Nov. r, J897.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
345 
PLANTING AND TRADE IN THE 
PERAK STATE IN 1896. 
We have to acknowleilge receipt of the Annual 
Report on the State of Perak for last year by Mr. 
W. H. Ireaclier, C. M.G., llritish Resident. It i.s a 
full and valuable statement of pro^ae.ss under the 
various heads of administrations witli very copious 
statistical returns in appendices. At the outset we 
note there has been a falling-off in General 
Revenue last year, by less than 2 per cent on 
that of 1895 ;'but quite 6 per cent below the 
Estimate. This is attributed to the low price of 
tin and a decreased output. The total trade too 
shows a falling-off’ as follows : — 
Value of Imports . . $ 8.71.3,940 
do. Exports . . 14 239,080 
Total value of Trade, 1896 2,3,00.3,620 
do. do. 1895 25,177,597 
Decrease, 1896 . . 2,173,977 
We are told a good deal about Public Works 
and Surveys trigonoTiietrical and otherwise, and 
o-reat activity is manifest in respect of Railways. 
At present there are open the Larnt line 17 miles 
and the Kinta Valley line 51 miles. Then as 
to further progress we quote as follows : — 
Extension to Penang. — In the absence of any port 
worthy of the name, Penang (Kuala Piai) is the 
natural Port for the northern portion of this State, 
and the extension thither of the Larut line, at a 
small cost per mile, by arrangement with the Colo- 
nial Government, thioug’n flourishing agricultural 
country, would be of benefit both to Perak and Penang, 
and in all probability yield a fair return on capital 
expended. The distance is about 50 miles, of which 
24 miles would be in colonial territory. 
CoNSTBUCTioN. — During the year the extension of 
13 miles from the terminus at Ipoh, via Tanjong 
Rambutan, to Chemor, was opened to traffic. Sanc- 
tion was obtained for the extension of the line from 
Chemor to Kuala Kangasar in June 1896, a distance 
of 22 miles. Work was at once commenced, and by 
the end of the year about six miles of formation 
were completed. It is hoped that the extension will 
be opened to Sungei Sipnt, 12 miles from Kuala 
Kaiigsar by the end of .Tune of the present year. A 
sura has been provided in the estimate to complete 
the line into Kuala Kangsar, by the close of 1897, 
with the exception of the superstructure of the bridge 
over the Perak river, which will probibly cost §130,000 
and should be put in hand at once. 
SoBVEVS. — The survey of 16 miles from Chemor to 
the Perak river was completed, including selection of 
site for the river crossing. The survey thence to 
Taiping is being rapidly performed, and the hope is 
indulged in that the old trace may be somewhat im- 
proved upon and the anticipated cost of the tunnel 
at the pass be reduced. 
Trial surveys for proposed extension from Tapah 
Road to Tanjong Malim, on the Selangor borders. 
The Resident Engineer for Railways reports 584 miles 
of trace cut, surveyed and levelled, seven miles cut 
and surveyed, 47 miles cut only. As far as can be 
at present ascertained the line will be easy and the 
length under 50 miles, but for nearly the entiie dis- 
tance it will be through heavy forest, and some con- 
siderable deviations will be required to avoid heavy 
works. 
Towards the close of the year a commencement 
was made with the survey from Ulii Sa’petang to 
Parit Buntar (Kuala Prai extension.) 
Fuutber Extensions. — Extension to Kuala Prai, 
50 miles. 
Joining up the 20 miles between Taiping and Kuala 
Kangsar. This will be essential to complement the pro- 
posed extension to Kuala Prai and to form a continuous 
line of railway from Kuala Prai, the northern port, 
to Teluk Adson, our southern port. It is, in any 
case, manifestly desirable to connect the Larut and 
the Kinta Valley Lines by the construction of this 
43 
proposed '20 miles of line, which has now been 
in contemplation for some years. 
Tapah Road to Taiijung M ilim, i.e., to the Selan- 
gor boundary. Distance about 50 milts. I am not 
in a position to express an opinion as to this ex- 
tension. The district has not yet been opened up 
by roads, and I have seen no reliable report as to 
the capabilities of the country through which the 
line would pass. There are, donbless, tin deposits, 
but the probability is that the railway will, to keep 
down cost, run even fnrtlier away from the cross 
valleys which conts-in the depofits than does the 
cart-road now uadsr construe ion. Again the richer 
deposits, it is anticipated, will be found towards the 
Selangor boundary, and the natural route to the sea 
would be the Selangor- Kuala Kubu line. The soil of 
many parts of the district is reported suitable for 
European plantations. 
The time has arrived for a forward policy in rail- 
way extension, and for connecting the existing linos, 
an the past we, in Pe ak, have c mstruoted our shoit 
pieces of railway, not out of current surplus revenue 
alone, but with the assist moe of the surpluses 
Iccumulated by the wisdom of Sir Hugh Low, dur- 
ing the period when the question of Native States 
railways was in its infancy. We have no longer 
these accumnlat' d surpluses to fall back upon, and 
if we are to extend it must be wit'n the assistance 
of a loan. To employ any small amount of surplus 
revenue that can annually be piovided in carrying 
out alight extensions, which can bring in no return 
until the completion cf the scheme of which they 
form part, is haidly a judicious policy. 
Blit t'j iis in Ceylon the most interesting inform 
ation is containel in the following 
the total acreage of EUROPEAN COFFEE ESTATES, 
Liberian with one exception, opened, or being opened, 
in the State by the end of 1896, is given as 35,242 
acres (approximate). On the whole the reports from 
these estates are encouraging. Six thousand four 
hundred and five acres of new land for European coffee 
estates were given out during 1396. 
Batang Padang is the district in which Malays have 
made most progre.ss with the onltivation of coffee, 
and the District Magistrate reports ; A very large 
amount of coffee has been newly planted by the Malays 
and three large blocks of land for the same purpose 
have been applied for by Europeans. I hope their 
example will lead to others coming into the 
district, which ought to be one of the finest in the 
State for coffee planting.” In other districts Malays 
and Chinese are increasingly interesting themselves in 
this culture. 
Pepper. — The improv'ed price of this article has 
caused the natives to pay some attention to their few 
and neglected pepper plantations but, except when 
high prices rule, this culture does not appear to 
attract onr natives. One European planter has found 
that he can obtain very profitable prices for his 
white pepper. 
Coconuts. — Some of the European planters are now 
alive to the solid advantages to be derived from coconut 
plantations and are planting to a considerable ex- 
tent. The soil and climate appear to be admirably 
suited to the requirements of this palm, in the inland 
as well as in the coast districts. Natives in different 
parts own not inconsiderable plantations and efforts 
will be made to encourage them to extend. In the 
Matang district the Chinese proprietor of a tapioca 
estate of 692 acres has planted 300 acres with coconuts 
and is extending his plantation. 
Ramie. — The subject of ramie cultivation, as the 
Resident-General is nware, has not escaped the 
attention of the Perak Government, and thanks are 
due to Mr. L. Wray, the Curator, for the trouble he 
has undertaken in investigating points connected with 
the subject. The results of his investigations are 
not yet ready in a shape to be placed before the 
public. The plant has been grown for ages by the 
natives, in very small quantities, for their own use, 
and our rainfall and climate generally are said to bo 
especially favourable to its growth. 
