958 Report upon the Coal beds of Assam. [Nov. 



or 1,140 rupees per annum, to which must be added insurance, which 

 to Goivahutta is 3^ per cent, and there is nothing in the navigation of 

 the Bramaputra for 200 miles above Gowahutta to increase the risk be- 

 yond that of an equal distance on the Ganges ; insurance would therefore 

 be on three trips 52 rupees eight anas, which added to the annual cost of 

 the boat and men, gives 1 192 rupees eight anas. To this sum must also 

 be rddtd the original cost of raising and conveying the coal from the pits 

 to the Bramaputra, this according to Captain Hannay's experiment is 

 two anas per maund, which for 3000 maunds would be 375 rupees, mak- 

 ing in all for 3000 maunds of coal delivered on any part of the Ganges, 

 from which three trips might be annually made to Assam, 1537 rupees 

 8 anas, or 512 rupees 8 anas per 1000 maunds, being 209 rupees 6 

 anas less than the rate at which the depots from Surdah to Danapoor 

 are now supplied*. 



* Major Henderson remarks, that the calculation here entered into does not 

 provide for incidental expenses, including clashies' establishments, wastage, landing 

 charges, custody, all which would somewhat increase the expense, though not very 

 considerably : Captain Johnston therefore makes it out as follows : 



Boat hire of 3000 maunds of coal, as per above statement, Rs. 1140 



Cost of 3000 maunds of coal, at two anas per maund, 375 



Insurance, at three per cent., 45 



Loss on coal by two removals and twelve months storing, 300 maunds. 



Landing charge on 3000 maunds, 22 8 



Reloading and delivering 2700 maunds, at one rupee per 100 maunds, 27 



Sirkar and peons' wages for twelve months, seven and five rupees, 144 6 



Ground rent and expense of shed, at six rupees per mensem, 72 



Total cost of 2700 maunds of coal delivered to steam boat, .. 1825 8 

 or ten anas nine pie per maund nearly. This calculation, which certainly omits no- 

 thiug that could be necessary, while other things are probably overrated, still leaves 

 an ad vim tage of one ana three pie per maund, in favor of the rate at which Assam 

 coal might be supplied to the station, from Surdah to Danapoor, compared with that 

 now paid by the government for Bardwan coal for those stations. 



The loss on coal by moving it from place to place varies according to the nature 

 of the coal and the number of removals ; the latter cause would be at its minimum 

 in the Assam coal, as the same boat that would take it up in Assam, could deliver it 

 at the tie^dt for which it might be intended, and where it is not necessary it should 

 remain a year in store. A sirdar and peon moreover would not be necessary for every 

 2700 maunds of coal, but for all at the depot, which might be 20,000 maunds ; the 

 boatmen would be responsible for the coal on board their own boat, and, being mea- 

 sured out and into the boat, there would be no room for cheating. It is also too much 

 to charge the entire expense of a shed to 2700 maunds, when the same shed would 

 answer for all the coal required at the depot. Both statements however show that 

 the Jypoor and Boorhath coals might be introduced to the higher stations on the 

 Ganges with considerable advantage ; and if free passage to emigrants were offered in 

 the return boats, with the prospect of employment, the present paucity of labourers 

 in Assam would soon be remedied. 



