10
No. 426, REVENUE, 2ND AUGUST 1898 .
was abolished with effect from 1st July. compensation gratuity of Rs.340 was
granted to Mr. McFeat on his retirement, and the estate was placed under the charge
of the Superintendent of Nedivattam. Changes were also made in the staff of the Head
office which took effect from the 1st June.
( b ) I
s s u e o f q u i n i n e p a c k e t s t o C o l le
c t o r s . — D u r i n g t h e y e a r 1 , 0 5 0 p a c k e t s
each containing 100 five-grain powders were issued for sale to Collectors. In 1896-97,
the number sent out was 1,385 and in the preceding year 2,399. That there should be
a steady decline in the sales of quinine effeeted by Revenue officials is not surprising
when it is remembered that the powders are now on sale at all Post offices. It was
suggested in the last Administration Report that it might be advisable in the future to
rely solely on the Post offices for the distribution of quinine, tut it was decided in
G.O., No. 128, Revenue, of 30th March 1898, that it would be premature at present to
discontinue the sales by Revenue officials. The price of each packet of 100 five-
grain powders was raised during the year from Re. 1 to Rs. 1-8-0.
( c ) S a l e o f q u i n i n e a t P o s t o f f i c e s . —A
s
t h i s f o r m s t h e s u b j e c t o f a d e t a i l e d r e p o r t
to be submitted to Government on 1st September, it is only necessary here to give a
brief summary of the working of this agency for the distribution of quinine. In G.O.,
No. 1073 of 18th December 1897, the price of each five-grain powder was raised from
2 pies to 3 pies. This change caused considerable pressure of work at the Head office,
as it was necessary to colleet all the money realized by the sale of quinine at them two-
pie rate and to re-adjust the permanent advances held by Postmasters before the close
o f
t h e y e a r . W h e n t h e s y s t e m o f s e l l i n g q u i n i n e a t P o s t o f f i c e s w a s f i r s t i n t r o d u c e d ,
the price fixed for each five-grain powder was pies to correspond with the price
charged in Bengal, but in accordance with instruetions received from the Government
of India, the rate for the Madras powders was reduced to 2 pies, while the
powders continued to be sold at 3 pies. it is too early at present to form any
conclusion as to the effect of the enhanced price on the sales, but it is hoped that there
will be no falling off in the demand. During the year 425 packets were sent out as was
permanent advances, i.e ., as stock to be held by Postmasters and the number of packets
sold, and for which cash was remitted to this office was 8,605.
(d ) Extension of the, plantations.—In view of the increasing demand for quinine
and the inadequaey of the existing plantations to meet the requirements of the Medical
Stores, &amp;c., it was decided in G.O., No. 140 of 10th. March 1898, that, in addition to
the purchase of bark from private growers, it was necessary that the plantations should
be extended. Sanetion was accorded on the 12th February to the opening of 80 acres
of forest land within the boundaries of the Hooker Estate, and the work was com-
menced on the 14th February. By the end of March, the 80 aeres of forest had been
and the land will he planted during the south-west monsoon. it is proposed
to work the new extensions on a fifteen-Year coppice rotation. From the 8th to the 15th
year there will be small crops from thinnings and prunings, and in the meantime, the
crop from the old plantations will be supplemented lay the purchase of bark from
private growers.
(e) Supply of cinchona seed from jumaica.— As mentioned in paragraph V of
this report, two pounds of officinalis seed were received from Jamaiea. The growth
of the plants raised from the Jamaiea seed received in May 1896 has been better than
that of the plants raised from Dodabetta seed, and as the number of seedlings required
annually will be much larger than was anticipated when the request was made for two
pounds of seed to be supplied each year, it is advisable that the quantity be increased
if possible to five pounds in future.
(f) Fusel oil.— In view of the difficulty experienced in obtaining an adequate
supply of fusel oil, it was suggested to Government that, as this oil is a bye-product
in the distillation of spirits, a reference might be made to the Board of Revenue to
ascertain whether it would be possible to obtain a supply locally. The Deputy Com-
missioner of Salt, Abkári and Customs Department reported that fusel oil m quantity
can onl y be obt ai ned Ai n t he manuf act ur e of spi r i t s f r om wor t pr epar ed f r om ei t her
raw or malted grain which is about 3 to 5 gallons per 10,000 gallons of proof-spirit
and that the wort prepared in this country from sugar or molasses yields so small a
proportion of feints that the fusel oil is not separated. The price of this oil in the
European markets has risen considerably owing, in all probability, to the demand
created by the establishment of quinine factories in Java.