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the man . The deus ex machitia was Colonel Arthur Cotton . " A . natural genius for civil engineering , large acquired knowledge , singular professional daring , a strong will , and ti perseverance that no obstacles could withstand , were combined in Colonel Cotton ' s character , and marked him out among his associates as the man best qualified for carrying into effect the novel plans that were now being entertained . " How far this higa estimation was justifiable may be best shown , by the nature of the success that was achieved . The area of irrigation dependent on the two streams is calculated at 669 , 900 acres , of which . 504 , 900 acres are watered by the Cauvery , and 165 , 000 by the Coleroon . A . district of this extent requires a volume of water equal to 16 , 747 cubic feet per second . Above Seringham , before the
siou in . Guntoor ; but among whom one standard , and that the highest , will ultimately prevail . Of the 6 , 00 0 , 000 acres adapted to irrigation , uot less than 2 , 000 , 0001 will have a full supply provided for them , at a cost which , in its utmost extent , caa-r not exceed half a million sterling in the aggregate ; and the annual revenue obtained by the State , on which this powerful stimulus will operate , reaches at this moment toy 1 , 250 , 000 ? ., and may be expected to advance progressively to rather more than 2 , 000 , 000 / . per annum .
river branches off , it discharges 16 , 875 cubic feet m that space of time , when unaffected by floods . But below that point the distribution of the total volume of the river -was by no means adapted to the exigencies of the case . While the Coleroon . branch discharged 7500 cubic feet per second , the Oauvery exhibited only 9375 . The area of irrigation of the former re * quired , however , no more than 4125 cubic feet , but that of the latterdemanded at least 12 , 622 . Thus , tie object to be effected was to throw into the bed of the deficient branch the excess 'that existed in the other . The skill and perseverance of Colonels Cotton and Sims have at last happily triumphed over all difficulties , and Iiave reduced a river one mile in width to a state as manageable as a mill-dam . This is not the place to describe in detail the nature of the works—it must suffice to show the results .
Prior to 1836 the average quantity of land annually watered from the Cauvery and Coleroon was 630 , 613 acres ; In 1850 the annual average had increased to 716 , 524 , and it is still progressing . The annual increase of the gross Government revenue consequent thereupon amounts to 44 , 000 £ ., while *' the agricultural community have benefited by the works , from increase of irrigated area only , to the extent of G 6 , 00 G 7 . per annum . The entire expense of the maintenance of the works being borne by the State , this sum is anet addition to the resources of the people . " The previously irrigated district has also greatly benefited—the increased produce due to constant and abundant estimated at from hth to fifth
irrigation being one-eig one- of the gross produce ; thus adding at least 7 J , 600 L to the value of the annual produce of the land . Formerly , too , the fluctuations in the return sometimes ranged as high as ¦ ' ¦ 52 per cent ., causing intense misery to the labouring classes ; they do not now exceed four per cent . The general revenue of the province , which , prior to the improvements , was about 430 , 000 / -, has since risen to 49 O , 000 . And as a proof that this additional revenue of 60 , 000 / . is not wrung from an oppressed and necessitous people , it is worthy of remark that the number of houses in the district has steadily increased from 145 , 192 in 1817 , and 211 , 588 in 1839 , to nearly 300 , 000 at the present
time . '"¦• ' ¦ . '¦ ; " ' ¦¦ '' . ' " . ' ¦ '¦ •¦ . '¦' ¦ .-. . ¦ ¦;• '¦ ¦ '''¦ . Now , the total expenditure for original works between 1836 and 1850 ¦ was 91 , 874 / . ; and . of the ordinary repairs during the same pet-iod about S 9 , 372 Z . The gross returns , however , amounted to 480 , 000 / . If from this be deducted the 89 , 372 / . for repairs , and . 5 per cent , per annum , interest on the 91 , 874 / . actually invested in the works , we shall find the net returns amount to 321 , 7257 . 10 s ., being a clear annual return of 21 , 44-87 . 6 s ., or nearly 23 ^ - per cent , on a capital of 91 , 874 / . " We now turn to the Kistnah . This river rises to the north of Sattara , and after flowing nearly 600 miles in a south-easterly direction , enters the sea about 35 miles S . W . of Masulipatam . Its descent from the hill country into the plains takes place 80 miles from its mouth , but the works commence at Bezwarah , 20 miles lower down . The river here flows in a manageable channel 1300 yards in width . In the summer season its depth averages
about 7 feet , but in the freshes it rises from 24 to 30 feet . As it invariabty happens with deltaic rivers , the bed of the Kistnah is a dorsal ridge , from the crest of which the country gradually slopes on either side . On the left bank is the district of Masulipatam ; on the right that of Guntoor . The latter comprises 4700 square miles , of which onu-half is a rich alluvial soil , requiring , however , a regular supply of water—a blessing withheld by nature . In 1836 , the rains , having almost totally failed , a terrible famine was the consequence , and 200 , 000 human beings perished of starvation , or of the virulent fever that ensued . The Government revenue in the following year fell off one-half , and the total loss to the State since that period is estimated at 900 , OOOZ ., while the community arc supposed to have suffered to the extent of 1 , 500 , 000 / . more . To prevent the recurrence of such a dire calamity is the design of the Kistnah works . They consist of an amiiout , or dam , calculated "to supply nearly 290 miles of channel judiciously distributed on both banks of the river . "
