In April, 1863, a portion of the Oudh Forests was inspected by Brandis, then on deputation. The suggestions of this officer are embodied in two Reports to the Chief Commissioner, one dated 22nd April, treating of the system of accounts and financial results; the other, dated 23rd June, discussing the general measures of forest management to be introduced. These are recorded in Proceedings, Government of India, Public Works Department, July, 1865, Appendix. At this time also a series of valuation surveys was made by Brandis and Read, in the best stocked part of the forests, situated between the Sarda and Koorialee rivers. The area of sâl trees in this locality is about 150 square miles, or 96,000 acres, estimated to contain upwards of 300,000 first class trees, and a much larger number of second and third class trees. From observations made in this and other localities, data were obtained regarding the rate of growth of sâl trees, and from these the age of a tree 4 feet 6 inches in girth was assumed to be fifty, and of a tree of 6 feet in girth to be eighty years. Based upon these assumptions, and the estimate alluded to above, it was arranged that, until more complete data concerning the yield of the forests were obtained, the number of trees felled should not exceed 4000 per annum. The forest tracts east of the Koorialee River contained sâl mixed with other trees, but no estimate of their capabilities had yet been made. This work remained to be done. In Brandis' Report, above referred to, were proposals regarding the erection of boundary pillars, the arrangement of divisions to be worked in succession, the cutting of creepers and thinning operations and the placing of subordinates in charge of different portions of the forest. These Reports were submitted to Government of India by the Chief Commissioner in two letters of the 1st and 4th September, 1863. Mr. Wingfield expressed his concurrence on all essential points, and orders were subsequently passed by the Government of India with reference to the keeping, rendering and auditing of the Forest Accounts. On 1st February, 1864, Read obtained leave on medical certificate for eighteen months, and Captain E. S. Wood, 93rd Highlanders, who had been employed on the canals of the North-Western Provinces, was appointed to officiate as Conservator. The season was far advanced, and much of his time being occupied in demarcating the reserved forests, no trees were felled in 1863-4. Partly on this account, and partly on account of the lower rate obtained by the sale of timber, the financial results of the first three years were less favourable than was expected at the outset, viz.: The timber on hand on 30th September, 1864, was valued at 84,122 rupees; if this sum be added, we have: This valuation of stock was at the rate of 50 rupees per 100 cubic feet, whereas Read's valuation of stock on 30th September, 1862, was at 75 rupees per 100 cubic feet. The expenditure during the same period was : * The lower figures, received at the Inspector-General's Office, do not accord with the upper statement taken from the Administration Report for 1863-4. The discrepancy should be explained. By sale of timber in the first three years, 83,543 rupees were realised; thus the working charges and revenue on this item stand as follows: This does not include the value of timber in transit or outstandings, which are believed to have been considerable. In June, 1862, Read estimated the timber expenses at 6a. 8p., and the amount likely to be realised at 12a. per cubic foot all round. It was subsequently found that the expense could be reduced to 4a. 2p., but that the average amount realised was not likely to rise much above 8a. per cubic foot. Assuming these rates, without fractions, 4000 trees, at 50 cubic feet each, annually would yield the following revenue: Receipts-200,000 at 8 annas per cubic foot Surplus in timber operations Rs. 1,00,000 50,000 Rs. 50,000 This yield had not yet been attained. The amount of timber bronght to depôt during the first year was only 75,000 cubic feet; during the second year something less; and none during the third year, the operations having been interrupted by the Conservator's departure on sick leave. There seemed every reason to believe that in the future the revenue above estimated would be annually realised; in 1865-6 it only fell short by 4000 rupees, and it was confidently expected that it would rise as the price of timber increased. It was also expected that the revenue from grazing dues and miscellaneous forest produce would expand, and balance the expenditure on account of establishment and conservancy proper. XVII CHAPTER XXVII FOREST OPERATIONS IN BENGAL AND ASSAM, 1858-1864 B ENGAL and Assam, or the "Lower Provinces,' to give them the name by which they were also designated at this period, had paid but scant attention to the conservancy of their forests prior to 1863. Throughout the century which had almost elapsed since we had taken over the administration of the Province, Calcutta had imported its timber from the forests of the north and from Burma. And the other large towns had obtained their requirements by exploiting local resources and importing produce from such forests as were accessible by water transport. Prices of both timber and fuel had greatly increased with the gradual disappearance of material from areas which had been entirely cut out, and those in authority had at length come to the conclusion that some attempt must be made to follow in the footsteps of other Provinces in India and introduce some measure of conservancy to remedy the evils of over-exploitation and to safeguard the existing forests from total destruction. It has been mentioned that Brandis, on his way from Burma, to join the Government of India headquarters, was requested to visit Bengal and report on the forests and on the lines on which conservancy should be introduced into the Province. Brandis made a tour through part of the forests and discussed the question of a future policy with Dr. T. Anderson, the Superintendent of the Botanic Gardens in Calcutta, towards the end of 1862. Brandis drew up a note of his proposals, dated 18th December, 1862. In January, 1863, the Government of India requested the Bengal Government to give its attention to the conservation of the forests under its jurisdiction, and to "favour us with its views as to the best course to be adopted in placing this branch of the administration on a more efficient footing." The preliminary steps which were taken in this direction will be described, but the major portion of the very interesting information obtained on the subject of the forests, both in Bengal and Assam, falls within the succeeding period, 1865-70. The data collected give us a very clear exposition of the position of the forests of this region at the time, and we owe it to Dr. Anderson that so valuable a record is extant. The Bengal Government had entrusted to Anderson the work of carrying out the preliminary enquiries and investigations into the forests. These were confined to an inspection of the forests in the north, i.e. in the Eastern Himalaya, including Sikkim, in which Hooker had travelled and compiled valuable botanical reports; and to some slight extent the belt of sâl forests in the Terai and Duars at the foot of the hills. Military operations were being carried on at the period in Bhutan to the east. This little war gave us an area of valuable forest on the east bank of the Tista River. It originated as follows: Trouble had been experienced from the Bhutanese. With the object of coming to an amicable understanding a Mission left Darjiling for Bhutan on December 4th, 1863. The Mission returned on April 12th, 1864, "having been not only received without honour, but also even subjected to insult and outrage." War was the inevitable consequence, and it interfered to some extent with Anderson's first year's work and proposals. As a result of this war the southern portion of the mountains and the Bhutan Duars at their foot came under the jurisdiction of the British. These operations had not been completed, however, by the end of 1864. As an outcome of Anderson's preliminary proposals on the subject of the introduction of conservancy into the forests of British Sikkim he was temporarily appointed, in September, 1864, Conservator of Forests of the Lower Provinces for a period of two years, whilst continuing to hold his permanent post as Superintendent of the Botanic Gardens in Calcutta. Bengal thus followed in the footsteps of Bombay in appointing as its first interim Conservator a Superintendent of Botanic Gardens. But in this case, and in the light of the definite views now held on the imperative need of appointing wholetime officers whose whole energies should be devoted to the work of forest administration and conservancy, this appointment was only confirmed with reluctance by the GovernorGeneral in Council. They wrote in this connection to the Secretary of State: "To admit, however, of the process of Sal forest |