The Sun.
London, England, 1856-11-04 00:00:00

Till' EAST INDIES-COLONIAL PI?O.DUCTIONS.

The chairman of the East India Company pre-
sents his compliments to the Editor of The StrA,
and begs to enclose a collection of papers upon a
subject of great public interest both to India and
this country.
East India House, Nov. 1,185 G.

Lieut.-Colonel Goodwyn, chief enzineer in the
Lower Provinces of Bengal, having addressed a
paper to the local government pointing out tbn
abundance of iron in India, and suggesting the
means to be employed for working the ore, it has
been deemed expedient to give publicity to his
communication, together with a memorandum pre-
pared at the East India House, showing the mea-
sures which have been adopted from time to time,
with the view of directing the attention of British
capitalists to the iron-producing districts of India.
Further reports on the subject may be shortly ex-
pected, and any new matter therein contained will
be published in like manner forgeneral information.

FROM CHIEF ENGINEER, LOWER PROVINCES, TO THE SECRE-
TARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF BENGAL GENERAL
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
Dated Fort William, the 27th June, 1855.
Sir,--Iron beitg the most valuable metal which is known
for its use us every art, and more particularly for its ex-
tended application to pin poses of engineering and building,
I am induced not so much to bring the subject to the notice
of his Honour the Lieutenant-Governor, who has I know a
great interest in it, as to point to its abundance in this
country, and the great necessity that exists for establish-
ing the means of working the native ore. -2. Its abundance has been 'testified to by atibost '6-very
journal in India, and confirmed by many reports, although
the details may have varied with the views of the reporters,
whilst I have myself seen its extensive existence in several
parts of the country; and having witnessed the native
mode of working it with a considerable percentage of good
metal gained, can state that there is the richest prospect of
advantage if more scientific means and liberal capital were
employed.
3. Of its deficiency as a manufactured article. I cannot
write too strongly; it is everywhere complained of, and
not more so than by the department, public works. Need
I say that we are working with perishable material when
we ought to have permanent; in wood where we should
use iron, and in brick where by the means that iron would, give us we should be using stone. This deficiency is be-
coming daily more apparent, and our work is cramped and
paralysed from the extremely limited supply from England,
added to which the price has been so much advanced and
the freight raised so high that there is little or no relief to
be expected from the home market.
That the Indian iron can not only be successfully worked,
but structurally applied, was proved many years ago by
Colonel Presgrave, formerly mint master at Sanger, who
smelted the iron in the neighbourhood, rolled it in the mint
rollers, fashioeed it into bars and rods, and then erected an
excellent su.speesion bridge near Saugor entirely from the
ore in the vicinity. Its manufacture in India is a subject
of prominent importance, and scarcely less so than the es-
tablishia nt of railways and electric telegraphs.
That the iron of India was formerly allowed to be so long
in its native state may be traced to the corrupt and de-
spotic sovereignties by which the country was swayed ;
but there are now, under the British Government, the
strongest motives, some of which only I have urged, for
bringing this most valuable metal into extensive use, placed
as it is by Providence in our very grasp.
4. I will not here enter into details of the profits or per-
centage gained by native processes, or the nature of those
processes ; suffice it to notice here, that the result is most
satisfactory as a guarantee to enterprise, whilst the speci-
mens that I have seen, and which are extant, show the
metal to be of superior quality where attention has been
paid to locality ; and if the postulates I have advanced be
admitted, I deem that the Government would do well to
expend a certain sum to place the matter beyond all possi-
ble aoubt.
5. As regards Central India, the Gwalior and Jubbulpore
districts and the neighbourhood of Hazareebaug place the
question of the existence of good iron beyond a doubt; but
for the more ready consumption of the presidency and its
vicinity it would probobly be worth while to enter on ex-
periments in the valley of the Damooda, near Raneegunge,
on the Brohnaing, in Cuttack, in Assam, and near Pala-
mow, and an outlay of from one lac to four lacs of rupees,
according to the extent of the operations, would, I am
sure, end in the most advantageous results.
6. Its modus operandi will be to call upon the authorities
for an immediate brief return of the general character of
the iron ; information which has at various times been
obtained in each district in which it is found ; to select
from these, under advice, two, three, or four districts, with
especial reference to local facilities for the object in view,
and if possible of after conveyance; to decide to spend not
exceeding 4,00,000 rupees (four lacs) upon the whole ; to
erect at once moderate-sized blast furnaces at each place,
the blast engines, &c., being constructed in Calcutta, while
the furnaces are being built the iron-stone, or ore, fuel,
and flux being simultaneously collected in quantity, in
readiness for the starting and keeping up the supply, and
placing each furnace in charge of some person who has
been used to the work, and who may be found in the Cal-
cutta foundries, giving to them certain latitude, to vary
the proportions and record the results, and give a large
premium to the moat successful to send down the first pigs
made to Calcutta, and upon the result of this examination
and the reports of the blast furnace operations and
local supplies there will be no difficulty in making
over the whole to those who will complete the scheme,
by supplying all the rolling mills, puddling fur-
naces, and continuing the manufacture through all its
stsges, either returning the outlay to the Government, if
made a condition, or not, as may be considered most equi-
table at the time.
7. I believe that no complete analysis by a regularly
trained iron viewer and smelter has yet been faithfully ob-
tained, and it is very probable that greater value may, on
the result of such analysis, be found in some localities that
will materially affect the prospect of working them, and I
would fain hope that under effective and scientific manage-
ment our public works may at no distant time receive that
aid from native iron, without which its energies must be
comparatively circumscribed.—l have, &c.,
(Signed) H. GOODWYN, Lieut.-Col.,
Chief Engineer, Lower Province.

