126,290 in 1921. This increase is due to the fall in the death-rate, and not to any actual increase in the number of births. In the Presidency alone excluding |