REPORT ON THE FAMINE IN THE BOMBAY PRESIDENC Y 1896-97. lNTED at the government central press, ^ZH424|t> CONTENTS Para, Page. Para. y Page. 1 Preliminary 1 3 v VIII.—Relief Measures and I-—Pressuih and effecis of the Expenditure. _ Famine» * 1—2 A,—Gratuitous Relief. - 2 Areas affected 3 Rainfall ... ff*. 2—3 41 Kinds of gratuitous relief 29 4 Outturn in 1876-77 and 1896-97 ... 3—4 5 Effect of high prices ... 4 (a) Village Relief 6 Prolongation of the famine ... 4—5 < 7 Need for comparison with 1876-77, 5 42 Village doles 29—30 8 Extent of relief . 5—>6 43 Assistance to inferior village ser- 9 Allegation of attractiveness of re- vants ... 30 lief works considered 6—7 44 Doles to destitute school children . 30 10 Introduction of the system of kit- 45 Extent of relief in villages 30—31 chens for dependants 7-r-8 46 Maximum numbers on village re- -> ll Concentration of labour 8—9 lief ... ... 31—32 12 Proportion of persons relicved to 47 Cost of village relief ... ... 32 population 9—10 13 Classes of people on works 10 (h) Poor-house Relief 14 Condition of low castes ... i 10 48 n Condition of the agricultural popu- Reasons for small amount of poor- 32 lation ... ... 10—11 house relief 16 Relief of weaver s and other arti- i 49 Number of poor-houses y... 32—33 zans ,.o ( 11—13, 50 Extent and cost of poor-bonse re¬ 33 17 Sale of ornaments and utensils ... 13 lief ... ,o ■> 18 Emigration ) ... 13 i 19" General conclusion as to effects 13—14 (c) Relief to non-worhing children and other dependants under 1 II.—Public Health. Chapter IX of the Code. 51 Kitchens and Cash Allowances for 20 Death-rate ... ... 14 dependants on works 33—34 21 Caseg of starvation v ... 14—15 ( 22 ' Mortality in 1896-97 as compared B.—Private Donatio m. / with 1876-77 ... ... > 15 Immense utility of Indian Chari¬ 23 Mortality on relief works ... 15—17 52 34 24 Orphans ... # ... ... 17 table Relief Fund ... 2^ Birth-rate ... ' 17 55 Allotments from the ••• 34 54 Manner of utilizjja^fte^llmments. Local chari^^j£^V>.%r j — Water-supply. 35—37 HI—Crime. 55 37 26 Offences against property 17—18 27 Additional Police and Magistrates, 18 56 Instructions as to measures to be IV.—Supplies of food-g rai n s. taken 37 57 Improvements of supply 37—38 28 Prices ... ... 18—19 58 Results ... ... ... 38 s 29 Stock s of grain ... ... 19 D%—Cattle and Fodder. 30 1 Movements of grain 19—21 31 Refusal of Government to import i 21—22 Measures for assisting in preserva¬ tion of cattle ••• Reluctance to take cattle to graz¬ ' 5*> 33 34 Municipal grain shops Cheap grain shops Prohibition of export by Native 22—23 23 59 60 38—41 41 »States ... ... ... 23 ing areas. 61 Importation of fodder by private 41—42 ^ 0 V.—Water-supply. enterprise - ... ... 62 Importation by Government 42 55 Extent of failure ... ... 23—24 £3 General results of grass operations. 42—43 VI.—Cattle and Fodder. j D.'—Famine Allowances to Public. Servants. 36 Extent of scarcity of fodder 24 64 Classes of allowances... 43—44 37 Mortality among cattle 24—25 VII—Land Revenue collections. j F.—Loans to Agriculturist s. ♦ 65 Growth of the tagdi system 44 38 Principles followed in the levy of 66 Total gran.ts 44 ll Vs9 the land revenue ... 25—27 67 Advances for land improvement 45 Collections, remissions and sus- 68 Wells ... ) ... 45-46 pensions ... } ... 27—28 69 Embankment 4 46 40 Coercion ... 28 70 Deeg digging * .... 46 p 98' 2 Para. ( . '< rage. « IP, — Loans to Agriculturist s—> 1 continued. 71 Measures for securing proper appli- k I cafion of advances ... 46 B i 72 Extent to wLich advances were profitably used 46—48 C f To Recovery of advances for land improvement ... ... 48—49 74 Loan to an Inamd&r ... 49 75 Loans for assistance of agricultural D i operations 49 76 Loans for subsistence of cultivator s. 49- 50 E 1 77 Loan to Jath State ... 50 Q,—Public Works, P i 78 Measures affecting nanag'ement already described ... 50 G 1 b9 Test works 50 Civil Agency works ... 50—51 81 Work in forests 51 H 1 82 Decision to employ labourers, except for special reasons, on large works under Public Works Department Agency and pre- parations to carry it into effect . 51—52 83 Systems of task w'ork «, 52 T ! £4 Piece w'ork ...) 52—5? JL i 85 Distribution of* duties betwreen Public Works Officers and Civil Officers and conduct of mis¬ T i cellaneous duties ... 63 86 Details of works, management and outturn of relief labour 53—55 87 Utility of work done... 55—58 K 88 Numbers employed and rate of expenditure 58—59 II.—Special FJstabli h ment. L 89 District staff 59 M 90 Expenditure on special district establishments ••• 60 91 92 Strengthening of ordinary establish¬ ments in famine districts Expenditure on account of ad¬ 60 N dition b to ordinary establish¬ ments ... CO O 93 Conduct of establishments 60—61 I.—Relief Measures undertaken by T) Local JBoards and Municipaliiies. r 94 Enlistment of aid of local bodies... 61 95 Loans for the purpose of relief 61—62 Q 96 Other relief given by Municipali¬ 62 ties c 97 Municipal Expenditure for relief ... 62 98 Expenditure by Local Boards foi relief *«. 62 R J.—Relief Measures in Halite Siates♦ S 99 Affected area and expenditure , 62—63 IX,—Final remarks, 100 i General results c ... 11 f i " 63—64 rage. Appendices* tatement showing the rainfall of the seasons of 1896 ami 1876 tatement showing the number of persons receiving relief in each of the affected districts during 1896-97 and 1876-77 tatement showing the classes of people on relief works Leports on the operations for the relief of weavers by employment in their own craft ... Itatement showing the morfality in the affected districts from Oc¬ tober 1896 to October 1S97 itatement showing the monthly pricos of jowari and bajri during' 1896-97 and 1876-77 tatement showing transactions in the principal food-grains of the Deccan and Karnatak Districts with the internal and external blocks during the five year s end¬ ing 1895-96 Statement showing the daily aver¬ age nnmbers receiving ' village' relief in the last week of e«,ch month ... .S Statement showing the daily aver¬ age nunibers relieved in poor- houses in the last week of each month ... Statement showing the daily aver¬ age nnmbers of dependant s on relief workers in the last week of each month ... ,,, Report on the famine grass opera¬ tions Statement showing the advances' under the Land Improvement Loans Act XIX of 1883 and the Agriculturists Loans Act XII of 1884 ... Maps showing the large works carried out during the famine Statement giving detail s regarding relief works supplied by Executive Engineers ... Statement showing the daily aver¬ age numbers of men, women and! children among relief workers in the last week of each month . Statement showing the cost of extra establishments employed in connection with the famine in the year 1896-97 and 1897-98 t. Statement showing the nnmbers of persons receiving relief in Native States ... Statement showing the total ex¬ penditure on famine belief i iii — \ vi—vii viii ix—xv xvi—xvii xviii—xix xxi—xxiv xxyi—xxix xxx—xciii xciv xcv xcvii-exlvii c. cxlviii—cli C cl i i cliii cliv No,. 364—Fam. of 1898. j . Revenue Department (Famine),* Bombay Castle, 23 rd May 1898. From The Honourable Mr. J. MONTEATH, C S.I., I. C. S., Chief Secretary to the Government of Bombay; To The SECRETARY to the GOVERNMENT op INDIA, Revenue and Agricultural Department, Simla. Sir, With reference to the letters from the Government of India, Nos. 29-210-1 and 30-F.-210-2, dated respectively 23rd August and 3rd September 1897, I am directed to submit the final report on the Famine of 1896-97 in the Bombay Presidency. In paragraph 3 of the latter communication it was stated that the preparation of the report for each province must stand over until scarcity had disappeared. Relief measures on a small scale are still in progress in the Shold- pur District, and it is probable that some will have to be undertaken again in Ahmednagar and Poona, and perhaps in Bijapur. The outturn of crops in some of the talukas. of these districts has been unsatisfactory ; t'he early rains in them were so scanty and irregular that many of the kharif crops failetl entirely or were very poor, and though ample rain fell in September arid October, the jowdri crop over the greater part of this area has been blighted or dried up owing to the total absence of rain in November and December. The Collectors of these districts have accordingly been instructed to keep a vigilant watch and to re-open specified works if necessity for this course is disclosed. But the general famine in the Deccan may be held to be at an end, and a report on it may now be suitably submitted. 1.—Pressure and Effccts of the Famine. 2. The districts affected in 1896-97 were the same as those in which the great famine of 1876-77 prevailed. The total as Areas affected. well as the affected area and population are shown below for both periods :— 1 1876-77. 1896-97. District, Total Area in square miles. Affected Area in square miles. Total Population. Affected Population. Total Area in square miles. Affected Area in square miles. Total Population. Affected Population. ShoUpur ... ... 4,496 4,496 7)8,034 718,034 4,542 4,542 750,689 750,689 Ahmednagar 6,647 5,650 773,938 677,376 6,645 6,645 888,755* ^888,755 Poona , ... 5,099 2,500 907,236 318,601 5,349 5,349 (2,987 specially) 1,067,800 1,067,800 (488,000 specially) S&tara 4,983 2,682 1,064,002 461,000 4,826 4,825 1,225,989 1,225,989 Nateik 8,113 2,000 729,252 250,000 5,817 6,817 843,582 843,582 JQt&ndesh ^ 10,162 5,500 1,028,642 646,944 10,700 10,700 (1,700 specially) 1,460,S51 1,460,851 (250,000 specially) Bij&pur ... ... 5,695 5,695 816,037 816,037 5,627 6,627 796,339 796,339 Belgaum ... 4,591 2,660 938,750 501,000 4,674 1,642 1,013,261 353,000 .jh&rw&r ... 4,564 3,000 988,037 630,100 4,603 857 1,051,314 y 157,000 Total ... 54,365 34,183 ^,963,927 6,018,992 52,782 46,004' 9,098,580 7,544,005 b 98—1 2 The a-eas affected are shown in the accompanying map (App'endix A). The districts of Koldba and Ratpagiri were also partially affected, and relief me?sures on a small scale had to be carried out at the expense of the State in the former district for a short period in the rains of 1897, when distress was deepest. No direct expenditure on account of famine was incurred by Government in the latter district, but test-works were kept open at the cost of the Local Fund. In neither Ratndgiri nor Koldba however were considerable numbers of people willing to accept employment on famine wages. The Native States of the Southern Maratha Country and those of Akalkot, Aundh, Phaltan, Bhor and Surgana were affected similarly to the neighbouring British districts. 3. The famine of 1896-97 was of course mainly dup to failure of crops in the affected tracts from the want of seasonable rain. Rainfall. The four previous seasons had on the whole been fair, and there was nothing in them which eontributed to bring about distress. In 1891-92 there was scarcity in the Southern Maratha Country, but it was not such as to Ly severely the resources of the people and no visible effect^ from it remained. In Appendix B the rainfall of the season of 1896 at thehead-quarters and certain selected stations of each affected ‘district is compared with the average fall and that of 1876. The monsoon of 1896 set in regularly in the middle of June and sowings were well commenced. The rain in July and August was however abnormally heavy in the western hilly tracts and central talukas of the Deccan, which are mainly dependent on kharif crops. In several places in the plains the crops were destroyed by floods and resowing became necessary, ■while many of the embankments on the hills which sustain the soil on which the crops are sown were washed away by an abnormal down¬ pour. In ihe greater part of Ahmednagar, the eastern tdlukas of Satara and the western talukas of Bel gaum and Dharwar conditions were ^favourable till the end of August. In Sholapur and Bijapur and the eastern talukas of Poona, Belgaum and Dharwdr on the other hand, the kharif rains were deficient. The monsoon ceased early in September and there was practically no rain in October. A more or less complete destruction of kharif crops was thus brought about and rabi sowings could not be undertaken except where irrigation was possible. There was some rain towards the end of November and again in December, but it was too late to improve prospects materially except in parts of Belgaum and Dharwar. In some of the other districts, though large areas were sown after rain fell in November, they produced nothing but a small supply of infe-ior fodder. The extent to which the crops were affected may be judged from the following table, which shows the decrease in 1896-97 as compared with the pre¬ vious year in the total cropped area and in the area cultivated with the principal food-crops—jo war i and bajri— and the average outturn of the latter crops and of the principal hill-grain—ragi:— District. Decrease in net area cropped in Aeres (000 omitted). Net decrease in area cultivated witli jowari and Mjri in aeres (000 omitted). Average outturn in annas (16 ANNAS-NORMAL CEOr), < Remarks. J owdri. Bajri. Bagi. < Sholdpur... —767 —446 3 2 Ahmednagar ... —618 —135 6 5 “4 C Poona •*• —267 —69 4 4 3 Satdra ... —93 —39 8 5 3 Ndsik —389 —81 4 5 8 Khdndesh —168 —9 % 6 < 5 Bijapur —2,136 —1,160 1 Belgaum ... . —248 1—79 4 *3 #*#3 Dh&rwar ... .w . —272 —48 7* 7* 5* * The average out¬ t ( turn of the affected C area in Dharwar ( was under 2 annas. Total ( ... —4,978 —2,066 ••• In Bijapur the failure of crops was almost1 complete, while in the other districts the outturn of the principal food-crops ranged from 8-3 per cent, in i 3 Sholapur to 37‘5 per cent, in D har war of the normal outturn. There was,how¬ ever a large increase in the are’a irrigated in the affected districts and sown with food-crops, hut for which the total outturn \Yould have been materially less. The increase in 1896-97 over the area in 1895-96 is shown below :— ’ District. Acres. Khdndesh 4-21,400 Ndsik ... ... +2/ ,900 Ahmednagar ... + 58,600 Poona + 35,800 Shol&pur 4-22,900 S£tara 4-38,200 Bel gaum + 3,000 BijApur' + 14,900 Dh&rwdr 4-5,500 Total ... 4-228,200 It is estimated that the loss to the agriculturists as represented by the difference between the outturn of the year and the normal outturn valued at an average price amounted to 1,830 lakhs of rupees, 4. A comparison of the anna valuation of crops in the affected districts • -i ava nn 4 given in the report of the Director of Land Records 1896-97rnin 18*and arL(l Agriculture for 1896-97 with that adopted by the Indian Famine Commission from the reports of the District Officers for 1876-77 shows the percentages of the actual outturn to the normal outturn as follows :— District. Kb&ndesh Nasi1: ... Ahmednagai' Poona ShoMpur... Sdtara Bijdpur ... Belgautn... Dharwitr... ■ 1S7G-77. ... 605 ... 51-1 ..- 40-2 ... 30-2 ... 8-6 ... 62-3 ... 5-2 ... 28-6 ... 21-6 1890-07. 35-4 36-S • 29-2 24-3 8-3 30-5 07 29 2 37'5 The figures for the past.year are, it is presumed, those supplied by the Circle Inspectors under special instructions. The Director of Land It e cord s and Agri¬ culture and his Deputy and the Superintendents of Land Records and Agricul¬ ture were directed to travel through the affected districts and test the estimates by personal observation. Tliey reported that except in the case of irrigated crops they were fairly accurate. T hey however have themselves estimated both the outturn of the year and the average outturn for the previous two years in quantities, and the proportion of the latter to the former, as shown below, is differ¬ ent from that given above*.— District, Average Outturn of 1894-95 and 1895-96. Actual Outturn of 1896-97. Percentage proportion of Column 3 to Column 2. i 2 3 4 Mds. Mds. KMndesh... N&sik Ahmednagar Poona Shol&pur ... Satara Bijapur Bel gaum ... Dharw&r ... J12,209,153 11,158,056 12,147,953 10,459,098 8,945,225 9,815,3 7S 10,000,246 12,138,476 11,871,880 3,995,479 3,657,351 4,833,510 2,863,135 810,000 6,122,210 401,1S3 3,042,413 5,301,750 32 7 •32-7 39-8 27-3 9-0 62-3, 4-0 25-9 44-7> ( f . .* 4 < • ‘ ; , It is probable that the estimates of 1878-77 were not so accurate. In the circumstances it is not possible to make any close' comparison. The extent of crop failure was however undoubtedly greater in Bijapur in the past year than in 1876-77, and in the opinion of the Governor in Council Sholapur cannot have been much less severely affected than Bijapur, for with no larger population the de¬ mand for relief under stricter conditions —more concentration being practicable1 —was greater. Whether or not the outturn in Sholapur has been over-estimated, the greater part of it was obtained from a small area of irrigated land, which prob¬ ably belongs to comparatively wealthy people. Except so far as that produce affected prices it was of little or no more use to the bulk of the population than the produce of other provinces. The Collector, who made inquiries throughout the district with the view of determining of what revenue the levy should be suspended, considered that the dry-crop land did not on an average yield more than Ye °f the ordinary outturn, and in two talukas it yielded no gram at all. In Ahmednagar also the yield of the dry-crop land, though greater than in Sholapur, was confined to particular tracts. It is doubtful whether on the whole the loss was greater in Poona and in Satara than in 1876-77, but in the hill tracts of these districts as well as in the Akola Tdluka of the Ahmednagar District, which are considered immune from famine, it was almost complete. Undoubtedly in Khdndesh and Nasik the extent of failure was greater, but in Dharwar and Belgaum, which suffered severely in 1876-77, only 3 and 2 talukas in the north¬ east and east respectively were affected ; in all the former and one of the latter however the crops were almost entirely lost. On the whole the extent of crop failure seems to have been quite, as great in the past year as in the preceding famine period. 5. i^t is further to be observed that what affects the poorer classes and w i. e !.• • especially the landless classes most acutely is the high Effect of high prices• price of food rather than the failure of the crops in the iocality in which they reside. Now prices at an early period rose to a higher point than would have been the case if the failure of crops had been confined to the tracts in this Presidency in which there was not seasonable rain, although throughout the Presidency proper the season was unfavourable. Previous bad harvests and unsatisfactory prospects in Northern India created a demand for food-grains before apprehensions of distress in this Presidency were entertained. The statistics of export and import show that there was an unusual demand on the resources of this Presidency in 1894-95 and in 1895-96, which was main- tained until September 1896, the early part of the season having given prbmise of a good harvest. This abnormal export must have reduced stocks considerably below the normal quantity. When therefore the usual rains of the north-east monsoon failed to come, a famine was created and by the middle of November the price of jowari—the staple food-grain—was in some districts under 18 lbs. per rupee and in most of the other affected districts only a fraction over that rate, the normal price in these districts varying from 38 to 45 lbs. per rupee. There was no such rapid rise in 1876 except in the Southern Maratha Country, to almost all parts of which imported grain had then to be carried at least ±00 miles by road. When rain fell at the end of November, prices dropped mate¬ rially and remained steadier afterwards. The course of them will be more fully dealt with in connection with the subject of supply of food-grains. '6. There was also reason for the late famine being more prolonged than its predecessor. The early rains of 1877 were not Prolongation of the satisfactory, but they were more so than those of 1897. amine- ^ comparative statement is given below, the rainfall of the latter year being shown not only as gauged at the head-quarter stations, of the eastern districts, but also at the head-quarters L877. Stations. May. Jone. July. August. Septem¬ ber. October. Novem¬ ber. Decem¬ ber. May. June. Jnly. August. Septem¬ ber. > Octo¬ ber. In. c. In. c. In. c. In. c. In. c. In. C. In. c. In. c. in. c. In, c. In.c. In. 0. In. c. In. c. y Khi ndeshl District. J Dhulia 2 24 7 2 6 48 13 66 1 55 ... ... 3 46 2 69 10 22 1 69 1 40 ; N&sik Dis-\ trict. / Nislk 0 47 2 39 6 76 6 13 9 44 2 61 •• 4 42 2 93 1 27 5 69 4 18 Ahmednagar 3 'Ahmednagar... 0 24 I 46 1 48 0 99 10 18 S 46 ... 9 93 0 49 3 63 4 61 2 73 District. | .Shrigonda ... ... 0 /4 2 5 0 79 10 77 5 14 ... ... ... ... • Poona Die- f Poona .. 5 41 4 57 5 61 6 63 14 31 ... V 8 85 1 42 1 38 4 68 2 96 trict. | Sirur 0 41 1 4 0 80 1 15 10 92 6 44 ... ... M. ... Sholapur i ' Sholapur 0 62 t 81 2 15 1 53 10 28 2 94 ... ... 8 49 3 76 5 75 10 86 3 79 District, 1 Singola 0 16 3 21 0 68 0 53 14 65 5 99 ... ... ... ••'i * ... Sit&ra Die-( S&Ura 2 45 7 73 13 4 10 38 5 20 7 12 ... ... 4 ll 4 59 4 66 8 41 6 42 trict. | .Mata 0 99 1 54 6 58 1 5 6 72 8 33 ... ... ... ... •H ** •* Belgaamj ’Belgaum 4 64 6 89 14 76 ll 14 4 93 2 56 *•« ... 16 43 3 12 7 69 6 63 7 42 District. 1 , Qokik 4 74 7 15 1 94 1 91 5 44 7 44 ... ... ... ... - •• 1 . •• ... Bijipur Die- ( ’Bij&pui S 7 8 99 1 91 I 6 8 2 5 26 ... ... ... 4 98 2 24 4 23 13 78 8 77 trict. 1 .Sindgi 1 69 2 67 0 65 0 42 14 47 3 34 ... ... ... *< ♦ *• ... Dhitrw &r( ' Dh&rw&r t 0 9 13 5 14 5 79 9 2 S 68 ... ... 4 89 0 76 3 15 > 10 95 8 58 District, 1 .Gadag... 1 80 8 63 1 15 1 89 8 94 2 83 ... ... •• ... ** •* ; .... It will be seen that in the eastern parts of Poona, in Ahmednagar, in portions of Sholapur and in Bijdpur there was no useful rain in duly and August, and on the whole these months with the greater part of September constituted the period of greatest intensity of the famine in these tracts. People who had before struggled to maintain themselves without assistance from the State were forced by the exhaustion of their resources and the fear of another failure of crops to come to the works, and many came in a sadly deteriorated condition. In 1877 on the other hand there was except in Bijapur a gradual decline in the neeA for State relief from May or June, and it practically ceased at the end of October, whereas in the past year relief on a large scale could not be stopped till December. In the hill tracts the rainfall of 1897 was generally seasonable and sufficient, but the people suffered acutely until their crops ripened. 7. In the foregoing paragraphs the causes which produced the famine ,T , • ■ . have been described and its extent and intensity with 1876r77.C0mpariS0n ^ave ^eerL contrasted with those of 1876, when famine occurred in the same distriets and on the whole in about an equal area, though not in the same area in all the distriets. This comparison enables a further comparison of the effects of the two famines to be made with advantage, and indeed without some such method of gauge the results cannot be properly appreciated. But the actual results depend also on the measures of relief adopted to counteract the natural effects of tlie loss of crops and on the resources of the people themselves. In considering the pressure of the famine therefore it is necessary to take account of these resources and measures, although some of them will be more fully described in subsequent parts of this report. 