, COAL AND IRON OF CUTTACK. 29 



than can fairly be looked for from any one establishment for many 

 years to come. 



It is, of course, presumed that strict care will be taken to cut the forest 

 systematically, and to renew its growth steadily and constantly, and it is 

 here, as before, estimated that with ordinary care sal timber wiU within 

 eight years have reached a sufficient size to be fit for cutting. I am 

 disposed to think this time will be sufficient, but if ten years be requisite, 

 a proportionate amount must be deducted from the estimated out-turn 

 of charcoal given above. 



There would unavoidably be a considerable waste in all this charcoal, 

 both from the crushing of the masses in stowage and from their break- 

 ing up during carriage. This could not be taken as less than 10 to 15 

 per cent, of the whole. In parts of this country .where pine trees 

 could be readily procured, this dust might perhaps be profitably econo- 

 mised by adopting some one of the many methods by which the tarry 

 products of such resinous woods could be saved, and by then mixing 

 the dust of the charcoal with a certain proportion of this tar, thus 

 forming an artificial fuel. This is no new process, but is frequently 

 done, and might, I think, in the event of the establishment of such 

 works as we have been referring to along the foot of the Himalaya 

 Eange, be successfully introduced. 



It is unnecessary to give here any detailed estimates of the cost of 

 such works. Their cost wiU necessarily depend on so many circumstances, 

 and will vary so materially with the amount of out-turn estimated for, 

 that any detailed estimates are only likely to mislead. If one-half of 

 the highest amount calculated for above be taken as the basis of the 

 estimate, for the out-turn of 6,000 tons of wrought iron annually (on 

 the English system of high blast furnaces for production of cast iron, 

 its subsequent refining, puddling, rolling, &c.), a complete establishment 

 could not be erected for less than ^^60,000 to ,£'70,000 spread over 

 three years. At least one-sixth of this would be in the first instance saved 



