490 Memorandum on the Iron Mines of Raneegunge. [No. 5. 



of imports however, shews that during the year 1851, only 510 tons 

 of pig-iron were imported. Now a single blast-furnace of small size 

 would produce about 45 tons per week, or considerably more than 

 2000 tons per annum, that is more than four times the amount at 

 present required to supply the market. And such blast-furnaces 

 to be worked economically, must be worked nearly continuously. 



"With such a demand, therefore, (and I am not aware of any sup- 

 ply of cast Iron other than that imported) or even supposing this 

 demand to be doubled, I cannot see that any one would be justified 

 in undertaking such a manufacture on the British system, with a 

 view to the supply of cast Iron only :* I would put out of the ques- 

 tion the consideration of other systems, as being inapplicable to the 

 peculiar kind and quality of ores found in the district referred to. 



Major Baker in his memorandum refers to the objections urged 

 against some of the chairs supplied by the Porto Novo Madras 

 Iron Company. I have myself seen castings turned out from that 

 Company's works, which on any English Railroad, would have been 

 not only objected to, but at once rejected without the slightest 

 hesitation. But I am satisfied that these defects arose as much 

 from a want of sufficient care in moulding, and from the use, pro- 

 bably, of inferior sand, as from the quality of the metal ; and that 

 they are quite capable of being remedied. I stated in my former re- 

 port (page 15) that the character of the iron produced in this 

 country should, like every new article of commerce, be established 

 before it would be purchased with confidence, and there can be no 

 doubt, it would have to contend against the thoroughly well grounded 

 prestige in favour of English work, but this difficulty would rapidly 

 vanish, provided the articles supplied, were equally good in quality 

 and finish. 



In connexion with this subject, I cannot avoid again taking the 



* Supposing there were a demand for 1000 tons of pig Iron ; and that as above 

 calculated, the manufacturer in India would have an additional profit, beyond the 

 ordinary profits of the trade, of Is. per ton (taking the most favourable estimate) 

 this would only give him ,£350 per annum ; while the first outlay for machinery, 

 &c. would be at the least ,£6000 to £7000, thus yielding an additional profit of 

 nearly five per cent. Having no returns of the amount of " castings" imported, 

 I have been obliged to estimate solely from the amonnt of pig Iron imported. 