8. It has been shown that the causes which produce distress were on the whole not less potent in 1896-97 than in 1876-77. xtent oi ttenet. Yet the extent of relief granted was not quite so great. The detailed figures are given in Appendix C. It seems to be generally supposed that in 1876 operations were commenced too late and that there was a difficulty at that time in inducing the people to go to1 the works. . But this is a misapprehension. The number of people on the works in November 1876 was four times the number in November 896, and it increased. rapidly till the latter part of January 1877, when the wage on works under Civil agency was reduced and a strike occurred. This reduction was made because these works were too attractive, but it had a disastrous result in causing great bodies of people to wander about without definite aim and in pro- p 98—2 6 < ducing much mortality. In the year 1896 the works were opened only after a depiand for employment at famine rates was established. Early in October special reports on the situation wrere called for and by the middle of the month the Commissioner, C. D., was authorized to open test-works where he deerned it necessary, suitable Local Eund works being selected for the purpose. In a' Ivesolution No. 8370, dated 23rd October 1896, more general orders regarding test-works were issued and special care that the labour should be paid for at the rates prescribed in the Code was enjoined. Eventually in Government Re¬ solution No. 8831, dated 9th November 1896, the Commissioners were authorized to commence works where there was a demand for employment at famine wages, but it was directed that regular relief works should not be opened until the test-works established such a demand. In several places, notably for a time in Belgaum and Satara, and throughout the periods of distress in Koldba and Ratnd- girij the people refused to work for the Avages prescribed in the Code, but on the whole there was a steady increase in the number of persons on the works till April. Considerable numbers came from Native States, especially from His Highness the iSlizam’s territory, which interlaces to a large extent with parts of the Alnnednagar and Sholapur districts. 9. It was however represented by several officers that considerable num¬ bers of people who were not in absolute need of relief Allegation of attract- resorted to the works and that the wages given were considered 16 16 W°r 3 excessively liberal. Their belief seems to have been based mainly on the evidence of possession of some property by some of the labourers, of occasional savings out of the payments made and of a disinclination on the part of many to work for the higher rates of wage. A few instances have also been cited of private employers being unable to get labour at ordinary rates. His Excellency the Governor in Council has no sympathy with the theory that nobody who has any other resource left should be received on a relief work. Such a doctrine could not be carried into effect without much cruelty and loss of life. It is most desirable and in the end conducive to economy that people who cannot live through the period of famine without aid from the State should resort to the works before their resources are entirely exhausted and have their small savings still available for utilization when they are resuming their ordinary occupation. Nor can the Governor in Council accept the view that the scale of wages is or the whole much in excess of what is needed for the preservation of health. It was settled in the light of the experience gained in 1877. While priees are com- • paratively low, it is less favourable for adult males and working children than the scale of that year and primci facie cannot be extravagant. The equity of making the entire wage dependent on the price of food and work performed can- not be questioned. Experience has shown that the payments for the work are sufficient to maintain the labourers in good health, and mauy preferred to accept the minimum ration rather than work for more. In some cases where people on the works were fined so as to rcduce their earnings below the value of that ration, their condition deteriorated, and the inference is that these people at1 any rate had no other resources, and that the lowest wage was sufficient to preserve their strength but little more than sufficient. There is indeed no doubt that the rbtions are less than the people are accustomed to, but it is probable that they ordinarily eat more than they need for the preservation of health,,and in some cases the labourers were able to get inferior grain at a lower rate than that of the staple food, while those of the lowest castes supplemented their diet with the flesh of the cattle which died. So far as sjivings wrere made out of wages, they could have been made only when these aids to their sustenance were forthcoming. The private employers who complained of inability to obtain labour at the ordinary rates seem to have overlooked the fact that in most places these rates represented much lessi than half the food which tliey would represent whpn priees are normal. It appears, however, that in several districts, as will be more fully shown below, advantage was taken of the readiness of labourers to accept low wages to carry out the construction of wells and other lauu improvements on*an altogether unprecedented scale out of private capital as well as with the aid of advances from Government, and no difficulty was experienced in obtaining the labour? This fact is believed to account largely for the dis¬ proportion between men and women on the works, the former being employed on the land improvements. On the whole it appears to the (Governor in Council 1 7 to be beyond’ question that tile scale of wages is not sncli as to attract to the works people wlio are not in real need of relief, although it is so framed as to discourage work up to the higher standards—a defect which will be separately considered. 10. It was however found that the cash allowances admissible to young Introduction of the sys- children gave rise to an abuse. The rate is probably tem of kitchens for de- not more than enough for a child of 6 or 7 years of age, pendants- hut it is too much for the younger children. Peopld of the lowest castes are extraordinarily prolific, and there were many parents with several infants who were able to obtain sufficient for themselves and them while doing no more v'ork than they were compelled to do, and in many cases none at all. Some of these people could probably have done without State relief. There were ascertained instances of men remaining idle in their villages while their wives and children were sent to the works. The cash allowances were perinitted at first owing to the strong representation of experienced officers that they would be more convenient and economical than cooked food, although an element of danger was recognized in the argument that they were more acceptable to the people. But the very large proportion of dependants to workers at an early stage attraeted the attention of Government, and on 27th January 1897 it was directed that the system of cash allowances should be discontinued except in cases in which there was shown to be a diffieulty in the distribution of cooked food in kitchens. The order elicited many strong objec- tions, and it was eventually deemed necessary to assemble a conference of the most experienced officers of the Land Revenue, Public Works and Famine Department^ for the discussion of the question. The result was that the orders were maintained. It vras recognized that the cost per unit of the relief of dependants would be greater under the system of cooked food than under that of cash allowances, but it was believed that the introduction of kitchens would be effectual in eliminating workers and their dependants who were not in real need of relief and would thus prove economical. The following figures show that this belief was well founded :— Workers. Depbnbaxts. Diitricfc. Before Kitchen* Four subsequent weeks. Week ending Before Kitchens Four subsequent weeks. Week ending 1 were opened. 1st. 2nd. 3rd. 4 th, 15th May. were opened. l*t. 2nd. 3rd. 4th. 15th May. BijSpur 58,831 59,914 54,217 54,444 61,652 48,556 20,629 20,070 18,346 16,965 16,082 11,014 ShoHpur 78,634 S6,63C 86,620 90,779 91,203 88,232 37,447 10,049 38,149 31,821 32,571 2S,927 Ahmeduagar 58,863 65,077 63,439 65,386 64,310 52,076 31,528 30,763 30,019 26,197 22,563 11,860 Poona -i 15,773 16,760 15,514 15,274 14,953 21,803 7,106 5,343 5,084 4,016 3,214 3,250 Nisik 23,657 17,664 23,535 19,734 19,549 20,325 12,817 6,740 7,899 6,484 6,S62 6,903 Satira 28,759 31,508 31,302 ; 31,541 21,703 10,658 4,552 4,608 4,917 4,574 3,401 2,067 Kh^ndesh 23,965 .23,130 20,955 24,774 28,495 17,585 10,493 10,125 8,799 7,895 9,064 6,128 .) In all cases the arrangements for cooking were such as to avoid all possi- bility of offence to caste feeling, and no instance was reported of objection being made on that ground. At first fear of an intention to injure the children was entertained, but it was soon overcome, and although there were throughout some instances of women maintaining their children out of their own earnings rather than send them to kitchens, they appear to have been very few, and'the system was highly appreeiated by almost all of those in real need. As the prescribed ration is scarcely sufficient foi the larger children but too much for the smaller, it was directed that if the scale was not on the average exceeded, the food given to each child should be in proportion to its needs, and this is a mate- rial advantage which the kitchens have over cash allowances. There is universal testimony that the children in the kitchens were 'well nourished, The separation of children from the labourers during ^working liours also facilitated work and the exaction of proper tasks. It was not however possible to keep in the kitchens the very young children. Provision is made in the Code for nursing mothers not allowed to work. For. such children of those able to work as were not old enough to eat the cash allowance was given ; for those old enough to eat but 8 C • not oid enough to be separated from their mothers the mothers got the ration from the kitehens. « ll. Another measure however which tended to the reduction of the number , of persons employed in April and May was the con- Concentration of labour. cJtrati(m of Wour on laige works. It was directed' from the first that small works should be opened for the employment of persons whom it was inexpedient to draft to a distance from their homes,' but that suuject to provision for them famine labour should be concentrated on large and important works likely to be of value to the State. Owing to the impossi- bility of providing reasonable supervision few small works under Civil agency were actually carried on, and on such as were tried the relief was, as in 1877, practically gratuitous. This statement however does not apply to temporary improvements of the water-supply, for which considerable sums were sanctioned in the several affected districts and which were ordered to be carried out as Civil agency works. But the programmes did not contain many important works. Irrigation projects had been excluded because the execution of them involves very large expenditure on objects—principally the acquisition of land—other than the employment of unskilled labour, and because in the greater part of the Deccan the utility of irrigation from tanks is still so little appreeiat- ed that there is a probability of the works being unremunerative. Almost the only other large works possible are railways and from the nature of things they cannot be numerous. Consequently in the first instance practically the only works available were the construction and repair of roads and the provision of metal on the important roads for a series of years, the latter being considered especially suitable in the earlier stages of famine. But the result of having to adopt these classes of works, which are necessarily scattered over large areas, was that employment was provided for a large proportion, of the ‘ people near their homes, and undoubtedly in such eircumstances some people who have other means would accept employment at almost any rates at a season when they could earn nothing otherwise. In view of the opinion expressed by the Pauline Commission a distance test was not authorized and in a few places in which it was tried by the Collectors of their own accord it was directed to be discontinued, for the Governor in Council considered that if the test could be effectually applied—which is exceedingly doubtful—it would open a door to very serious abuses. But it was insisted throughout that able-bodied persons in need of relief must go to the places, where useful employment can be provided for tbem under adequate supervision. Accordingly measures were taken as soon as possible, and more strenuously when it was seen that the breaking of metal was proceeding beyond reasonable requirements, for the provision of larger works, and in particular it was determined to undertake the earthwork of tanks which although of doubtful remunerativeness cannot fail if completed to be of great protective value and of general advantage to the community. The nature of the works will be more fully described in another part of this report; at present what is considered is the effect on the extent of relief given qf the substitution of the larger works. There was great reluctance on the part of many to proceed to works at a considerable distance from their homes, and1 the stricter discipline enforced on these works including compulsory residence was also deterrent. It is believed that as a rule those who were in real want did not scruple to go to distant works, while those who on the closure of smaller works within a prescribed radius of the larger works returned to their villages had for a time other means of livelihood. It was however found impossible to draft a large proportion of labourers in the Bij^pur District to a tank work in the Bel- gaum District commenced mainly for their re\ief, and as many appeared to be falling into bad condition it was deemed necessary to re-open some road works in the vicinity of Bijapur. There appears however to have been less reluctance shown to resort to distant tank works open at a subsequent period in tbeir own district. When it was thought pt obable that many of > the labourers whose occupation is(agriculture would leave the works at the commencement of the rains and the rest at the commencement of the rabi season, those remaining being, professional labourers, it was directed that the smaller \?orks should be clos^a and the workers qoncentrated on large works suitable for being carried on during the rains, where shelter could be provided. Lut as already stated the ’early rains failed, the demand for employment at famine wages gradually increased, attaining its maximum in September, and the number of works could not be reduced to such an extent as had been contemplated. In all parts: pf the Deccan 9 > ) some of the people have no disinclination to go long distances f,or employment while others would undergo much privation rather than do so. This fact is particularly noticeable in the" hilltracts. Considerable numbersof people ordinarily go from these places to Bombay and other large centres for labour, and the distress was greatly aggravated by their inability to obtain their usual employment owing to plague. Yet many of the residents in these ghat tdlukas fell into bad physieal condition while employment was available for them within comparatively short distances, and had eventually to be relieved gratuitously. It is to be observed howevet that.the rab cultivation which is carried on in these tracts requires almost con¬ tinuous work, and that fact accounts for the inability of considerable nurobdrs to leave their homes. Except in the Akola Taluka it was impossible to provide any suitable works of importance amongst the hills, but works were opened as near them as possible and in Note*—The figures in italics represent the affected population and the percentages on it, ( . * These figures represent the maximum for the whole area in any one month, not the sum’of the district maxima which occur rod. in different month®. f This figure represents the daily average for the Presidency, and not the sum of the district averag^s. b *^8—3 10 The Indian Famine Commission estimated the maximum number likely to be in‘< receipt of relief in the worst months at, 15 per cent, of, the severely affected population. This limit ,was somewhat exceeded in 1897 in Skolapur and Bijdpur only. In 1870-77 it was exceeded in Bijdpur and Poona. On the whole the proportion in receipt of relief in the past famine was materially less than in the preceding famine. € < 13. Appendix .D shows the figures given by the Collectors as the propor- Classes of people on works- ‘ion" °f olas)?es °fthe Pe?Ple relief works to tne total number ot workers and to« the total popula¬ tion of the class at different stages of the famine. The figures cannot be ac¬ cepted as entirely accurate, for although it was directed in some places that a census should be carriecl out in a systematic form, there was no test taken by superior officers. It is also to be observed that it is 'exceedingly difficult to draw the line between cultivators and labourer. There are few member of the agricultural communities of the Deccan who have not some' interest in land, although many earn the main part of their livelihood by working for other. It is probable that people of that class are divided between the categories of culti¬ vator and labourer in different proportions in different districts. As was to be expected the labouring classes came first on the -works and cultivator came in increasing proportion as the famine became more intense, but it is scarcely credible that in Bijdpur the proportion of cultivator rose from 29T per cent, in January to 45*6 per cent, in May and the proportion of labourer fell from 62*6 per cent, to 27‘4 per cent, while there was a decline in the total number of persons on the works. 14. A very large proportion of the people on the works -were Mhars and Mangs and member of other low-castes. Of the IOin ’ whole Mhar population of the disiricts 43 4 per cent, were employed on relief wages in Sholapur, 40 per cent, iji Ahmednagar, 3P9 per cent, in Ndsik and 30'6 per cent, in Bijdpur. In the village system people of this class render services both to Government and the community in consideration of which tliey hold indm land and have a customary right to certain perquisites from land-holders. But their fecundity is extraordinary and subjected to no restraint, and they have multiplied far beyond the number needed for their hereditary occupation. The more enterprising go to a distance for employ¬ ment in various ways, but the great bulk of them remain in the villages as mere parasites on the rest of the community. These have no adequate ostensible means of subsistence, and the claims they make on the rest of the villageys are at all times a source of danger to the public peace. In a time of distress there is no resource for them but relief from the State, and this will always be the case unless new industries which will afford employment to them are introduced. 15. Except in Sholdpur, Poona and Bijapur the proportion of cultivators em- ployd on the works is nowhere shown so high as 3 per Condition of the agri- cent., and in all the other districts except Ahmednagar cultural population- it was under 2 per cent. it is rep0rted that many lands yield enough in a favourable season to feed the occupants and their famijies for 2 or 3 years. But, as already stated, there are some cultivators who are scarcely, if at all, above the status of labourers and others had not resources to hold out, especially after the failure of the early rains of 1897. The occurrence of this famine however has afforded the most gratifying indications of an imp'rovement in the general condition of the cultivating classes and in their power of resisting the calamity. The more substantial land-holders not only continued to provide for those habitually employed by them but took advantage of cheap labour to effect improvements in their land. It is reported that Rs. 6,55,784 were spent out of private capital on this object in Ahmednagar, and Rs. 2,00,000 in Bijapur and large sutns in other districts. Not a single acre has befen reported* to have been relinquished, while nearly 342,000 acres were abandoned in 1876-77. Although in some districts, as will be shown below, the total loss of cattle has been enormous, the more useful have be£n‘preserved, and from Poona and Ahmednagar only is there reported any unusual area of fallow in the current year. The great bulk of the revenue has been collected without any coercion, the proportions 1896-97. 1876-77. suspended and remitted being small, as Suspended. 4-52 per cent-20-45 per cent- shown in the margin. No doubt the Remitted... ’09 » 2-23 » immense loss of crops and cattle must have driven many to borrow and it is reported that in some cases very high interest has been exacted. Statements of registered transactions have not been ll furnished in a uniform manner but the information given , has been tabulated so far as it can be in the following table District.' Number of transac¬ tions. Sholapur (a) Ahmednagar Poona Satara Nasik Khabidesh (c)Bijapur Belgaum (Athni and Gokak Talukas only). Dhafrwar (Gadag, Eon and Navalgund Talukas only). 19,60-1 (Includes 8,223 with 1896-97. Mortgages, sion). 24,507 28,477 (Includes 14,304 with posses¬ sion). 5,196 83,778 (Area in acresj. 3,344 1,745 2,324 Value of transactions. Number of transac¬ tions. Rs. 4,55,445 (Includes Es. 1,01,299 on account of mortgages with possession). 21,21.571 (Rs. ll, 76,100 on account of mortgages with possession). 13,27,081 99,858 (Assessment). 6,58,466 4,91,476 Sales. 5,418 8,074 5,212 2,937 59,612 (Area in acres). 1,213 680 1,600 Value of transac¬ tions. Bs. 6,05,362 7,76,071 8,13,319 62,224 (Assess¬ ment). 2,54,621 1,85,760 1S95-96. Mortgages. Number of transactions. 8,867 (Includes 4,639 with possession). 18,773 21,316 (Includes 11,197 with possession). Value of transactions. Number of transactions Bs. 4,28,166 (Includes Rs. 1,16,067 on account of mortgages with possession). 20,88,398 (Rs. 11,82,371 with possession). 3,929 (b) 10,57,244 (Average for (Average for 3 years ending 3 years ending 1895-96), 1893-96). 85,414 (Area in acres). 2,417 1,426 1,896 99,544 (Assessment.) 7,04,269 4,61,788 Sales. 4,078 7,440 4,531 2,500 (Average for 3 years ending 1895-96). 65,422 (Area in acres). 2,135 735 1,621 Value of transactions. Rs. 5,69,193 7,45,413 (b) 5,64,028 (Average for 3 years ending 1895-96). 80,461 (Assessment). 