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57© THE XtE At)Ei^ [ffo* 475, Ap ril 30,...
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EAST INt) IAN KAIL WAY. With the growth ...
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The Begum and Nana, by the Last accounts...
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TUo Emperor of Russin, ^ j '^. P^SSi^ Em...
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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57© The Xte At)Ei^ [Ffo* 475, Ap Ril 30,...
57 © THE XtE At ) Ei ^ [ ffo * 475 , Ap ril 30 , 185 Q .
East Int) Ian Kail Way. With The Growth ...
EAST INt ) IAN KAIL WAY . With the growth of Indian railways their reports come withthe extent and elaboration of blue books , and with something of the importance of state papers . The report of the East Indian Railway Company , now before the shareholders , is a document of great interest in many points of view . The works have now resumed that rate of progress which was interrupted by the revolt . The length of line nowopen in the lower provinces , or Calcutta section , 'is 142 miles ; in the North-West Provinces , 123 miles ; in the latter division 282 miles are ready for permanent way . The intervening space between the two sections is in rapid progress , and the extention to CJynthea will take place this year , and . to Eaginabal by the autumn of I 860 , and perhaps a further proportion .
The progress of the line is , however , greatly dependent on the supply of permanent way materials , not simply for laying the line , but as a mechanical expedient for making the labour employed in construction more effective . As in some districts labour is scarce , and in other materials , the contractors , engine and rails , and such portions of the line as may be open , are powerful expedients for promoting the works , where labour is still rude and but little trained . Thus each section of the line becomes a powerful instrument for expediting the remainder , and the rate of progress is thereby accelerated . Indeed , it is scarcely possible to overestimate the value of the railway itself in India as an instrument of labour for promoting 1 the
construction of railways , roads , and public works . The resident engineers on the East India line are calling out for materials , but such has been the state of river transport that it has been impossible adequately to supply them . Under these circumstances the company have resorted to the employment of steamers or barges of their owii > Six steamers are in progress , one of which has been shipped ; seven barges of 420 tons each are under contract ; and fifty 45-toth barges . So far as the supply of materials from here is concerned , permanent way and bridge materials have been regularly shipped , but they have not been made available , and the very difficulties encountered by the railway works constitute a proof of the necessity of the railway .
The company are now beginning to find that working expenses are-higher , and that the cost of making the works is increased beyond the , rates at which , they began . These are results we have always anticipated , and which have received little attention , though they are in fact connected with operations , which afford a further guarantee for railway success . The local managers and home Directors of the East Indian Railway seem to be Of opinion that these causes are temporary and their effects will pass away , and they are inclined to refer
them in a great degree to the disturbing influence of the revolt ; but , looking to what is going on over India , we have no doubt that a general and permanent rise in the rates of wages and materials is going on , and that these rates will only be reduced by the economical operations of railways themselves with regard to some branches ; the railways , too , acting on the other hand to produce the specific result of raising prices . Thus the cost of railways will be increased , but the traffic will be extended in quantity and value
The causes of the increase of working expenses ate referred to three heads ; first , the difficulty in procuring skilled labour * owing to greatly increased , ¦ competition ; second , the increased demand on the < joal companies for coal , which has risen from 4 g . to 7 a . per ton ; and , thirdly , the heavy repairs to engines , carriage and waggon stock , arising in a great measure from the want of sufficient shed-ropm to protect it from the effects of climate . The two latter causes will be partially remedied , but we cannot concur in the Board's opinion ; that when the . peace of the country is fully restored , they will be able to command a supply of labour nt former rates , for we do not believe 1 ' orm . er rates of wages will bo restored , either inlndia or inlreland . or in any country which has been permanently relieved from depression by the influence of the railway system acting as
The traffic on the 142 miles in the Lower Provinces has considerably increased , and now reaches a large amount ; the gross traffic of the year ending 31 st . December , 1858 , being 1 , 172 , 812 passengers , 190 , 956 tons of goods and minerals , and gross receipts being £ 166 , 871 . At the present rate the traffic is nearly . £ 200 ; 000 a-year ; the traffic to be realised in the north-west is about as much , on the line to be opened there twice as much , and on the opening to Eaginabal nearly as much . Thus , as miners say , the East Indian Railway will next year 000