We find ( continues Colonel Smith } that it is perhaps below its capabilities to say that it secures , during the season of cultivation , not less than 7000 cubic feet of water per second , - which is sufficient to bring to maturity 280 , 000 acres of rice cultivation , and probably 350 , 000 of mixed rice , sugar , and possibly cotton ; that a moderate estimate of the ultimate returns from this increased area of irrigation is GO , 0007 per annum to the Government , and 90 , 000 ? . to the agricultural community ; that failure of the monsoons will hereafter ccaae to be a fearful calamity ; that where neither man nor benst can now exist from the want of water fov the common purposes of life , there will , in all time to come , bo an abundant supply for every want , domo . stic and agricultural ; and , finally , that the whole of these results , which , nft « r .-ill , are only a portion of the benefits to bo anticipated from the works under review , -will be executed without strain on the resources of tlio State , the total estimated outlay amounting only to 150 , 000 ? ., though it mny possibly rise to ' , 000 £ .
Of the Godavery works , which were fully noticed in the jjcader of June 7 , 1856 , it is needless to say more than that they were designed to afford sufficient irrigation to 780 , 000 acres of land , besides being subservient to purposes of drainage and navigation . Colonel Smith thus . sums up the results obtained-or expected from " the three central regions of agricultural improvement in the Madras Presidency" : — The projects either actually executed or in program of execution—these reports wore compiled in 1868—affuct tracts of country containing , in the abrogate , a total area of fully 20 , 000 square miles , ox 12 , 250 , 000 acres , whereof one-Half inny l > e considered as cither cultivated or cultumble . Thi » aggregate urua is inhabited at present by a population numbering rather moro than 4 , 000 , 000 bouIh , whoso material condition ranges from that of the utmost comfort in Tanjorc to that of tHo utmost deprcs-
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THEATRIGAL NOTES . A tjibkk-act drama of tho startling order from the practised hand of Mr . IU .-VLK ISkun aui > wan brought out at the Hayaiakkut on Thursday evening . There are some . strong ^ uituutionu in the piece , but tlio plot is by no means now . Tho drama -was uueccHsful , but tho tlinoiimeut aroused tho dormant critical sense of the audience , and - when tho villain relieved tho public ( und tho author ) of hia presence by a poisoned i > ill , Una ) sort of pocket expiation was received by the pit and gallory with erica of Badjlniakl—a verdict burrowed from the Turf . But tho play , and tho acting arc good enough to run for many night ? .
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HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE , The Director of the Old House is first in . the field this year . He has issued a very attractive programme for the present season / both as to the number # and the novelty of the new engagements , and the interest and variety of tlie list of operas and ballets , announced for performance . Mr . Ltjml-ey refers " with sincere gratitude to the success wlich attended his efforts under very trying circumstances in , the season , of 185 ( 5 / ' and acknowledges " the miniiiiceut assistance ¦ which enabled him to conquer the unprecedented difficulties of last year . " " To this / ' he adds , " the success of the past season is greatly owing , " and from the " generous confidenoe" displayed by * " the renewed subscriptions for the present year , -without awaiting the publication of the Annual Programme , he very justly " derives the assurance that he has not altogether disappointed the patrons of the theatre , " and that " he may rely on the continuance of the cordial encouragement by which he has been -hitherto- uuhcld . and under which it is honed still , hierher
triumphs may be acliicved than were immediately attainable on the restoration of the Establishment . " He returns thanks for the "hearty interest and genuine appreciation displayed by the audiences" last year ; acknowledges his deep obligations to Mademoiselle Piccox-oauNi especially , and to all the other artistes who , by tlieir " high artistic feeling and honourable fidelity , " had " enabled the Direction to produce the entertainments promised for each evening without a single change of performance—a fact without precedence in Operatic History . " Mr . Lumlev alludes to the unquestionable advantages of position and oLd associations peculiar to Hub . Majesty ' s Theatue , and promises to support its traditions by a Company " combining the prestige of acknowledged genius with the attraction of new candidates for the liig-her rank . o £ tkeir profession . " We are very glad to bear of new appearances , for we must confess that for some years we have had too much of the ioyjoicrs bouilli .
