168 



COTTON-WOOL. 



Mr. Tucker's ment to establish the cotton-screws, in all practi- 



Paper. 



cable cases,* nearer to the districts where the 

 cotton is grown than they are at present, because 

 the bales, when packed, will occupy less space, 

 and be more secure against the weather in their 

 passage to the place of export. 



Seventh. That, in order to bring into operation 

 the stimulus of private interest to aid in promoting 

 a public object, and at the same time to obtain the 

 advantage of European skill, industry, and enter- 

 prise, the Government of India be authorised to 

 grant to any British subjects, properly qualified 

 by character and by possessing the command of 

 capital, such quantity of unoccupied land as may 

 be judged necessary or expedient for the esta- 

 blishment of a cotton plantation, the land being 

 secured to the parties on lease at a low quit-rent 

 for a term of years, on condition of its being used 

 for the cultivation of this article. 



Eighth. That, in the event of any difficulty oc- 

 curring in assigning Government lands of proper 

 quality and in suitable situations fur this purpose, 



the 



* For instance, at Surat and Kalpee, on the Jumna, instead 

 of Bombay and Calcutta. The Company's cotton is at present 

 half scretved at Kalpee; and an experiment was made a few 

 years ago to complete the process of screwing at Sm'at, but the 

 bales were reported to have burst, and the plan was abandoned. 

 I cannot, however, persuade myself that^ with the same mate- 

 rials and machinery, cotton cannot be screwed as well at Surat 

 as at Bombay. 



