30 PRELIMINARY NOTICE ON THE COAL AND IRON OF CUTTACK. , 



by the adoption of other systems, and there would be a further saving an- 

 nually in the cost of labor. For other portions of the process, I think 

 the cost of working may be not unfairly considered as nearly the same as 

 it would be in England, the greatly enhanced value of skilled hands in 

 this country being counterbalanced by the lesser cost of ordinary labor. 



Nor would I undertake to give any safe idea of the profit which 

 would be derived from such a manufacture. This depends on too many 

 varying facts, ever to be fairly estimated until the exact site of such 

 works be fixed on, the extent to which they are to be carried, the 

 distance of the markets, the cost and kind (a most important element) 

 of carriage, &c. &c. But it may, I think, be safely stated, that there is 

 no sound reason why iron should not, under proper management and in 

 a weU-selected locality in this district, be manufactured at a cost equal to, 

 if not less than, that at which it is produced in England. Putting aside 

 all other considerations, therefore, the cost of freight of English iron, 

 which may be taken to average about £ I per ton to Calcutta, will be 

 saved, or will be, in fact, so much additional profit on the manufactured 

 product, supposing it to command the same price in the market. 



In other respects (e. g. the presence of ample and continuous water 



power, the comparative proximity to the sea- 

 Other advantages. . J ii. J i 



coast, and to water-carnage and other advantages 



wliich are noticed hereafter) this district seems marked out as one likely 

 to yield a profitable return for such undertakings. 



There are, at the same time, difficulties to be overcome in the 

 want of labor and in other ways; but these 

 ^^'*^°^- would all yield to a little energetic determination, 



and the climate in many parts is not more unhealthy than in other por- 

 tions of Bengal. 



The occurrence of gold, and the localities where 

 ^°''^' it is sought for, will be found noticed below. 



