962 Report upon the Coal ofSylhet. [Nov. 



The stations lower down the river than Colgong and Rajmehal can 

 be supplied in time, when the rains commence in April next, if the coal 

 is now brought down. 



4th, " Your opinion is also solicited as to the most convenient locality 

 for establishing a general depot for the supply of the following stations 

 from coal mines in your vicinity, with a view to facility and economy 

 in procuring boats. Cutwa, Berhampur, Kulna, Commer colly, Sar- 

 dah, Colgong, Rajmehal, Mongir, Danapur, Ghazipur, Mirzapur, 

 Allahabad" 



4th, If a depot is to be established on the Ganges, the committee 

 will be the best judges of its locality. It would be convenient to have 

 one at some central station, or where boats might be easily procured, to 

 which coals from Chattuk might be sent according to the annual demand. 

 The cost of carrying coal from Sylhet will then be fixed, and the 

 price of delivery will not vary very much, depending of course on the 

 rate at which it can be procured at Cherra, which at present varies from 

 twenty to twenty-two rupees per 100 maunds. But it will be necessary 

 to consider whether the cost of carriage from the central depot to the 

 various stations will not increase the price of the coal more than if sent 

 direct from Sylhet ; of this I am no judge, not knowing what is the 

 expense of water-carriage on the Ganges. From the accompanying state- 

 ments the committee will be able to decide, which is the cheapest me- 

 thod of forwarding the coal, and if I have not allowed sufficient time for 

 a journey to and from the various stations, calculating from Calcutta, 

 the error can easily be remedied by allowing another month's boat- 

 hire. 



