5^ 



HATCH: THE KOLAR GOLD-FIELD. 



CHAPTER VI. 



MINE ECONOMICS. 



I. — MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES. 



THE base of supplies for the Kolar gold-field is the port of 

 Madras, 183^ miles by rail from Ooregum, which may be taken as 

 the centre of the field. The mines are connected with the Madras 

 Railway by a branch line which joins the main line at Bowringpet, 

 175^ miles from Madras. 



From Bowringpet to Ooregum is 8 miles and to Marikuppam 

 (Mysore Gold Mine), 10 miles. 



Railway Rates. — The railway rate from Bowringpet to Ooregum 

 is g annas per ton on all classes of goods ; but from Madras to 

 Bowringpet the rates vary according to the class of goods and is 

 different for large and small lots. In the following table the rates 

 from Madras to Ooregum are given for some of the principal 

 supplies required by the mines 1 : — 



Class of goods. 



Rate per maund 

 to Bowringpet. 



Rate per ton 

 to Bowringpet. 



Rate per 

 to Ooicgu 



on 



m. 





R 



a. 



P- 



M 



a. 



P< 



M 



a. 



P- 



Coal, in waggon loads 







2 



2 



3 



10 



6 



4 



1 



6 



Timber, in waggon loads not ex- 





















ceeding 17 feet in length 



0" 



3 



1 



5 



S 



3 



5 



12 



7, 



Timber, in waggon loacs ex- 





















ceeding 17 feet in length 







3 



8 



6 



T 







6 



12 



O 



Steel and iron rails, cast iron 





















pipes, machinery in large lots, 





















cement, kerosene • . 







5 



Q 



9 



11 



3 



10 



4 



3 



Wire rope?, galvanized iron pipes 







7 



9 



13 



1 



3 



13 



10 



3 



Machinery in small lots 







10 



1 



17 







3 



17 







3 



Explosives «... 



1 



13 



4 



49 



7 







5^> 











1 For information regarding railway rates I am indebted to the Traffic Super- 

 intendent of the Madras Railway. 



