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so as to enable it to undertake this duty. The Government 

 has from time to time employed specialists to conduct inves- 

 tigations in particular directions for developing the resources 

 of the country, e.g., in connection with the investigation of 

 mineral resources, sericulture, curing of tobacco, &c., but the 

 investigations made have been on too small a scale to lead to 

 any practical results. The two chief diflficulties in the way of 

 such enquiries are to ensure that adequate return is obtained 

 for the money expended and that the officers employed 

 show good work during the time they are under employment. 

 These difficulties are very real, but as no particular time 

 can be fixed for showing adequate results, the expenditure 

 must be incurred in the belief that it will sooner or later be 

 amply repaid. The mineral resources of the presidency, more 

 especially as regards iron and coal, are stated by experts to be 

 of sufficient importance to justify the institution of a special 

 department of mines and minerals for the systematic inves- 

 tigation of these resources. The Salem District, for instance, 

 has long been known to contain some of the richest iron ores 

 in the world. The tanning industry has grown in import- 

 ance in this Presidency, and investigations as to whether 

 methods of tanning superior to those now in use might be 

 profitably introduced and could be suggested to the manufac- 

 turers might be undertaken. It is believed that the intro- 

 duction of improved methods of fish-curing which is a very 

 important industry on the West Coast might lead to further 

 development of this industry which is in the hands of the 

 poorest classes who are without the knowledge and the means 

 to improve the processes now employed. The establishment 

 of fish-curing yards under the supervision of Government 

 and the supply of salt at cost price furnish Government 

 officers with the necessary opportunities and powers of control 

 for this purpose. Experiments in cattle-breeding can be tried 

 by the Forest Department in connection with the fuel a,nd 

 fodder reserves maintained by it. In these various ways 

 there is considerable scope for Government paving the way by 

 precept and example for the development of industries. All 

 these experiments will doubtless cost money, but the State 

 must, from an educative point of view, be prepared to expend 

 and even waste money, within certain limits, in these direc- 

 tions, without looking for an immediate return for the money 

 thus expended, the local Government being allowed to do 

 what it thinks best subject to the conditions laid down as to 

 the limits of expenditure. For instance, the revenue derived 

 by the State :?rom land including local cesses exceeds 5 crores 

 of rupees, and the expenditure of 1 per cent, of this revenue, 