In opera , the great Axbonl , who , by an execrable French pun , was said to have mie foule de rossig / nols-dans le (/ osier , is-coining back to us , and will appear iu . that part to wliieh we believe only Madame ViABDor can do perfect justice , jt zucenai in the Trovatore . At aU events , Madame Auboni ' s- singing of the part will be worth , a pilgrimage to hear . We hear Mademoiselle Mabja Spezia Highly spoken of as & 2 ) rima dotuia assolulu , in the grand and energetic style ; while Mademoiselle Akgioia Ortolan I ( most sweet and succulent of names !) while she sounds "like' an ortolan is reported to sing like a nightingale . Among the " second ladies" we recognise , the name of Mademoiselle Poma , -whom M . Julliek introduced to the public last winter , with all the authority of his Olympian nod , but who did not strike us as remarkable for anything but singing biaudibly . However , she may be useful in the " silent sorrow" line . Last , not least , returns the delicious Piccolojuni to her old
and constant enthusiasts , with all her freshness and sincerity unspoilt , we fondly hope , by the alfected coldness of the Parisian ciitics . She will find a hearty welcome , and a . grateful sense of delightful evenings to come . Signer GuJGLrsi is the tcnou of whom we have heard so much , and everything that can make us anxious to hear him . He is young , and his voice is said -to . be one of singular grace and sweetness , and his method Italian , of the good school . La Favorita , in which lie appears on , the first night of the season , will at once test the truth of his reputation . Signor Lxjigi Eottakdi is , we believe , a tenor of the forcible school , and ( wo hope we have been correctly informed ) rcsembics Tatmbkulik . in style . That excellent singer and careful and conscientious actor , Signor Bkluotti , we arc glad to lind engaged : liis finished and elegant singing is a good example to Signor Bunjevisntano , whose qualities we w-ere unable to appreciate last year . Signor Nai ? oi , i ; one Itossr , a bass singer of tlie Laulacke order , has been well regarded at the Italian Opera in Paris , especially as a buffo , and we have reason to think he will be liked in London . Signor Cousi is a barytone of the itiONCoNi school , and , like that great artist , w o believe his voice is a little damaged : but he is considered an admirable actor in some of ILoncowi ' s
best parts . Signor lSoNjmi again presides over the orchestra , and we trust Ms forces will bo less percimionary than last year . Tlie Ballet department is particularly strong this season , reminding us pleasantly of old tunes . It ia true thai , with lli <; exception of Mademoiselle Taguoni , Mademoiselle BoscjUiTTT , and Madame Kosati ( who will come ; late in tlie season ) , the names arc now to us : but Mademoiselle Oakoijna Pocchini , who brings a high reputation from Vienna , and who is to appear the first night in . a revival of tho JUsmcfaUUi ; is not likely to disappoint , expectation . Indeed , it may Vie gcjiettilly alllmied that the . selection of dit-nscnms seldom docs disappoint expectation . There is loss iiillJeully in deciding on the good ' points ' of . a dancer than ^ on the good notes of a voice . M . 1 ? aul Taglioni is an undeniable ma ' tlrf , de ballet ; and . of Signor Ronzani we know that lie lias enjoyed a distinguished ehorcgraphic reputation at Turin . Wo think . Mr . Jji'MUiv may be ( ron ^ raLnlatod on his programme ! , and we cordially wish him till the success his energy ho well deserves .
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Harch : 21 , 1857 . ] JHE . LEIPEB ; 283
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Leader (1850-1860), March 21, 1857, page 283, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2185/page/19/
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