Washington sentinel., 1899-01-07
TRADING WITH ENGLANp's INDIAN
EMPIRE.
C0ASAAzr L0tlynaL

EMPIRE.
Consular Journal
Right from the middle ages and in fact
earlier, the trade of India has been
sedulously sought after by the European
nations, and important as was that trade
1t is now of even greater magnitude and
value. The total area is no less
than one and three-auarter million
square miles, beside which the insignif
cant $1,000 square miles Of England and
Wales seems paltry indeed. This vast
region ranges over % degrees OF latitude
from the Sth to the 37th parallel, and
hence enjoys a diversity Of climate
which is largely responsible for the
comprehensive nature Of its vegetable
production. The population OF this
mighty empire is but little short Of 800,
Coo,ooo, a fact which shows the potential
purchasing power Of the people if only
their means could be made comn1ensu-
rate TO their wants. The bulk Of this
people live not in towns but in villages
of less than 2,Ooo population, the village
-
inhabited by the laborers on the land
adjoining. Thus, according to the 1891
census, only 27,25I,I76 persons were
domiciled in towns containing popu-
lation of more than 1000. The three
largest towns areas might be expected
where harbors are few-the three princi
pal ports, Calcutta, Bombay and Madras
The first named has d population of
100000, Bombay IS not very far behind
while Madras contains well over hall a
million people. But the most populous
region of India is the Ganges Valley.
The lofty Himalayas, with their snow
covered heights, not only shield north
ern India from possible invaders and
cold devastating winds, but by supplying
the Ganges with plentiful contribution
Of water and fertilizing mud, during the
summer months render the river basin
one of the most fertile on the globe. In
this great plain of Bengal, no fewer than
$1,000, 900 souls are entirely dependent
upon agricultural pursuits, the average
density of the population being we'll
over 100 to the square mile, while in
certain parts the population approxi-
mates to 1000 to the square mile. In
Lower Bengal, there are three crops
gathered during each year of wheat,
millet, oil seed, and the like, and two
rice crops. Ii must be remembered, of
course, that the bulk of the natives of
India are poor to the extent that the
average Englishman can hardly realize.
The establishment, how ever, Of mills
must increase the purchasing power of
the people by supplying them with a
little ready money, and when this force
has been longer at work there will
doubtless be a better opening Tor the
operations Of the Englishman trading
to the East Asshowing the importance
of the agricultural industry in India, it
is only necessary to state that something
like 400, 900, 900 acres-over 900, 700
square miles-are under cultivation,
and Of this total about one-sixth
is rendered cultivable by irrigation
schemes. No less than 10000, 900
acres are devoted to rice, about
40 900, 900 to mtllet, a like acreage to
pulse, and about $4,000, 900 to wheat.
Oil seeds are grown on 100000 acres,
while the acreage under cotton ranges
between 10 and II million acres. In ad
iition, however, to agricultural enter
prise. a large and increasing number Of
The population are engaged in minlng
and manufacturing pursuits. Thus the
annual output OF the Indian collieries is
about 8. 900, 600 tons, while as far back
Is 1894 the cotton mills running-I44--
5,7Ia.ooo spindles. The prin.
;ipal imports from the Empire are, in
order of importance; cotton goods and
am, metals, machinery, oils, sugar, pro-
yisions, manufactured silk, liquors,
wearing apparel, railway plant, hard
ware, coal SC, while the exports are
cotton, rice, jute, seeds, opium, coarse
cotton yarns and cloth, tea, hides and
skins, indigo, manufactured jute, wheat,
coffee, SC. The total trade of the
United Kingdom with India is valued at
so and 90 millions sterling.
And this enormous volume Of business
S bound to increase with the develop
man. or facilities