160 RANIGANJ COAL FIELD. [Pt. II. CHAP. I. 



and Kasta, by Messrs. Grob, Diirrsclimidt and Co. ; Sitarampur, by 

 Messrs. Apcar and Co. ; Kumardhubi and some other mines, by the 

 Indian Coal, Coke, and Mining Company. 



There has been, on the whole, a steady progress since that time, both 



r, ,. , in the number of collieries worked, and in the 



Continued progress ' 



since 1847. tota i quantity of coal produced. The latter, 



especially, has increased to a great extent since the railway has af- 

 forded increased facilities for transmission to a market. This has pro- 



,, ., duced an important change in two ways : First, 



Railroad opened. 



by greatly stimulating mines in its own imme- 

 diate vicinity, that is, in the neighborhood of Raniganj ; and, secondly, 

 by rendering possession of the ghats unnecessary while the roads are 

 easier of access than the river. Its own requirements also have very 

 materially increased the demand for fuel. 



The list at the close of this Report shows the existence in 1860 of 

 no less than forty-two collieries,* and a production, on the average of 

 three years, of 78,08,566 maunds or 281,994 tons of coal, coupled with a 

 considerable increase in the quantity mined in the course of that period. 

 The amount is now treble what it was in 1846 ; several most promising 

 mines, as Harispur, Babusol, Tapassi, Parassia, and Nimcha have either 

 commenced or been resumed, and the value of mining property has 



greatly risen. And there appears every reason to 

 New mines. 



anticipate a continued increase in the production 



of this rich mineral district. The greatly increased demand which the 

 extension of the railways in the Ganges Valley and in Lower Bengal 

 must produce, and the aid to distant collieries which the additional 

 lines within the field will give, must produce a corresponding augmen- 

 tation of the supply. The quantity of coal is practically unlimited, 

 and if the difficulty of supply of labor can be overcome, there is no 



* Seven mines or quarries worked in 1858 or 1859 were closed in 1860. In some of these 

 the closing is merely temporary, pending the erection of machinery. 



