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COAL.
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93
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a
project for the exploration of one of these deposits has, I understand,
recently assumed a tangible form, a company having been formed, the
results of whose operations will be watched with interest.
Present Out-turn of Coal in India, and Importations of Coal from Foreign Countries.
An
interesting Paper on the " Coal Importations into India," by Mr.
Hughes, of the Geological Survey of India, was published in the year
1879.* I quote from it the following general remarks, but must refer to
the original tables for details :—
Beginning
with the year 1853, the shipments of coal and coke to India were 43,562
tons. Since then, after the lapse of a quarter of a century, they have
risen to 609,735 tons. The ratio of increase has not been by any means
steady; wars, rumours of wars, famines, and improved home freights have
always exercised an irregular influence; as during the past two years,
the importation having jumped from 399,887 tons in 1876, to 539,533
tons in 1877, and to 609,735 tons in 1878. Our main supply has hitherto
been derived from the United Kingdom; the contributions furnished by
other countries, with the exception of those from Australia and France,
during spasmodic periods, being insignificant.
Australian
coal has been imported since 1857, but the amount has fluctuated much
from year to year; in 1858, 14,061 tons went to Bengal and 8,998 to
Bombay. In 1874, 14,677 tons went to Bengal and apparently none to
Bombay. In 1877, only 799 tons went to Bengal and none to Bombay, so
that the trade is probably coming to an end.
* " Records of the Geological Survey of India," vol. xii. p. 83.
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