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INDIA AND INDIAN PROGRESS,
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rwTTON" IN INDIA—MANCHESTER AND CU COLONEL SYKES . The subject of cotton in India lias been again brought before the Society of Arts , with Mr . J . B . Smith M . P ., in the chair , to represent Manchester , and Colonel Sykes , M . P ., to abuse Manchester and to whitewash the old Company . The staunch sepfoylike adhesion to the old company , whose salt he ate gains our respect for the gallant Colonel , tho u <* h it cannot induce people to submit to the jnilitary dictation to which he strives to subject them . At the same time it mtist be owned that the Colonel himself is losing ground , as well as the cause which he has espoused . A quarter of a century ago he was esteemed the most distinguished authority on Indian statistics , and now some of the younger Indians have nearly persuaded the public that he knows nothing of the greater part of India , and little even of Madras , as it is at present . By the time that Sir Charles Trevelyan ' s term of office has expired , the Colonel will not even know Madras as the most lagging jwesidcney in India . Cotton was too grave a matter , apparentl y ^ to . raise Colonel Sykes ' s ire ; but in fact cotton is the keystone of his political system , for he holds that it was the unfounded misrepresentations of the -cotton lords , and the credulity of the ignorant public of England , which have led to the downfal of his beloved Company , and the old regiine . He was present , consequently , impelled by a spirit of gallantry to meet the foe , and Ms achievements contribute in no small degree to the interest of the occasion . The paper itself was the production of Dr . 3 Torbes Watson , the worthy successor of Dr . Royle , who holds the important office of Reporter on the Products of India- ^ -an office which does great credit to the Government of India , and which , unfortunately , is not provided for our other colonies , or in reference to national interests generally . Yet there is one man , Mr . P . Li . Siirunonds , who has by his . own labours kept alive this department in England , and who , at the meeting in question , was the < pnly unofficial , authority ; for his short temporary employment in the Economical Museum at South Kensington is at an end . The paper of Dr . Forbes Watson , although he carefully disclaimed for it an official character , is , in fact , a part of his official labours , and will be followed by like communications . While possessing all the scientific information , which can be required , Dr . Watson is far from treating the subject as a mere matter of botanical science , but lie brings to it all the resources of a practical nian , and it becomes in his hands an important political disquisition . This constitutes the real value of the paper , which will be found a useful contribution to the progress of the cotton question . Moderate in liis views , and yet independent in the assertion of them , this deliberate expression of opinion by Dr . Watson must have weight with the Government of India . The place too , for its utterance was well chosen ? for the Society of Arts , by means of its journal and its strong parliamentary , committee , exeroises groat influence , although sometimes there are no members of parliament at its meetings , and seldom more than half a score . The society also puts forwards claim to be considered the constituted , embodiment of colonial interests , in which capacity it has of late years made its strength better felt . The paper of Dr . Watson may be easily summarised . He first showed that the extent of cotton growing soil in India is , practically speaking , beyond tho limits of demand ; he then proved that India already raises 2 , 400 , 000 , 000 gounds of cotton , or twice the crop of the United tatee ; it is next demonstrated that cotton can be raised and delivered in India at the rate of 2 M . to 21 d . per pound , while in the United States the < 3 oat is 3 d . to 3 £ d , ; and ho goes on to lay down the faots that in those districts where the cotton can by natural means roach the coast for export , the export has enormously extended , and that in those districts where good moans of transport are deficient the export is stationary , or tho expense too great to allow of transport to the coast . Ho ' consequently narrows the whole question of
a full export of cotton from India to that of a reduction of the transport charges to such a rate as to allow of the safe and profitable export of the cotton crop . He states unhesitatingly that the cost of carriage" in the Marhatta district amounts . to from 4 d . to 7 d . per ton per mile—a sufficient proof of the poverty of the country , and a reason for it . And here "we may pause to consider one fact mentioned by Dr . Watson . The cotton traffic from Berar to Bombay was opened by Sir Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy , and rapidly advanced , but in 1846 it became . stationary , 180 , 000 bullocks being employed , and the traffic admitting of no more . Some might suppose that 360 , 000 bullocks might be made use of ; but the number is effectually limited by the minimum of food on portions of the route , and the duration of the season during which that food can be obtained , which is a short one . This natural limit exists wherever there is a bullock traffic or a mule traffic , a llama traffic , as in Peru , or a traffic on goats' backs , as over the Hindoo Kosh . In poor countries , too , the rates of traffic will always be found liigh on account of the poverty of the country . Thus , while in England hundreds of thousands of tons are carried at from three farthings . to a penny per ton per mile , there are parts of Ireland paying from 9 d . to Is . 6 d . per ton per mile ; and reckoning the value of money , there are manyparts of India where the rates are effectively higher . The first step in progress is . to suppress pack animals , and to apply the power of the beasts more effectually in draught ; but to Work carts there must be continuous roads , and every stream must be bridged or ferried ; there must be no breaks . Dr . Watson unhesitatingly adheres to the doctrine that railways must be the chief means employed to open up the cotton districts , and this after full consideration of the assertions that railways suitable for lii g h speeds are unsuitable ^ for India , and that tramways should be cheaply laid , or the want supplied by roads or canals . Looking to the fact that so much of the soil of India is soil possessing no stones for the construction of roads , but in the rains turning into deep mud , Dr . Watson affirms that well constructed railways are essential for India ; but although such a railway is ^ capable of being worked at a high speed , and naught be so worked for passenger traffic , yet for cotton traffic it could be worked cheaply and slowly . He , therefore , advocates the immediate completion of the railways and the extension of a line to Dharwar . Although not actually expressed , Dr . Watson ' s facts suggest a stinging commentary oil the conduct of the late Governnidnt of India , in keeping the country without roads , bridges , or railways . Colonel Sykes considered it -in this li ght , and in his wrath arose to defend the Company and assail the cotton men . He affirmed that the growth of cotton had nothing to do with land tenures , the administration of justice , the treatment of English settlors , or the Government of India ; and in his usual statistical style affirmed that it was a mere question of the price paid to the grower for the cotton . He tauntingly observed to Mr . Smith , that if the Manchester men wanted cotton , it was no business of the Government to help them ; they should not call on Jupiter , but put their own shoulders to the wheel ; they should go to India ; pay tho ryots a good price for cotton , and buy it of them . If they did this , they would get cotton in abundance ; . The Company had boon abused for not giving facilities to English settlors , and not allowing them to have land , whereas it is now abundantly proved that they can get land on very modorato terms . Tho Colonol was furious at the requirement of the settlors to have the land in foe-simple- Notwithstanding all the allegations that had boon made , when indigo was wanted Englishmen got into India somehow ( tho Colonel forgets to state how ) , and have supplied the whole world with indigo , the same with sugar , tho same with rice , with lao dye , teak , and jute . Those assertions the Colonel made with as much ooolnoss and boldness as if Dr . Watson ' s facts and figures wove not before him , and as if in thoir place ie had some columns of his own favourite figures .
