Page 148 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (IV)_Neat

46

(f) Conversion of house at Rafaa as Boys' School.
(g) New class rooms at Muharraq Girls' School.
(h) New Grandstand and Totalizator at Race Course.
(j) Colfcc shop for Manama Beladiya.
(k) Fitters’ shop, extension of Carpenters’ shop and six new Garages in the Public Works Department
yard.
(l) Two public dhobi ghats.
(m) Five ranges of public latrines.
(n) Ten public washhouses.
(o) Medical Inspection Room, Customs Pier, etc., etc.

III. Water Supply
In Shaban, Messrs Holloway Bros. (London) Ltd. completed their contract for the erection of the
water tower pump house, the installation of the pumps and the laying of the mains. Mr. Peter Holloway
visited the island in Safar and a small opening ceremony attended by His Highness the Sheikh of Bahrain
and other notables, was held on 10 Safar. The Public Works Department were engaged all the year in
making connections to the mains and taking supplies to Government buildings and private consumers.
By the end of the year Mr. Harris—in charge of this work—had satisfactorily trained a small gang of fitters ;
and water had been installed to over 1,200 houses. Naturally, the new mains supply underwent “ growing
pains " ; but these became less as the year progressed and the water staff became more proficient. The
provision of main water has enabled many shallow wells—a great source of danger of malaria and other
troubles due to faced contamination—to be closed and it is in addition a very great benefit to the population.
The main water scheme marks a big step forward in the Island’s progress.

IV. Road Works
The maintenance of roads and the first metalling of main roads continued energetically and much
better progress was made this year. The 9-ton Huber roller was available at the beginning of the year and
continued working without a serious breakdown. A new 9-ton Aveling-Barford roller was acquired in
Jamed-Awal and within two weeks started work. Unfortunately just at this time the Manama Munici­
pality roller broke down and was out of action for several months ; so the Public Works Department loaned
them the 9-ton Huber. This prevented the Departments output of road work being anything like as big
as was hoped.

The same practice was followed as in the previous year—a soling of road metal about 4* thick was
laid and well rolled and this was covered with about 2* of “cold patch ”—i.e. a mixture of oil residue and
sand—which was rolled in. The resulting roads appear to be standing up to heavy traffic quite well and
the surfaces are proving remarkably dry in wet weather and absolutely non-skid.
The following roads were treated in this way:—
Rafaa Road from Adari Road turning to Radam-al-Karwari.
Rafaa Road from Belgravc Road turning to Government Water Gardens.
Road from Technical School to Belgrave Road.
Jufair Road and Belgrave Road.
Prior Road in front of Government Offices. A road down Customs Pier, 21 feet wide on the old pier and
then a dual carriage way on the new pier.

The whole distance so treated is about 5 miles and the average width 8$ yards. It will be noted
that over half of this total is normally the responsibility of the Manama Municipality.
In addition to major road work, the Department continued its maintenance of the minor roads.
It is probably not generally realized that the Public Works Department are responsible for very many miles
of secondary roads and more than 400 small bridges. No attempt is yet made to bring these up to a high-
standard ; but they arc always kept open for local traffic, no matter what the weather or what may happen
to them; and throughout the year the Dapartment works constantly on these roads and rebuilds many
bridges.