284 THE SURVEY QUESTION IN COCHIN CHINA. 



of a cadastral survey, I should have to add to the above total 

 of 950,000 hectares the land gradually opened up for cultiva- 

 tion during that period. Taking into account the results of 

 the last two years, and always remembering that the popula- 

 tion must soon begin upon the marshes, which will be more 

 and more difficult to reclaim, I estimate, somewhat arbitrarily 

 no doubt, that in this coming period of 16 years the area 

 under cultivation will be increased by 500,000 hectares. 



The survey then must be applied to a surface of 1,450,000 

 hectares. 



Estimating the cost of the survey and establishment at 1 1 

 francs the hectare, the expenditure would amount to about 

 16,000,000 francs. 



The survey of France, which, in consequence of the rise in 

 the price of everything in recent times, would be a much 

 more serious undertaking now-a-days, cost 150 million francs, 

 or about 3 francs a hectare. 



For this country, the salaries assigned to surveyors must 

 be multiplied by three, and though a revenue-survey may be 

 carried out more easily in the Colony, it must be remembered 

 that an operator employed here will turn out, on an average, 

 only about two-thirds of the work of one of equal ability and 

 industry working in France. As the two circumstances last 

 stated nearly counterbalance each other, it is sufficient to take 

 into consideration only the difference of salaries, and, look- 

 ing to this fact only, we may safely put down the cost of the 

 survey at 9 francs the hectare. My estimate of 1 1 francs, 

 which includes the registration establishment, would, there- 

 fore, probably be rather under the mark. 



Having taken all possible care to reduce everything that 

 can possibly be objected to as exaggerated in M. BoiLLOUx's 

 figures, I have now to give my opinion as to the chances of 

 success, which, whatever may be its cost, the cadastral sur- 

 vey would have. 



Here is my opinion in two words : — 



I. The cadastral survey, if it is undertaken, will never be 

 finished. 