MEMORANDUM.
IRON ORES IN THE VALLEY 01? THE NERBIIDDA.
In connection with the introduction of rail ways into India
the Court of Directors, towards the close of the year 1830,
called the attention of the government of India to the ma-
nufacture of iron in that country. The court observed that
little doubt could be entertained of the capability of India
to produce this most important article, but that faci-
lities were wanted; and information required, before any
expectation would be entertained that enterprise and
capital could be directed to the promotion of this ob-
ject. Among the localities represented as the most eligible
for carrying on ironworks, the court enumerated Sikree
Gully, near Rajmahal • the banks of the Darnoodah
River and parts of Sylhet and Beerbhoom ; and a desire
was expressed that the attention of Professor Oldham, the
geological surveyor then just appointed, should bo drawn
to the subject.
While engaged in surveying the vicinity of Sikree Gully
it was suggested that Professor Oldham should be deputed
as early as possible to the Nerbudda Valley, to which loca-
lity it was observed too much importance could not be at-
tached. No very minute account of the mineral resources
of this tract could be expected until a scientific geological
survey should have been instituted. A favourable estimate
had, however, been formed by Mr. Jacob, the assistant
engineer and geologist to the Bombay and Baroda Railway
Company, who declared them to be inexhaustible. The
following is a brief summary of the reports made by this
igne ntthl
ee me
xa na
md
iunria nt
igotnhoeffitvhee mNoenr
bt hs in
udaa wmhirneehrh w a
le
districts. as employed
The
deposits of iron, ore in this tract are principally situated
between Poonassa, Chandghur, and Jubbulpore, and the
tract of country in question will be found delineated in
the annexed map.