5,32,407 1,79,558 Increase (+ ) or decrease (— ) in 1896-97. Mortgages. Number. +10,737 +5,734 +7,101 + 1,267 —1,636 (Area in acres). + 927 +319 +428* Value. Rs. +27,279 +33,173 +2,69,837 +314 (Assess¬ ment). —45,803 + 29,688 Saies. * Number, Value. + 1,340 +634 +678 + 437 -14,810 (Area in acres Rs. + 90,164 + 30,65S +2,49,291 —18,237 (Assess¬ ment). -922 —2,77,786 + 6,2u2 (a) The figures against Ahmednagar show the numbers of deeds registered by Village Registrars. In addition to these numbers ,9,502 domments affecting imm jveal-n property were registered in the Sub-Registry Offtces in 1896-97 against 8,643 in 1895-96. (d) These are exclusive of figures for one taluka which are not reported. (c) The figures for 1895-96 against Bijapur are for the financial year ending 31st March 1896. Figures for the year ending October 1S96 have not been furnished. The figures given do not indicate a very large increase in either saies or mortgages, but they were more numerous iu the districts in which the Deccan Agriculturists’ Relief Act is in force (ShoMpur, Ahmednagar, Poona and Satara) than in those in which it is not; indeed in Khandesh and Bijapur there has beer, a remarkable decrease. The Collector of Nasik states that the transactions were’ as numerous in the Kalvan and Bagldn Talukas, where there was no dis¬ tress, as in others. The prediction that in a year of distress in the districts in which the Deccan Agriculturists’ Relief Act is in force the money-lenders would insist on sale in lieu of mortgage has not been fulfilled. In all these districts except Sholdpur therp has been a greater increase in. mortgages than in saies, while in Sholapur nearly half of the saies and between one-third and one-fourth of the mortgages were between agriculturists and agriculturists. On the whole it is not opentio doubt that since the famine of 1876-77 there has been a remarkable im¬ provement in the condition of the cultivators as a body and whether or not in¬ debtedness amongst them has increased it has not impaired their means to resist famine or imperilled the Government revenue. The settlements under which land has become a transferable and generally valuable property have made extensive indebtedness possible and doubtless many improvident and spendthrift occupant s are worse off than if they had had no credit or security on which to borrow, but they have immeasurably enhanced the prosperity of the agricultural community as a whole. The cultivators in the hill traets however are in a much less satisfac¬ tory state than those in the plains, and many of them live from hand to mouth. The experience of ages has led them to rely on a certain rainfall, which not¬ withstanding the poverty of the soil makes some harvest sure, and they have not been in the habit of storing any surplus grain. The unprecedented failure of crops in 1893 reduced the majority of them to almost absolute destitution. 16. The only other, class of importance on the relief works >was that of weavers. They suffered not only from the failure of crops and high prices but from the absence of demand f(>r ^ie^r Pr°ducts on account of ths yeafr being the Sinhast year, in which Hind us of the higher castes do not marry. These people seem to be more dependent- on money-lenders than almost anv other class, and as the eapitalists who.did not wish to accumulate a stock Relief of Weavers and other Artizans- « t 12 of cloth in the absence of a demand for it eeased to make advances, the weavers at once fell into distress. In some placcs, particularly in the Ndsik District, they were among the first to apply for relief and their condition gave cause for great anxiety. According to, a provision of the Code as then existing employment should have been given to them in their own craft, hut the number in the several districts in need of relief was so large that the < provision could not be carried out. There were on the relief works in May no less than 13,324 weavers. It would have been quite impracticable to oyganize a system of expert supervision on the scale required and to proride buildings for the storage of the cloth produced and arrange for its safe custody and for the prevention of in jury from damp, vermin and inseets, while the accumulation of enormous stocks would probably have disorganized the market for years to come and, as the weavers were Suffering largely from an absence of demand for their products, have done more injury to the whole class than would have been compensated by the relief of some of them in a manner agreeable to them. As the wages for the labour would have been only a third or a fourth of the total cost, the method of relief would have been unjustifiably expensive, unless a fair price could be got fort a large proportion of the cloth. Various schemes were suggested for the management of the manufacture by private gentlemen from" funds supplied by Government or under a guarantee of Government against loss, but they were all considered impracticable. The following were estimates of the cost of employing the numbers specified:— Place. Number. ' Months. Cost. Ahmednagar 2,000 7 Us. 5,00,000 Yeola 2,048 8 1*04,000 Sholdpur 4,800 8 3,84,000 Bijapur 6,000 7 4,13,437 The provision in the Code was accordingly altered so as to admit of relief being given by employment in their own craft to such weavers as are deemed incapable of earning a livelihood on the crdinary relief works. Funds were placed at the disposal of the Collectors to enable them to carry out the provision as amended, it being directed that the weavers to whom it applied should be employed in weaving coarse cloth which would afterwards be of use for persons in distress requiring clothing. But except in Sholapur, where the Collec¬ tor undertook to bear half the cost of relief of those employed by the Municipality, no expenditure from these funds was incurred. It was however recognized that what could not be done by Government on a large scale might be done by Munieipalities on a moderate scale if the m ember s of the Boards gave their personal attention to the matter, and the Government of India at the request of this Government passed an Aet to empower local bodies to borrow for such a purpose. But the Munieipalities of Yeola, Sholdpur and Gokdk only took advantage of the Act. The number of weavers relieved by them was compara¬ tively small, but the operations were carried out with perfect success, and will probably yield a small profit, as the following figures show :— C Municipality. Advances and other expenditure incurred. Recoveries already made by sale of cloth. Va life of stock in hand. Its. a. p‘. Rs. a. ,p. Rs. a. p. . Sholapur ... ... .... Yeola .... ... «*• Gok.fik ... ... ■ ■■■ i, 5,702 13 2 18,666 13 3 I4,B27 1,2 10 3,298 ll 3 11,097 5 9 5,250 ‘1 5 2,512 ll 9 7,669 6 5 * 8,942 6 0 Detailedtreports of the relief given in this manner in these places are appended (rqarked E). The results $o far as they have gone fully justify the view taken by tliis Government, but it is recognized that the difficulties increase * Besides this amount, advances ^mounting to Rs, 531 made to weavers have still to be recovered. 13 in proportion to tlie magnitude of tbe operatious. "Witb tbese evceptions tbe weavers in distress were employed on the ordinary relief works, but it was ordered that so far as was practicable they should be employed on earthwork rather than on metal-breaking. Although their hands suffered at first from the unusual employment their general health was reported by the medical officers, who paid special attention to them, to improve from regular food and work in the open air,.and it is stated that some who were offered employment in their bwn craft.at ordinary market rates in Yeola refused to leave the works. At the suggestion of theOollector of Sholapur coarse cloth was used instead of matting for huts in many places in order to give employment to weavers, but it did not prove very suitable. It does not appear that other artizans suffered much, 17.There has not been observed any large sale of gold and silver orna- • , ments and of metal utensils such as attracted attention Sale of ornaments and jn 1070.77, The fact has been cited as an indication utensils- 0f grea+er ppverty amongst the general population, but if so it would be inconsistent with all other indications, and it fo more probably evidence either of the possession of other resources or of the greater efficacy of the relief granted. It is indeed likely that the practice of investing savings in gold and silver ornaments is less common than it was, the more profitable methods of utilizing them being better appreciated, and there is reported from Sholapur a matter of some significance in connection with , this question, that amongst the revenue collections there were found many King 'William rupees, but these fact s would not much affect the classes who fall into distress. There is no evidence that they possess fewer ornaments than formerly, and instances have been cited of the reluctance of even persons in poor-houses to part with their,children’s ornaments. , The possession of metal utensils is certainly not less common than it was, and the fact that they have, not been brought to market in large quantities shows that the need to part with them has not arisen. - 18.The last contrast with 1876-77 which it is considered necessary to Emigration draw here proves increased confidence of the people ® in the efficacy of the relief measures. It has already been mentioned that the relief works were opened in the preceding famine period as soon as in the last, and that ab first as great advantage was taken of them. But this notwithstanding people emigrated in large numbers from -the affected districts, and many villages were entirely deserted. In the recent period of famine the numbers reported to have left their districts were— Bijapur Sholapur Sat&ra Bel gaum 155,266 87,500 9,083 5,000 Most of the emigrants from Bijapur went with their cattle to grazing tracts and 85 per cent, returned. The large majority of the emigrants from the other districts also returned. After the strike against the reduction of the wage ou Civil agency works in 1877, there occurred what is described 'by the Famine Commission as “ that restless and aimless wandering which caused immense trouble to the Relief Officers and great suffering and mortality among the npople concerned,” and reference is made to the “ obstinacy with which persons almost in a dying state would go anywhere rather than to a relief camp.” In the past year there was no such wandering and the difficulty was with some excep- tions not to persuade people to go to relief works but to devise measures for keeping off those not in real need. On the first indication of famine however measures were taken to test the existence of distress and work was made available for those who required State relief. 19.On the whole it may be said with confidence that although the causes n „ . , . which produce famine were as potent in 1896-97 as General conclusion as ■ h , q, . H to effects- in l“7o-77, the eiiects, partly through the nnprove- , ment in the condition of many, of the people, partlv through their greater readiness to rely omthe assistance of (government, and partly through tim effectiveness of the measures employed, have been far less injurious. It is said that many of the labourers were owihg to the regular • employment even better off than in an ordinary year. T. h e eultivafcing classes have been able to resume their occupation with no visible decrease of efficiency, although doubtless for some years to’come tbey will feel the loss of cattle and b 9§—4 „ j ■ ' / 14 measures affecting crop s and the depletion of their stocks. Other results with them will be more properly considered in subsequent parts of this report ■ II.—Public Health. 20. The natural Death-rate. and most important effect of a famine is an increase in the mortality, and the effectiveness of t Ice relief, measures adopted is largely indicated by the extent - to which the death-rate of the period varies from the normal. In Appendix T is given a statement of the deaths in each month in the several districts, the rate per mill e being compared with the normal rate for each month. It will be seen that in the earlier months of the famine the mortality was less than usual, and especially so in the districts most affected. It is probable that the absence of heavy rain in September and October 1896 was beneficial for a time to the public health, but it is remarkable that this low mortality should have continued through the months when the checks against an abuse of relief measures—the introduction of kitcliens and the concentration of labour—were applied. There was no material increase of mortality till May and June, when heavy showers fdled the nalas ind people drank polluted water. Outbreaks of cholera'in Satara and Bijapur were distinctly traced to this cause. Throughout the monsoon months of 1897 the mortality was generally above the average. The diseases to which the people chiefly succumbed are shown as cholera, fever, dysentery and .diarrhoea. It has been reported that much old and partially rotten grain was taken from the pits and brought to market and this practice probably increased as the famine deepened and pricesrose, and attained its maximum when the early rains of 1897 failed. The strain of continued high prices, which was greatest in June, July and August, must have coinpelled even those people to whom State relfef could not properly be given to resort to infeiior diet, and the consequent deterioration of health no doubt weakened their power to withstand disease. It was of course inevitable in the circumstanees that the mortality should be greater than usual. It is probable that on that account the ravage.? even of cholera were more fatal than they otherwise would have been, and it will be seen from the statement that that disease prevailed in an epidemic form in the months in which the mortality was bighest in the several districts and caused sudden increases in the death-rate. It is worthy of notice that in August and September the mortality was higher in Nasik and Khandesh than in other districts, but in these months the need for relief operations had practically ceased in these districts, in which kharif crops are mostly grown, and in which the early rains were exceedingly favourable. The Collector of Nasik reports 1 after examination of the registers that the mortality was as high in parts of the district in which there was no distress as in others and indeed that the rate in the two talukas most affected was nearly normal. On the whole it would seem clear that the high rate of mortality which prevailed after the commencement of the rains of 1897, just as the low rate of mortality in the previous period, was mainly due to climatic conditions, but in some places the power of the people to withstand disease had been weakened. This was especially the case in the hill tracts of Poona and Ahmednagar, where, the death-rate was especially high as shown below :— < Bcatli-rate in Death-rate in district generally. hill talukas. t Poona ... ... ... 51'9 57*3 Ahmetlnagar ... ... 43'1 54'9 Plague caused 5,801 deaths in Satdra in the period of greatest mortality, and it prevailed. in Poona but to the largest extent before the death-rate became high. , t 21. Thirty-nine deaths which had been attributed in the village registers to starvation have been investigated. Seventeen of Cases of starvation* them oceurred in the Khandesh district and twenty in the Ndsik district, in both of whibh the distress was aot very severe. The remainin& two oceurred in the Ahmednagar District. Some of the people -who were alleged to have died from this cause were found to be well-to-do or to have able-bodied ielations. In only eleven cases are there reasonable grounds (for holding that death was due mainly to the want of food. Seven of these people did not belong to this Presidency but waudered into it in a state of emaciation, and the resC though belouging to the Presidency, were also wanderers who would not stay on the works or take advantage of the relief provided for them.- In no case could death be attributed to the absence of opportune ty of relief, but 1'5 as’ already stated insufficient or unwholesome food no doubt rendered many susceptible to disease and contributed to bring about the bowel complalnts to which many deaths are attributed. 22. Registration in 1876-77 was so imperfect that no advantage would be . gained by a comparison of the deaths then recorded Mortdity in 1896-97 as wp,h those recorded in 1896-97. It may be observed compared with 1876-77* how6ver that whi,e the death.rate as 'decLu(.e(J frtm the registers rose from 27‘9 in 1876 to 71'7 per mille in 1877, it was 45 per mille in the period from November 1896 to October 1897 as compared wjtl/ 35 per mille in the period from November 1895 to October 1896. The latter is the rate assumed by the Indian Famine Commission to be normal, and it may be inferred that the registration is now practically accurate. It was especially accurate in the period of famine, being constantly subjected to the test of a chain of officers from Circle Inspectors to Colleetors. These are facts which must be borne in mind in any comparison which is made. The Indian Famine Commission calculated that iu 1877-78 there was in the five districts of Sholapur, Sdtara, Bijapur, Belgaum and Dhdrwfir an excess of mortality over that of ordi¬ nary years amounting to 315,000. In the whole nine affected districts, including the very large one of Khdndesh, the excess of deaths from November 1896 to October 1897 has been only 91,397. Indeed the destruction of human life caused by the preceding famine still lives in the memory of the people; the higher death-rate of the past year has attracted no attention. . , _ 23. The following statement shows the mortality Mortality on Relief Works- on Repef Works in the affected districts from March to October 1897 :— SllOLA'PUR. Ahjcbdkagab. , Month. Rate per General Rate per General Cholera, Other Total. 1,000 of death-rate Cholera. Other Total. 1,000 of death-rate causes. people for the causes. people for the on works. district. on works. district. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ll 1897- 2’00 2'10 March 9 2 ]1 •09 2*59 ... 2 2 •02 2*07 118 2 34 2*44 April 10S 30 •91 375 ... 10 10 •ll 2*63 2*50 2*65 May 178 8 186 1-61 412 ... 7 7 •10 3 32 2'55 2*07 June ... 43 18 61 '55 3*96 17 3 25 •49 3*50 3*86 4*t7 July 140 79 219 2*30 772 68 34 102 1-40 686 44 4’07 August 22 ‘22 •42 578 9 15 24 •36 718 3*35 3*64 September 7 5S 45 •43 477 10 10 20 •24 5*09 S-00 3-2o October 7 36 45 •81^ 5*20 5 17 22 •51 4*52 Poona, Sa'ta/ra, Month. Rate per General Rate per General Other Total. 1,000 of death-rate Cholera. Other Total. 1,000 ef J death-rate Cholera. causes. people for the causes. people 9 for the on works. district. on works, district* 1 12 13 14 15 ie 17 18 19 20 21 1897. 2*99 ’ 2*07 March.. ... 4 4 *24 389 2*35 ... 4 r4 •12 2*38 2*25 April ... •• I 1 •05 2*91 - r*57 72 14 • 86 275 3*72 2*70 May ... 1 1 •04 2-59 2'28 10 ; 2 12 •Dl 7*12 2*73 June ... ... ... 38 8 46 2'05 5*72 30 ... 30 1 3*30 5 81 3 "31 3*30 Tuly • - 28 15 43 4*03 10*10 3*84 4 3 7 > •59 * ‘24 5*82 3*62 August 7 25 32 1-97 7*18 ... 2 > 2 5*52 2*98 3*21 September 2 1 18 20 MO 5*14 12 ) 12 •93 5*30 i 2*53 2*95 October - 1 13 14 •98 5*25 o ) ~ 2 •26 674 > 16 • • Na'sik. • Kiia’kdbsh. « Month. • Rate per General Rate per General Other 1,000 of death-rate Other 1,000 of death-rate Cholera. causes Total. people for the Cholera. causes. Total. people for the on works. district. on works. t district. « 1 22 ' 23 24 25 20 27 29 29 30 31 •* 1897- - € < • 2*73 2 71 March. 2 2 •05 290 ... 2 2 •06 2*52 3*07 8*11 April ... 4 4 •13 319 1 1 •03 3*03 2*00 3*02 May ... ... ... ... ,,, ... 3*23 • ... 2*95 2*08 2'37 June 10 3 13 •66 525 2 2 *12 3*17 3*88 2*05 July 23 17 40 2*70 6*54 37 2 89 2-80 3*62 3'78 4*08 August ... 46 13 50 1010 8*06 8 6 9 1*35 7*32 3‘lJf. 3*28 September i ... 22 22 5*10 651 1 1 2 1-06 6*40 2’7 8 2*06 October 3 4 6 3-30 511 ... 3*68 ClJA’PUR. BbLGitTMJ Month. Cholera. Other causes, Total. Rate per •1,090 of people on works. General death-rate for the dtstriet. Cholera. Other causes. Total. P.ate pet 1,600 of people on works. General dculh-rato for the district. 1 • Si 33 34 85 36 37 38 C 39 40 ( 41 1897. March... ... 1 1 •01 V0 3 2-57 3 € —-' 3 *57 2*28 344 April 2 1 3 *03 2’33 322 8 8 *81 2*44 4*32 May 38 38 ' *65 2*72 6-87 13 26 39 2*SO 2*85- 523 June ... 1 2 3 •01 2*85 416 21 20' 41 4*6J 2*?9 5*09 July 12 3 15 ‘08 3*00 5*25 50 6Q 100 7-60 2*09 373 August •26 6 32 •22 3 00 518 57 69 1-26 7*30 2*78 <3*46 September ... ... 9 6 14 *09 2*56 4*48 80 97 177 9*20 2*38 2*82 October ... 2 2 •08 2*40 i 4*22 82 52 84* 950 2’31 2*72 Noth.—The figures in italics in eolumns 6, ll, 10, 21, 20, 31, 36 and 41 represent the normal death-rate*. * This figure represents the number of death s during1 the three weeks ending1 16th October 1807, arpi the rate mille in column 40 against it has been calculated on the daily average numbers on works during these three weeks. The number is so small that it eannot be supposed to inelude all the deatbs of people who were employed on relief works, and many of them must have been separately registered in villages in which they resided. But of course most of the people who came to the works were able-bodied, and the death-rate amongst them would naturally be very much below the general death-rate. Where it was unusually high, special causes were traced. It will be seen from the state¬ ment! that the principal of these causes was cholera, hut in the months of July and August people came to the works in such large numbers tthat it was impossible at once to provide shelter for all, and many who had avoided seeking relief until their condition had been reduced were unable to withstand the exposure, from which however small children .mainly suffered. Many residents in His Highness the Nizdm’s territory reaclied the works in* those months in a very weakly state. Every precaution was taken to keep the people on relief works in good health, and the sanitary arrangements and watc-r-supply of the camps were carefully supervised. Wherever cholera broke out, most stringent measures were adopted to prevent its spreading to the surrounding villages’by enforcing compulsory residence in camps and hy segregating the patients in sheds specially erected for the purpose and the wells were constantly disinfect xl with permanganate of potash. Gases of small-pox were rare and vaccination was carried on wherever necessary. In July and August, when large numbers of people came on the works in reduced condition, scorbutic symptoms were noticed among a few, hut they quickly yielded to medical treatment. On the whole the health of the people employed on the works was generally very satisfactory. 