CHAPTER XII. 



ECONOMIC EESOURCES. 



The value of the economic resources of the Rajmehal hills has, 

 I believe, by some sanguine writers been considerably overrated. Taking 1 

 a calmer view of them, however, it must still be admitted that this 

 part of the country is one of many in India where properly organised 

 commercial enterprise may fairly expect to achieve a reasonable amount 

 of success. 



The mineral products of economic value may be classed under seven 

 heads, as follows : — - 



1. Coal. 



2. Building stones. 



3. Koad metal. 



4. Ornamental stones. 



5. Lime. 



6. Pottery clays, &c. 



7. Iron. 



Coal.— In estimating the amount of available coal which exists, there 

 are various special local considerations which should not be lost sight of. 

 On page 18 it has been stated that the total area of exposed coal-bear- 

 ing (Damuda) rocks amounts to only 70 square 

 Area exposed. 



miles ; but it is impossible to form more than a 



rough estimate of the area which may actually exist underneath the 

 volcanic rocks. Were we to surround with a boundary all the localities 

 where coal-measures are exposed, and to assume that these are all con- 

 nected together by a continuous thickness of rocks 

 Estimated total area. 



underlying the trap, the result thus arrived at 



would be that there is a total area of about 1,200 square miles of coal- 

 measures. 



( 226 ) 



