Page 396 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (II)_Neat

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The Muharraq municipality agreed to the suggestion that suction pits be sunk near the artesian
wells on the island (in the town and villages) to provide suction for the fire engine pumps. A survey
has been made of all wells and the work is to be put in hand.
Traffic Section.
The State Engineer’s department continued to carry out the registration of all motor vehicles'
in the state (549) and the testing of brakes, lights, speed, etc., in accordance with the Bahrain govern­
ment motor vehicles proclamation of 1357.
The licensing (and re-licensing) of all drivers was also carried out by the department, sixty-one
drivers being examined during the year out of which fifty-one passed. Baffles are still being fitted
to the carburretors of all vehicles plying for hire to limit the speed to 30-35 miles per hour. Although
the standard of driving has improved, this is still a necessity. The dimming of motor vehicle
headlights still continues and all public vehicles were personally inspected by the State Engineer.
In a number of cases it has been found necessary to depart from the standard set, as certain vehicles,
particularly buses and taxis, would have been dangerous to drive with so little road illumination.
The oiled roads are dark and many pedestrians dress in black clothes which causes them to be un-
distinguishable at night.
The loading of all public vehicles was inspected by the State Engineer. Legal affidavits from
the makers were obtained to determine the safe load that should be carried after taking into consi­
deration the weight of the vehicle and the locally built bodies.
Oil Royalty and Government Inspection.
All the oil produced in the Bahrain Patroleum Company's field, amounting to 907,270.038
tons, was gauged and sampled by this department, also 37 cargoes of refined oil amounting
to 351.278.232 tons were sampled tested and inspected.
The State Engineer is responsible for this work and personally carried out the refined
oil inspection.
The crude oil shipped from the California Arabian Standard Oil Company to Zellaq and Sitra
was also gauged amounting to 535,738.471 tons.
Records, curves, etc., of oil produced by the field and used on the island and refinery are kept
at the State Engineer’s office. A copy of the revenue curve is attached to this report. It will be
observed that the revenue from this source decreased in 1360 (1941), this was mainly due to difficulty
in obtaining tankers and to the loss of certain markets owing to the war.
Financial Position. {Oil gauging section). The cost of gauging and inspecting all crude
oil and refinery products amounted to Rs. 10,909-13-6.
Fees paid to the Government of Bahrain by the Bahrain Petroleum Company on account of
services rendered by the State Engineer amounted to Rs. 22,723 leaving a balance on the credit side
of Rs. 11,813-2-6.
GcneraL
Anti Malaria Campaign. The draining of certain stagnant pools, etc., was arranged by the
State Engineer and the Secretary of the Manamah Municipality. The municipal water scheme which
was under consideration at the beginning of the year is still held in abeyance owing to the war. Until
this is carried out with suitable draining the breeding of malaria mosquitoes will continue
in the Manamah city area but the amount of breeding is being reduced by the attention of the anti­
malaria squad.
Maaamah-Muharraq Swing Bridge. The Manamah-Muharraq swing bridge was opened
by His Highness Shaikh Sir Hamad bin Isa Alkhalifah, K.C.I.E., C.S.I., on 18th December 1941 (29th
Dil Qaad 1360). The operation of the bridge and toll system is under the control of the State Engineer.
The bridge is electrically operated. The tolls levied are considerably less than those charged in Iraq,
India, etc., on similar bridges. At present revenue from this source covers all charges including wages
and depreciation and should enable the undertaking to be self supporting.
Staff. Since the department was started in 1349, every effort has been made to train Bahrainis
in the work of the various sections. The department has 78 employees of all classes out of which only
11 are foreigners (British subjects).