1 17 / and, as already mentioned, that of children fed in kitchens was especially so. There can be no doubt that the scale of wages is such that the people can manage to maintain their health and strength on’ it. 24. In previous famines large numbers of orphans were left on the hands ’ of Government; in the past year no difficulty at all Orphans- appears to have been experienced in this matter. In the beginning of the distress philanthropic Hindu and Mahomedan gentlemen established orphanages and the District Officers were instructed to send to i;hefm children of these classes who were without protectors, but the reports do not show that it was necessary to take any advantage of these institutions. There are no accounts of abandoned or neglected children except so far that mothers on the works could often not be induced to take suffering children to the liospitals. The tie of parental affection appears to have been in no way relaxed, and as already mentioned the reluctance to send children to kitchens, which in a few exceptional cases was continued and induced parents to stint themselves for the benefit of their offspring, was due to fear of injury to them. 25. In the following statement the number of births and' the birth-rate in the affected districts from November 1896 to Octo- Eirth-rate- ber 1897 are contrasted with the averages of the previous five years:— District. Annual average of five years. For twelve months from November 1896 to October 1S97. Average rate per mille. Rate per mille for twelve months from November 1896 to Octo¬ ber 1897. Shol&pur 30,981 24,837 41-27 * 33-09 Ahmednagar ... 1 40,009 36,999 45-02 41-63 Poona ... 39,130 35,862 36-65 33-58 Satara ... 48,820 42,925 39-82 35-01 Nasik ... 37,496 37,071 44-45 43-94 I£h&ndesh 64,790 66,646 44-35 45-62 Bijapur... ... • ... 32,729 25,5S6 41-10 32-13 Belgaum 40,372 39,041 39-84 38-53 Dharwar 4^,490 43,104 42-32 41-00 Total 378,817 352,071 41-63 38-69 With the disorganization of home life caused by a famine some decline in the birth-rate is of course inevitable, and unless it is excessive it is of no signi¬ ficance. It was calculated that in the affected districts in 1877 and 1878 the number of births was less by about 200,000 than in two average years. The figures given above show a decrease cf 26,746 only, hut it if probable that there will be a greater decline in the current year, and it is doubtful whether the registration of births is yet so accurate as that of deatlis. Ill.—Crime. 26.As was to be expected, there was a general increase of offences against . property in the affected districts during the period of ert enC6Si a^ainS^ ^ro the famine. The numbers of cases of robberies, thefts ^ y and dacoities reported to the police during this jferiod and the preceding 12 months are compared below:— District, 1S95-96. ) 1896-97. Sholapur ... 489 (for 1894-95) 903 Abmednagar ... 483 837 Poona ... 629 841 Satara... 683 1,161 Nasik ... (Not reported.) 1,715 Khandesh. 1,462 2,994 » Bij^pur 1,137 ld.49 Belgaum (Atkni andoGokak Talukas). 154 205 (Average of 3 preceding years.) » Dh&rwar (affected area) ... 164 » 182 e 98—5 > IS \ At. the commencement of the famine the sudden rise in prices led to more or less serious grain riots at Shoidpur, where the police found it necessary to fire •and killed one and wounded* two men, Karad and Ilubli and at three places in ihe Khandesh District. The object in most, if not all, of the cases appears to have been to protest against export of grain or against the action of the grain-dealers in holding up their stocks in expectation of higher profits, and in one case resentment arose from the fact that the bonds which had beep executed Iqv grain to be supplied were conceited, while in another the r-ioters offered monfey for the .grain before resorting to force. Mcst of the offences in the Toona, Ahmednagar, SdUra, Nasik and Khandesh districts were committed by Bhils, Mdngs, Kolis, Thakurs and members of other similar classes, who are generally averse-to continuous labour and take to piifering and house-break- ing when t’hey are short of food. In the Ahmednagar and Nasik districts dacoities and thefts were especially prevalent during the latter period of the famine when the pressure of scareity was most severely felt, and nearly one-third of the dacoity cases in -Ahmednagar were traced to subjects of the adjoining Native States, In the Satara District a considerable part of the increase in Crime was also due to the prevalence of plague, in consequence of which many houses were left vacant and unguarded and the criminals had therefore unusual opportunities df stealing. Except in Ahmednagar fhe increase seems to have been mainly in petty offences. In that district there was also an unusual! number of murders, but this fact can be in no way connected with the famine. The conduct of the people -employed on relief works was excellent. 27. Eor the purpose of keeping order in the affected districts and on rebef - , camps and guarding the treasure in -the custody of the Ma ’ t ates ^°^1Ce an<* Public Works Department casbiers extra police were ° ' entertained in all the affected districts, and in most of them Subordinate Judges were invested with First Class Magisterial powers so •as to relieve the Sub-divisional Oflicers and Mamlatdars from the -strain of •criminal work and leave them more time to devote to relief measures. IF,—Suppliesof food-graine. 28. In Appendix G is given a statement of the monthly prices of the staple food-grains—qowari and bajri—at the head-quarters of ^ces* the affected districts during >1876-77 and 1896-97 'respectively. The average prices for the whole of each district in the latter, year nre shown in italics below the figures for head-quarters. It has already been men- tioned that owing to bad seasous in -Northern India there had been.a greater net export than usual in 1894-95 and in 1895-96. Details are given-in Appendix II. The export continued till September 1896, but when in the next month the failure of the north-east monsoon, on which the affected tracts mainly depend, became almost certain, prices went up with a bound to famine point. The rain¬ fall in November 1896 led to a temporary decline in some districts, but they ;soon l’ose again, Teaching their highest point in July or August 1897, when owing to cessation of rain fears were entertained of another year of famine. The ■highest rates at which jowa'ri was sold during the recent famine in -“the interior •of the affected districts are given bdlow :— District and Station. Price. During week ending Sholapiir (Malsiras) Iihs. 12'i* 21st August 1897. Ahmednagar (Jamkhed).. ll 19o. Poona (Bhimthadi) 9 2 () 2Sth August 1S97. Ndsik (Kalvan) 21st August 1897. Sdtara (Patan) *. .10| Do\ Khandesh (Chopda) ... 14th August 1S97. Bijapur (Sindgi) 13i 24th July 1897. Bel gaum (Athni) 14 10th July -1897. Dhdrwdr (Ron) ..4 C 161 4th September 1897. t * Of! the s e cue c-ixl on the way tott ic 1 o.,pital. 10 In no place was tlie rat® of about 9 lbs. per rupee at which jowari was sold in Dharw&i’ and Bijapur in August 1877 reached in this famine. Tlie improve- ■ment in communicationsj and especially the construction of the Southern Maratha Railway, account for this advantage. Grain had to be carried into •these districts hy head-loads and in carts drawn 'by human beings in 1876-77. (Except however in the Southern Maratha Country prices were generally higher than in 1876-77, and they were higher in the northern districts than the southern, became the latter are nearer the sources of supply which were most Important-in this fanyne—Madras and Mysore. 29. As already stated, many, probably most., of the lands in the precarious tracts yield dn a good season enough to feed the Stocks of grain- occuparits and tlieir families for 2 or 3 years, and the ^production of grain is shown by the statistics of crops to be carried on on as 'large a scale as ever. It is known that the practice of storing in pits is con- •tinued. But the depletion of stocks which resulted from the inereased export of 1894-95 and l«95-96 gave cause for anxiety, and the Director,of Land Reeords •and Agriculture was desired to use every effort to obtain such information as ■was procurable regarding the stores .remaining. As the owners had the strongest ■motives for concealment and the stocks were underground, the estimates could 'be little better than guesses, but the inquiries made it fairly certain that a con¬ siderable supply of food still remained in the .country in the earlier part of the 'famine. .The following statement shows the outturn of the affected districts .except Belgaum and Dharwar as compared with the normal and the amount which diad to be provided from the surpluses of the former years or by imports :— District. Average outturn of food-grain crops for 1894-95 and 1*95-96. Consumption of each year. Net yearly import or export of food-grains (Import-p. Export—). Average surplus of each year. Ontturmof fowl crops in 1896-97. Quantity which had to b& provided from the surplus of previous years or by imports. 1 2 -3 -4 5 6 7 Aids. M .Is. Mds. Mds. Mds. Mds. Sholripur ... 8,945,225 , •6,299,516 —450,557 2,204,352 810,000 5,4S0,516 Ahmednagar 12,147,953 7,7 33,6 63 -4165,613 4,24^,777 4,833,510 2,900,053 Poona 10,459,098 8,429,760 + 787,702 2,817,040 2,865,135 5366,625 •Sritrira 9,815,378 9,123,084 + 120,000 - 812,294 6,122,210 3,000,874 Nasik 11,158,056 6,918,057 —S20.40G 3,419,593 3,657,361 3,260,705 Klirindes.h,.#' T2J’209,153 10,789,330 + 73,306 1,493,129 ■3,995,479 6,793,851 Bijripur 10,000,246 6,904,036 —302,993 2,793,217 401,183 6,502,853 Total ... 74,735,109 56,188,346 + 9S 1,003 —1,739,569 17,788,202 22,682,S68 33.505,478 The net imports of food-grains by rail into the affected districts fro m J March .to October 1897- amounted to over tb 1 lakhs of niaunds, a quantity just sufficient to feed -the population (91 lakhs) of those districts for a month • at the late of half a maund per head. This fact shows that there must have been stocks in the affected districts sufficient to feed the large majority of the population. The continuance of high prices however after good liarvests in some of the affected districts and in other parts of the country were assured is a ground foi inference that the stocks must have been to a large extent ex¬ hausted at the close of the year. o0. The following statement shows the imports and exports1 of food-grains Movements of grain- ^’7 ra6 f°r the districts of the Presidcncy from. March to October 1897 : — • . > 20 t Distriets. • Imports. • C -March. April. May. June. July. August. September. October. Total. ( Gujarat. (Fig ures in ma unds.) C Alnnedabad K aipa Pane h llahiils Broach ... Surat 29.300 30,800 1,000 26.300 44^00 37,600 40,7o0 881 20,200 95,000 214,100 49.700 6,309 57,400 166.700 69,800 11,700 2,337 28,831 85,600 42,300 34,600 1,683 16,’00 58,400 49.900 21,800 2,207 26,600 45.900 106,300 16,30? 102 • 26,000 78,200 *87,400* 3,500 *230 *30,500 #59, ”00 637,000 209,100 14,749 231,931 633,200 Deccan. • Kliundesli Kdsik Ahniednaga# Poona ... ... ShoLpur Satara ... 126,000 69,200 29,400 117,500 39,100 57,022 9S,300 80,700 31,400 125,700 22,900 59,241 142,900 SP800 20,300 162,600 17,900 81,897 136,500 89,100 14.700 167,200 25,000 61, 70 175,700 143,800 84.900 199,500 121,900 167,642 193,900 103,300 59,500 142,800 149,000 80,675 111,400 88,400 60,900 123,800 110,100 111,695 #12900 32,500 4,000 *31,800 6,300 #7,682 997,600 691,800 308,100 1,100,900 492,200 619,824 Karndtak. . IMgaum ... Bijapur ... Dharw-U*... 60,300 61,800 17,700 79,100 65.800 26.800 110,000 43,300 10,200 74,700 40 200 14,200 85,600 145,900 63,500 43,800 172,600 65*,700 71,400 181,900 47,900 *30,000 *10,200 15,800 554.800 721,700 261.800 KonJcan, Th&na KoUba ... EAnara ... llatn&giri ' 3,900 19.313 1,700 " 94,000 10,400 21,661 200 170^00 72,'00 21,048 8,4.00 250,400 26.000 12,600 1,700 51,100 34,400 8,000 100 20,260 7,300 e’soo 23,700 10,200 1,000 43,400 11.300 #8,400 *7,300 24.300 202,000 108,522 20,400 742,80q ( Distriets. Expobts. c ( Net import (+ ) or ex¬ port t —J. March. April. May. June. July. August. September October. Total. (Fig ures in m aunds.) Gujarat, Ahmedabad 21.300 60,300 76,200 37,300 61,700 36,500 45,900 *29,900 349,100 + 2S7,900 Kaira 47,700 67,700 34,800 11,300 7,906 6,500 13,100 8,000 196,500 + 12,600 Pancli Mahills ... 126,077 101,040 146,622 84,172 36,186 20,662 21,999 *11,646 551,404 —53 >,655 Br< ach 9,400 17.200 5.8,500 16,660 12,000 ' 19,600 17,600 11,100 162,06G + 69,865 > tirat 13,000 16,800 46,300 28,100 19,500 i 24,300 20,600 *31,300 1119,900 + 433,300 Deccan. i Kh&ndesh 400 500 800 200 1,500 7,300 4,600 *12,300 27,100 + 970,500 X.Tsik 13,800 23 000 21,100 6,000 6,100 5,600 3,800 9,000 88,400 + 603,400 Ahuiednagar 16,000 13,^00 20,300 5,500 5,600 900 8,400 7,600 78,TOO + 230,000 Poona •1,500 10,200 1,000 1,100 3,800 3,600 27,000 *2,800 51,000 +1.049,900 Sholapur... 16,100 21.400 36,600 48,200 49,600 10,100 17,700 3,300 203,000 + 289,200 SAtara 1,765 1,039 3,027 352 947 3,218 13,684 *5,, '-’44 « 29,276 + 590,548 KarndtuJc. Belgaum. 10,100 7,000 12,800 8,000 10,500 7,000 3,700 *1,9(0 6',000 + 493,^00 Bijapur 3,400 2,100 1,700 800 1,300 i 2,700 3,200 *3,100 18,300 + 703,40 $ Dha'rwAr 90,800 85,400 78,000- 57*4 00 111,900 ‘ 76,500 98,200 33,?60 631,700 —369,90 fr Konlcan. « Th&na ... 7,300 7,900 98,200 14,860 28,800 16,800 49,000 47,200 270,000 c —6S030 Kol&ba *... 40,784 17,079 30,823 3,600 4,500 4,900 12,600 *12,700 126,986 —18,464 Kafnara ... 13,700 .... 25,600 500 700 700 1,300 *1,000 43,500 —13,100 Katnagiri 5,600 4,500 9,000 ... 2,600 3,400 *3,200 28,300 c + 714,500 * Figures incomplete. Imports into the affectetl distriets were paKicularly large in June, July and August, when prices were very high. The principal sources 'of supply in these an .nths are stated below ;— . ’ > 2i 1 Name of the District. ’ Pkincipal soubces op supply, I In June. j In JuY* In August. Khindesh ... Nizam’s Territory, Bombay, Indore and Berir, Nizim’s Territory, Centra'. Provinces, Berar, Central India, Bombay and Sholi* pur. Bombay, Central Provinces, Rijputina and Central India, Nizam’s Territory, the Punjab, Cawnpore and Nisik. Nisik ... Bombay, Nagar, Poona, NizinTs Territory, Madras and hholipur. Nizim’s Territory, Bombay, Sholipur, Madras Bresi- dency. Mysore State, Madras Presidency, Bombay and North-Western Provinces and Oudh, Ahmednagar Nizam’s Territory, Bombay, Sholapur and Poona. Nizam’s Territory, 'Mysore State, Bombay. Poona and Sholapur. Madras Presidency, Mysore State, Nizam’s Territory, Bombay, Nasik and Poona. Poona ... Nizim’s Territory, Madras Presidency, Mysore State Bombay and Sholdpur. Nizim’s Territory, Madras Presidency, Mysore State. Bombay and SboUpur. Mysore State, Nizim’s Territory, Madras Presidency, Bombay and Sholipur. Sholipur ,, Nizim’s Territory, Madras Presidency, Mysore State, Dhirwir and Poona. Nizim’s Territory, Mysore State, Bombay and Madras Presidency. Madras Presidency, Nizam’s Territory, ^ Mysore £tate, and Bombay. Satira Mysore State, Nizam’s Territory, Dbarwar and Bombay. Dharwar, ShoHpur, Mysore State, Madras Presidency. Mysore State, Madras Presidency, Bombay and Dhirwir. Bel gaum Dhirwir and Mysore State... Nizim’s Territory, Mysore State and Dhirwafr. Dhirwir, Mysore State, Madras Presidency and Bombay. Bijipur * Nizam’s Territory, Mysore State and Sholapur. Dhirwir, Mysore State, Nizafm’s . Territory and Madras Presidency. Dhirwir, Mysore State and Madras Presidency. Dhirwir... Mysore, Madras Presidency and Belgaum. Nizim’s Territory. Madras Presidency, Mysore and Belgaum. Belgaum, Mysore State and Madras Presidency. The fact that the inferior grain ragi was imported from Coimbatore into the Akola Taluka of Ahmednagar is an indication of the vigilance of private traders. Some Burma rice was imported into Sholapur, but presumably only for the wealthier classes, and it is understood that a cheap grain association in Bombay brought a cargo of bdjri from tne Persian Gulf, but owing to plague found difficulty in disposing of it. With these exceptions there was no import from foreign countries, but the Governor in Council is aware that if prices had risen to such a point that such import would have been profitable, private trade would not have failed. In order that merehants might be able to form their own opinion of the need of import from foreign countries periodical statements of the movements of grain, of the estimates of stocks and of local prices were published. 31. The Governor in Council was however from the first firmly of opinion , that it was unnecessary and would be injudicious for to taiport °f 6°Vermnent Government to undertake import. The following ex- tracts from Besolutions explain the policy adopted in the matter:— “ 2. In very exceptional circumstances it may be necessary for Government to purchase „ tr. , . • grain for payment in kind to persons employed on relief works, No. 8886, dated loth November but tilat ls a very extreme measure for which at this ear ly stage 1896. there would be ho justification. The course suggested at the close of paragraph 5 of Mr. Charles’s report cannot therefore be now adopted. Prices are certainly extremely high for the time of the year, but tbe Famine Com¬ mission estimated that m a time of great ,seareity the price of food-grains would rise to 8 to 10 seers per rupee, and it is still only at about the maximum of these limits.” “ The circumstances in which it might be expedient for Government to import grain are described in paragraph 159 of the Report of the Famine Com- NoG°8V9inated M November T ,to f ?£ the /amine Code. 3896. lnese circumstances cannot, it is believed, be held to exist at present. Relief works have just been begun, and it does nota> pear that large numbers are anywhere yet employed on them. The means of transport in tin Ahmednagar District are not defective, and the prices eomplained of are not those' of agricultural tracts hut of the town of Ahmednagar, If it were established that there was a Combination of B 98—6 ( ) local dealers to sell only at unduly high prices, the purchase by Government of grain at a dis¬ tance for the purpose of breaking down such a combination might have a beneficial effect. But such a measure is not unlikely to deter traders from entering the market stud should not be adopted except in a case of extreme nrgency ” i( Government must decline, at any rate at this early stage, to import grain in large quantities and store it or even to undertake to buy and store Government Resolution K°. 9176, at a centre like Ahmednagar large quantities iniported by a private firm. It will be contrary to all experience it private trade does not supply large centres accessible by rail more successfully than pould be done by State agency, and indeed a State agency adequate for the satisfactory storage and dis¬ tribution of grain to the places where it is needed could not be organized without much time and great expense, and, as has been repeatedly pointed out, any attempt to substitute State agency for private trade in this matter would most probably have disastrous results. Price s are exceedingly high now at the large centres as well as elsewhere, but they will be reduced to their proper level by the ordinary action of trade and this result would not be helped by Government interference. Ci 2. The existing difficulty, however, arises mainly from the action of local dealers. If they continue to keep back their stocks, as they are at present doing, it will be quite legi¬ timate and in accordance with the conclusions recorded by the Famine Commission for the officers in charge of relief camps to obtain supplies from a distance. Wherever therefore there is a difficulty in obtaining locally a sufficient supply at any price for persons em¬ ployed on relief works or entitled to gratuitous relief or where the local price is such that it would be less expensive to buy grain in distant markets and convey it to the relief works, Collectors are authorised to adopt the latter course. By distant markets ai'e of course meant markets in India and not those in foreign countries, and it will not generally be necessary or expedient to go beyond the nearest large towns accessible by rail, so that much time will not be needed to obtain the necessary supply. Where this couvse is adapted, it will be desirable to have always in hand sufficient grain for two weeks' consumption on the relief works, and in accordance with Section 112 of the Famine Relief Code, the radon should in such eases be paid in kind. But interference with private trade even to the extent above shown to be legitimate should be adopted only if traders cannot be induced to supply the labourers on reasonable terms. If local traders wik not do So, an endeavour should be made to arrang© with the larger traders in market towns to undertake the supply, and in such case a reasonable price may be guaranteed for a sufficient period. The induce¬ ment of this guarantee to prevent the larger traders being at once undersold by the local traders will be necessary, but it should be given only for such period as is necessary, after which the local traders will in all probability accept the proper market price/' Similar principles were laid down by the Government of India in their Cir¬ cular No. 4 F—21-1, dated 6th January I§97. The advance of money or grant of a guarantee against loss to Syndicates or Associations, which was suggested from several sources, was held to be open to the same objection as import by the State. 32. Municipalities were also advised to refrain from competition with private . . traders. It being brought to the notice of Govern- Municipal grain-shops. meat that municipal funds were being used in certain places to help in the establishment of cheap grain shops the following orders were passed :— u Government have learned with satisfaction that the mem* i ‘Reu0lui1o The wisdom of this policy of non-intervention was amply demonstrated. At no time in the course of the famine did private trade fail to meet thode’mand for grain even in the remotest corner of the affected tract, except in the iso¬ lated case described below. In Jnly 1897 the Collector of Poona brought to notice the difficulty pf obtaining grain for the labourers at the Shetphal Tank work as there were no grain-dealers either at Shetphal or Indapur who . would undertake to provide it. In the circumstances the Collector was authorized to arrange for the import of grain to Shetphal from Poona. The work was closed before all the grain sent was utilized, and the balance was sold by auction at a considerable loss. 33. In almost all the larger towns in the affected districts however shops at which grain was sold at or below cost price were Cheap grain shops- opened at the expense of philanthropic gentlemen, one of whom is said to have borne a loss of Us. 25,000 and another of Rs. 16,000. In one district part of an allotment from the Indian Pamine Charitable Relief Fund wps devoted to this purpose. There is a widespread belief in the efffcacy of this measure, which nevertheless appears to the Governor in Council to be very doubt¬ ful. If +he operations are conducted on an extensive scale, they constitute an unfair competition with legitimate trade, which can scarcely fail to ?heck it. If they are not on a sufficiently large scale to affect that trade, tbey merely constitute a somewhat inconvenient form of private cliarity. The practice however seems to have the effect of inspiring the people with confidence and of enabling them to judge what is a fair price. And there is evidence that prices may be to some extent a matter of arrangement. In the town of Poona what is called a grain- ring was formed to settle the rates periodically, and in Sholapur the managers of the cheap grain shops and the Huzur Deputy Collector are said to have fixed prices which were adhered to by dealers. 