網頁圖片
PDF
ePub 版
[blocks in formation]

The financial results of forest operations in this country are affected to a great extent by the rainfall of the year, by the greater or less unhealthiness of the seasons, and lastly, by the fluctuations in the demand for, and price of, timber and other forest produce. Yet, upon the whole, the financial results of the Forest Department have, during the last few years, been fairly in accordance with the Estimates, and his Excellency in Council accepts this as a satisfactory proof of the care bestowed in most provinces upon the preparation of the Forest Budgets.

In the Estimates now sanctioned for the current and next year, it has been necessary to provide for extended operations undertaken to supply timber and fuel for the construction of railways from the forests under the control of the Department in the Punjab and the North-Western Provinces. The success of these operations cannot at this time be accurately estimated, but it is certain that they will largely affect both the income and charges of the Department. It is possible that the actuals of the current and of next year may turn out somewhat different from the Estimates. Making full allowance for some uncertainty in this respect, it is clear that, upon the whole, the revenue of the Forest Department shows a steady and satisfactory increase, having risen from £304,000 in 1863-64 to £420,000 in 1868-69, and being expected to rise to £596,000 in 1870-71. Of the increases estimated for next year, about £100,000 are on account of the extended operations alluded to. A large portion of the additional supplies of wood and timber will be procured from forests in foreign territory, through the agency of the Forest Department, but a portion will come from forests in British territory; and though, to a certain extent, the supplies of future years will necessarily be anticipated to meet the present demand, still his Excellency in Council trusts that sufficient precautions have been taken

to guard against any deterioration by overtaxing the productive powers of the forests. Without these extraordinary operations, the normal forest revenue in British India for 1870-71 might probably be estimated at £500,000.

On the other hand, the charges have risen in a much greater proportion. They were £186,000 in 1864-65, £260,000 in 1868-69, and are expected to be £445,000 in 1870-71. Of the last-named sum £100,000, or the same amount as under Receipts, has been entered on account of the operations in connection with the construction of the State railways, so that the normal charges of 1870-71 may be estimated at about £345,000.

The expenditure of forest administration is divisible into three great classes: charges for establishments, for the working of the forests, and for works of improvement, such as the demarcation of the forests, planting operations, roads, the opening out of streams, and the like.

The charges for improving the forests have, his Excellency in Council believes, increased considerably of late years, and all operations which serve to increase the productiveness of the forests should everywhere be encouraged, as far as the outlay is justified on financial grounds. The charges for working the forests are necessary wherever it is found expedient to work them on Government account, and the charges for establishments are unavoidable to secure the protection and proper management of the State forest domains.

Nevertheless, his Excellency in Council feels assured that much still remains to be done before the charges of the Forest Department may be said to have been reduced to the lowest figure compatible with efficiency. If the percentage of charges on receipts is considered in the different provinces, it becomes evident that in some the charges are disproportionately high, whereas in others the proportion between receipts and charges is more satisfactory. Thus, in the Madras Presidency, the charges in 1868-69 amounted to 69 per cent on the receipts; in the Central Provinces to 84 per cent and in the Punjab to 90 per cent; whereas in Bombay, Sind, Bengal and Burma the expenditure amounted to between 50 and 60 per cent of the income, and in Coorg only to 22 per cent.

It is true that there are special circumstances in some provinces which appear to a certain extent to account for the high proportion of charges. Thus, in the Punjab and the Central Provinces, it is admitted that the forests which are

most accessible and easily worked are exhausted, or have, at least, been greatly overworked, so that a small surplus revenue only can at the present time be realised. Nevertheless, it seems probable, that in those provinces where the charges are high as compared with the receipts, something may be done to decrease them, and this subject is recommended to the earnest consideration of all Governments and administrations, and of all Forest Officers.

The establishment charges in the Forest Department will demand the special attention of all Governments and administrations. The percentage on receipts of the establishment charges has been heaviest in Madras, 35 per cent; in the Punjab, 34 per cent; and the Central Provinces, 31 per cent."