have traffic in sight equivalent 'to . , 000 * . a-year . The increase of passengers is mainly in the third class passengers , and the goods and minerals from 27 , 213 tons in 1855 , to 190 , 566 in 1858 , but the amount received for traffic has risen from . £ 66 , 870 , in 1855 , to £ 166 , 871 , in 1858 . Following the calculations throughout , the results are equally favourable . The gross receipts per mile per week have risen from £ 10 # to £ 26 £ , and the net receipts from £ 5 to £ l 3 £ , the working expenses having increased only from £ 31 , 000 to £ 88 , 000 . that the Board has felt
We regret to perceive called upon to remove Mr . Purser , late chief engineer in the North-West Provinces , an officer of whom the directors bear testimony that they have , on all occasions , had to admire the engineering skill and ability which he brought to bear on the works committed to his charge , as well as of high and honourable feeling . Such is the true character of one of the ablest engineers in India , but he has been sacrificed to the old man of the sea , who is clinging round Sihbad ' s neck , being made a propitiation to the supervising officers of the Government , whose aid is so dearly paid , that it is a question with many of the companies having guarantees , whether they had not at to
better abandon the guarantees once , so as get rid of the shackles of the Government interference . The shareholders are not yet ripe for such a step . It is needless to say that Mr . Purser ' s removal would not have taken place , had he been employed by any company in England , the United States , or our colonies , other than India ; hut would have occurred in Russia , Prance , or Prussia , which afford the models for the railway code of the Indian Government . This is not , however , the only matter the directors have in hand with the Government , though they do not complain . They have had lately to issue debentures , so as to leave the Jubbulpore extension money in the Indian treasury untouched ; they have a difference with the Government about the experimental iron sleepers , which have been and which the
taken up and replaced with wood , Board want to charge to capital , and the Government to revenue ; and they are kept deficient of station accommodation , to the injury of the plant , because the Government is unwilling to increase the capital ; and in several districts stations are behindhand , because the plans have to be submitted to the overworked officers of the Government . As matters stand , under the vexatious interference of the Government , the railway officers are embarrassed and the officers of the public works and other departments have fresh duties thrown on them , when their districts are already too extensive , and their other duties too heavy . It is not wonderful if misunderstandings sometimes arise , and serious prejudice to the public service .
A very interesting circumstance in connexion with the progress of the works , is the development of the resources of the country . The Rancgunj collieries , as we have seen , notwithstanding tho railway communication , cannot supply the demand ; and on the main lino , the collieries in Colgong and neighbouring districts are being actively pushed . From those in Colgong 15 , 144 tons had been received up to the end of January . This coal may yet ultimately be of much value for locomotives , but at present it has been of singular advantage , being well adapted for lime and brick making . In the Monghyr division the rough stone of the hills is being quarried for
common walling , but the workmen have still to be taught tho art of working and sotting it . Somo of it can be used for platforms of bridges . Tho stone from Oorain is flit for any work . Near Hullohur the Kurrabulee coal fields are brought to bear , and there is a reasonablo prospect of a " good supply . In all those distriots , from the want of accessible stone , numerous quantities of brick have had to bo used , and the burning of it has been Relayed by scanty supplies of wood fuel , until coal has been made accessible . In India will railways truly bo found groat and potent instruments of civilisation , which it is tho duty of tho Government largely to provide . ¦
an instrument of production and distribution . With regard to the total capital required , tho director ' s Bee clearly that the former estimate must be exceeded . They attribute this alteration of amount to the delay and losses caused by the mutiny and its effect on the cost of transport , labour and materials . Tho specific loss caused by tho mutiny Is matter of recompense to be obtained from the Government , though the total loss will not bo reimbursed , nor the contingent loss . Wa arc , however , of opinion that beyond what has already occurred , a ¦ con & aerablo increase of expenditure will accrue on the portion of the lino now under construction . © till the company will have obtained , at cheap rates , * greftt trunk line , which ten years hence will bo worth double tho money , from the mero change in the rates of prices .
The Begum And Nana, By The Last Accounts...
