MINE ECONOMICS. 



57 



These rates are on the whole moderate : thus, for example, the 

 tarrying rate for coal averages for whole distance from Madras to 

 Ooregum, 0*367 pence per ton per mile. 



Fuel. — Of the fuel used in the mines, 83 per cent, consists of 

 Indian coal, 3 per cent, is English coal and 14 per cent, is fire-wood. 

 The quantities consumed during the year 1899 and the average 

 prices paid were as follows : — 



Nature of fuel. 



Indian coal 

 English „ 

 Fire-wood 



Tons 



i44>95o 



4.97o 



2 5»273 



Average price 

 per ton. 



s. d. 



26 4 



39 7 



10 6 



Until recently, the Indian coal was entirely derived from Bengal 

 collieries ; but of late Hyderabad coal from Singareni has been suc- 

 cessfully tried, and since it is 15 to 20 per cent, cheaper, while at 

 least equally efficient, will probably supersede the Bengal coal if the 

 good quality of the Singareni coal is maintained. The comparative 

 merits of the two coals was recently tested by the Chief Engineer 

 of the Mysore Mine. The period of the test was in each case 240 

 hours, the indicated horse-power being 340. The amount of Bara- 

 kar coal used was 159*3 tons and of Singareni 148-5 tons, being 

 4'3lbs. per indicated horse-power per hour in the case of the Bara- 

 kar and 4'olbs. in the case of the Singareni. The amount of ash pro- 

 duced from the Barakar was 10 per cent, and from the Singareni 11 

 per cent. The cost per ton of the Barakar was Ri8^ and of 

 Singareni Ri5^. English coal is now only imported for smithy 

 work, for which Indian coal is not so suitable. 



Timber. — The timber used on the Kolar gold-field, both for 

 underground timbering and construction purposes on the surface 

 amounts to over half a million cubic feet per annum, the average price 

 paid working out at 2 shillings and I penny per cubic foot. This 

 timber is entirely of native origin and is derived chiefly from the 

 forests on the Western Ghats, being imported to the field from 

 Calicut in logs, scantlings and planks. 



