Reader D.H. Rao, continuing his research on the history of the Buckingham Canal, recently sent us material he found on the Red Hills Railway (MM, December 16th). Four items of government correspondence he found are appended below together with a note about the project.

With reference to my letter of the 28th March last, and to the orders of governement, appended (5th April 1836) to it, directing that the estimate for the Rail Road from Red Hills and Mount to Madras shall be prepared under the orders of the Military Board. I am directed by the Board of Revenue to forward the enclosed letters dated (11th May 1836), relative to the same subject which have been received from Captain Cotton. The Board considers that officer’s suggestion regarding Cocharane’s Canal, particularly deserving of attention.

I have – A Ross, Major Inspector General of Civil Estimates

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From
Captain Cotton

To
The Inspector General of Civil Estimates

Sir

In my letter respecting the construction of rail road in the immediate vicinity of Madras, I omitted to mention, that I have considered it highly desirable, that, if possible, the management of Cochrane’s Canal, should be in the hands of the Government.

If all the works for the carriage of supplies into Madras were under the care of Government, a general scheme could be drawn-up, for the collection of tolls on each by which, the greatest results of which the works are capable might be obtained. But if the same are in the hands of Government and same in those of private individuals, there must of necessity be such a clashing of interests as will greatly tend to diminish the advantages, otherwise, obtainable from one or other of these works.

The amount of net revenue of the canal, I understand, has been, of late, some where about 15,000 rupees a year, and I have reason to believe that the owners would make over the ‘work’ to government, upon government undertaking to them an annual sum, which is about 6 years hence...

* * *

To
The Secretary to Government,
Public Department

Sir,

I have the honor by order of the Military Board to forward Captain Cotton’s report, on progress of the work on the Red Hills Rail Road and Canal.

I have the honor to be –
Sir,

You’re most obedient servant
H. Moberly

Fort St. George Secretary to
29th December 1836 Military Board

* * *

Sir,

I have the honor to forward the following statement of work done since my last report, I beg the board will be pleased to excuse my neglect to report last week.

During the week ending the 17th, very little progress was made on account of showers of rain. The contract people did not come to work for several days, and found that there was so little work done by the daily coolies, which there was rain about, that I thought it better not to employ them.

Para 5. The bridge over the canal has been commenced and one of the beams to support the plantform of 16 feet long has been cast. I find that they can be cast cheaper than teak, beams could be procured. Colonel Monteith’s furnance for the use of charcoal will be complemented in a few days. Since charcoal for it of the best quality has been prepared by the sappers.... The different parts of from 20 to 40 carriages are made.

I have –
A.J. Cotton
Captain Engineers
Red Hills In charge of the
27th December 1836 Red Hill Rail Road

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1836 NOTE

Captain Cotton, a civil engineer with the 3rd Division, was entrusted with building a rail road from Red Hills quarry to Cochrane’s canal, near the Basin. The idea was to transport laterite stones needed for the road works in Madras Presidency much faster, till the Canal, and thereafter by boats, to the respective sites.

Captain Cotton is in charge of the Red Hill Railway Road and a proposed canal, which is to be connected to the Cochrane Canal near the Basin. He is trying to use cast iron beams instead of teak wood beams for the small bridges. He cast these beams in furnace, where good quality charcoal is used.

He’s now chasing lighthouses

My friend D. Hemachandra Rao, just 76, has been on the road for some time now, having set off with a driver in his enduring Ford from his home in Virugambakkam.

D.H. Rao

His odyssey is to check out every lighthouse in the country – new, old, dilapidated and ghostly. As I write, Rao must be zipping into West Bengal, to visit the last of the beacons that guide ships and boats in the Bay of Bengal. (P.S. He on Tuesday the 10th told Madras Musings that he was back in Madras after further having seen the lighthouses in West Bengal.)

One weekend, I joined Rao at Visakhapatnam late evening – he had clocked over 1750 kms and thought it fit to head to the hotel bar, order whiskey and then polish off a plate of fish and chips. Over drinks he had loads of stories to share till the call came from our host – engineer Krishna Rao who is in charge of the lighthouse atop Dolphin’s Nose.

In the misty night, we raced to the top, left behind a sprawling Naval Colony and paused for good in the lighthouse campus. These structures have a life of their own and, often, they seem eerie as they flash a light every few seconds and let the moonlight bathe the black and white stripes in the cold of a January night.

From the balcony of the quarters that stood below the light, we enjoyed Visakhapatnam’s own necklace of lights.

Krishna Rao, who is to retire in a few months, comes from a family of lighthouse men. His grandfather travelled to Burma and served in a Light House. His father followed, employed by the Indian Government – serving at lighthouses raised by the British and overseeing the building of new ones.

“Will your son also get in?”

“ I have only daughters!’

Besides stories, Hemachandra Rao will come back with loads of material – postal covers with visuals of lighthouses and unique stamps bearing a local postal cancellation, photos of installations and geography yet to be shot and bits of memorabilia.

I wonder how a city can showcase the works of such men and women. – (Courtesy: Mylapore Times)

-Vincent D’ Souza