COAL. 63 



miles of railway carriage and two ferries. The two main alternative 

 routes are — 1st, from Raniganj to Rajmahal by rail (173 miles), and 

 thence down the Ganges for about 130 miles; and, 2nd, from Giridi 

 (Karharbari) to Manghir by rail (137 miles), and thence down the 

 Ganges for about 260 miles. Both these routes have the advantage of 

 involving only one shipment into boats. The following are approximate 

 estimates of the cost of transporting coal by them : — 



Via Rajmahal. Rs. A. 



Cost of coal at Raniganj per ton ... ... ..,3 8 



Loading at Raniganj ... ... ... ... 4 



Carriage by rail to Raj raahal ... ... ... 6 12 



Shipping at Rajmahal ... ... ... 4 



Carriage by boat to terminus of Northern Bengal State Railway 14 ^ 



Carriage by rail to Sukna ... 

 Cost per ton at Sukna 



Via Manghir. 



Cost of coal at Giridi 



Loading at Giridi 



Carriage by rail to Manghir 



Shipping at Manghir 



Carriage by boat to terminus of Northern Bengal State Railway 



Carriage by rail to Sukna ... 



Cost per ton at Sukna ... ... ... ... 15 3 



12 







3 







15 







Rs. 



A. 



3 



8 







4 



5 



11 







4 



2 



8 



12 



3 



3 







Thus it appears that Raniganj or Karharbari coal cannot be delivered 

 at Sukna under about Rs. 15 a ton. The actual cost of raising the 

 coal at Raniganj is, as I am informed by Mr. Hughes, about Rs. 1-4 

 on an average, or, including cost of management, rather less than Rs. 2 

 a ton. 



( 63 ) 