VALLEY OF THE NEEBUDDA,
Mr. Jacob arrived at Poonassa on the 12th December,lBs3. At this place there is a large deposit of
(carlsonite of lime and magnesia), situate a mile westward
dolomite
om
tohfethoeuttcorwopn.beliinhgefdoeupromsittleiesterelpeoregstehn.ted
lhae
stone
is considered superior to limestone. From Poonassa Mr.
Jacob proceeded to Chandghur, on the north side of the
river, distant about 12 miles, where the red liamatite ore of
sfo inexhaustible,
a flux
iron abounds. It is described as of surpassing richness,
yielding 63.4 per cent. of metal, the theoretically pure ore
giving only 69.34 per cent. At one of the mines the ore
lies in rounded nodules on the surfaie, the depth varying
from 6 in. to 10 ft. It is dug out with the greatest facility.
In addition to the loose ore in the vicinity of this mine
the ground for hundreds of acres is strewn with it, and
every stream washes down quantities of the purest kind,
being the debris from the various veins intersected in the
river's course. The river Nerbudda.is represented as cutting
four great veins within the short space of one mile, one of
them having a breadth of 122 ft. The veins run almost ver-
tically into the banks. Mi. Jacob adds :--" It is needless
to dwell on the many places in the district where iron ore
abounds; the deposit may be looked upon as inexhausti-
ble. The loose ore, which ought to be first used, would
be collected and placed at the depots for the low price of
is. 31d. per ton. My camp was four miles from the mine,
and the villagers offered to bring any quantity to it for
that price."
The district for miles round is dense jungle;
the timber, Mr. Jacob adds, is of the highest specific
gravity, and admirably suited to the manufacture of char-
coal, and the suppis estimated to last for many years. He observes, inorVer, that an easy communication
may be opened with the coal mines of Hoshungabad
and Nursing,pore, and that charcoal with proper coalings
mTmheenpaleadceaiss
saitpuraotpederinsitthee fßorritatnehitreornritmoryan.ufactory
cannot possibly cost more than 4s. per ton. Poonassa is
me:upon the following grounds :
2. The soil is fertile, the place healthy and abundantly
su3p.pllietdiswmitohstwcaotevroantieanitilysesaistounal.ed
with
the country around is flat, thei projected railway
bulpore passes in the vicinity, and the dolomite
half-way between Hoshungabadregardt obtoat trade;
jialnudnebtds!
Jcl:Fsbell,tublYlhp.eorree,asatrweatrhd: iron mines of Tendnkeri on the N‘ or-
varying from 15 to 50 feet. The deposit, surfacei at depths
budda. The ore here is found beneath the
quantity, inferior
w h tt o
•ogli very fine
red hermatite ore, is represented to be vastly the Chandghur iron, both in quality and the facilities for working are also much less. Still it isle
represented that, under very unfavourable circumstances,
the inhabitants of Tendukeri manufacture malleable iron
. _

* The direction of the trunk line of railway connectinn•
Western India with Calcutta has been definitively settled°.
It commences at Bombay, and, after passing the ghauts, pro-
ceeds along the Valley of the Nerbudda to Jubbulpore,
where it will be met by a branch from the East Indian
Railway, issuing from the main line at or near• Mirzapore.
Bombay will also be connected by rail with Madras, and thus
the iron districts of the Nerbudda will have the advantage of
railway communication with all parts of India, and easy ac-
cess will be obtained for their produce to every market in pie
countl7.