The hour was late , and nobody chose to answer I Colonel Sykes , and Sir Erskine Perry and their s accustomed antagonists were not present ; but the ; answer would have been an easy one . The indigo , i the sugar , the rice , and the jute are chiefly brought ;'¦¦ down the Ganges , which the Company did not make , and were not able altogether to spoil , i though they have allowed some of the channels to be closed ; or the products were shipped from the sea coast . Thus the real facts , instead of confirming the Colonel ' s view , support Dr . - Watson ' s , for he ° too showed that the cotton of Guzerat Broach , &c , on the coast , having free access to the market , had been largely exported ; on the other hand , those districts -vyhich depended on the Company for roads could not get their produce to the shipping port . ' m As to the Manchester men going into _ the heart of the country , and buying cotton , the price already is sufficiently remunerative on the spot , for 2 , 400 , 000 , 000 lbs . are yearly grown , but the Manchester men cannot bring the cotton away . Mr . Brice stated , on the same , evening * that when lie Went to Dharwar there were no roads , and when he had bought ; cotton , and stored it in ruined temples , he could not get it away . That fertile country was in such a miserable state that he had to walk about " with his bag of rupees on his back , and to travel many hundreds of miles , with no resting-place except the ground . " Such is the India governed by Colonel Sy kes and his codirectors .. , ¦ . ' . ' '¦ .
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NOTES ON INDIAN PROGRESS . Tub state of Indian finance has been a prominent topic for consideration within the last few days . ~ Tliere is now a growing suspicion that , after jail the mystery and " mystification ¦ which has been indulged in , Indian ' ' finance is in no better condition than any other department of the late Company ' s administration , if much better than that of Turkey or Morocco . There is also a strong determination evinced to obtain correct information on the subject by commission of inquiry , and then to apply to India the same measures of finance which economic science recommends , and which have proved successful in England and the United States . . The pressure on the railway market rather afreets particular companies than the general mass of shares ; but , on the whole , there is a great increase of investment in such securities among the public generally . Several new companies , for various purposes , are iu progress , and India is looked to as the great field for the employment of capital . Many exertions are made by private individuals connected with India to obtain further capital for investments in tea , coffee , and cotton . A proposition is now under the consideration of Xord Stanley for introducing into India the cinchona trees , from which quinine j s obtained , the vanilla plant , and . the oocou , tiio cultivation of which have not been attended to'in India . The Hollanders are making great exertions to introduce the cinchona into Java , and have brought over a great many young trees . ^ We regret to see that the Indian Government has done nothing for introducing the alpaca into India , while Australia and . the Capo have mado considerablo exertions . Mr . Swain , a railway cnginoor , 1 ms found excellent clayiiibr stone pottery in Bengal . IIo proposes to make telegraph insulators , paving-tiles , verandah tiles , copings for bridges and walla , jars , &o . Tho Scindo Hail way Company held a meeting on Tuesday , when « . very favourable roport was given of tho progress of tho several undertakings , ilie calls during the next yoar will bo very limited . J . ne beginning of tho eteani trains on the Indus was referred to with satisfaction . . , , A now company has been f ° » ° 4 . unac * ™ g Ximitod WabUiijy Act , at Kungporo . U ho capital is only . £ 1 , 000 , and tho shares aro fiD cach-Tho , shareholders are chiefly natives . Tho object is to , export country produce to di 0 orent parts ot ° A vory usoful measure has boon adopted by the Bombay Government . Tho Bombay Steam Navigation " Company has boon deprived of tho contract for carrying tho mails between Bombay and Kurraohoo It received £ 700 monthly > but tho work ha * now increased ,, and the Cowpuny demanded X 1 , QOO ,
India And Indian Progress,
INDIA AND INDIAN PROGRESS ,
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: M ,,: 471 . Afbii , 2 .. 1859-1 THE W AD EB . 439 T
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Leader (1850-1860), April 2, 1859, page 439, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2288/page/23/
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