PART 1.] 
Annual Report for 1870. 
7 
the coal-fields, with the full staff sanctioned for the purpose, while not more than one and 
a half years have already elapsed sinee a commencement was made. And during even this 
time those engaged have been diverted to other work. It Seems to me not only rash, but 
positively obstructive, to hurry on to conclusions, which must be as imperfect as the data on 
which they are based. The topographical maps of all the field are not even yet published, 
and without these uo good geological map can be constructed. Still the greater part, if not 
all, of East Berar has been examined, and a considerable portion of the west side of Chanda. 
But much still remains. And this must just be worked out in the same way, steadily 
proceeding from the known to the unknown, following up the details of the rocks', and care¬ 
fully putting together the isolated foots which are visible in this much covered country till 
the structure ol the whole can he built up. It is simply nothing but the wildest speculation to 
think that you can safely leap to a conclusion, or expect to accomplish in five days or even five 
minutes what would take more nearly five years to do. Let us apply the consideration to 
other countries. Any one, no matter how ignorant himself, who would demand a detailed 
examination, report, borings, &c., of the country between Liverpool and London in a few 
weeks, would either be pitied as out of his senses, or laughed at as unworthy of a reply from 
his ignorance. And yet here, if the demand were perhaps met by a simple statement of the 
impossibility of complying with it, this determination not to attempt what was impracticable 
would very possibly he thought dilatory. 
The discovery of this coal on the Wurdha river is of no recent date. It was publicly 
made known and exhibited more than forty years since. On the 19th August, in the year 
1830, Mr. J. Prinsep, the Secretary to the Asiatic Society of Bengal, laid before the Society 
a specimen of bituminous coal from the banks of the Wurdha river near Chanda, (Gleanings 
in Science, Vol. II, p. 380,) and in the next year, Mr. Prinsep gave the results of analysis 
of this coal, stating then, as we have had to do since, that it contained more than 20 per¬ 
cent. of ash, and also a larger proportion of volatile matter than usual, which, he adds, might 
enable the coal, though of little use as a fuel, to he turned to profit for the gas, which it 
gives out in great abundance {ibid, Vol. Ill, p. 381). This coal has since that time been 
noticed by several others; it was rejected as not. coal at all by many, and it was, in late 
years, only first declared positively to be good coal by one of the officers of the Geological 
Survey (Mr. Blanford). A rough sketch outline mjp was that very season made. But no 
detailed examination could be taken up until the detailed plans were ready. The Geological 
Suivey has since traced our the limits ol. the field, and has made considerable progress in 
the detailed examination of it. These seem to me to be the proper duties of that Survey, 
leaving the working of the coal to those more immediately interested in the success of the 
undertaking. And in doing this, the Survey only follow up the definite instructions they have 
received to confine their operations to such portions of the country as have been carefully 
mapped by the regular survey establishments of the country. 
The coal-fields known to occur in the lower Godavery near Dumagudium, for the 
examination of which no funds were provided last year, have been taken in hand during 
the present season, and Mr. W. Blanford has proceeded there for the purpose of examining 
them and determining the best localities for actual borings. These are the most southerly 
localities in India at which coal is known to occur, and their geographical position renders 
them of high importance. 
Among the many wild statements of the ‘ discovery’ of coal and other minerals which 
constantly find, their way into the columns of newspapers, and give rise to much speculation 
and excitement, one of the wildest seized oil the public during the past year, and was urged 
officially on the Government of Madras. It was stated that coal, ‘excellent steam coal,’ ‘ very 
different from Indian coal,’ Ac., &c., had been found near Gooty within a very short distance 
of the railroad and most conveniently placed. I took no notice of the first announcement 
