Since earliest antiquity hundreds of thousands of Bedouin nomads have ranged all over the vast desert lands southwest of Tapline's route. Each March or April they have migrated 300 miles or more northeastward to grazing lands in the Euphrates Valley. Then in October or November there would be a return migration for winter grazing in the desert. During those hard migrations a large percentage of the herds died, but that was the only known way of life on the desert and it was philosophically accepted.

It was so accepted until Tapline's first water well came in. Then, as though word had spread across the desert by mental telepathy, the horizon darkened with the converging tribes. They made their camps by the water.

As far back as a year ago a rough count indicated that one well alone was supplying water to 12,000 Bedouin, 20,000 camels, and 40,000 fattailed sheep and goats. It was estimated that during the summer of 1950 Tapline was supplying free water, all along the line, to more than 150,000 camels and perhaps double that number of sheep and goats. Some 100,000 Bedouins had by that time set up camp around the water holes. There are water tanks at each pumping station and troughs have been erected to facilitate the watering of livestock. It is not unusual to see several thousand animals lined up waiting their turns at these troughs.

The nomad Bedouins have never until now received any medical service by trained doctors and dentists. Tapline doctors are working overtime to keep up with the demand for their services.

Aerial view of the Qaisumah Pump Station