606 INDIA 



open lines increased from 286 to 300 millions; the total number of passengers carried increased 

 from 329 to 410 millions; the total weight of goods carried increased from 61 to 76 million 

 tons; and the net earnings increased from 13! to more than 17 millions, the percentage of 

 profit on capital rising from 4.81 to 5.71. 



The most important new line recently opened is that through Rajputana from Muttra 

 to Kotah, which affords communication from Northern India to Bombay on the broad gauge 

 of the feombay and Baroda system. The most important work in hand is the construction 

 of a bridge across the Ganges at Sara in Bengal, which will bring the traffic from the north 

 of the river (at present ferried over) direct to Calcutta. The most interesting project 

 sanctioned is that of connecting the railway systems of India and Ceylon by means of a ferry 

 service, for which a bridge along Adam's Reef may possibly be substituted. Three turbine 

 steamers were in 1912 being built on the Clyde for this ferry service. The passage is about 

 the same distance as from Dover to Calais, through practically smooth water at all seasons. 



Complaints have often been made of the inadequacy of the railways to carry the increas- 

 ing goods traffic. These culminated in the spring of 1912 under a combination of exceptional 

 circumstances: the recent Durbar, the coal strike in England, the demand for fodder in the 

 famine districts of Gujarat, a deficiency of water in some places, and the heavy bulk crops 

 for export. The provision of rolling stock has been the chief item of capital expenditure for 

 several years past. It is now recognised that the most pressing need is the adaptation of 

 the railways to heavier and more frequent traffic by the doubling of lines, strengthening of 

 bridges, increase of sidings, and improvements at terminal stations. 



Irrigation. According to the financial accounts, the net revenue from irrigation remains 

 pretty constant at about 600,000 a year. But this gives a most inadequate conception of 

 the important works undertaken by the Government. During the four years ending 1910-1, 

 the capital outlay increased from 34^ to 395 millions, while the total area irrigated and the 

 net receipts showed little change, and consequently the percentage of profits fell from 6.74 

 to 6.33. Punjab is the province where the existing canals are the most necessary and also 

 the most remunerative, and it is in the Punjab that the most important work is now under 

 construction. This is known as the Triple Canal in the Upper Jhelum, the Upper Chenab, 

 and the Lower Bari Doab, which will be completed in 1915 at a total cost of nearly 8 millions. 

 In the United Provinces a series of minor canals have been constructed for the protection 

 against famine of Bundelkhand, while a large scheme is under consideration to increase the 

 supply of the Ganges and Jumna Canals from the overflow of the Sarda river in Oudh. The 

 important project of throwing a barrage across the Indus at Sukkur, and thus effecting 

 perennial irrigation in Sind, still awaits final sanction. These projects involve such heavy 

 expenditure, in this case nearly 6 millions, that delay is justifiable. Minor works have been 

 carried out on the Godavari river in Bombay, and also in the Central Provinces; but 

 large schemes in Madras on the Kistna and the Kaveri rivers are still under consideration. 



Education. No subject connected with India has attracted more attention of late 

 than education, starting from the reform of the universities in 1904. This reform has 

 been slow in accomplishment, but the aim has now been effected, by which the academ- 

 ical syndicates have gained control over the affiliated colleges and have themselves under- 

 taken to conduct postgraduate courses and research. Towards the end of 1910, a mem- 

 ber for education in the person of Sir Harold Butler was appointed to the Viceroy's 

 executive council. At the Delhi Durbar one of the boons announced by the King was 

 a grant of 50 lakhs (333,000) for education, which has been devoted mainly to primary 

 schools. The Hon. G. K. Gokhale, the recognised leader of Indian opinion, introduced 

 a bill in the Viceroy's Legislative Council for the gradual introduction of compulsory 

 education, which was rejected by a large majority in March 1912. The alternative 

 proposals of the Government were explained by Mr. Montagu, Under Secretary of State, 

 in his budget speech to the House of Commons on July 30, 1912. Leaving compulsion 

 for the future, it was pointed out that free education already exists for all girls and also 

 for a proportion of boys varying from one-fifth to one-third in the several Provinces. 

 What is now required is to augment the number of schools and to improve the teaching 

 in the schools that already exist. The additional amount provided for education 

 (higher as well as primary) in the estimates for 1912-3 was J of a million. 



During the ten years ending 1910-1 the total number of boys at school increased from 

 3.5*3,000 to 5,480,000, and the total number of girls increased from 446,000 to 866,000, while 

 the total expenditure from all sources increased from 2,700,000 to 4,800,000. In 1911. 

 the proportion of pupils to the population of school-going age, which is taken at 15 % of thi; 

 total population, was 28 % for boys and 4 % for girls. The attendance at Secondary schools, 

 which is almost equivalent to education in English, increased during the ten years by 44%; 

 and it is noteworthy that two-thirds of the cost is derived from fees. The number of students 

 at Arts colleges increased from 17,430 to 23,714. Of those who graduated B.A. in 1911, 



