LOCAL ECONOMICS. II 



in the summer and the early autumn months, there is practically 

 no outside employment during the remainder of the year. 



Glen Mor is a wide glen, and the proportion of low ground 

 in the various sheep farms and deer forests is greater than is 

 found on many of the narrower glens in the Highlands. Still, 

 even here, the proportion of plantable ground to high ground 

 which is suitable only for summer grazing for sheep or deer is 

 not more than i to 4.^. 



From the above it is evident that : 



1. The district is a poor one. 



2. Reckless planting of the wintering ground would mean — 



(a) Great loss of rent : and 



{/>) A very large increase of the rates to all inhabitants 

 of the district. 



3. The rates at present are high for a rural district. 



4. With the exception of the Foyers Aluminium Works, local 



industries are conspicuous only by their absence. 



5. Any large increase to the existing rates would act as a 



bar to the establishment of new industries. 

 It is possible to lay down certain general laws for treating 

 this area : — 



1. That no arable land should be planted. 



It would be necessary to take certain farm lands for 

 the creation of small holdings ; but as arable land in 

 the district carries an average of one family to every 

 15 acres, the population would be diminished rather than 

 increased by taking any land away from under the plough. 



2. That sheep ground and deer forests should be planted so 



as least to interfere with their existing uses and rental 

 values. 



3. That existing crofter grazing, which has a value to the 



inhabitants quite outside its intrinsic monetary worth, 

 should not be included in the scheme. 



4. That as the prosperity of the district largely depends, both 



from rents and employment, on the letting of houses to 

 summer visitors, it is important that the amenity and 

 therefore the letting value of such houses should not be 

 interfered with. 



5. That, especially for winter employment, full consideration 



should be given to the existing labouring and crofter 

 population. 



