No. 31.— 1885/] 



PLUMBAGO. 



261 



6th. The harder degree's are extremely even in temper, and 

 are better adapted for photographer's use than any- 

 thing that has yet been introduced." 



.Appendix No. 34. 



The Local Average Prices of Plumbago, and the History of 

 The Joseph Dixon Company 

 are thus noticed in a communication from a merchant who had 

 read proofs of this paper : — 



" You refer to the average valuation and Customs valuation as 

 Us. 200 a ton for qualities and periods. The average by the 

 figures you have given would be Es. 146, but even that I should 

 say was high. If dust and chips are included, I question if you 

 should put it higher than Es. 100. Good lump is now worth say 

 Es. 120 ; chips, Es. 75 ; and dust, Es. 45 or thereabouts. 



" You refer frequently to The Joseph Dixon Crucible Company. 

 This Company has had a good many vicissitudes. Dixon, I think, 

 was originally a partner with Dr. G-autier in the firm of J. H. 

 Gautier & Company, of Jersey City, who sent Mr. Whiteford 

 here about 1873 ; and I understood from Whiteford that Dixon 

 and Gautier disagreed and split. Then I think Dixon died, and 

 the Company was formed, and, if I am not mistaken, dissolved 

 and re-formed." 



Appendix No. 2.5. 



The Renting and Selling outright of Plumbago Lands 



are thus discussed in a note from the Government Agent of the 

 Western Province, the Hon. F. R. Saunders : — 



" I still adhere to my view that it is better for Government to 

 sell than to rent plumbago land. What we do is to cut the land 

 up into small lots of a little above one acre, and this induces com- 

 petition and prevents any monopoly being created. 



" I send you a list showing the prices realized for a block of 

 plumbago land in the Eayigam Kor ale, sold in 1880. It would 

 be many a year before we should get Es. 8,150 as rent from a 

 land of 1 acre, 1 rood and 13 perches, (See lot 556). 



" These lands are situated at Pelpitigoda in the Eayigam Korale, 

 and were the subject of a law-suit, which we Avon in appeal to 

 the Privy Council, after losing our case in the Supreme Court 

 here. 