34. As it was reported that certain Native States had prohibited export _ of grain from their territories, communications were Native1States ex^or^ ^ made to the Government of India on the subject, the purport of which is shown in the extract from Govern¬ ment Resolution No. 8386, dated 10th November 1898, quoted below:— “4. The Government of India have already been addressed with regard to a report that the Indore Darbdr has prohibited export. They should now be informed of the report as regards His Highness the Nizam’s Government, and a suggestion should be made that Political .Offieers accredited to the Native States generally might be asked to point out to the Darbars the great importance of leaving to private trade the business of the supply and distribution of food, as urged by the Pamine Commission. The subjects of Native States who apply for relief in British India wdl not be refused it, but the Rulers should take measures for the relief of their own needy subjects, and should eo-operate with the British Government by adopting the same general system as regards leaving trade free as well as other matters. The subjects of many Native States have already in the current year benefitei by freedom of import from British Territory.” Y.—Water-supply. 35. Except in Nasik and iChandesh, where no difficulty was experienced, Fxtent of failure the water-supply in the affected tracts began to fail XiXtent or tenure. early in the &ir season> The water.{evel in the gho_ lapur District is said to have been unprecedentedly low. The smaller streams and nalas and many of the public wells were dried up by Pebruary and in several places people had to go long distances from their villao'es to get their supply of drinking water. In the town of Karmlla it was sqld at 3 pies per &° .f'Ana Ahmsdnagar Municipality bad to incur an expenditure of about s. 3,000 per mensem to fill the aqueducts by lifts worked by men and cattle. > / V 24 The low-caste people especially were put to considerable inconvenience. The hilly tracts of Ahmednagar and Satara were the first, parts of these districts to suffer, but in the intervening hill talwkas of Poona there was no great scarcity of water. The measures which were taken to improve the supply will be de¬ scribed below. VI.—Cattle and Fodder. C * 36. The loss of fodder was perhaps scarcely so extensive as the loss of _ . grain, for in some places there was some yield of straw fodder. °* SCamty °* when the ears did not fill and irrigation from wells was largely devoted to the production of quick-growing fodder crops. On the other hand there were no large stocks of fodder kept over from previous years and the importation of it presents much greater difficulties than the importation of grain. Wherever in the plain country crops failed there was also little or no grass, and in the western parts of Poona the hill-side grass is said to have been injured like the grain-crops by the heavy downpour in July as well as by subsequent drought. But generally in the ghdt tracts there was some grass available and in the Satpuda hills it was plentiful. Sliolapur, Bijdpur and Ahmednagar were accordingly the districts which suffered most from the scarcity of fodder, although the eireumstances of the eastern tdlukas of the other districts were little better. At an early stage of the famine the more useless cattle began to die or were sold on account of their skins for a few annas. This was especially the case in Bijapur and was one of the first signs of the great intensity of the famine. Soon afterwards even useful plough-cattle were sold for nominal prices. 37. The following table shows the decrease in the number of cattle in the Mortality Among; cattle- ?flfctf?Q?8%(,du?ng thePeri» the Principles followedinthe Qollectors of all districts, affected as well as unaffected, levy of the land revenue. the presidem.y proper “ I am directed to request that you will now submit with the least possible delay a state¬ ment of the extent to which in your opinion it will be necessary, if at all, to suspend the collection of the land revenue in each taluka of your district. You have already in Government Circular No. 9292, dated 21st November 1896, beenasked to furnish a report as to the areas sown and the estimated outturn. The information collected on this matter will give a general indication of the suspensions which will probably be needed. I am however ^to point out that if occupants have the means of paying the assessment it is not to their own interest that the levy of it should be postponed. It is to be remembered that if they have been able to sell any produce even of previous years, they have probably received a very high price for it and may be in a better position even than in ordinary years to pay what is due in money. In districts in which there has been only a partial failure of crops many are likely to have some surplus even of this yeaPs produce, which will fetch a high price, and in some cases fodder which is available for sale will probably realize more than enough to pay the assessment. But Comniission°Wn Famine the principle* that as far as possible nobody should be forced to borrow in order to pay the assessment should be carefully borne in mind, and estimates of the suspensions needed should be framed on that basis. In any ease in which for special reusons the levy of assessment due from a land-owner whodoes not cultivate himself is postponed, it should only be on the condition that the levy of rent due to him from tenants is also postponed, and the condition should be strictly enforced. “2. In connection with this question it will be desirable to ascertain how far, “if at all, small occupants and tenants are already in such distress that they resort to the relief works and how far substantial land-liolders have ceased to employ the labourers who ordinarily work for them. Careful inquiries should be made on this point from the labourers employed on the works or otherwise. “ 3. As soon as the information on the points above noted is ready for any taluka, it should be forwarded without waiting for that for other talukas. . The estimates should be eorrected and observation on them made by the Assistant Collector or Depnty Collector, Collector and Commissioner, with the aid of such independent information as they may be in possession of. The effect of the recent rain will of course be carefully taken into account.” About the end of December 1896 it came to the notice of Government that agents of the Poona Sarvajanik Sabha had been deputed to several districts for the ostensible purpose of explaining to the people what privileges and conces- sionsthey could claim from Government under the Famine Code, and there were reports that the land-holders were being incited to withhold the land revenue. A circular was accordingly issued on 30th December 1896 to the District Alagis- trates requesting them to take steps to have a very careful watch kept over the proceedings of those agents with a view to prevent the law being transgressed. About the same time the Collector of Poona forwarded a copy of the following circular issued by him to the Assistant Collectors in his district :— ° “Mr. Orr reports that in his charge not a pie of the revenue instalment due on* 10th instant has been paid, and that he has taken the following steps :— (1)Directed notiees should be issued only for land of which the crop is four annas or over. (2) Directed notiees to issue to mortgagor (sic query mortgagee) or other interested person, as well as to the occupant. (3) Directed immediate report to him on expiry of term of notice with a view to for¬ feiture of occupancy rnder Section 152, Bomba} Land Revenue Code, which he recommends in all cases in which there is a well-to-do defaulter interested in the crop, the forfeited land to be let thereafter on annual lease until the occupancy eau be sold again for a fair price. 2. u In the opinion of the Collector it is desirable to issue notiees somewhat more freely than Mr. Orr proposes. There are unmistakeable signs ri a determination to pay no .revenue bem<* B 98—7 J * ) 26 formed and fostered by persons not immediately concerned with the land; and it is necessary to meet#this determination with some firmness. The Collector therefore desires that — (1) on the expiry of the 10 da vs' grace usually afloweJ from the date on which an instalment falls due, notices shall issue to — (a) all non-agriculturist occupants and all non-agr'eiiltumti direcbly interested as mortgagees or otherwise in lanl, whatever the outturn of the laud may be (J) all agriculturist occupants whom the MamlatJar knows or has good reason to believe to be— < • (i) either well-to-do (that is to say, possessed of sufficient means to be able to pay without undue difliculty), whatever the outturn of his fields may be, (ii) or occupants, who are not well-to-do, of fields which have yiel led a crop of four anna s or over ; (c) all agriculturist mortgagees and others interested directly in Ian Is in the occupancy of Class (i); (2) notices shall not issue to agriculturist occupants or mortgagees, &c., who have both of the following qualifieations :— (i) not well-to-do. (i i) cr ops have not reach ed four annas. (3) In all cases coming under Classes (t) anl (b i) and (e), the Collector, as at present advised, does not see any objection to proceeding as recommended by Mr. Orr in paragraph 1 (3) above, but will be glad of the opinion of Messrs. Bonus and S de. In cases coming under (6 ii) opinion is invited from all Assistant Collectors as to whether the ordinary sequence of recovering the arrears "should be followed, or should be in any way, and, if so, in what way, departed from. (4) Of cases coming under Article (2) of this paragraph, the Collector is prepared to receivejists with recommendations for suspension of revenue/* ( Government approved of these instructions and directed that the course proposed for Poona should be adopted in all the affected districts and also in Tha'na, Kolaba and Itatnagiri. In a subsequent Resolution (No. 559-Fam., dated 18th Februar y 1897), the Collectors were instructedto cause it to be made gener¬ ally known that no notice would be taken of applications made in combination or jointly, and that any person who considered that he should be granted a remis¬ sion or suspension should make a representation on his own account, which would be considered on its merits. The Collectors were at the same time advised to take prompt action with regard to well-to-do defaulters as already direeted. As a result of certain correspondence between Government and the Poona Srrva- •janik Sablia in connection with, notices issued in the Dharwar District by an agent of the latter body regarding the suspension and remission of land revenue, Government passed the following orders:— 4i The Collector of Dhdrwar reported that there were published in various places in that , district notices bearing the name of Anantrao Joshi Eksambekar Fwo^dftted^th^larch'1897,8/5' who declared himself an agent of the Poona Sarvajanik Sabha. ° * These notices contain a definite statement that orders have been issued to all the Commissioners in the Bombay Presidency to grant remissions of land revenue in places where the outturn of crop s is 6 annas and to postpone fit s realization till next year where the crop is 12 annas. That statement is false and could not be believed by any intelli¬ gent person acquainted with the Bombay Revenue system to have a reasonable foundation. It was calculated to incite uneducated land-holders to withhold payment of revenue due by them to the S^ate and it is reported to have resulted in eombiuations against such payment even in parts of the district in which there is no distress. The Chairman and Honorary Secretaries of the Poona Sarvajanik Sabha were asked whether Anantrao Joshi Eksambekar is ail agent of the Sabha and whether it admits responsibility for statement s made by him in its name and accepts liability for the statements made in these notices. After the lapse of five weeks they have replied that Anantrao Eksambdkar was deputed by the Committee of the Sabha to collect in¬ formation and that the Committee as at present advised see nothing in either of the notices sent to them that materially transgresses tlie general instructions given by them to the said Mr. Eksambekar. A statement which must be known to be false is not repudiated and there is offered an explanation of the fact of its being made which is manifestly inadequate, while the letter furnishes no indication of any ftesire tq discounter!anee action which tends to cause unnecessary trorible to the administration, to induce land-holders to bring on themselves coercive processes and to be injurious to the public interests. The Poona Sarvajanik Sabha as at present constituted must therefore cease to be recognized as a body which has any claim to address Government on questions of public policyX^ i 27 / > In consequence !of this decision, as also of the conviction and punishment of a person who had in the KoUba District incited the people not only to withhold the revenue but to violate the A'bkdri and Forest laws, of the imprisonment in Thana and of the forfeiture in some other districts of the lands of a few substantial land-holders who engaged in agitations and refused to pay their dues, all organized opposition stopped, and the collection^ made without any further coercion far ’exceeded anticipations. 39. The collections, remissions and balances at the end of the revenue yea? Collections. Bemirsions 1896‘97 are shown in tIie following statement, whiqk and Suspensions- also gives corresponding figures for 1876-77 :— * 1896-97. 1876-77. 'o . Percentage of remis- sions on demand. Outstanding balance. 0 O D. "i is 'S . d nd d CJ tt h Outstand¬ ing a o co , a ti to C3 Diwti let-. Land Revenue demand. Collections in the year. °1 d ® § o Rerais- sions. To bo recovered at once. The col¬ lection of which was sus¬ pended. o| « *« Jig 5 ^ g.2 TS 25 o d m s- ’rt Poona 13,29,688 12,01,650 90*37 86 31,596 98,356 7*25 11,61,777 7,03,213 60*52 1,736. 0*15 4,56,628 39-33 Satara ... 20,11,471 19,35,66* 96*25 ... 40,253 35,658 1*77 15,59,426 13,04,697 83*66 2,880 0T8 2,51,8 49 16*16 ’S © Nasik 15,50,709 14,88,784 95*64 67,925 ... 13,44,365 11,53,643 85*80 1,38,030 10 27 52,792 3 93 ^KhSndesh 40,43,087 38,82,457 00*01 14,532 0*36 13,200 1,33,498 3*30 30,30,093 30,15,639 99*22 21,289 0*71 2,164 0*C7 Total for C*utral Division 1,18,07,381 1,10,66,m ^*73 15,157 0*13 2,29,886 4,95,495 4*20 95,36,119 72,63,533 76*23 3,03,204 3 3*18 19,64,382 20*59 1 rBijapur ... 14,17,9)5 10,91,924 77’00 4 43,969 2,82,018 19*90 12,94,810 5,46,418 4*2*20 10 7,48,382 57-80 Belgaum . .,.! 15,66,267 15,65,703 99*96 ... 664 ... 12,64,733 11,41,778 90*27 4,721 0*37 1,18,234 9-36 « Dh4rwS,r 25,21,046 25,14,38S 99*73 ... 875 6,783 0*23 20,97,420 20,16,4S2 96*15 8,515 0*40* 72,423 S’45 !• u Total for affect¬ ed districts 1,73,12,699 1,62,38,758 93*80 15,161 0*09 2,75,394 7,83,296 4*53 1,41,93,082 1,09.73,211 77*32 3,16,450 2*23 29,03,421 20*45 3 o m Koltfba ... 12,66,550 12,63,815 99*78 ... -,042 693 0*05 7,44,607 7,23,976 97*24 20,372 2*73 259 0*08 Ratn&giri 8,76,815 8,49,596 96*89 5,950 0*68 1,033 (x) 20,266 2*31 9,09,952 8,91,766 9S*00 1,128 0*13 17,058 1-S7 VK4nara 10,11,748 9,62,482 95*1S 870 0*08 107 ,2) 48,287 4*77 9,12,695 8,14,117 84*56 1,34,075 13*94 14,503 1*60 Total for Southern Division 86,60,469 82,47,908 95*24 6,824 0 08 48,690 3,57,047 4*12 72,74,217 61,84,537 84*34 1,68,821 2*32 9,70,859 13*34 (Ahmedabad ... 15,41,815 15,21,318 98*67 (3)18,624 1*20 1,973 > *** 14,30,638 14,26,127 99*6S 4,002 0*27 709 0*05 § Kaira 21,35,582 21,30,777 09*77 (4; 4,469 0*21 336 19,38,024 19,37,385 99*97 639 0*03 ... ... '> Q Panch Mahals... 3,26,986 3,26,122 99*74 711 0*22 153 2,69,251 2,68,720 99*31 840 0*12 191 0*07 d' *4 4 Broach 23,08,969 22,60,615 97*90 453 0*02 1,969 (5) 45,932 1*98 22,51,668 22,40,444 99*51 3,424 0*16 7,800 0*34 o Surat ... 23,57,047 23,54,435 09*89 2,612 0*11 ... 23,61,224 22,49,829 99*50 1,374 0*06 10,021 0*44 4-4 IrUna 11,89,424 11,16,685 93* 8S 227 0*02 3,502 t6) 69,010 5*80 14,18,776 14,15.259 99*75 1,883 0*13 1,634 0*12 Total for Northern Division... 98,59,823 97,09,952 98*48 26,996 0*27 7,933 1,14,942 1*16 95,69,781 95,37,764 99*66 11,863 0*12 20,356 0*22 Total for non-affeet* ed districts 1,30,14,964 1,27,85,845 98*24 33,816 0*26 11,115 1,84,189 Hi 1,21,87,035 119,67,623 98*20 1,67,237 11*37 52,175 0*43 Grand Total ... 3,03,27,573 2,90,21,603 95*70 48,977 0*16 2,86,509 9,67,484 3T9 263,80,117 229,40,834 . 85*97 4,83,687 1*83 29,55,596 11*20 Notes. (1) Of this amount Rs, 19,897 represents expenses of attachment to be recovered from Khots at the time of their parsing kabulafyats (annual agreements). (2) The large amount of suspensions in KAnara is explained to be due to thO almost total failure of the garden crops of supari and cardamoms in the Siddapur, 9irei and Yellapur talukas owing to excessive rain in August 1896. (3)* The large amount of remissions in Ahmedabad is partly due to the inability of occupant* to pay the assessment and partly to the fact that the rente collected from a Talukdalri village and a Tdlukdafri estate which are under attachment were less than the amount due to Government. (4) The grant of remissions to this extent was it is reported, necessitated by the failure of cropp. (5) The collection of such a large amount as Rs. 45,932 had to be suspended in Broach in coueequonco of successive bad seasons. (6) The large amount of suspensions in ThaJna is du *A.— Gratuitous Relief. 41. The gratuitous relief given at the cost of Kinds of gratuitous relief- the state consisted of— • (a) Grant of doles to persons eligible for relief under Section 57 of the^ Famine Code and to the inferior village servants referred to in Section 60. (ib) Relief in poor-houses under Chapter VIII of the Code. (e) Relief to non-working children and other dependants on relief workers under Chapter IX of the Code. The following general instruction? were issue! with regard to the first .institution of this form of relief:— “ The Governor in Council does not consider that the time has yet come for the appli¬ cation of Chapters VIII and IX. It is to be remembered that, , “nrtRer,u^No-8S30, as has been pointed out by the Famine Commission, an ill- a e ovem er . directed and excessive distribution of charitably relief demora- lizes the recipients of it and that an essential condition of relief is to demand in return labour commensurate with the powers of those relieved. The premature application of the provisions regarding gratuitous relief is therefore to be avoided. Discretion is however allowed to the Collectors of affected districts to give gratuitous relief to any persons unable to work and found to be starving if any cases coming under that category are already found, the amount expeuded being weekly reported for sanction. Such relief will of course be given strictly in accordance with the principles laid down in Chapter V of the Famine Code.” “ 2. The Commissioner will doubtless take steps to see that the provisions with regard to gratuitous relief are strictly applied. The distinction between , ?^VK^Irfnt RkSo1^so« Na9880, the classes to be relieved in their villages under Chapter V and dated 6th December 1896. those to be receiveil in p00r-h0U3es under Chapter Vlfr should be carefully borne in mind'and great caution is needed that the poor-houses shall be managed in such a way that relief will not involve any offence to religious sentiment. The poor-house at Pandharpur seems intended for its proper purpose, and the Municipal Commissioners are en- titled to credit for their recognition of their responsibilities in this matter. Relief of persons entitled to it in their villages under Chapter Y is not likely to offend caste scruples, but it is very liable to abuse, and very constant and close supervision is necessary. There should be a chain of checks applied through Circle Inspectors, Relief Mdmlatddrs, Sub-divisional officers and higher anthorities to prevent the entry cn the dole register of persons who are not eligible and the demoralization which would ensue from any laxity in this respect/’ It was not found necessary to give any gratuitous relief in Khandesh except to dependants on workers, as the people in the plains are generally prosperous and private charity was not relaxed, while the dweller s in the hills find means of livelihood in hunting and gathering wild fruits, (a)—Village Relief. 42. Gratuitous relief under head (a) was given in rural areas through the Village doles- agency of the village officers assisted by a Committee 8 as required by the Code, while in Municipal towns the distribution of the dole was supervised hy Municipal officers. In order to secure a sufficient check each taluka was divided into groups or circles consist- ing of a few villages and placed under an Inspector, who visited every village and examined the registers and recipients of the dole in it once a week. Relief Mamlatdlrs were also appointed wherever necessary to super vise the work of, the Circle Inspectors, to arrange for payment of dole hills and generally to control the operations under the orders of the Sub-divisional officers. The system on the whole worked well, the admissions to the dole lists being usually made with great care and discretion, although there were discovered a few cases»of abuse. The Collector of Sholapur states that, as in the case of relief works, the difficulty was not in tracing out the needy but in keeping off the undeserving, of wliom consider¬ able numbers were found seeking admission in every village, that there was none of the repugnance to being entered on the dole register which was observed in the famine of 1876-77 though at first the dole was regarded with some suspi¬ cion, and that persons eagerly came to receive the dole as well from 'among the Brahmans and Mardthas as from the lower classes. Bat in some districts, notably iif Satara, the village officers were unduly str'jt, probably being afraid that fauit would be found with them if the lists were large, and the proportion of members b 98—8 30 v of the higher classes in receipt of gratuitous relief in districts for which figures have'been given is exceedingly small. There were not wanting instances of people suffering much privation through reluctance to accept charitable relief. 43. The amount of gratuitous relief given in villages includes the assist- . ance given in the shape of doles to inferior village ser- infenor vants under Section 60 of the Famine Belief Code'. « ° ’ The whole of the expenditure shown for Khandesh under this head and by far the greater part of that shown for Dharwdr were on this.account. It was necessary to insist with regard to thh Mhars that such only as were required in the villages for the performance of their duties should be relieved in this manner, and that the rest including the wives and children fit for work of those receiving the dole should be required to earn a livelihood on the nearest relief work or in other ways. Some village watchmen through a feeling which is entitled to respect refused to receive assistance in this form, and the grant of the equivalent in money or of an allowance of Us. 2 per mensem, when that was less, was authorized. 