27 F 
in 1893 the revenue, when the land which is now not paying rent falls in, will be 
still greater. The acreage of land under cultivation at Setiawan alone, which four 
years ago was “nil/’ is now 3,300 acres on the register, and it would not surprise 
me to see this raised to 5,000 when the demarcation is completed there at the close 
of the year. I have explained above what the expenditure has been on this settlement, 
and I think that this speaks lor itself. 
f . | ' ; . ^ [ . 
38. As to the profits which may be looked to by the State in supporting the 
introduction of paddy planting, 1 would now propose the following for favourable 
consideration. 
39. If the Government will undertake to open up 500 acres of land for paddy — 
that is fell, clear stump, road, drain and irrigate the same in a systematic manner — I am 
sure the whole of the land would either be rented or sold as soon as it had been 
brought into this condition. 
40. I have made careful enquiries, and I estimate the cost of opening an acre of 
land as above, say, $45, that is : — 
Felling ... ... ■ ... ... $ 8 
Clearing and stumping ... ... ... 30 
Roading and drainage ... ... ... 7 
$45 
and thus the total cost of 500 acres would be $22,500. 
41. For this sum there would be 500 acres which would be eagerly taken up at 
-cost price, paying Government 60 cents per acre land-rent, or $300, equal to 13^ % on 
the outlay. 
42. I have gone into this matter with the Dato Laksamana and Saiyid Abubakar, 
the Penghulu here. The former has expressed his willingness to take up roo acres 
of the land thus opened if the price does not exceed $50 per acre, and he will pay for 
the same at the rate of $1,000 per annum. The Penghulu assures me that the whole 
of this land would be taken up at Telok Anson alone. 
43. The Dato stipulates that the land taken up for this experiment should be 
on the Selaba Road in what is called the Bendang Siam in preference to Bagan Dato. 
His reason is that this is almost virgin soil and could be more easily superintended 
and would sell quicker than land at a distance. The Penghulu is of the same opinion, 
and points out that the land is free of heavy jungle covered with what is called sialit 
and menderung “ grasses/' which shows its suitability for padi planting, is easily and 
economically irrigated, being well watered and accessible in every direction. 
44. If this experiment proved a success, it might be tried in other places. I do 
not see how Government could bd a loser, for even the money expended in opening 
this padi land would be circulated in the district, and would, in one way or the other, 
benefit the State, for some of it would certainly return to the Government coffers 
under revenue in one form or another. 
45. I think if this scheme is to be, as now proposed by me, favourably con- 
sidered, I could find guarantors of good standing to take up the whole of the land 
thus opened and prepared by Government, provided the price did not exceed $50, 
and this it certainly should not, especially at Telok Anson. 
Telok Anson, 10th October , 1892. 
N. DENISON, 
Superintendent , Lower Perak . 
