The Sun.
London, England, 1864-12-02 00:00:00

But the principle on which railway success
depends was altogether opposed to the spirit in
which India was.governed ; and even now, alt hough
the authorities arc roused to energy about the rail-
ways, they continue to manifest a singular indif-
ference to the prosecution of the waterworks. Yet
a very little experience has shown that the returns
of such works are most profitable and that with
very trifling delay. The recent meeting of the
shareholders of the East India Irrigation and Canal
Company showed the shareholders a favourable
state of things, and the particulars given in the
report afford some indication of what may be
gained from thus administering to the wants of so
vast and populous a country. They have 178 miles
of canal and irrigation works in hand, from Soon-
kasa to the Pennair, and tt e cost of these 178
miles averages between £3,000 and £4,000 a mile.
These works are designed to irrigate a very large
tract of country at the rate of four reels an acre,
so that, reckoning four reals per 300,000 acres, the
irrigation of the first crop would be worth £120,000.
There would besides be the second crop to be
taken into calculation, so that the shareholders very
reasonably anticipate large annual returns. This
is one of those fortunate concerns in which both
sides are benefited. The ryot reaps far more ads
vantage from the irrigation of his land than the
promoters of the waterworks do by large dividends.
Irrigation of course greatly increases the produce of
the land, and while this is important with regard
to cereal produce, it is likewise of some consequence
in its effect on the cotton crop, which has been
proved by actual experiment to be nearly doubled
in value on irrigated lands. Though India has by
no means done all she might have done in the
matter of cotton supply, her interest in the question
is not yet over, and therefore this additional re-
commendation of her waterworks is not without
weight. The traffic returns are also expected to
be large, though in this the railway will prove
a formidable competitor. Still there must
always be cumbrous cargoes whose convey-
ance by rail would be costly and inconvenient
to the sender, and which, for many reasons, he
might prefer sending by water. Even in this coun-
try, with all our network of railways, our canals
are not idle, and therefore in a poor and dilatory
country like India there is no doubt that as a means
of traffic they will be in active demand. With
regard to irrigation, it seems a pity that the two
benefits should not be combined. In waiting for
larger and more costly works, pipes might be laid
down by the side of the railway lines which could
convey water to a great distance. On the principle
of our gas and sewer pipes, the much•needed water
could be carried as far as the railway went with
very little additional expense. It is to be hoped
that some enterprising company will take this means
of adding so largely to the benefits conferred upon
the wild and barren districts by the extension of
railways. So long as works of this kind prove pro-
fitable there is no fear that capitalists will not come
forward to assist in developing them. But it must be
remembered that preliminary expenses are always
heavy, and that the risks of floods, cyclones, &c.,
are great. The recent hurricane has necessarily
done some damage, though as yet it seems not much
has been heard of. The want of labour is another
difficulty, adding very seriously to the expense.
Under these circumstances, when private indivi-
duals are undertaking the works which ought pro-
perly to have been done by Government long years
since, it is the least which can bs expected that
every unnecessary obstacle should be cleared out of
the way, and that every facility should be given to
the prosecutors of such schemes, We trust the
local government will recognise this obligation, and
that before very long we may see railway lines and
water system carried throughout the whole country,
which will then start cn the race of progress with
a fair chance of success.

rHE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 2, 1864.

LITERATURE.

The Master of Marton. 3 vols. Hurst and
Blackett.

The author of " Contarini Fleming" entitled that
very enthralling biography a "psychological ro-
mance," being a history of the experiences of the soul
of its hero rather than a chronicle of his material
adventures. Somewhat of this character is the
story of the Master of Marton, more especially as
relates to ita fair heroine Janet Braude. The pecun
liarities of her temperament and the gradual de.
velopment of her character are very thoughtfully
and naturally portrayed and evidence the ability of
the writer. The incidents of the story are somewhat
improbable, and we cannot but think the episode
(for it is little more) of Janet's marriage, alto
gether a mistake. The similarity in the early
history of both hero and heroine is also improbable
and quite unnecessary. With these drawbacks
we may award a very cordial commendation to the
history of Janet Brande from the lonely days of
her impulsive, isolated girlhood to the happier epoch
of her matured excellence. Here is a glimpse of
Janet as the impetuous, restless pupil of a very de-
mure and matter-of-fact duenna, who condemns her
to a life of indefatigable and uninteresting hemming
of handkerchiefs and marking of the same, and other
kindred and equally attractive occupations,