44. On ^ representation from the Collector *of Bijdpur gratuitous relief in t» 4. j ... vi the schools was authorized for such children attending children. ^es^“u‘:e sc^00^ the Local Board and indigenous aided schools as were unfit for work whose parents were employed on famine relief works or were gratuitously relieved and were unable to maintain them. The advantage of avoiding a break in the education of the children was regarded as of some weight, but the main considerations were that relief in this form could be very efficiently controlled and that the recipients would be kept away from relief works, where they are an encumbrance. The duty of distri¬ buting the 'doles was entrusted to the Head Masters, who (were authorized to give cooked food when practicable, and the whole arrangements were under the supervision of the Deputy '.Educational Inspector and his Assistants. The daily average number of children relieved as compared with the daily average attend*, ance in several months is shown below Months. Attendance. Relieved. June ... ... ... 7,919 343 July ... ***<. .** 8,162 810 August ^. ... 7,885 964 September ... 7,904 1,085 October ... ... 7,771 1,189 Total ... 39,641 4,391 Average 7,928 S78 The proportions in the last two months are undoubtedly much larger than might be expected in view of the fact that the schools are mainly attended by the children of people of substance. 45.Appendix I contains a statement of the daily average numbers of men, women and children receiving gratuitous relief under Extent of relief in vil- geetions 57 and 60 of the Code during the last week ia£83‘ of each month and the percentage of the total num¬ bers so relieved to the numbers of relief workers. The number generally rose rapidly after the commencement of the rains. Doubtless many of the depend- ants of persqns who returned from relief works for agricultural operations had then to be relieved ift villages, as the ‘ Colleetors had on the approach of the monsoon been desired to see that the village inspection was very ‘carefully carried out and that the dependants on persons who had to resume their agri¬ cultural occupation were not allg\\ed to fall into a reduced condition. The increase continued as distress deepened after the rain ceased until in September it attained the enormous figure of 92,324. The number is not far short of the highest number receiving gratuitous relief of any kind in 1877, when however distrust waS felt of the practice\of relieving persons in their homes. Th% most striking point in the statement is the exceedingly large proportion I of) persons gratuitously relieved to workers in the Poona District. , Even in the earlier months the proportion was high and an explanation was called for it beino- pointed* out that while a constant ratio between the number of relief workers and the number of persons gratuitously relieved cannot be expected, both numbers should indicate the intensity of distress and if , the ratio varies widely in different districts there is ground for inferring that there is some diversity in the method of administering relief. The main reason for the excess, the impossibility of inducing many people in the hill tracts to go to relief works so that they could eventually be saved from absolute starvation only by gratuitous relief, has already been mentioned. The Collector reported that the caution exercised in opening relief works and the discipline maintained on them had not caused any increase of gratuitous relief through deterring people from work until they were enfeebled and was enjoined to continue to take great pains to see that this result was avoided. In the.early months of the monsoon the number did not increase much more rapidly in Poona than in other districts, but the ratio of persons gratuitously relieved to relief workers did because most of the works even in the eastern, talukas were closed. As rain held off, it became necessary to re-open works. The Collector had indeed urged that as the season was so advanced it was better to retain the needy on a bare subsistence for a short time than to re-open works, but Government declined to accept his recommendation. The following instructions were issued to him :—> “It is a cardinal principle of the system of relief which has been adopted that labour com¬ mensurate with the labourer^ powers must be demanded from Government lUsolationK0.1722, pe0pie capable of work in return for the payment made to them. poor-houses in the Nasik District was opened in the town of Ndsik for the reception of large numbers of wandering beggars who were attracted to the town by the indis¬ criminate charity of certain wealthy people who had left Bombay owing to the plague. 50. Appendix J shows the daily average numbers of men, women and children relieved in poor-houses during the last week . Extent and cost of poor- of each month. The total units relieved and expen- nouse re ie.- diture incurred by Government are shown below :— District, Units. Expenditure. i Incidence per head. Sholapur (for the poor-house at Barsi) 3,032 Rs. 187 A. p. 1 0 Ahmednagar 136,486 24.131 2 10 Nasik 24,115 5,503 3 71 Sdtara 25,438 2,258 1 5 Bijapur 186,781 17,126 1 5£ Total ... 375,852 49,205 2 1 (c).—Relief to non-working children and other dependants on relief workers under Chapter IX of the Code. 51. Appendix K shows the numbers of dependants relieved at the works in Kitchens and cash allow- the last week of each month with their ratio per cent of ances for dependants on the workers. In discussing the intensity of the famine w°rks- it was mentioned that the system of giving cash allow- ances for children attracted to the works people who were not in real need of relief and itbecamenecessary to explain how by the introduction of the system of kitchens and another measure the number on the works both of people able to work and of dependants on them became a fairly correct gauge of the extent of the distress. It has been shown that eventually all non-working children who could eat and other dependants on relief workers were fed in kitchens except where the number was so small that incommensurate expense would be involved in providing the kitchens. On the works of road repairs in Sholapur, which generally extended over many miles, so that the children could not conveniently be collected in one place, the food was cooked in a central kitchen and distributed by means of hand- earts to the children on the works. The very careful application of Section 132 of the Code to children whose condition was reduced from the refusal of parents to allow them to be fed in kitchens was strictly enjoined. But there was in some places considerable delay in introducing the system, and in the, meantime cash allowanees were paid. And these allowances were paid throughout for children in arms who could not eat in addition to the wage earned by the mothers. It was directed that nursing mothers unable to work should ordiharily be fed in the b 98—9 34 kitcbens, bat that those to whom it jvas not considered desirable to give the cooked ration should receive in accordance with Section 74 of the Code the allowance for adult males of Class A. Children to whom cash allowances were paid were generally mustered and paid by the Public Works officers along whh their parents, the cost being debited to “ gratuitous relief.” The supervision of kitchens was entrusted to the Special Civil officers attached to the works. The total units relieved in kitchens and expenditure on their account up to the* end of December 1897 dre shown below:— Districts. Units. Expenditure.« r Incidence per head. ShoUpur 2,915,143 Re. 1,66,523 As. p. 0 ll Ahmednagar ... Poona . *. 2,019,367 1,18,829 0 ll 541,506 ' 53,404 1 7 Ndsik 348,250 16,751 0 9 Satara 264,383 38,052 2 3 KMndesh 299,096 28,400 1 6 Bi jdpur 945,042 38,886 0 8 Belgaum 190,099 7,770 0 8 Total 7,522,886 4,68,615 1 0 dependants on workers :— Rs. Sholdpur ... ... 54,503* Ahmednagar ... ... 1,24,920 Poona 3,203 Ndsik ... 64,810 Sat&ra ... 20,076 Khdndesh ... ... ... 22,312 Bijapur ... ... 1 ... 1,55,170 Belgaum ... 14,744 Total ... 4,59,738 * This is the amount shown in the aeeounts as the expenditure incurred up to the end of December 1897. The amount reported by the Superintending Engineer, C. D., is Rs. 5,29,833. B.—Private Donations. 52. The administration of the Indian Charitable Relief Fund was not offi- Immense utility of In- dal, although Government officers took a large part in dian Charitable Relief the distribution of the money, and as it has, it is under- Fund- stood, formed the subject of a separate complete report, it is not necessary to deal with it here in much detail. But this account of the famine in this Presidency would not be complete if it failed to make mention1 of the immense relief of suffering and of assistance to destitute people in resuming their ordinary occupations which were efifected through the use of that fund and of the 'most valuable aid thus given to Government in mitigating the effects of famine, and the Governor in Council has much satisfaction in communicating the gratitude, which has been made apparent in many ways, of the thousands to whom help was thus given in their hour of need. Allotments from the * 53. The allotmhnts made fropi the fund, to the Fund* different districts are shown below :— Rs. Sholdpnr • •. ... ,3,93,000 Ahmednagar • ... 3,25,000 Poima ... • • • 53,690 Sdtara • * * ... 1,00,022 * N&sik ... 85,000 Khandesh .'s 86,000 Bijdpurc • * • • •» ... 4,28,010 Dh&rwdr , ... •. • 7,000 Belgaum ... ... 15,000 35 / 54. It jvill be convenient to set forth here the objects to which it was held that the fund might legitimately be adopted and to Manner of utilizing the S[30W how far the money available was utilized accord- allotment s- ingly. The following instructions were issued by the Government of India in their Circular No. 1—T1.—66—2, dated 22nd December 1896> “Government fully accept s general responsibility for saving the lives of the people in tracts in which famine prevails ; and it is essential that private charity, while working side by side with it,, should not interfere with or overlap the operation© which are organized for this purpose. There is, however, ample scope for its exercise in supplementing these operations, in mitigating suffering, and in relieving distress which falls just short of absolute destitution. Especially, private contribution s might usefully be expended on the following objects Firstly : in supplementing the subsistence ration which alone is provided from 'public funds, ly the addition of small comforts, whether of food or of clothing, for the aged or infirm, for the patienis in hospitals, for children, and the like. As guardian of the public purse and in view of the magnitude of the calamity, Gov¬ ernment is obliged to limit its assistance to what is absolutely necessary for the preserva¬ tion of life. Secondly : in providing for the maintenance of orphans, Every famine leaves behind it a number of waifs who have lost or become separated from those who should be responsible for them, and for whose maintenance it is necessary to provid© till they are of an age to support themselves. Thirdly : in relieving the numerous poor hut respectable persom who will endur e almost any privation rather than apply for Government relief, accompanied as it must le hy official enqairy into, and by'some kind of test of the veality of, the destitution which is tc be relievtd. » The feeling of the sacredness of the “ purdah ” or domestic privacy is intensely strong in India; and it is most difficult for any official organization to reach, or even to ascertain with eertainty the existence of distress of this nature. Fourthly : in restoring to their original position, when acute distress is subsidiny, those zoho have lost their all in the struggle, and in giving them a fresh start in life. The peasant cultivator may often thus be saved from losing his holding through sheer inability to cultivate it and from sinking to the position of a day-labourer.” The amounts disbursed from the fund for these objects and the total num- bers relieved, so far as they have been reported, are shown in the following statement:— Objects, Shola'pur. Ahmbdnagar. Poona, Sa'ta’ra. Number relieved. Amount. Number relieved. Amount, Number relieved. Amount. Number relieved. Amount. Rs. Rs. Rs. Rs. I.—Supplementing the subsist¬ ence ration, &c. II.— Providing: for orphans III.—Relieving the respectable poor, IV.—Assisting peasant cultiva tors. Miscellaneous . . „ 1 1 Not re- f ported. 1 ) 28,393 581 13,796 2,91,788 619 10,000 225 9,460 34,485 14,161 557 23,130 2,11,784 841 1 ^Details no J t furnished. Not report¬ ed. 1 y 42,007 j 55,735 Total fft) 3,35,182 54,170 (5) 2,50,473 53,025 3 97,742 (a) This'amount was disbursed up to the end of October 1897. Since then Rs. 45,000 more have been disbursed. (5) This amount is exclusive of Rs. 22,937 disbursed by the Ahmednagar City Relief Committee as shown below Rs. 12,937 for objects I to III, ,, 2,000 contribution to a cheap grain-shop. ,, 6,000 for relief of distressed weavers, „ 2,000 for relief of Gavlis. Rs. 22,937 Objects. NAsik. Kiia’ndbsh, i IBija’pur, Dsa'rwAi’, * Belgaxtjt. Number relieved. Amount. Number relieved. Amount. Number relieved. Amount. Number relieved. Amount. Number relieved. Amount Bp. Rs. Rs. Rs. ( Rs, I.—^jupplementing the subsist¬ ence ration, &c. 8,992 7,461 30,973 24,864 50,102 54,757 3,365 1,768 2,436 2,182 ll.—f roviding for orphans C 12 S64 355 405 9* 74 1 4 III.—Relieving the respectable poor. 10,114 11,771 7,996 17,599 35,718 {d) 78,293 45 209 16 66 IV.—Assisting peasant cultiva¬ tors. 4,157 26,432 i 7,698 43,065 38,216 2,92,088 398 4,926 1,335 5,995 Miscellaneous •• 384 67 ... 390* 1 ... ... Total ... 23,275 (c) 46,412 47,022 86,000 1,24,036 4,25,528 9 3,899 6,978 3,788 8,247 (c) In addition to this amount Rs. 14,150 were disbursed as follows Rs. ^,150 contribution towards grain shops for the poor. >, 10,000 contribution for supporting and educating 34 famine orphan s sent to the Na'dk Orphanage. (d) This amount includes Rs. 4,892 on account of contributions towards cheap grain shops started in the district, {a) The greater part of the expenditure incurred on object I was on account of the supply of clothing. In Bijapur alone Rs. 42,096 were spent for this purpose, and the number of recipients was 36,189. A large portion of the clothing required was purchased from the local weavers, who thus got employment in their own craft. In that district extra meals of rice were given for some time to the children in kitchens, hut Government were of opinion that this luxury should be confine'd to children in feeble health, there‘being abundant evidence that the rations prescribed in the Code were ample for maintaining the health of the children generally, and'that it was not desirable to attract children to the works. (6) The expenditure on object II was very small except in the N4sik District, where a sum of Rs. 10,000 is stated to have been given for support¬ ing and educating 34 famine orphans sent to the Nasik Orphanage. (c) The expenditure on object IlPconsisted for the most part of money doles and gifts of clothing to respectable Musalman and Brahman families reduced to the verge of starvation. There were particularly in Bijapur many persons of this class who were discovered by the untiring efforts o‘f the officers who administered the funds supplied to 1liat district. (d) The largest amounts spent from the fund however were on object IV—the provision of plough-cat tie, fodder and seed for destitute land- liolders. The assistance thus given proved of the greatest value and was highly appreciated. The Collector of Bijapur states that the area culti¬ vated with the help of the cattle and seed provided from the Charitable Bundamonnted to 348,874 acres or ll per cent, of the total area (3,135,655) cultivated in ordinary years, but although the amount utilized for this purpose in that district was little short of 3 lakhs, it is difficult to beKeve that it had so wide an effect, especially in view of the high price which would have to be paid for cattle on the resumption of agricultural opera¬ tion? after so high a mortality amongst them. The expenditure shown under this head for Satara and to a smaller extent for Ahmednagar and Poona in¬ cludes amounts utilized for a purpose which does not fall strictly within the description of the object, hut which nevertheless seems to His Excellency in Council to be very legitimate, viz., the maintenance of cultivator while en¬ gaged on agricultural operations. It has already been ekplained that in the hill tracts of these distriets these operations are almost continuous and that most of the cultivators have no habit of saving. Such of them as had secu- rity to offer could get loans from Government for t Heir subsistence while engaged 'on the tillage of their lands, but for those who had no such security to offer there was no resource except gratuitous relief, and that could not according to the principle fol^owed be given at the cost of the State so lontj as the people were fit for employment on relief works. In the opinion of the Governor in Council the whole of the expenditure shown under this 37 head was most useful and was made with discretion. Instances however ’ have been reported of people refusing free grants from the fund and applying for advances from Government which they could receive and repay without loss of self-respect. (e) In one district a cheap grain shop was maintained at the cost of the fund, and as already mentioned there were many such shops kept up at the expense of philanthropic gentlemen. The Governor >in Council does not doubt that as a form of charity this arrangement has some advantages, but is inclined to the belief that it is not so beneficial a method as others of utilizing a charitable fund. 55.In addition to local contributions to the Indian Charitable Relief Fund there was much liberality shown in various Local charities. forms of private charity. Missionaries in Ahmednagar were provided with money and grain by their co-religionists in Europe and America to aid in the relief of suffering, but no report has been received of the extent of their assistance. His Highness the Maharaja Holkar sent 600 maunds of jowdri to Ahmednagar and the same quantity to Sjioldpur for dis¬ tribution by the Collectors. In many places there was no intermission of the usual form of charity, the grant of a handful of grain to the needy, and as already stated gratuitous relief except to dependants on relief works was thus rendered unnecessary in Khdndesh. It is stated that money-lenders who show little compassion to debtors were not remiss in helping the destitute, and in Belgaum the more substantial land-holders helped the poorer when prices were very high by advances of grain. In some of the larger towns private gentlemen rrranged for the free distribution of grain or cooked food. Early in December the Collectors wee urged to use all possible efforts to bring such charity under direction and control through the appointment of eommittees who would be guided by the officers engaged on famine duty, and these efforts were generally successful. But in some places there was a want of organization, notably in the case at Nasik already referred to, a crowd of undeserving people, many of them able-bodied, being attracted to the town with the result that a severe outbreak of cholera occurred. Asylums for the reception of famine orphans, to which reference has already been made, were provided by Mr. Chhabildas Lallubhai, a Hindu citizen of Bombay, by seme leading Mahomedan gentlemen of the same town and by the Managing Board of the Decean Orphanage, but although the co-operation of all district officers in furthering this philanthropic pur¬ pose was enjoined, it has not been reported that any advantage was taken of the institutions, C.—Water Supply. 56.At a very early stage measures were taken to cope with the scarcity of _ , ,. , drinking water which was antieipated. The following sure!tobeltaken- t0mea* orcIcrs were Passed by Government on 4th November 1896 ;—- “ Attention is also ealled to Section 152 of the Famine Code. There is every probability of a great scarcity of drinking water before next rains, and so far as is practicable provision should be made to meet it. Such works will also be a suitable form of employing needy labourers. Wherever it is possible the work should be carried out at the joint cost of Government and Local Funds, with such aid from private persons either in money or in labour as is forthcoming, j But in cases in which measures for providing water are urgent and no aid from Local Boards or private persons can be given, applications should be made for grants for the purpose." Allotments under Section 152 of the Famine Code were sanctioned from time to time as required by the Collectors, and it was direeted that the works for the temporary improvement of water-supply should be carried out through the ageucy of village officers and -.that the preparation of formal estimates for them should be dispensed with. 57.The amouius spent by. Government for the improvement of water- Improvement^ of supply- supply in the different districts and the* numbers of works carried out are stated below :— 38 i District. • No. of works. Amount. Sholapur • - ... «» *44 533 Rs. <18,232 Ahmednagar ... ••• ... • • • ... 435 23,051 Poona * • « ... 20,213 Sat^ra 0 m 0 2,728 Bijapur ... ... • • * ... 10G 8,004 Belgaum. ... ... '34 974 The 'works generally consisted of digging pits in bed,s of nalas where they- had run dry, constructing new wells and repairing or deepening old wells, and they were of considerable help in relieving the scarcity of water and gave employ¬ ment to a large number of labourers. In Bijdpur 23 small works were under¬ taken for the sole benefit of the members of the low-castes. The amounts spent from Local Fun/ls for the same purpose were :— Sholapur Bijapur Belgaum Ratndgii'i Rs. ... *12,970 ... 1,609 952 ... 2,209 The District Local Board of Dh&rwar spent Rs. 66,965 on water-works (47 tanks and 9 wells) of permanent utility in the affected tract. Of these works 4 tanks and 4 wells were carried out with the aid of the Government grant of Rs. 5,000‘for the improvement of the water-supply. 58. The results of these temporary improvements 6f the water-supply appear to have been satisfactory. Although in’some Results- cases drinking water was procurable only at great distances, no village was abandoned and few if any people seem to have left their homes on this account. The wells dug for irrigation also provided some water for both men and animals. The supply on relief works was adequate and as already stated was carefully disinfected ;<-in the cases in which cholera broke out on works, it was traced to the use of polluted water in nalas after heavy showers, although disinfected water was available. D.—Cattle and Fodder. 