March I, 1901.] THE TKOPICAL AGRICULTURIST, 
639 
but the comparative rate of exchange, i.e., 
between the natural state of exchange 
enjoyed by India's rivals, and the artificial 
rate created by the currency policy of the 
Government. And this artificial rate, by 
much worsening the position of the producer, 
naturally mucli lessens his credit. The 
profits and the credit of the producers having 
thus been heavily attacked by the Govern- 
ment, the ultimate result of the contest 
between them and their rivals in the com- 
peting countries cannot be doubtful. I do 
not wish to under-estimate the value of the 
various expedients which the planters propose 
to adopt with the view of i-elieving the 
pressure of the situation, but I Avould re- 
present to them that, do what they may, 
the ultimate result must be dominated by 
the artificial advantages which the Govern- 
ment has conferred on India's rivals. The 
planters then should continuously press on 
the Government that it must either sacrifice 
its currency policy or its exporting indus- 
tries ; for it is absolutely impossible that it 
can have both. The planters, too, should 
practically understand that to move our 
governing countrymen, two things are neces- 
sary : —(1) a long continuous hammering to 
convince their reason, and (2) a still longer 
steady coui'se of representation in order to 
move them into action.— Obediently yours, 
ROBERT H. ELLIOT, 
P.S.—l think it would interest many of 
your readers to look at the Silver chapter in 
my "Gold, Sport, and Coftee-planting in 
Mysore" (Archibald Constable & Co.). This 
was written in 1893 when the Currency Act 
was passed. I may mention that I have no 
pecuniary interest in the book, — R.H.E. 
II— THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE SITUATION. 
5, Dowg.'ite Hill, London E.C., 8th Feb., 1901. 
Sir, — I have read with interest the various 
expressions of opinion that have appeai'ed 
in your local press with reference to the 
Rutherford-Rosling and other suggestions 
that have been put forward with a view to 
help the present unfortunate position of the 
British tea-growing industry. The majority 
of coi-respondents fire satisfied to find fault, 
some even make the position a subject for 
levity, but very few appear to realise the 
true gravity of the situation now, and ahead 
of lis, and the necessity there is for organi- 
sation amongst those dependent on tea grow- 
ing for their livelihood. There can be no 
use in asserting that but for extensions, 
manure, and the rest, we should all be well 
off. The extensions have been made, and 
the results to be obtained by cultivation have 
been proved, and what we require is a re- 
medy that provides an effective means of 
controlling the over-production which already 
exists and promises to increase owing to 
these causes. Some possessing favored pro- 
perties at the higher elevations are inclined 
to the view that the true remedy is to allow 
natural causes to work a cure, but I venture 
to think that a policy of drift will in the 
end prove disastrous to everyone concerned. 
Financial credit will be shaken. The process 
of killing out the weaker estates will be a long- 
drawn one, and before abandonment every de- 
vice of cheap production will be resorted to, 
which must tend to breed blight and disease and 
bring discredit on the whole industry. We 
have in British-grown tea an industry which 
has shewn itself so far able to meet success- 
fully all its competitors. The industry, from 
an agricultural point of view, is thriving and 
healthy in every respect, the one thing at 
fault is the price, and that is the one factor 
that we have it in our power to control. 
Surely then it behoves us all to give this 
matter our most careful attention, to give 
those who bring forward schemes of relief 
a careful hearing, and finally to give to that 
scheme which seems to be tlie best our 
heartiest and most loyal support. It must 
be borne in mind that we have to find a 
remedy effective both for the protection of 
high aud low grown interests, and accept- 
able both to Ceylon and India, and this may 
seem difficult of attainment, but it is by no 
means impossible if the majority are deter- 
mined to work together in the matter. The 
tea growing industry is easy to organise in 
comparison with numerous other complex 
interests that have been brought together 
and now exist as examples of what can be 
done by organisation. — Faithfully yours, 
ALFRED BROWN. 
MINES AND MINING IN INDIA. 
Writing to tiie Journal of the Society of Arts, 
Mr, WSowerby, C.E., says : — 
The coal mines are of the greatest importance. 
Iron mining and smelting is surrounded with great 
difficulties, though there are vast deposits of iroa 
ore of every kind and very rich in metal, but tha 
climate and labour are unsuitable. Mr Henwood'a 
visit in 1854-5 was on the suggestien of the late 
Colonel Drummond to establish colonies of iron workers 
in the Himalyas, but the question of the fuel put 
a limit to that experiment. The clearances of forest 
were too rapid, for it takes sis tons of wood to make 
a ton of charcoal, and two tons of the latter to 
make a ton of iron ; so the value of the wood 
would be about i£15 which would be the cost of the 
iron for fuel only. Of the greatest importance ia 
the development of the coal-mining. Seams of coal 
were disooveaed at the foot of the Himalayas, but 
the Igeological superintendent, the late Dr. Oldham, 
and Captain (now Sir Richard) Strachey discouraged 
the idea of further search. There are also indi- 
cations of coal in Kattyawar, also oil, which the 
writer of this noticed when occupied there. While 
in Seindh, the late Mr John Brunton, c.b., found, 
mined and used some coal, which was tested on the 
Indus steamers, but it has been entirely ignored 
and remains unexploited. It is stated by Dr. Evana 
that when Lord Curzou visited the gold mines of 
Mysore he was very pleased to see the work aud the 
forty thousand labourers. What, however, is that to 
250 millions to find employment for in India, The 
occupation of the masses must be agricultural, but 
on a bettor system than that which is now being 
followed. Then so far from the country being over- 
populated, as suggested in the discussion, double the 
population might be maintained. Unwoiked and un- 
proved gold mines can never be correctly valued ; the 
prices asked and obtained in 1S82-3 for Indian mines 
was ridiculous. Gold miaing'is best in the hands of 
Government in an old country like India. In new 
colonies they attract emigrants, but in India ao suolj 
iminigraiion ia either desirable or feasible, 