The Begum and Nana , by the Last accounts had come down from the hilly districts of Nepaiil cro « 2 £ the Gunduk with a force of 8 , 000 men , and ' were a ? the frontier to the north of Tirh ' oot . Brigadier Kelly was watching their movements with a view to intercept their descent . A ^ lettef from Lucknow mentioned a report that two companies of her Majesty ' s 34 th had been surprised by a large bodv of these rebels during the night , and cut up . Tins is not improbable when we consider the nature of the country , the ignorance of our troops as to the exact locality of the enemy , and their proverbially careless daring . J
Tantia Topee was still supposed to be hiding in disguise , and under an assumed name , in the Ciiandeyree jungles to the south of Jharisee , and on the western frontier of Bundlecund . He had gonethere with a view to , raise the men of the latter district who are known to be well affected to him . His confederate , Raho Sahib , at the head of 2 000 cavalry , had crossed the Trunk Road , twelve miles north of Beora , and made for Chandeyree . Feroze Shah is probably with him , and thus the three rebel leaders are once more united in Bundlecund . It may be that the expected descent of the Begum and Nana on Tirhoot is part of a plan to escape to the south-west , and join these rebels in Bundlecund . This will be an impossibility , as , long ere reaching it , they would be cut up ; but driven fromNepaul , they must be indeed desperate .
" We reported in . our last , " says the Friend of India , " an attempt to rouse some native regiments to mutiny at Rawulpiiidec . Another and more alarming fact of this nature has come to light , as though Providence would force our rulers to see the danger of a regular native army of any kind or composition . At Lahore , seditious papers were found in the possession of Chey Singh , colonel of a Sikh regiment under the old reqhric , and Bobdh
Singh , a religious devotee Among them / was a prophecy , to the effect that in 18 G 3 the Khalsawiil will be dominant in India , Christians will be destroyed , and the Sikhs will keep Englishwomen in their houses . The two were sentcncctl to five years ' transportation . With an army of S 4 . 000 Punjabees , filled with triumph and sated with plunder , a second mutiny is more than possible ; it is probable . "
The Calcutta Englishman observes : — " It is said that Jung Bahadoor , G . C . B ., has no objection to allow the Begum to take asylum in his territories , beside the Ranee Chun da , of Lahore , but that he will give up the Nana and others if he can but catch them . These men are said to be disguising themselves and seeking for holes to hide in with all possible ingenuity . They contrive , however , to elude all our efforts in the strangest manner ; and well
we cannot but think that an energetic man , acquainted > vith the natives ami their customs , would soon find them out were lie granted full powers and the command of sufficient means . It the Government were in earnest and would entrust such a man , we have not a moment ' s doubt but they would all be found . They will never be caught by conciliatory overtures to their followers , nor sott sawder to Jung Bahadoor . " ¦ „ ,., _ , _ , _ „ . _ merchants of Calcutta
"On the 17 th tho assembled to consider the provisions of tho new xaan Bill . There was somo discontent caressed at special items in tho schedule , but generally thei i ncrease was allowed to be necessary . I he meeting blamed the precipitancy with which t | ip measure had been passed into law , ' and resolved toj ^ J Parliament for the addition of independent merntjrs to the Legislative Council . They also resolved got , viewing the enormous'increase in the o * l * n «« of the State , compared with tho revenue dor eel from tho two fluctuating sources ot suit a ) domnm , every practicable retrenchment should be mm in every department of tho GovormncnU at homo and abroad . One speaker expressed ^ l » o wftd > njj 8 of all Europeans to submit to an inooiiio-tax o » « iau in the pound , provided it mis inured oqunuj ou
A meeting of Hindoos and Mussulmans 1 aen hoW at Madras , which was pntiroly . ofnn anumis sionary character . Professing to view vth nujn the part taken by tho highest Ooyornmont ofUcia's in missionary meetings , and tho agitation in LnsgJ and India for a more open recognition oi * . ••» » anity by tho Govornmont , tho mootintfiW , petition to Iiord Stanley , Jo abo fch nn « 1 » os t ft in ovils of which they oomplftln . V « incl that tjo » e trality promised by your lordship , nn . so <»» ^ ^ firmoa fey her Majesty tho Queen , in y J o ui oc atingly observed and adhorod to . L . ' r » istlftnltv , is a Burial pleading for ntoloriuico t Chi Is mi « .. and interference with , the private ihiilos anuiu suits of Christians .
LATEST INDIAN INTELLIGENCE . Tiro Overland mail has arrived with Calcutta intelligence to tho 22 nd March . Lord Clyde was on his way to Simlftli . Sir Hugh Roso ' s force Is en route for Poona . It is hoped that tho Rohillas , who lately gave us so muoh trouble in the Nizam ' a country , will not again rise in Hyderabad , now that they arc freed from the fear of our army .
Tuo Emperor Of Russin, ^ J '^. P^Ssi^ Em...
TUo Emperor of Russin , ^ j ' ^ . P ^ SSi ^ Empress also , will pay a visit to iho ^ ec Juno .
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), April 30, 1859, page 26, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_30041859/page/26/
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