59. The first step taken'by Government for the preservation of cattle was to authorize the application wherever desirable of the in preservation of cattle^ Provisions of Chapter XI of the Famine Code regard- ’ r mg the opening of reserved forests to grazing. The following general orders were subsequently issued regarding measures to be taken for the preservation of agricultural cattle in the affected districts: — of the affected districts from the effects of famine dejfends mainly on the existence of adequate means of cultivation. All practicable measures towards this end should therefore be adopted with the least possible delay. €t 2. The question arises whether it is preferable to take cattle to plaee^ where forage is available or to import fodder to the places where the cattle are. In the opinion of Government the former course must be adopted in the great majority of cases. Autbority has been given to the Collect*>rs of affected districts to take action under the provisions of Chapter XI of the Famine Code, but these provisions affect only the power of each Collector within his own district and with regard to the cattle belonging to his district/ But the exigencies of the case demand a wider liberality. The Commissioner, S. D., has in con¬ sultation with the Conservator of Forests, S. C., issued a proclamation that the Kdnara forests' are open to free grazing to cattle fronj the affected districts to the extent contem- plated in Section 155 of the Famine Code, and his proceeding in this matter is entirely approved subject to the reservation made below. A similar measure 'will be taken in * tfnis amount was expended during the 12 months ending 31st March 1897. 39 regard to other forests where grazing is available. The Collecfcors of Thdna, KoKba and Panch Mah&ls have been asked whether the forest and waste lands in their distriets will supply grazing for a large number of cattle from the Deccan and the information supplied by them will be communicated to the Colleetors of affected distriets. Doubtless in Khdndesh also, particularly in the Satpuda Range, there will be found a considerable area suitable for grazing. Of course where there is any grass land in affected distriets, as it is presurned that there is in the gMt, talukas of Poona,, Ahmednagar and Nasik, the cattle of these distriets severally will have a prior claim to it. > “3. The reservation to-be made in this matter is that the concession is to be allowed only for cattle really valuable for agriculture and for milch cattle, and it must be, strictly carried out. The grazing available will in all probability be found insufficient to fully meet the requirement^ for even these useful and valuable cattle, and Government cannot permit the supply to be curtailed by useless aniinals. The cattle which are sent from affected distriets to other distriets for the purpose of free grazing must, therefore, be accompanied by certificates signed by offieers not below the grade of Mahalkari that the cattle are agricultural or milch cattle belonging to those distriets, and no such certificates are to be granted for e’attle which are not useful for cultivation or breeding. “4. Difficulty is likely to be experienced in keeping cattle alive during a long march to places where grazing is available. It appears that in 1876-77 passes were given for the free transport by rail of some- cattle. This is a concession which is liable to be' abused and eannot be allowed except in extreme cases and for special reasons, and only (1) for cattle of actual cultivator s, (2) for plough oxen and milch cattle actually in use, and (3) for such number as the individual cultivator requires for the cultivation of the land actually occupied by him and for the supply of milk to his family. But the case is one in which advances may be given under Act XII of 1884, and Government considers that this will be the most suitable method of assisting transport where conveyance by rail is required. Care must of course be taken that sums in excess of the amount needed are not granted, and that they are devoted to the purpose for which they are given. There must be some security for repayment, but this course will be more economical than absolute gifts of the money even if a proportion of the amount advanced cannot be recovered* The Railway Companies should be asked through the Railway Depart¬ ment what provision they can make for the conveyance of cattle and what rates would be charged on the assumption that carriage was required for considerable numbers. “ 5. Turning to the question of importing fodder into the affected distriets, it is to be observed that it is quite impossible for Government to provide a supply for all the cattle which remain in the distriets. The supply through the agency of the State of grain in sufficient quantities to prevent any loss of human life is a task which is practically beyond its power and the supply of the much more bulky article of fodder in quantities sufficient to preserve the lives of even a considerable proportion of agricultural cattle would be still more difficult. No attempt was made in this direction in 1876-77. Ail that was tried was to provide a stock of fodder on the main lines of road along which grain had to be carried, and even this comparatively modest endeavour failed, the greater part of the grass supplied never being utilized. There is not the same reason which existed in 1876-77 for attempting to supply fodder on the lines of grain traffic, for all the distriets affected have now communication by rail, and grain will not have to be carried very long distances by road. All that Government can undertake is to faeilitate as far as lies in its power the supply of fodder by private agency. For this purpose inquiries should be made where surplus stocks of fodder of any kind are available, and the information on the subject should be disseminated, together with statements of the priees likely to be demanded in the distriets of supply and to be offered in the distriets where the supply is needed, and of the rates which the Railway Companies will charge for carriage. It is not improbable that it may be profitable to send the more valuable kinds of fodder even'from Sind to affected distriets, and inquiries should be made on this point. If there is any grass fit for cutting in forest or waste lands, it may be offered free to eontraetors, provided arrangements can be made to secure that it will be supplied at a moderate profit in the affected distriets, “6. Attention should be called to the Resolutions quoted in the margin regarding the use of prickly-pear for feeding cattle. It is possible that advantage ent Resolution No. 1241, can be taken of this method of supplying a useful food for animals Government Re^oiutiou No. 4351, to a lar£er extent than has hitherto been eontemplated. If the dated 2Qth May 1892. people can be induced to use the leaves of the plant for their cattle to a material extent, persons who require employment near their homes and for whom *the eradication of prickly-pear is a suitable employment, may also be engaged in preparing the leaves for' fodder, which at first should be supplied free, but for which a charge should be made if there arises a demand for it. “7, It is understood that the irrigation works are being used as far as is practicable for the production of fodder crops, but inquiry will be made whether any further utilization of them for this purpose is possible, > * . “ 8. The facilitation of the supply of forage is a matter of such grave importance that His Excellency the Governor in Council considers it expedient to appoint an officer to the special dufcy of directing it and is pleased to appoint accordingly the Honourable Mr. Shuttleworth whose knowledge of the resourees of the forests and experience in the famine of 1876-77 make > ) 40 him particularly fitted for the work. His task will be mainly to carry out the instruction above given. He will ascertain where grazing is available and will take measures for the distribution of theanimals entitled to admission to the forests*in the manner mo'st suitable in consideration of comparative convenience aiid the supply available. He will arrange with the Railway Companies for the conveyance of such cattle as may be carried by rail in accordance with the orders above given. He will also keep the Companies informed of the quantities of fodder likely to be available for transport to the affected districts, so that arrangements may be made as cheaply and expeditiously as possible for its conveyance. And he will also afford assistance in regard to another matter for which the Governor in Council considers that provision should be made. The cdifficulty of procuring fodder for the horses or other animals of officers who have to move about in*the affected area, referred to by the Collector of Ahmednagar, is lil&ly to interfere very materially with their efficieney and is one which Government may very properly help to remove. Many of those employed on relief duty have small pay and few servants and could not without serious interference with their duties arrange to proeure fodder for the animals on which they are dependent for moving actively about. The Honourable Mr. Shuttleworth should therefore arrange so far as he can to aid those officers on famine duty who apply for his assistance in pro¬ curing fodder for their own animals employed for the purpose of their travelling. Where necessary grass can be cut on forest and waste lands or it may be purchased where it is available and sent to the plaees where it is needed. The charge made for what is supplied should be sufficient to cover all costs/’ The Collector of Khandesh haying reported that grass was plentiful in the hill tracts of Khdndesh and that it should be removed as fast as possible if it was to be saved from destruction by the usual forest fires, Government gave the following orders: — “The Collector should be authorized to begin forthwith the cutting and stacking at suitable plaees near the grass traets of grass by Forest Department ageney, datedVl3t“November 1896 reporting what grant lie considers ^to be necessary. If the Honourable Mr. Shuttleworth can at the same time make arranger ments with contractors to cut and carry off some of the grass available, that measure should also be adopted. fBut it will not be expedient to attempt the distribution of the1 grass through State ageney. The stacks of grass should, if possible, be sold wheiethey maycbe to traders, who will arrange themselves for pressing the grass. If however traders will not buy it where stacked, the best arrangements feasible should be made for pressing it and moving it down to railway stations, where it can be sold to dealers or eultivators at the price it will fetch ; not less than the cost should be taken unless there is no prospect of getting so much. Care should be taken that only grass suitable for fodder is collected/* At the same time the most careful measures to prevent destruction of grass by fire were enjoined, and special establishments were employed for its protection. In Government Resolution No. 10201, dated 12th December 1896, quoted below, more detailed instructions were issued as to the method of de¬ posing of the grass collected by Government Ageney :— “ The Honourable Mr. Shuttleworth should be referred to paragraph 6 of Government Resolution. No. 9158, dated 18th ultimo. He has full authority to despatch the grass hy rail to the larger railway stations in the affected districts if suitable offers are not made to buy it at an earlier stage. He should make the best arrangements he can to dispose of grass sent to these plaees at a fair price, such as if possible will cover all eharges. If the grass is sold there, there will be little risk of the greater part of it not being used for the purpose for which it is intended. There should be no attempt to exclude dealers, who on the contrary should be encouraged to take part as far as possible in tbe distribution of the grass. The Honourable Mr. Shuttleworth may be correct in abandoning all hope that private enterprise will undertak© any speculation in grass in the famine-affected areas, but if he is right, then there must also be abandoned the hope that a material proportion of the agricul¬ tural cattle can be saved by importation of grass. No arrangements which can be made hy State Cagency could be effectual for supplying fodder for more than a small fraction of the cattle in the affected districts. The Honourable Mr. Shuttleworth should therefore not relax his efforts to obtain all possible aid from private enterprise. He should recognize that the aspistance and direction into the proper channels of private trade in this matter are of much more importance than any measures which he single-handed can take for the supply of grass. At the same time, as#already directed, he should do all in his power to secure all grass fit for fodder which is available in the forests or waste lands send dispose o£ it in the best manner which in the circumstanees is practicable, preferably where it is stacked or pressed, otherwise at railway stations from which it can be despatched, and in the last resort at railway stations in the affected distficfts. All that he can do m this matter will be of advantage, although of little advantage as compjred with what can be done by private trade. li2. As before pointed out, however, the great bulk of the cattle can he saved only by being taken to the grazing grounds, ai\d to this point special* attention should be paM. Importation of grass is intended only for those which must be kept in the district/1 41 Ini Government Resolution No. 10603, dated 24th. December 1896, it was observed that the only equitable arrangement was to sell the grass at the stations either by auction or under some other system of free competition. Authority was at the same time given to make advances in grass in lieu of cash subject to the general rules for tagai advances, the amount of the loan being calcu¬ lated on the price of the grass at the railway stations if there was competition for it, otherwise on the actual cost of the grass delivered at the railway stations. The concession already made regarding the grant of advauces under the Agri- culturists’ Loans Act to agriculturists to assist them in conveying their cattle by rail to grazing grounds was extended to transport of cattle by road. Arrange- ments were made with the Railway Companies to charge reduced rates for the conveyance of cattle from affected areas to forest grazing grounds and of fodder for supply to the affected tracts. 60. The facilities offered by Government for the transport of useful agri- cultural cattle from affected distriets to areas where „„r;?:1!„ ?l^e- „ ~ ° „„„ „ e grazing could be found were not taken advantage of to any large extent. The experience ot the preceding famine was said to show that the grass and water on the ghats did not suit the cattle of the plains. It was made known that 250,000 outside cattle could be ' fed in the S&tpuda forests of Khandesh and that considerable areas of grazing were also available in the Panch Mahals and Thana, but no cattle were sent from the affected tracts to these places. In 21 cases however in Sholapur advances were given for the conveyance of cattle by rail, but’ in two the money was found to be misapplied and was at once recovered; it has not been reported in what precise manner the other advances were utilized. Cultivators in the plain talukas of the Deccan were generally reluctant to send their cattje to the forests of even the hill talukas of their own district. Generally however advan¬ tage was keenly taken of the opening of forest areas in which there was grass by the cattle owners of the district, and in a few cases cattle were taken from one district into a neighbouring district to graze. In Belgaum apta leaves and in Nasik anjan leaves taken from the forests were very profitably used, and in other distriets use was made of other leaves, but none of prickly-pear. It has been reported that 60,000 cattle belonging to the Bijapur District were taken to the western hilly portions of Dharwat and other places where grazing was avail¬ able, and that only 18,000 of them returned; that about 2,000 cattle w^ere sent from the Kopargaon Taluka of the Ahmednagar District to the Akola forests in the same district, and to the Dindori and .Nandgaon hill forests of the Ndsik District, and that only about 500 came back; that even the cattle taken from the eastern talukas of the Nasik District to the western hills where there was a fair supply of grazing did not stand the climate; and that out of 21,834 taken from the affected talukas .of Dharwar to the pasture grounds in the west only 8,793 were brought back. These facts seem tojustify the belief of the cattle owners that the climate and surroundings of the ghdts are not suitable for the cattle of the plains, but it is not improbable that some at least of the cattle which were taken away were sold. The cultivators of the Konkan get most of their cattle from the Deccan, and advantage may have been taken of their cheapness in the past year. 61. The efforts which were made to induce private traders to }take i. i.- „ part in the importation of fodder were not very hr nnMtPAiVmriw 1 successful. Statements of the operations were publi- ' " P • shed weekly, so that the chance of profitable trade might be known, and every other measure which seemed practicable was taken to induce private enterprise to come in at one stage or other, but without much effect. When the Southern Maratha Railway reduced their rates for carriage of fodder from three annas to one anna per wagon, large quantjties of harli were conveyed from Dharwar and even from Mysore into the Bijdpur District. Within some distriets also, particularly Khandesh, Ahmednagar and Sdtara, considerable numbers of people and carts were employed by dealers in bringing grass from the hills to the plains, and when a keen demand set in in May stocks were sent by traders from the Thana district into the Nasik, Ahmednagar and Poona distriets. But they would have nothing to do with the grass »cut and collected b 98—n 42 \ by Government agency, and it was necessary to make the best arrangemehts possible for otherwise disposing of it. 62. In February 1897 as the system of selling imported grass by auction Importation by Govern- at railway stations had not resulted in inducing traders to undertake its distribution, Mr. Shuttleworth re-, quested authority to establish a dep6t at every railway station in the famine- akfected area with a forest official in charge of it and to sell bales of grass there to every person applying for it at a price not less than the actual cost in- curred by Government in respect of such grass up to the date* of its sale. Gov¬ ernment passed the following orders on this communication :— “ It should be pointed out to the Honourable Mr. Shuttleworth that there was no direc- „ i... ... .... tiou in Government Resolution No.»10603 dated 24th Decem- FanCa“l[rM»iUch0lS97°.' ' 6‘ ber }896’.tl,at tbe Srass should nofc be sold otherwise than by auction; it was pointed out only that it must be sold under some system of free competition. If traders do not come forward to buy the grass for dis¬ tribution, there is no objection to.the adoption of the course proposed in paragraph 3 of the letter, always provided that whenever there is competition the price will be settled by it and that it is made generally known that if private individuals engage in the trade they will not be undersold by Government.” Six depdts were accordingly established in Poona, 13 in Ahmednagar, 3 in Nasik, 8 in Sholapur and 9 in Bijapur. Till the end of April the sales of grass at the depdts were not encouraging, and it seemed probable that the greater part of the stock accumulated would not be utilized. There never had been any absolute prohibition of an acceptance of less than the cost, but as above shown it was directed that “not less than the cost should be taken uuless there is no prospect of getting so much.” It appears however to have been understood that the cost was intended to be a nfinimum price, and indeed in the case of sales left in the hands of subordinates not highly paid, it is difficult to exercise any check unless a price is fixed. On 10th May 1897 however Mr. Shuttleworth was at his request author¬ ized to accept the best prices lie could get subject to a minimum of 8 annas per 80 lbs. or Rs. 6|- per 1,000 lbs. This minimum seems to have been understood as a fixed price, and as other stocks of fodder had at the time become almost exhausted, an enormous demand for the grass set in. It had been thought ad¬ visable when the demand was slack to abandon a large quantity which had been collected in the Satpuda hills, but it was now determined to convey all the grass available into the famine districts and the most strenuous exertions were made to attain this object. But a fraction of the demand could however be supplied, and at the end of May it was thought desirable to hand over the balance of the grass to the Collectors of Ahmednagar, Sholapur and Bijapur for distribution to the most needy in the form of tagai or at the cost of the Indian Famine Charit¬ able Belief Fund, the minimum price above specified being taken as the rate for credit to Government in both cases. 63. One of the principal objects which Government had in view, that of inducing private enterprise to engage in the importa- , General results of grass p[on 0f fodder, was not attained to a material extent, operations- but it may be said with confidence that much has been done towards the promotion of this purpose in the case of future famines* It has been established in opposition to what was understood to be the result of former experience that the grass of the ghats and even of the Konkan if cut at the proper time is in the absence of Jcarbi of the greatest utility as fodder for the cattle of the Deccan plains, and there can be little doubt that On a similar occasion in future it will not remain a drug in the market till all other hope of saving cattle is abandoned and that traders will recognize that it can probably be imported with profit. ' The great advantage of cutting before the sap has dried up has been demonstrated, but as the certainty of a famine in t'he parts of this Presidency which are subject to it.is not established till at least the end of October, the time within which arraogements can be made for opportune cutting is limited. The reduction of the price no doubt helped to stimulate the demand, but the demand became so keen that prices which would yield a profit would almost certainly have been offered if free competition had then been allowed. Government recognized from the first that unaided by private enterprise they could do comparatively little for the preservation of cattle and, as has been . 