for 4/, 161. per fem. ekt Jebbelpore, still further east,
rich deposits are found of the micaceous variety of spe-
cular iron. It is wrought principally at Punnaghur, 15
miles northeeast of the toe* of Jubbulpore,and commands
the Bettie price iu the iriarliet as the iron of. Tendukeri.
In Oct., 1855, the Court of Directors desired t be in.
formed whether in the opinion of the Bombay Government
Poonassa possessed the advantages represented by Mr.
Jacob. They
were anxiDus tied no opportunity should be
neglected for opening
007 field that might be presented for
the employment of private capital in developing the mine-
ral resources of India; bet as it *Ws net expected that
English capitalists would come forward for the purpose of
working mines in India with the scanty information hi-
therto published, they desired that the proper inquiries
might be instituted as. to the capabilities of this district
far producing; manufaeteritig, end eransporting the metal.
In Marcie 1856, the Bombay Government were informed
than, an " iron viewer" would be sent out from England to
prosecute investigations into the mineral resources of that
presidency, and the Government were further authorised,
in the event of favourable localities being found, to take
measures for the experimental manufaetere of iron.
In the meantime Professor Oldham, having been de-
puted t) the Nerbudda Valley, proceeded to the examina-
tion of the iron•producing districts ; and having com-
pleted his investigations in the vicinities of Poonassa and
Chandghur, submitted a report on the subject to the Bom-
bay Government in April, 1856, from which the following
particulars are derived.
Iron ore Is found in this district in two foetus
a gravel or detritus of partially decomposed hmmatitic iron;
and 2dly, as a distinct bed or vein of similar ore in a solid
and undecomposed state. One of these gravelly deposits
occurs at Chandghur. It covers an area of a quarter of a
mile, the thickness varying from four or five feet to a mere
scattering of loose pebbles. Another of these loose depo-
sits occurs about seven miles north-east of Chandghur,
near the villages of Bombe, and Nanera. A third deposit'
of the same description is ei ward of the river
Towa, having a. greater thio se an either of the other
two, its depth being about ten feet. The average yield of
the ore is estimated at about 55 per cent. of metal.
In addition to these, a regular vein, or seam, of rich
specular iron is worked close to the gravelly deposit at
Nanera; and this is stated`by Professor Oldham to be the
most valuable source of ore in the whole district. It varies
in thickness from two to eight and ten feet.
The seams of iron ore cut by the Nerbudda river, men-
tioned by Mr. Jacob, one of which measured 122 feet in
breadth, are described by Professor Oldham as utterly use-
less as practical sources of iron ore, in consequence of the
scanty distribution of the ore, and the hardness of the rock.
"I am convince,l," he observes, " that the cost of mining
the ore would be ten times the whole value of the metal
obtained."
Professor Oldham does not agree with Mr. Jacob in the
estimate formed by the latter of the inexhaustible supply
of iron ore is the Poonassa and Chandghur district, but is
prepared to admit " that there is a large amount of very
rich, valuable, and easily wrought ores here available."
A difference of opinion exists also between Mr. Jacob and
the superintendent of the geological survey as to the ex-
pediency of selecting Poonassa for the site of an iron manu-
factory. Nonage being situate on the south bank of the
Nerbudda, and Chandghur being on the opposite side of
the river, the ore has to be brought for a distance of 12
miles, with a bad crossing of the river, where the cue has
to bo unloaded from the carts, carried in baskets down to
the water, shipped in small boats, carried up a steep bank
on arrival at the other side, and reloaded in carts for con-
veyance to Poonassa. The price of the ore is consequently
Bs. per ton at Poonassa, while at Chandghur and its vicinity
it could be supplied at from 4s. 6J. to 63• per ton. The
fact of Poonassa being in British territory appears to Pro •
fessor Oldham to be of very trivial importance, as he could
not ascertain that there could be any material distinction
between the value of such iron works, whether situate in
British or native territory.
Professor Oldham farther differs from Mr. Jacob in his
view as to the abundance of fuel in this district (which
comprises an area of 350 square miles) for the reduc-
tion of the ore. The timber, he observes, is small, and
the useful or hardwood trees form but a very small propor-
tion of the whole. Professor Oldham adds, " I have now
seen much of the densest jungle and meat heavily wooded
parts of India—in the Terai, on the north-eastern frontier,
&c., and I have never seen any plane which, without the
strictest conservancy, and consequent limitation of supply,
could have supplied a couple of good blast furnaces for a
couple of years within a circle of eight to ten miles of the
place." A calculation follows, showing the recent con-
sumption of fuel in the district, in proportion to the quan-
tity of metal poducel in the native furnaces in operation ;
and after making a deduction of 75 per cent. for the more
economical consumption which may be anticipated under
an improved management, the professor concludes by ob-
serving, "So far, therefore, from Mr. Jacob's statement,
that the supply would last for many years, being in accord.
ante with the facts, it would not, I am satisfied, keep a
single furnace yielding 100 tons of iron per week in blast for
many months. I would add that I feel equally satisfied
that if Mr. Jacob were writing his report in 1856 instead of
1854, this would be his statement also after the experience
of the intervening years • but the fact still remains that
there is a large amount of iron which, were fuel accessible,
could be easily economised, and it will ba worth while to
consider whether this rich ore might not with profit be
conveyed to some other locality where the circumstances
are more favourable.
It is stated by Mr. Jacob that at Tendukeri and Jubbul-
pore, the inhabitants, under very favourable circumstances,
manufacture malleable iron at-4/. -16110iir ton. Professor
Oldham observes that by the wasteful native method of
smelting, the cost of cutcha iron, or the first produce of
the smelting of the ore, 'is about 41. 12s. per ton, but that
this iron when reduced to pucka or useable iron, commands
a price of 121. 15s. per ton, and that these prices_ barely
yield a profit on the manufacture as at present carried
oat.

The consideration of the question of the supply of coal
within the Nerbudda Valley is deferred by Professor Old-
ham until he should have had an opportunity of visiting
other localities. He mentions, however, that the discovery
of ibis mineral in two localities where it was hitherto un-
known to exist, has rewarded the researches of Mr. Medli-
cott, who has been engaged in the survey of this district.
It is obvious that the discovery of coal in sufficient quan-
tity, and fair quality, is the greatest desideratum, and this
postulate being granted, the views of Professor Oldham in
regard to the iron of the Nerbudda Valley would probably
become as sanguine as those of Mr. Jacob.

