OCT. — MAR. 1858-59.] other portions of the Ceded Districts. 303 



being reduced with an efficient blast, the former by one-half and 

 the latter two-thirds the present amount. 



It would not be requisite, neither do I think the ground offers 

 the facility to collect the whole of the 16 miles of drainage into one 

 tank at the best site in reference to elevation ; a number of small 

 tanks would enable the furnaces to be established to a greater ad- 

 vantage in reference to obtaining supplies, one of these tanks being 

 first established would, at a small expense, be able practically to 

 prove the value of the proposal. 



The most ready way of commencing would perhaps be for the 

 Government to take a certain rental for each furnace supplied with 

 air, the renters paying the hire of a native mechanic to attend to 

 the water wheel, &c, its repairs. 



The establishment of Government works would, however, I think 

 ultimately prove desirable not only for supplying their own Arse- 

 nals, &c, with iron, but also for aiding the introduction of those 

 improvements in the native system which I apprehended must sug- 

 gest themselves after the application of power to it. 



These will consist in the use of fluxes, increase in the size of the 

 furnaces, and eventually in the manufacture of cast iron, of which 

 material many articles in use in the country could be made equally 

 serviceable and at a much cheaper rate. 



As Schools of Industrial Art works of the above nature connect- 

 ed with the other branches of skilled labor required for Ordnance 

 and other Government uses, partaking of the character of the Mint, 

 Gun-Carriage Manufactory and similar institutions in operation at 

 the Presidency must greatly tend to the improvement and promote 

 the well being of the natives of this country, if only reasonable 

 grounds can be shown for such establishment being of practical 

 service to and not a burden upon the Government. 



That there is a great increasing demand for native iron is shewn 

 by the enormous advance upon its selling price that has gradually 

 taken place during the last twelve months, I am informed that at 

 this place, Bangalore, this has been from Rs. 1J to Rs. 2^ per 

 maund, the present price. 



Native iron must always command a high price in this country, 



