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EAST INDIAN RAILWAY . With the growth of Indian railways their reports come with the 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 now open 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 Cynthea will take place -this year , and to Ragiriabal by the autumn of 1860 , 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 the construction of railways , roads , and public works . The resident engineers oh 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 own . Six steamers are in progress , one of which has been shipped ; seven barges of 420 tons each are under contract ; and fifty 45-ton 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 ¦ w orking 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 Bailway 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 , Hve have no doubt that a general and permanent rise in the rates of wages arid 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 Trill 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 < 50 al companies for coal , which has risen from 4 s . to 73 . per ton - , and , thirdly , the heavy repairs to engines , carriage and waggon stock , arising in a great measure from the want of sufficient shod-ropro to protect it from the effects of climate . The two latter causes will bo 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 at former rates , for we do riot botieve former rates of wages will be restored , either inlndia or inlreland . or in any country which has been permanently relieved from
depression by the influence of the railway system noting as an instrument of production and distribution . With regard to the total capital reaulrod , the director ^ see clearly that the former estimate must be exceeded , They attribute this alteration of . amount to the delay and losses caused by tho mutiny and its effect on the cost of transport , labour and materials . The spociflc loss caused by tho mutiny is matter of recompense to bo obtained from the Government , though the total loss will not bo reimbursed , nor the contingent loss . Wo are , however , pf opinion that beyond what has already occurred , a considerable inoroase of expenditure will accrue ^ on the portion of tho lino now undor construction . > 8 tiU the company will have obtained , at cheap rates , a groat trunk line , whloh ton yoara hence will be worth double the money , from the mere change in tho rates of prices .
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 S 3 much , on the line to be opened there twice as much , and on the opening to Ragihabal nearly as much . Thus , as Indian Rail will next
miners say , the East way year have traffic in sight equivalent to XI , 000 , 000 a -yf . alj 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 £ 1 O f to £ 26 % , and the net receipts from £ 5 to £ 134 , the working expenses having increased 000
only from £ 31 , 000 to £ 88 ,. We regret to perceive that the Board has felt 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 Smbad 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 better abandon the guarantees at once , so as to 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 ; but would have occurred in Russia , France , 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 taken up and replaced with wood , and which the
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 Go % ernment 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 tine Government , tho 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 , ancl 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 wprks , is the development of the resources of the country . The Ranegunj collieries , as we have seen , notwithstanding the railway communication , cannot supply the demand ; and on the main line the collieries in Colgong and neighbouring districts arc 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 stono of tho hills is being quarried for
common walling , but tho workmen have still to be taught tho art of working and setting it . Some of it can ho used , for platforms of bridges . Tho stone ft « bm Oorain is flit for any work . Near Hullohur the Kurrabulee coal fields are brought to bear , andthero is a reasonable prospect of a good supply . In all these districts , from tho want of accessible stono , numerous quantities of brick liave had to be used , and the burning of it has boon decayed by scanty supplies of wood fuel , until coal has been mado accessible . In India will railways truly bo found groat ami potent instruments of civilisation , which it is tho duty of tho Government largely to provide
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LATEST INDIAN INTELLIGENCE . The Ovorland mail has arrived with Calcutta intolligence to the 22 nd March . Lord Clyde was on his way to Slmlah . , Sir Hugh Hose ' s force Is en route for Poona . It is hoped that tho RohiUas , who lately gave us so much trouble in the £ Uzam ' s country , will not again rise in Hyderabad , now that they arc freed from tho fear of our array .
The 3 Segum and Nana , hy tlie last accounts had come down frpm ^ the hilly districts of Nepaul , crossed the Gunduk with a force of 8 , 000 men , and were at the frontier to the north of Tirhoot . Brigadier Kelly was watching their movements with a Viewto intercept their descent . A'letter from Imclcnow 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 . This is not improbable when wo consider the nature of the country , the ignorance of our troops as to the exact locality of the enemy , and their proverbially careless daring . .
Taritia Topee was still supposed to be hiding in disguise , and under an assumed name , in the Chandeyree jungles to the south of Jhansee , and on the western frontier of Bundlecurid . He had gone there 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 " 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 from Nepaul , they must be indeed desperate .
"We reported in our last , " saj-s the Friend of Indict , " an attempt to rouse some native regiments to mutiny at Rawulpindec . Another and more alarming fact of this nature lias come to light , as though Providence would foi'pe 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 regime , and Boodh !
Singh , a religious devotee . Among- them was . a prophecy , to the effect that in 1863 the Khalsa will will be dominant in India , Christians-will be destroyed , and the Sikhs will keep Englishwomen in their houses . The two were sentenced to five years ' transportation . With an army of 84 , 000 Punjabees , filled with triumph and sated with plunder , a second mutiny is more than possible ; it is probable . "
The Culcntta EiujUshvmn observes : — " It is said that Jung Bahadbor , G . C . B ., lias no objection to allow the Begum to take asylum in his territories , beside the Ranee Chimda , bfX . ahore ; but that he will give up the Kana and others if he can but catch them . These men arc 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 with the natives and their customs , would soon find them out were he 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 bo found . They will never be caught by conciliatory overtures to their followers , nor sore sawder to Jung Bahadoor . " „ ,,,....,. „ ... mcrclmuts of Calcutta
"On the 17 th the assembled to consider the provisions of the new innn Bill . There was some discontent expressed at special items in the schedule , but gc-nonilly the increase was allowed to he necessary . I ho meeting blamed tho precipitancy with / which tl . ci ensure had been passed iritp law , ami resolved to petition Parliament for the addition of independent men ors to tho legislative Council . They a bo mo v , o that , viewing the enormous increase m tho oxpomhturo of the State , compared with the revenue cloi ca from tho two fluctuating sources of sal ai dop um , ovory practicable retrenchment ( . lioiiM be nmoo in every department of the Government ot homo and abroad . One speaker expressed tho iuadlno . s of all Europeans to submit to an i ^ ^^ On in the pound , -provided it was imposed cyualij
al mooting of Hindoos and ^"""'"""'• . JlS . K hold at Madras , which was entirely <> " « il Jv sionary clmractor . Professing to vie J "V j ) 8 the part taken by tho highest Onvo m W in missionary meetings , and thongitatkm in l r | gg and India for a move open recognition 0 - ( , , S a anity by tho Govornmont , tho meotl iffvjop Ja potlCioif to Lord Stanley , to aboIWi mu job ain i evils of which they complain , ' > an' ll j l 1 t on fvContrality promised b / your lordelnp , ""' ij Jn i fidoviflrmeS 6 y hor Majesty the Quouii , j V , J ftpcr atingly observed and adhered to . 1 ho _ v . i » , t . is a special pleading for ntoloranco , o Chjij « ' ¦> , and intorforonqo wltli tho prlvuto duties nnu 1 suits of Christians . ,
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^ 70 TP LEADEfc [^ To , 475 , April 30 , 18 ^ .
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Tho Emnoror of Russin , «»<] "V ^ J ^ o" ^! " Bmproflfl also , will pay a visit to tho W *» Juno .
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), April 30, 1859, page 570, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2292/page/26/
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