AMERICAN LUMBER IN FOREIGN MARKETS. 243 



under survey. All the railroad companies have their own car shops 

 and build their own cars. Iron sleepers are largely used in place of 

 wood. Locomotives are imported from England. 



There is no shipbuilding of any consequence; only small steam and 

 sailing craft of not over 200 tons burden are built. 



Buildings (with but few exceptions) are of stone, and the majority of 

 the large public buildings, and many business and private houses, show 

 fine architectural skill. As a rule, they are large and airy. 



CLIMATE. 



The climate here is tropical. The seasons are divided as follows: 

 December to March (121 days) is the cold season; April and May (61 

 days) are hot and dry ; June to September (122 days) is the rainy season, 

 and October and November (61 days) are hot and damp. The tempera- 

 ture ranges from 70 F. to 98 F., rarely above 92 F. Humidity ranges 

 from 69 per cent in the cold season to 88 per cent in the rainy season. 

 During June, July, August, and September (the rainy season), which 

 is called the "monsoon" period, clothing, leather, and ironwork are 

 damaged or destroyed by the action of the elements, unless the greatest 

 care is taken. 



PRICES OF LUMBER. 



Blackwood or rosewood per ton, at Cochin, $15 to $22; other ports, 

 $6 to $12. Cut in the forest, prices are from $3 to $15 per ton. The 

 rate of transport to coast (floating in streams) is nil. 



Teakwood per cubic ton : Burma teak cut lumber, 1 by 1 inch by 3 

 feet and upward, $16; 2 by 6 inches by 3 feet and upward, $22; beams, 

 $17.50 to $28; logs (per 10 hundred weight) $2.50; Singapore teak, beams, 

 and planks, $18. 



Norwegian deal boards, 6 by f inches by 12 to 24 feet, $21 per cubic 

 ton; Hull deal boards, 6 by 1 inches by .12 to 24 feet, $21 per cubic ton; 

 American deal boards, 6 by 1 inches by 12 to 24 feet, $21 per cubic ton. 



CUSTOMS DUTY. 



The duty on timber from foreign countries is 5 per cent, to which 

 must be added a city (Bombay) custom duty of 2J per cent. 



IMPORTS AND EXPORTS. 



The imports and exports of teak into and from Bombay during the 

 fiscal year ending March 31, 1892-93 were as follows: Imports, 70,914 

 cubic tons, valued at $807,918.98; exports, 8,490 tons, valued at 

 $144,487.50. 



Imports and exports of all other timber, in 1892-93 were: Imports, 

 7,846 cubic tons, valued at $55,583.23; exports, 1,553 cubic tons, valued 

 at $13,633.62. 



H. J. SOMMER, Jr., Consul. 



BOMBAY, June 22, 1894. 