Xi:J.IIION IRON.
The existence of iron mines in the province of Kumaon
has been long known. In 1854 Lieut. Col. Drummond, of
the Bengal establishment, was deputed to'this province to
carry on the investigations necessary to satisfy the British
public that sufficient inducement existed for the invest-
ment of capital in iron works in India. Col. Drummond
entered on his duties on the 18th Oct., 1854, and continued
his researches for a period of about seven months. His
inquiries appear to have been principally directed
to the Bhabur district of Kumaon, and the results may be
briefly summed up as follows :
In order to obviate the necessity of carriage through a
mountainous country it became an object of importance to
trace the existence of iron as neat the plains as possible, and
' Colonel Drummond's first inquiries were consequently di-
rected to the tract of country at the foot of the hills. At
Dechowree, the most western point of Colonel Drummond's
route, a rich iron ore was discovered, associated with clay.
Hole the deposits are stated to be readily discoverable not
only by the large masses lying on the surface, but also
by the beds being extensively exposed by deep ravines. IA
one part the solid bed of ore is exposed to a thickness of 30
feet, in another it measured 24 feet, in a third it exceeded
the depth of 50 feet. " Where a bed of such rich mate-
rial," says Mr. Sowerby, one of the civil engineers con-
nected with the East India Railway Company, " is ascer-
tained to be at least 50 feet thick, a few feet more or less
cannot be of much importance." The extent of ground
examined at Dechowree was about a rejig', and the
quantity of ore at and near the surface was estimated to
yield, if smelted, 100,000 tons of pig iron.
From Dechowree Col. Drummond pursued his course in
an easterly direction, as exhibited on the annexed map,
passing by Loha Bhurbur, Kaleedoongee, Chowsilla, Bee-
japer°, Jham, Burgote, and Burragur. The length of the
Route was about 60 miles, and rich deposits of iron ore
were discovered at most of these places, varying in thick-
nsss from 25 to 50 ft. At Loha Bhurbur the ore is associated
with clay, not mere clay impregnated with iron, but solid
ironstone. Huge• blocks are here represented as lying ex-
posed on the surface. Several of these were measured,
and found to be upwards of 10 ft. long, six broad, and
four feet in thickness, each of which it is said, if smelted
into pig iron, would yield upwards of three tons of metal.
These blocks were not occasional, but frequent and com-
mon over the whole distance traversed, which was a mile
in length, by a width of 175 yards, It was estimated that
upwards of 60,000 tons of metal would be obtained from
the ore lying on the surface. The beds in the route pursued
by Colonel Drummond fully show that an inexhaustible
supply of workable iron ore, yielding the quality of iron
which is most useful for railway purposes, can be obtained
in an accessible tract, along the outer face of the lower
Himalaya ranges, close to the plains.
. The existence, however, of rich iron ore in abundance is
neimportant, unless accompanied by facilities for working
the iron and transporting it to the markets or places of
shiynent. Thefie advantages are not wanting in some of
the localities described by Colonel Drummond. It was
consequently determined that a model mining experiment
should be carried on by the Government at Dechowree,
rdi n of labour,
abcnr
where iron ore (better suited for smelting than the pureri,
one of the interior) together with fuel, limestone, fire clay,
and
nr reAde ta :u1 ypba commandosetn foundfuthrne aiewne owrfkass greatwater,andaeeegly abundance.
a cheap
erected supplya Dechowree,
beingcompleted two experiments
were made to test its efficiency for the smeltingiof iron ore. ,
These trials were made in March and April, 1856, but
owing to the want of experienced workmen the results
were not so successful as could have been desired. The
metal, however, which was taken out of the furnace when
remelted " flowed out in a very liquid state into small
pigs, which when fractured showed them to be iron of the
very best quality, known in
wtahhleidcithe can rirxadtueatosynNiayou.dl grey metal
pigs, first quality."
" The operations of smelting," observes Mprr.aSeotiweeelrby,
e
a"requireac-
quaintancelong
apprenticeshipa n
with
amountthe of
fo mtha elau
subject
business of a fbe
n a acquiredo e
ebry.
p-
k
There being but one such man (Mr. Davies) on the works,
he continued to exert himself until quite exhausted, with
the aid of native labourers, by whom the work was kept
going for several hours ; but from the amount of physical
exertion required and the heavy nature of the implements,
together with the tierce character of the work, to which
they were quite unaccustomed, they were unable to keel,
the furnace in proper order."
The qualifications of natives as smelters, it is added,
" have not yet been properly tested, but from what
has been seen of them, and from their previous knowledge .
and their observations and remarks during the progress of
wi
f well o
selected,
the experiments, it is believed that they will ultimately
become very fair workmen. But in any future works un-
dertaken it would b© exceedingly injudicious to depend on
them ; it would be better and more prudent to incur the
expensesmelters o fa
accustomed
and good useful men in other departments, could, when
the natives were trained to take part in the work, be the
means of extending the number of furnaces, and other
stgeinrege•d o utte a
the sufficientwer numberhe,
at the would i shortcoming
the in respect of European workmen
outset end prove to be a false economy."
The facts before enumerated sufficiently demonstrate the
exiitoce of iron ore in mat abundance is the Bhgbur dis