In drawing attention to differences in the cost of establishments in the different provinces the Government of India

[merged small][ocr errors]

"It is evident, from the figures here put together, that there is great inequality in the different classes of establishment charges in the different provinces, and there seems at first sight to be room for greater economy in several provinces. It would be most unwise to propose any retrenchments which would have the effect of limiting in any way the operations of the Forest Department, or of arresting its progress. It is, in the opinion of his Excellency the GovernorGeneral in Council, essential, for the future well-being of this country and its inhabitants, that the administration of the public forests and woodlands should be placed upon a satisfactory footing. And it seems equally clear that any relaxation of our efforts in this direction at the present time would only increase the difficulties of hereafter attaining this object. Nevertheless, it is necessary that the administration of the public forests should be so conducted as to yield the largest possible amount of revenue, compatible with a due regard for the maintenance and improvement of these important public domains."

A most interesting Report on the Forests of the Andaman Islands was drawn up by Mr. S. Kurz, Curator of the Herbarium of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Calcutta, as a result of a visit in 1866. Kurz was deputed to undertake this work by the Superintendent of the Gardens, Dr. Anderson, at the

instance of the Government of India. The Report is lengthy and full of interesting details on the subject of the forests, which were quite unknown at the time.

Kurz summarises his observations on the forests as follows:

Important to Preserve the Andamanese Forests. It is, however, of the highest importance to preserve the forests on the Andamans.

The whole amount of water and moisture is depending upon the presence of large forests. The scarcity of water on these islands makes it necessary that every precaution should be taken to prevent more jungle being cleared than is absolutely necessary.

Those higher ranges which traverse the eastern parts of South Andaman, on which are the sources of several of the larger creeks, should be spared as much as possible, particularly as their slopes are too steep to undertake any culture on them advantageously.

I recommend also strongly the reading of Mr. Dalzell's important Report on the influence of forests in the records of the Bombay Government, No. 76 (new series), to all officers who are employed on the Andamans in clearing lands.

Unhealthiness of Level Lands likely to be alleged Inadmissible. -An opinion prevails that the level lands, when cleared, are unhealthy. This operates as a prominent obstacle to all agri-horticultural undertakings on these islands. It is no wonder, therefore, to see the steepest slopes of the hills cleared, and cultivation begun on the highest summits. Meanwhile, the fertile valleys or level lands are covered by dense jungles, or made inaccessible by borders of mangrove swamps.

The consequence is the great dependence upon importation for food and the great poverty of the so-called self-supporters, who are confined to lands situated most unfavourably.

We all know that clearances of virgin forests (also on the elevated spots) act most unfavourably upon the health of man during the first years, but this unhealthiness is lessened where clearings are effected by burning down the jungles.

Wasteful as this may appear at first sight, it is the only secure means to procure larger tracts of culturable lands. It saves lives and time.

After sufficient cultivation has taken place, this system may, of course, be abandoned.

The girdling of all the trees growing on a chosen spot is

more easily executed; and, after they have been killed, the more valuable timber might be removed for use, the remainder being burnt down would thus give a natural manure to the soil, so much wanted in the Andamans."

Commenting upon the Report, the Secretary of State wrote (R.F. No. 20, 19th May, 1870), "With respect to the concluding paragraphs of the Report on the forests, it is clearly of the greatest importance to preserve, for the very important object named, the existing forests, especially along the higher ranges of the hills. And it would also seem that the timber which he calls kuppalee and bullet wood (Mimusops littoralis), may be advantageously made use of for their superior quality and their accessibility. Orders should be issued to the superintendent, enjoining the preservation of the forests, and calling attention to these two kinds of timber mentioned by Mr. S. Kurz."

At the end of the period here considered the position of the Inspector-General of Forests, vis-à-vis the Conservators in the different provinces, was regularised by the Government of India. The Secretary of State had several times suggested that this officer should be placed in a position in which he could exercise a more efficient supervision and control over the administration of the forests in the different provinces. During a visit Brandis paid to Bombay he had asked specially that he might be allowed to correspond directly with the Conservator in respect to it. This permission was accorded by Bombay. The Governor-General now notified the Secretary of State (R.F. 27, dated 18th November, 1870), that they had decided to modify the rules for the management of forest business which had been approved by the Secretary of State in his Despatch, No. 16, dated 9th June, 1864. The Government of India were unwilling to diminish the authority and responsibility of the Local Governments and minor administrations in this matter. They had not, therefore, invested the Inspector-General of Forests with any executive authority, nor had they taken any steps towards amalgamating the administration of the Government forests in the different provinces in the Department. They had accorded, however, to the Inspector-General of Forests full power to correspond officially and directly with the Conservators of Forests in all provinces on all subjects relating to forest administration, and they proposed to extend this measure to the Conservators

« 上一頁繼續 »