162 FORESTRY IN BRITISH EAST INDIA. 



to construct inspection paths, roads, slides, tramways, ropeways 

 and other mechanical comphances, according to local require- 

 ments ; in many cases streams must be made fit for floating and 

 rafting. The latter operations were commenced in Burma more 

 than 60 years ago, when an Inspector and a working party 

 blasted rocks in streams throughout the dry season, year after 

 year. 



Generally, the Department has been very active in constructing 

 means of communication, as far as the means at its disposal 

 permitted. The use of mechanical transport in the extraction of 

 forest produce is being more and more appreciated, and this 

 question was specially considered by the Board of Forestry in 

 1913. The conclusion arrived at was that, under Indian con- 

 ditions, there was much scope for narrow-gauge forest tramways, 

 and that experiments should be made with other means of 

 mechanical transport likely to lead to cheaper methods of 

 extraction. 



While mechanical transport should be fostered, it should not 

 be overlooked that in Europe the construction of roads is now the 

 first care of the forester. They make the forests accessible, 

 produce can be extracted along them by carts, waggons, trollies 

 and road trains, and, if necessary, light railways can be laid on 

 them at any time, if properly constructed. Thus, road traffic 

 has, in most parts of Europe, superseded floating, and the expen- 

 sive works erected for the latter purpose have been abolished. 

 It may be mentioned that as early as 1875 an officer of the Royal 

 Engineers was attached to the Department in Northern India to 

 superintend forest engineering works. Now, after a long interval, 

 a special Forest Engineer has been appointed, and is engaged on 

 various projects. It seems clear that soon each province will 

 have its own special Engineering establishment. 



The Government of India have lately selected a number of 

 men trained in mechanics and sent them for a year to the United 

 States of America, where they have studied modern methods of 

 transport and exportation of forest produce. They have lately 

 joined the Indian Forest Department as Forest Engineers, 



Quarters for the subordinates and rest houses for the inspecting 

 officers are essential for the preservation of health in a climate like 

 that of India. Efforts were made from the early days of the 



