ECONOMICS : IKON ORE. 



83 



After exactly three years of preliminary explorations, 1 the Umaria field 

 has passed from the control of the Rewah Adminis- 



Trnnsfer of control 



from Rewnh to Govern- t ration to that of the Government of India, who 

 ment of India. . , ., , , , ., , ., p 



have decided to work it during the minority or 



the Maharajah and to pay a handsome royalty of eight annas a ton on 



the raisings. 



With unquestioned credit, and absolved from the necessity of large 

 profits, the Government of India can increase its area of distribution to 

 a much greater extent than the policy of any private company would 

 permit, and therefore with larger proportionate raisings, the arrangement 

 that has been entered into is the very best possible for the Rewah State. 

 A fixed annual rental could never have been calculated at the- true rata 

 of production, whereas a royalty binds in equal degree the interests of 

 the colliery and the lord of the soil. 



Under the title of the Umaria Coal Estate, I have indicated the limits 

 Fmnria Cosil Estate or> the area over which it would be well to acquire 

 boundaries. surface and mineral rights, so th^t future mining 



operations may be carried on without the recurring necessity of taking 

 up fresh land and re-opening negotiations regarding its value. 



The boundaries agreed upon have the advantage of being distinct 

 and simple; they are, the range of Chatan hills to the west, the Umrar 

 river to the north and east, and the line of railway to the south, and 

 include a superficies of about 4> square miles. 



SECTION XVIII. — IKON ORE.- 



I have no information to proffer regarding iron' ores, but in so far as 

 the possibility of using Umaria coal to utilise the magnificent deposits 

 of iron in the Jabalpur district brings the coal-field into relation with 

 them, I would mention, for the information of those who may be interest- 

 ed in bringing smelting operations to a practical issue, that in the Re- 

 cords of the Survey, Vol. XVI, Part 2, Mr. P. R. Mallet has given 

 all the most important facts known regarding the iron ores, and subsi- 

 diary materials for the manufacture of iron in the north-eastern part of 



1 The first boring was commenced 22nd Jauuary 1882, and the coal-field, comprised 

 within the boundary of the Umaiiu Coal Estate, was transferred 21st January 1S85. 



( 219 ) 



