The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-05-15
MODERN INDIA.
<a"pid Progress Being Made in Baroda,
the Nations Garden.

Al the following report Special
agent w. A. Graham Clark describes
wnat Is being done in the state of Ba-
tt yua IN the development of that sec
LII OF India and the we'll directed eff
t orts pe1ng made to establish indus
srIal plants which will require machin-
S.y tnat can be supplied by the United
states. Mr.. Clark writes:
inola is not nation, but simply a
coiection of Heterogeneous people The
mass or population, in spite of their
suntanned skins, are Aryans, but the
SeuoW race is represented on the north
east borders, while the Coromandel
coast section consists in large part of
sne colored race. The religious beliefs
Sie numerous and range from Budd-
nIsts In the east, pagans in the north
ana Mohammedans in the northwest,
through the great bulk of Hindusts in
the center to Buddhists and Christians
IN the extreme south. The methods of
government are as diverse as the peo-
PIE: The British only claim portions
OF the country as British territory, and
the numerous native maharatas, ruling
masses ranging from a few thousands
to IL ,000,000 subjects, are more in the
position OF allies than actual subjects.
many paw nothing toward the English
government, British law does not run
IN their territory, they levy their own
taxes and tariff duties, issue their own
money and maintain their own stand
ing army. Their allegiance to the Brit
!sn crown is, however, evidenced by the
5rltlsh resident, who is stationed at
thelr capital. These native states COM
prise two-fifths of the area and over
one-nfth of the population of all India,
ana knowledge of the policy and
plans of their rulers is frequently of
Importance to the foreign exporter.
one or the most progressive Of the
native rulers is the Gaekwar of Baro-
ia. He is one of the trio of Indian
princes who alone are entitled to a
salute of Fl guns, the other two being
the Nizam of Hyderabad and the Ma
harajah of Mysore. Baroda state is
nontrfbutary and has a revenue of
some S4OO0.0OO year. 1t has an area
OF 5000 square miles and some 1000, 900
inhabitants. and lies mainly between
BOMBAY and Ahmedabad. 1t Is not one
continuous strip of land, but is scatter
er over Gujarat and into the peninsula
OF kathlawar, several of the sections
being separated from the main part of
the state by other territory. 1t lies in
one of the most favored agricultural
sections and Is called the Garden of
India Luxuriant crops are grown of
grain. cotton, tobacco, opium, sugar
cane and oil seeds. 1t is one of the best |
places in India to study the native arts
and industries. The ruling race are |
Mahrattas, but the mass of the people |
are Gujarats. The Parses are few in |
number, but the leaders in manufac-
turing, and their town at Navassri |
IRE worshippers first settled on the In
dian coast The present Dewan, or |
prime minister, of Baroda is a Parsee. |
The capital city, also called Baroda,
contains 100000 inhabitants and is an
important station on the Bombay,
Baroda railway. 1t is the exporting and
importing center for the state and has
some fine streets lined with houses with
carved teak wood fronts; also parks,
palaces. public buildings, etc. 1t has
n fay- rrNv-lr tx,xA - 81
import duty is levied on all merchan-
disc entering the state and also an ex-
port duty on certain exports. The i'm
port duty averages about 2h per cent.
There Is expected to be quite an in
crease to the industries of Baroda at an
early date. and one that will call for
good quantities of foreign. materials.
The state has employed foreign experts
In various lines on many occasions, but
has recently added new official, known
rs the Economic Adviser to the State
or Baroda. The man selected, r. c.
is an American and will
have charge Of the work of exploiting
the resources and developing and en-
couraging the industries Of the country.
His first work has been to get capital
lists to organize bank under the state
patronage Heretofore high rates of in
terest have been charged the small
dealers by the native money lenders |
and the wealthy class have kept their
money In Bombay. The bank has been
with 20 lakhs capital but if
The present plans are carried through,
I Will have a capital of so lakhs Of )
rupees, which is over $1,600,000. More :
over, its head bank at Baroda will have
branches at Ahmedabad and Bombay. {
According to the custom on which most {
indian banks are organized only a DOR :
ion of the capital stock will be called :
n, and the remainder be left with the {