THE RALLI ROAD UNDER CONSTRUCTION, 1921. THIS ROAD WAS BUILT BY THE FOREST DEPARTMENT AND RUNS UP THE GORGE OF THE SUTLEJ RIVER, UPPER BASHAHR, N. W. HIMALAYA

CAVE SUPPOSED TO BE INHABITED BY A DEMON TO WHOM GOATS WERE SACRIFICED BY THE COOLIES. THE DEMON WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE CAUSE OF ALL THE FATAL ACCIDENTS INCIDENTAL. TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE RALLI ROAD, UPPER BASHAHR

factor which dominates the situation and which is no longer open to dispute or question, even by the most timid of Finance Departments, is the actual proof afforded that money spent in opening out communications, whatsoever the type considered suitable by the experts, is a sound financial policy. The case of buildings is in a different category. Omitting the strongest reason, the humanitarian, it is good business to house the staff well since a man in sound health is obviously capable of undertaking more and better work than one incapacitated by fever, etc. That this truth is well recognized in commercial circles is evidenced by the standard of accommodation provided for their staffs by the great commercial concerns engaged throughout the East. From my own personal observations during 1925, though a great advance has been made over conditions existing fifteen to twenty years ago, a great deal would still appear to be required especially for the subordinate staffs. For the slackness exhibited in the past the various Governments are not solely to blame. We ourselves, every Conservator and Divisional Officer who has served in India, have to shoulder a portion of it. It may be suggested that this grave stigma on the Service, in so far as action is possible, should be removed (vide Sec. of State, Sir C. Wood and Duke of Argyll's opinions on this subject, II, p. 123).

Note.-Allusion has already been made in this chapter to the appointment of a Forest Officer to the Railway Board. Since going to press Mr. R. G. Marriott has kindly written as follows: "In 1923-4 the Railway Board arranged for an enquiry to be made by Mr. F. W. Allum, I.S.R., and Mr. R. N. Parker, I.F.S., into the sources of supply of wooden sleepers, and the methods of purchase ; also into the possibility of reducing the cost of sleepers, of using substitutes, and of making direct arrangements between the Railways and Forest Departments for the supply of sleepers. The report of this 'Sleeper Enquiry Committee contained several

recommendations, among which were the establishment of sleeper treating plant in certain Provinces and the holding of formal conferences from time to time, between the Forest Officers and Owners and the Chief Engineers of Railways in different parts of India, to discuss arrangements for sleeper supply and such questions as the price of sleepers, the number likely to be available under Working Plan prescriptions, etc. About the same time, the Railway Board appointed Mr. H. G. Norman White, of the Indian State Railways, with headquarters at Dehra Dun, to investigate the possibility of making more use of Indian timbers, other than teak, for railway carriage building. His report recommended, among other things

that practical trials should be made of a number of timbers after seasoning, and if necessary preservation treatment, by the Forest Research Institute. The recommendations made in these two reports could only be put into effect by co-operation between the Forest Research Institute and the Forest Departments of the Provinces and States on the one hand, and the Railway Board and Railway Administrations on the other. It was therefore decided that a Forest Officer should be lent temporarily to the Railway Board to act as a kind of liasion Officer between the two departments." It was to this post that Mr. Marriott was appointed in May, 1925.

CHAPTER XXI

ON THE PROGRESS OF THE YIELD AND REVENUE FROM THE

P

FORESTS, 1901-25

ERHAPS no single factor in the progress of Forest Administration in India is so striking as the continuous rise in the revenue from the forests since the first introduction of conservancy some sixty years ago. The most notable point in connection with this steady increase is the fact that every reorganization of the staff, coupled with grants made for opening out communications and so forth, has been followed by an upward leap in the revenue.

It is only in comparatively recent times that a more liberal policy has been followed, and even now, as this history clearly demonstrates, considerable reluctance is evinced in some quarters to make adequate grants. This is now a matter resting with the various Legislative Councils. It may be hoped that an appreciation of the proved fact will induce them to vote the Departmental budgets in a liberal spirit, since the grants may be regarded as certain revenueproducers, so long as an expert staff is in charge of the Department.

Preceding chapters will have furnished abundant proof that the statement above formulated is beyond criticism. It is proposed to give here a brief record of the upward progress made in yield, revenue and expenditure, reviewing more especially the various aspects of the yield from Minor

Products.

INDIA, INCLUDING BURMA

Yield of Produce. The progress in the outturn of timber and firewood (major produce) from all sources, i.e. Govern