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Report on the best sources for obtaining sleepers for railways in the North-Western Provinces, or to the south from Delhi or Agra. This reference has no connection with the enquiries made in the first part of this communication.

The sources to be discussed would be:

Ist.-Timber floated down the Jumna, deodar and 'cheel.' 2nd.-Timber floated down the Ganges, deodar and 'cheel.' 3rd.-Sâl timber from the Kumaun and Gurwhal Forests. 4th.-Sâl timber from Nepal.

5th.-Sâl timber from the Oudh Forests.

Regarding the two last-named sources I have addressed Captain Wood, but regarding the former three I beg that you will furnish me with the needful data, showing the quantities you expect to fell annually in and to bring down annually from the different forests during the next five years, from 1870 to 1874; the depots at which this timber should be delivered; and the description, length and average cubical contents of logs to be brought to depots, and the quantity of sleepers 10 feet by 10 inches by 5 inches that you would find it convenient to cut in the forests or at depots." Brandis concluded as follows:

"Efficient and special supervision must be employed for these extended timber operations, otherwise there will be waste of money, material and damage to the progress of the demarcation, protection and improvement of the forests Where timber operations are carried on on a large scale, it will probably be necessary to employ special officers for the work, who should, however, give due assistance in all operations of conservancy and improvement.

The system of accounts must be placed on a thoroughly efficient footing.

For each depot there must be a set of detailed rules regarding the keeping and disposal of timber, and responsible officers must be in charge of depots.

If these precautions are strictly observed, the operations now contemplated by Government will, I trust, eventually prove beneficial to the development of the Department. Timber operations are an excellent school for Forest Officers, and efficiently conducted timber operations on account of Government are the first step towards a sound and safe system of selling the timber in the forest, which is the end towards which all our work must be directed."

Subsequent experience has shown how true these opinions were. The great extension of railways at this period did much to place the Forest Department on its legs and enabled it to take its place in the administration of the country.

In a further note Brandis dealt with depots and staff.

"The question whether the Forest Department should be charged with the cutting of the sleepers in the north-west, must be looked at from many sides. For the present I will confine my remarks to the Ganges, as there will not, I believe, be a large quantity of timber down the Jumna for some years to come.

The depot for catching and rafting the timber is intended to be about 18 miles above Hurdwar, at a place where people can live only during the healthy season, say, six months. For sawing, therefore, a second depot would have to be made at Hurdwar, and I am not sure whether then the timber, the rafts being built at the upper depot so as to suit the canal, had not better go down to Meerut at once, and be cut up either there or at Delhi. The slabs and other residuum would also fetch a higher price at Meerut and Delhi, and I am not sure whether purchasers would come for them as far as Hurdwar. Much of the refuse, it is true, would be used as fuel for the sawmill. But if rafting on the Ganges Canal is uncertain and expensive, and the sleepers must be carried in boats, or by land, then it will be better to cut them at Hurdwar, and in that case the Forest Department could undertake the business provided: Ist, a sawmill is erected; 2nd, the needful establishment is allowed in addition to existing establishments; 3rd, the Conservator is permitted to select the men he wants from the Public Works Department, the officers and men, after a year's experience, if approved by the Conservator, to elect for permanent transfer to the Forest Department, or to return to the Public Works Department.

The requirements, at present, are given at 110,000 sleepers annually, but will increase. Supposing 100,000 sleepers were cut annually at Hurdwar, the outlay would be at R.I a sleeper, Rs.1,00,000. This is a concern of sufficient magnitude to justify the organisation of an efficient establishment. The work cannot be done by the ordinary officers of the Forest Department. The main advantage of placing this concern under the Conservator would be that the Forest Department bring down the timber, and can arrange their

operations according to the supply expected from time to time, also that it would keep all sales of timber, sleepers, slabs, refuse, at and near Hurdwar, in one hand.

The matter should be very carefully considered, and action should not be precipitated.'

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In the next chapter Pearson's admirable Reports on the areas from which the materials required for this great work were to be obtained will be dealt with.

CHAPTER IX

THE INTRODUCTION OF FOREST CONSERVANCY INTO THE NORTH

WEST PROVINCES AND OUDH, 1865-1870 (continued)

PEARSON'S Reports on the Himalayan and PlaINS FORESTS OF THE NORTH-WEST PROVINCES

P

EARSON'S investigations into the resources of the forests of Kumaun and Garhwal, the Dun, the Bhagaruttee Valley, Jaunsar-Bawar, the forests at

the head of the Jumna and Tons rivers, and those of the Jhansi Division were all carried out during 1868 and 1869. The Bhagaruttee, Jaunsar-Bawar and Tons and Jumna Forests were in the Himalaya, the deodar being the species chiefly considered. The others were either in the foot-hills of the Himalaya, in the plains along their base or, in the case of Jhansi, at some distance from the great mountain range.

Pearson's Reports are lengthy, and it is unfortunately impossible to do more than deal with them briefly. A certain amount of detail will, however, be necessary in order that the position of these magnificent forests at this period may be appreciated.

The Report on the sâl forests was designated by the Lieutenant-Governor as a "clear and comprehensive Report," and he further observed "that the views of the Conservator as to their general condition and the vast treasury of valuable timber, existing and prospective, contained in them are considered highly statisfactory."

THE SAL FORests of KumAUN AND GARWHAL Pearson's description of the area occupied by these forests and its boundaries is worth reproducing.

"These forests extend from the Ganges on the west, to the Sardah on the east, covering the lower spurs and ridges of the Himalaya. They are bounded on the south by an excellent cart road, which has been constructed from the Ganges as far

as Karnsote, in Kumaun. From thence the Pheeka River marks the boundary for about three miles, and from that point an irregular line, marked by roads and pillars, carries it on as far as the Sardah. The Ramgunga, and its tributary the Bursotee, are the boundary between the two grand divisions of Kumaun and Garhwal, while the Himalaya Mountains in the rear of both, shut them in like a wall towards the north. Except the Kumaun Iron Company's grant, which is clearly marked off by pillars, and a very few villages, which do not affect the actual forests in any way, and for the removal of which it has not been thought worth while in consequence to make arrangements, the whole tract forms a great State forest in one compact block, perfectly defined by natural and easily recognised boundaries. Within these limits no private rights exist which can prove injurious in any way to the forests, and cattlegrazing is entirely prohibited, except in a few places where the cattle can do no harm whatever. The taking up of fresh land for cultivation has been entirely stopped above the main road and, I believe, I may say that there is no State forest in India to be compared to this one for extent, compactness and perfect control."

The Garwhal Forests.-These forests consisted of four main divisions, commencing from the west the Chandi Forests, Odeypur, Kotri Dun and Patli Dun. The Chandi Forests comprised an area of about 120 square miles and had, owing to their proximity to the Ganges, been completely worked out by contractors and agents of the Rurki workshops and the Public Works Department. Dry wood for fuel and bamboos were the only exports from the forests at the time. The area contained unsound trees scattered throughout the forests and sâl saplings, the latter showing considerable promise in some parts, in others tending to be suppressed by other species. The Odeypur Forests extended for about sixteen miles from the Rewassun to the Koh River. This tract had been formerly highly populated and well cultivated, but there was now a great absence of water through all the lower part of the forests. Only three tracts of sâl existed, one of which had been heavily worked by Captain Read. Bamboos existed all over the area and formed the main article of export. The Kotri Dun is the valley of the Sunnyi River and its affluents, and stretches between the Koh and the ridges of the Patli Dun to the east. The whole of this area, about 200 square miles, was a nearly pure sâl forest varying in character and value. Most of the

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