Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-07-02
BRITISH INDIA.


ernment of British India, contains many instructive
statements, both social and statistical, respecting
India, which, in the absence of more lively and
generally acceptable matter, will venture to give
/ in his own words
g will quote paragraph from account given by
1 the collector of Salem MIR. Bankes. He says Agri
cultural labor readily be obtained for Is Sd week.
the articles of daily consumption being cheap in the
4 reme. The government demand for of dry land
4 scarcely exceeds what laborer earn in
fortnight about which of labor will find him with
ample supply of salt for the whole year The signs
| Of improvement be mistaken When the people
throw down the walls of their villages and towns when
the cottage shines out among the distant fields when the
children drive the cattle to pasture and troops of women
pass fsaressy along the public roads seeking the
boring arkets these surely are different times TO those
that saw e ryo to the plough with his spear or his
matchbox in his hand; when the trade of the country
carried on bullocs- struggled from village to village
guarded ever by armed and the merchants feared to
engage in cultivation because such gains could not be
hid with sufficient The greatly Increased fertility
of the SOIL the increasing traffic, tie improved bazaars
the value that land under the present SYSTEM is
everywhere acquiring all show clearly that capital is ac
aud that the condition of the people is better
than il was. what have just quoted has refesvnvv
the Middle Presidency of Madras 'nsse state
refer to particular districts have reason 70
suppose that they do present fair specimens of what
exists throughout India But have still more con-
vncng proof not only of the increased of produc
tion but of the increased power OF consumption ofthe
For instances that the average urtaton of sugar
and molasses in the ten yea1s ending with 1912
about Al 900 cw the Average Importation of the last
ten years mas been 900 cwt The importation of
ru has risen from 233 600 gallons TO 100000 gallons,
having than doubled The importation of coffee has
increased from 1858 900 lbs to 1856 900 lbs the inn
poraon of cotton wool has increased from $780, 600 lbs
to 500 600 bs The value of the cotton piece goods
here is comfort for the manufacturers of this country
imported into Calcutta in 1893, a. f1OO 900; IN
1851 the value CO, 100000 Surely that is an in
in the power Of consumption which proves most
completely that the position of the people is Improved
If take the imports and exports for the whole OF India
find the result to be still more remarkable The total
value Of the imports in 1884, '35, G1, 1888 0Oo; in
1849, 80 it Ell, $4,000, being increase of no
less than 140 per cent. The exports during the same
period increased from "a 26 900 to 0OO being
increase of 112 per With all our boased trade
at home the value of exports during that period in
creased not III per cent but only 66 per cent The
improvement of India, measured by the increase OF
expectation, nearly double the ratio of improvement
in this country Can any one suppose that the condition
OF the people OF India was deeroraed during that Pc
Rod On the contrary, may not believe that in the
power Of production in increased industry, and in the
increased quantity of goods actually consumed in lndia
have good proof could be afforded of improve
mcnt in the condition Of the people of that country
/, CONNECTED gith this subject may refer very shortly
to the cultivation Of cotton. Many honorable gentlemen
behind me of know that the Indian cotton being
of coarse description and short staple is well
suited American cotton the manufactures of this
country; and the East India Company have for some
years taken pains to introduce the growth of American
into that country and n the Indian
climate favorable to it, happy say that that
point is quite ascertaned. In cotton farms
have been established which have turned
fully but since it has been taken up by the ryot they
have proved themselves to be competent TO cultivate
American cotton as their About fifteen hundred
acres IN district cultivated with American
cotton Three four Englishmcn have gone out and
have established cotton plantations the very seacoas
where there is difficulty in getting the article the
port of embarkation. About thousand FIVE hundred
acres in this position cultivated by Engshmen with
cotton. Some time snce the Government having ceased
to conduct those farms bought up the cotton at fixed
prices such portions Of il taken by
camille firms Having thus ascertaned that in almost any
part of the Madras presidency American cotton may be
grown that is great advantage. 1t s the duty of the
TO provide roads down to the port of embark
atom but the cultivation itself ought to be dealt with by
private entCrprse-in the same way indigo grows
in Bengal by British subjects by making arrangement
with the ryots to deliver at certain price. The trutl
is the whole question of the growth of American cotor
depends the certainty Of market in this country.
they certain of market they would grow it other
wise they will not there being te market in any
J other country
, An Hon MEMBER. The market here will depend on
} the price
] Sir c. WooD. Just so il depends on the price al
which the American cotton be grown and if il
to export it TO China surely it pay export it tc
this country The export has considerably increased
late years and have not the least doubt if il is taker
by those who interested in the importof cotton
into this country that may be grown any quantity
quired. native OF India, IN letter on this subject
that if they are in earnest he nothing pre-
vent their growing cotton that if they would form
Citations to provide capital and to superntend its judi
cious outlay they would not only render England indie.
pendent Of America for her cotton supplies but they them
selves would reap large amount Of benefit That is the
opinion Of very enlightened native of India who is
quanted with the feelings and prejudces Of his
ymen All that is wanted is British capital and that
persons shond be under the East INDIA Company
to encourage the cultivation by the ryots which they
could carry on much better than English settlers
These facts and figures of Mr. woop are very encou
raging. The annual Indian Finance accounts are, how
ever, Of less favorable complexion. These accounts
show declining expenditure again largely
increasing and revived deficit The total nett revenues
Of the last three years have been follows:
III 1919 49-'00..,................. .... f20, S3l
lS5O-' 20,249932
1901 5l-52."............,.,.......... 1892, ,039
Showing loss of G349, ,792 of in three years
On the other hand, the total charges we're
Il 1849l5 ,687, ,382
lS5O-'5l 5l."......................... 17,1T0,707
lool-0 l7,90l, 666
Showing an increased expenditure of El,213284 A
saving in the home charges has, however, extent
rectfed this largely yncreased Indian expenditure fol-
during the three years the charges dsbursed in England
have been reduced by nearly eG000OO and the conse
quence is that the deficit in the Indian finances for tn,
last year is only e469701 This increased expenditur,
in India is, Of course owing to the Burmese war but