In despatches dated in 1855 the Court of Directors ob-
served—" The result of the examination of the Rajmahal,
and also of the Cossyah Hills, by Professor Oldham and
the other officers of the geological survey, is on the whole
unfavourable as regards the existence of iron in quantities
available for any extensive demand."
With respect to the Damooda Valley, Professor Oldham,
in his report before mentioned, arrives at the conclusion,
" that, under existing conditions, the manufacture of
iron, oa any efficient scale, and on the European system,
cannot be undertaken in thisdistrict with a certain prospect
of such a return as would justify the great outlay required.
The conditions are believed to have varied considerably
since 1852, as Pixieish bar iron was then selling at Calcutta
at from 6/. to 8/. per ton. But Mr. Henwood, who at a
later period (1854) was deputed by the Government of In-
.dia to inspect the Bardwan coal fields, with the view ;:o the
discovery of iron ore, gives no favourable report of the
existence of the metal in any abundance in the vicinity of
Raneegunge. "Four of the localities," he says, "which we
have examined, are, in our opinion, too poor in iron to offer
any inducement to the smelter." "Others," he adds, " are
not rich enough to be profitably wrought. As our search
for icon has been so unsuccessful it appeared superfluous to
make inquiries respecting facilities for transit." It is
stated by Mr. Henwood that in the vicinity of Ranee-
gunge the Bengal Coal Company have already possession of
the field, and have commenced the experiment of smelting
iron.

MADRAS.
In Deceraber, 1850, the court addressed a despatch to the
government of Madras, calling attention to the subject of
iron works within that presidency.
The Madras government observed, in reply, that the va-
rious reports for 17 years on the affairs of the Porto Novo
Iron Company would have put the court in possession of
the means and operations of that company, which were
then manufacturing superior ones at Beypoor. It was
added that additional capital alone was wanting to deve-
lope the resources of the presidency as regards iron, the loca-
tions of which were stated to have been sufficiently shown
in the correspondence which had taken place relating to the
collection of specimens for the Great Exhibition.
Subsequently an arrangement was concluded with the
Indian Iron Company, the leading feature of which was
the grant of fresh leases for 30 yea to a new company of
the districts held on lease by the old iron company, such
leases to contain provisions for securing the due working of
the iron ores on an enlarged scale.
In 1855 some purchases of iron were made by the go-
vernment from tho new company at the price of 130 rupees
per ton.

BOMBAY.
In 1850 the court directed the institution of inquiries
with regard to the capabilities of Western India as regards
the production of iron.

The reports received in reply show that iron ore exists
in many parts of the presidency of Bombay, and that in
those districts iron is manufactured to a small extent by
the natives for their own use. In consequence, however,
of the general scarcity of fuel, and the wasteful manner
in which the process of smelting is conducted, the iron
imported from England seems to have the advantage both
as regards quality and price. With reference to the
iron of Belgaum, Professor Oldham observes : " The
absence of economical fuel, and the scattered mode
of occurrence of the ores, appear to be abundantly su`E-
cient to preclude the profitable extraction of the metal."
Statistical Office, East India House, Oct. 3, 18)G.