43 1 i shown above, the loss has been very great, hut the provision of 11,209,121 lbs. of grass eannot but have saved a considerable number of useful animals,. and the assistance thus given to a large number of agriculturists who contribute largely to the resources of the State to carry on their occupation without intermission is well worth the sum of Rs. 72,740 which represents the loss > on the operations. The benefit would have been greater if the early rains had been favourable, the grass being used for the maintenance of the cattle just at the time when they were most needed for agriculture. But the subsequent drought did much to neutralize the advantage. The Collector of Sholapur is of opinion that even when the grass was not much in demand, the fact of its being available kept down the price of Jcarbi, and the course of prices supports this view. The rate in that district, which is usually Re. 1 per 100 bundles, ranged between Rs. 3-8-0 and Rs. 5 till the middle of February, when it fell to Rs. 3 and remained stationary till the end of April. In July and August however, when both grass and karbi wrere nearly exhausted, it was Rs. ll per 100 bundles and even sugarcane was used to keep cattle alive. In Ahmednagar also it rose quite tenfold, and in Sirur Rs. 240 were paid for 1,000 bundles in July and Rs. 160 in other eastern tdlukas of Poona, the normal pricS being Rs. 15. The subject of the supply of fodder in a period of famine is so important and the experience gained is likely to be so valuable in the future that the Governor in Council has thought it desirable to append (Appendix L) the full report of Mr. Shuttleworth, exclusive of a few paragraphs which ought not to have found a place in it, although it contains many minute details which will not be of much use and might have been much condensed with advantage. In these circumstances it is not deemed necessary to describe the transactions more fully here. E.—Famine Allowances to Public Senants. » 64. The principal item of expenditure under this head was that of grain compensation to peons and other Government servants tiasses of allowances. on }ow pay for dearness of food in accordance with the rules contained in Article 72 of the Civil Account Code. Owing to the high prices of grain and fodder the grant of increased travelling allowance up to a maximum of 11s. 15 per mensem was sanctioned for Circle Inspectors and Foresters in charge of Ranges, who are required to keep ponies or other animals for their journeys. Por the same reason an allowance of Rs. 5 each per mensem was granted to the Mounted Police in the affected districts. Such of the Hospital Assistants attached to large famine relief works as were specially recommended by the Sanitary Commissioner received the increased conveyance or horse allowance of Rs. 16 per mensem authorized in Article 1183 of the Civil Service Regulations. Additional remuneration was given under Section 52 (/) of the Code to patels and village accountants in the districts so as to bring the emoluments of the former up to a minimum of Rs. 5 and of the Tatter to a minimum of Rs. 6 per mensem. The expenditure on account of these famine allowances is shown below :— District. ShoMpur Ahmednagar Poona ... S&t&ra ... Nasik ... KMndesh Bijapur ... Belgaum <# Dharwar Kolaba ... Ratnagiri Elsewhere Expenditure, Rs. ... 25,159 ... 37,800 ... 60,151 ... 36,810 ... 35,063 52,967 ... 25,355 ... 14,218 8,163 ... 21,993 ... 33,942 ... 4,44,928 Total ... 7,96,54^ 44 \ As already explained, such of the inferior village servants in the affected districts as were required for duty in their villages received the grain dole under Section 60 or in some cases its equivalent in cash, hut the expenditure on this account has been classed as “ Gratuitous relief ”, although it would with equal propriety have been brought under this head. Growth system- of the tagai F.—Loans to Agriculturists. 6-5. The system of loans from Government to cultivator^ for the improve¬ ment of land or assistance of agricultural operations has long been in force in this Presidency, hut until 1891-92 comparatively little advantage was taken of it in spite of all the efforts made to remove supposed ditficulties hy amendment of rules and to explain the benefits. Various reasons have been assigned for the reluctance to apply for these advances, the most common being the fear of rigorous recovery in case of default of punctual voluntary payment and the delay caused hy inquiries and other formalities prescribed in the rules. The Collector of KMndesh has suggested that owing to the attempts which have been made to reclaim Bhils by the grant of such advances the cultivators of theplains have conceived a prejudice against them and regarded them as demeaning. . The real or at least the main reason for the apathy with which the system was long regarded is no doubt the conservative habit of the Indian ryots and the s1 ow ness with which they recognize the benefit of anything new. When however scarcity occurred in the Southern Maratha Country in 1891, the reluctance of the cul¬ tivators to apply for such advances was overcome, and the liberal grant of thero then went far to render relief works unnecessary. The appreciation of the benefits then became keen and gradually extended to the rest of the Presi¬ dency. It has been suggested that the operation of the Deccan Agriculturists' Relief Act has made savkars less willing to lend and thus induced applications for advances from Government, and it is therefore significant that the popularity of the system began and has grown most rapidly in a part of the province in which that Act is not in force. As soon as famine declared itself in 1896 the Government came to the conclusion that no form of relief could be more useful and economical than the grant of advances^ for the improvement of land, sub¬ ject to reasonable precautions with regard to securityand the method of expend- ing the money. Land-holders can make arrangements with labourers which Government cannot to ensure the most profitable employment of the money. Congenial means of earning a livelihood are thus provided, and so far the dis¬ location of the village organization and of household arrangements is avoided, while the relations between landlords and tenants, between masters and servants and generally between employers and those they habitually employ are maintained, The loans are largely.used for making wells, which aid in produc- ing much-needed crops at the time they are most wanted. And if the loans are given with care and discretion, the cost to Government of this form of relief is little or nothing. Acting on these views the Governor in Council directed at the beginning of November 1896 that the assignments which had previously been made for the year 1896-97 should be utilized as far as. possible in the places in which scarcity was most felt, and applied to the Government of India for a further allotment of 6 lakhs and subsequently for further sums as the demand for advances increased, His Excellency in Council desires to take this opportu- nity of acknowledging the promptitude with which these requests .were met by the Supreme Government and the co-operation thus afforded in carrying out a form of relief which is of all others the most efficient and profitable and likely to cost least to the State. No other has been more highly appreciated or evoked more gratitude. 66. In Appendix M are shown the loans of all classes made in the affected Total grants- districts *both ip. 1896-97 and 1897-98. As already * ® ’ stated, the Commissioners were desired to concentrate all the money available in these districts, but in the former year part of the assignment had been utilized before the famine declared itself. In the latter year the whole of the allotments sanctioned by the Government of India were distributed in the ^districts suffering from famine. / 45 Advanees for .laud im¬ provement • 67. The advanees actually made during tlie financial years 1896-97 and 1897-98 under tlie Land Improvement Loans Act were as follows :— > District. 1898-97. 1897-93. Total. * Rs. Rs. Rs. Sholapur .,. 2,36,400 1,34,910 > 3,711310 Ahmednagar •.. 4,78,351 1,80,375 6,58,726 Poona • •» 1,54,665 2,24,510 3,79,175 Sdtara • • • 2,54,868 1,14,110 3,68,97S Ndsik ,,, 1,28,280 25,145 1,53,425 Khandesh ... ... 1,13,341 49,330 1,62,671 Bijapur •.. 9,31,400 9,31,400 Belgaum • •« 3,91,750 16,800 4,OS,550 Dharw&r 2,92,780 2,92,780 Kol&ba ••• 50,870 4,250 » 55,120 Total ... 30,32,705 7,49,430 37,82,135 Of the total amount advanced for land improvements Us. 22,34,675 were applied for the construction and repair of wells. 68. The number of wells constructed or repaired by means of these loans and the estimated area of land irrigable from them are given below:— District. Amount of Tag&i advanees utilized for wells. lumber of wells constructed or repaired. Estimated area of land irrigable from these wells. Average amount of cost per well. Average estimated area irrigable from each well. Rs. Acres. Rs. Acres. Sholapur 3,54,119 1,878 7,512 189 4-0 Ahmednagar ... 6,41,531 3,495 9,861 184 2-8 Poona 2,80,815 1,105 5,855 254 5-3 Sat&ra 2,55,720 1,307 6,549 ' 196 5-0 Ndsik. 1,43,665 620 1,825 232 - 3-0 Khandesli 1,59,085 747 2,430 213 3-2 Bij&pur 3,26,310 1,580 6,814 207 4-3 Belgaum ... 51,430 284 803 181 3-0 Dh&rwar ... 21,400 47 191 455 4-0 Kolaba ... ... 600 2 4 300 2-0 Total ... 22,34,675 11,065 41,874 202 3-8 It will be seen that almost the whole of the allotments made to the Ahmed- nagar, Sholapur, Nasik and Kh&ndesh Districts were appropriated for wells. The utility of water was impressed on the people in a manner which will not soon be forgotten. The contrast between the luxuriant crops under irrigation and the arid barrenness of adjoining areas could not fail to strike the least observant. The devices adopted to make the fullest use of all available water were remarkable. It is stated that in Ahmednagar 1,825 wells were in use for the production of fodder crops, but it does not appear whether all of them were newly made or newly repaired. * There was similar activity shown in other districts. It will be seen that the average cost of the wells was only Rs. 202, and doubtless many of them were of a merely temporary nature, and will not be used in ordinary seasons, for most Deccan ryots are averse to the toil of irri¬ gation so long as th ey can get through the rainfall enough for their livelihood. At the same time irrigation from wells which they can carry ou£ according to their will is more congenial to them than irrigation from reservoirs which is under official control. It is probable that the value of the cro*ps produced in the past year by the aid of most of the wells which wTere successful whs greater b98—12 ~ , 46 than their cost, and the repair of such as fall into disuse will on a future occasion of drought cost much less than the construction of new wells. ‘ 69. The form of land improvement nest in importance is the construction „ , . , of embankments. These are of two- classes—one for Embankments- the retention of detritus and the formation or im¬ provement thereby of a cultivable area; the other for the sustainment of terraces on the slopes of hills. The first class of embankment is most com¬ monly made in the Southern Marfitha Country, and especially in Bijdpur. In file .northern part of that district there are huge stretches of bare upland ofi which rain water flows in shallow ravines, widening as they approach the rivulets. By the construction of dams across the foot of such ravines the silt which is washed down by the rain is collected and a considerable area of rich soil is thus obtained. The second class of embankment is of course mainly found in the hill tracts, and the considerable sums advanced in Poona and Satara are thus accounted for. 70. The remaining important form of land improvement is the eradication ,. . of weeds and grasses through deep digging. The roots Deep digging- <« nutt ” grass are found in black soil 5 or 0 feet deep, and so long as they remain crops are much injured, and without constant weeding are entirely choked up. The effect of deep digging is often the pro¬ duction of a treble or quadruple outturn and it lasts for several years. 71. As the demands for these advances were very numerous and prompt disposal of them was of essential importance, the Measures for securing powers of a Sub-divisional Officer under the rules were vamfes.^110 X° °* " conferred on Mamlatddrs, three additional officers being « employed solely on this duty in the hill tracts of Poona and Ahmednagar, and special karkuns were appointed in each taluka to assist them, while in Bijapur a Deputy Collector for a considerable period devoted himself exclusively to supervision of this work. The karkuns moved about their t&lukas and personally inquired into the case of each applicant for a loan, and watched the progress of works for which loans had been granted. The Circle Inspectors were also instructed to see during their tours that the works stipulated for were being carried out, and the Sub-divisional Officers and Relief Mamlatdars took every possible care to prevent misapplication of the advances. The instructions issued at the beginning of the season and frequently repeated were that the loans should be granted to persons who wrere likely to turn the money to good account, that as a principal'object of the liberal issue of advances at that time was the useful employment of people in need of relief, it was very necessary to see that that object was being attained and that as soon as the special establishments had some relief from the task of making inquiries regarding the security offered for the loans they should be engaged in ascertaining and reporting whether the works were being carried out. It was directed that if the money was used for purposes not contemplated in the Act and rules prompt measures should be taken for its recovery. Some of the district officers adopted means of their own devising to secure the attainment of the object prescribed. In Bijapur it was stipulated that for each Rs. 100 advanced at least 25 labouters should be employed for one month and in Belgaum that the work should be com- pleted within 6 months although the rules allow a longer period. Extent to which ad¬ vances were profitably used- 72. The following estimates of the labourers supported by advances have been given:— District. * Sholapur Satara ... Bijapur ... Belgaum Daily Average Number. ... 24,700 ... 15,299 ... 18,750 »..• 16,370 ( Period of employment. 4 months. \t one time as many as 30,687 are said to have been employed in this manner in Bijapur, and it is asserted that in Belgaum Government were thus relieved of the cost of supporting one-third of the persons in need of employment. The Collector of Rhanvar states that without these advances relief works on a 1-rge scale would have been needed. None of the estimates can pretend to i 47 accuracy, but it is beyond all doubt that very large numbers of people were in this manner provided with useful employment. It is reported that in Sholapur the labourers themselves took care to see that employment was given to them by those who got advances for the purpose. As women are not engaged for these land improvements, the disproportion between men and women on relief works is thus largely accounted for. There is an almost universal consensus of opinion that the money was generally used for the purpose for which it was granted. In some cases no doubt part of it was used for the Subsistence of the borrower and his lamily, but on condition of their workiug on the improvement this appropriation was not open to objection. It has been snggested that in some eases land revenue was paid out of advances, but this seems to be a mere surmise, and the Governor in Council cannot believe that there was any such common practice. The instruction that occupants should not be forced to borrow in order to pay the assessment was, it is understood, communicated to all village officers and must have been generally known and it is in the highest degree improbable that even ignorant occupants would charge themselves with a liability for interest which tliey knew to be unnecessary. T}ie numbers of cases of clear misappropriation reported are as follows :— District. Number. Ahmednagar ... ... ... ... 165 Bij^pur ... ... ... ... 72 Dharw4r ... ... ... ... 3 In all tlie districts except Ahmednagar tlie whole of the advances which were not properly* applied were at once recovered. The only really discordant note was sounded.from that district towards the close of the famine. A letter from the Collector No. 11161, dated 29th September 1897, and the.orders passed on it are reproducer below:— - Government Resolution No* ISOQ-Fam., dated 14th October 1897. “ Memorandum from the Commissioner, C. D., No. r.—6532, dated 30th September 1897—Submitting for information the following letter No. 11161, dated 29th idem, from the Collector of Ahmednagar :— ‘ I have the honour to forward a statement showing expenditure incurred on sinking wells in this district from 1st April 1396 to 31st May 1897. All but a small fraction was incur red since November. *2. The information has been collected by Circle Inspectors and tagai karkuns. ^he expenditure is the amount estimated by these officers with the assistance of the village officers. Work of the kind is not very* difficult to estimate, and I do not think the esti¬ mat es are likely to be very far out. * 3. You will see that about 101 lakhs of rupees have been spent by about 10,000 occupants on wells, about 60 per cent, coming out of their own poekets and the balance from Government in the shape of tagai. ‘4. Of the total number of wells little short of half and of the new wells 6 h per cent, are failures; possibly some of the latter may not turn out failures after all when more money is spent on them, but I fear the number of these will not be very large. I have not been able to see a great many new wells myself, but in several cases most un¬ favourable sites seemed to have been selected, and large expenditure incurred in blasting through rock, without so far as I could judge the least prospect of striking water. On the other hand I have come across cases where water has been struck in abundance. ‘ 5. It is unsatisfactory to note that 46 per cent, of the tag£i advanced has noj been spent, but this might perhaps have been anticipated. More than three quarters of the tagai wells have not been completed, and it was inevitable that with such large numbers of wells under construction the masonry work would not be, finished in the time available. The money unspent may probably be distributed thus— (a) Money held in reserve to complete the work after the rains. (h) Money that will never be spent on the wells at all as no water has been found. (e) Money that has been devoted to other objects as the maintenance of the occupant and his family. Probably (b) and (e) considerably exceed (a). You will observe that in 16§ cases repre¬ sent in g Rs. 22,815 of tagdi no expenditure whatever has been incurred and that in less than half the cases of incomplete wells is the occupant supposed to have sufficient means to finish the work. 6. The most gratifying feature of the return is, I think, the large amount (6 J lakhs) spent from private resources. > / 48 t v < '7. I hope shortly to-furnish more trustworthy information than has hitherto been supplied about the area expected to be irrigable by the wells where a useful supply has been struck.’' * “ Resolution.—The Collector should be informed that the money should be re- eorered as soon as possible from people who have not used it at all "for the purpose for which it was granted or who without good cause abandoned the work before ex- * pending on it the money advanced. Those who deliberately misappropriated the money are entitled to no concession, but in order to avoid the risk of causing distress th^ Collector may exercise his discretion in deferring action until tie harvest is reaped when he considers that course desirable. Generally however advances which are misappropriated should be recovered with promptitude, as it is of the utmost importance to show that no practice of misapplication will be tolerated.” It is to be observed tbat the information as to work done was given only up to 31st May, and it is probable that much was done after that date, as little rain fell in the greater part of the district before September. It is also beyond doubt that in the past year the water-level was much lower than usual, and in some of the wells in which water was not reached it may be found in ordinary 'years. Some of the cultivators who got advances are said to have supplemented them to the extent of Rs. 79,220 out of their own capital, and doubtless many of the wells will be completed hereafter either from the occupants’ own resources or with the help of further advances. But there is always a considerable element of speculation in well sinking, and the business seems to have been carried on in Ahmednagar in the past year without sufficient caution as to the sites. It will be seen that very much more money was advanced for this purpose in Ahmed¬ nagar than in any other district and nearly as much private capital was devoted to that object, and the defect was about equal in the two cases., It will probably be necessafy in future to institute some system of making inquiries as to the probability of success before large advances are made, but the matter is sur- rounded with difficulties. The people have much more confidence in their own water-finders than in official advisers, and it will not be easy to supply a suffi¬ cient expert establishment to examine without delay the sites of all wells which it is desired to construct in a year of drought. It cannot but be a matter of regret that so much money should have been lost in the unsuccessful sinking of wells as appears to have been in Ahmednagar in the past year, but apparently the people fully recognize that the responsibility rests entirely with them, and they are content to take the chance of success which yields large profit. Recovery of advances for land improvement- 73. The periods fixed for repayment of these advances, which as shown above were not generally of large amounts, are stated below :— District. Maximum period fixed for re-payment. Minimum period fixed for re-payment. Average period fixed for re-payment. Years. Years. Years, ShoKpur 10 2 6 Ahmednagar 10 4 7 Poona ... ... ... 12 2 7 Satara... 10 4 7 N&sik ... 6 4 5 Khdndesh 10 1 5 i Bijapur 10 2 6“ Be] gaum 10 2 6 Dharwar ... 10 3 * R J. U2 It is of course impossible to predict with any certainly how far recover” within thetfjeriods fixed will be possible,'and some allowance must be made fc. a second unfavourable season in the eastern parts of the Deccan. But th: security is believed to be good in all cases, and past experience indicates that the whole of these advances with interest will eventually be recovered. Even how¬ ever if it is necessary to remit a considerable proportion, it is clear that trr 49 4 5 money will* have been spent with much more profit to the community and much less loss to the State thau if it had been devoted to ordinary relief works, the utility of many of which is only remote and on which it is scarcely possible to exact a sufficient return for the wages given. 74’ The only large loan granted by Government under the Land Improve¬ ment Loans Act XIX of 1883 was one of Es. 50,000 Loan to an Ina'mda’r* t0 g;r Desai of Shirsangi, who holds in personal inatn ten villages ’in the Parasgad Taluka of Belgaum. The loan was granted for the construction of a tank for irrigatioual purposes, a work which was expected to improve the estate, at the same time providing employment for about 2,000 unskilled labourers for several montlis during tlie famine. The loan was sanctioned at the usual rate of interest—5 per cent.—without .making the prepa¬ ration of plan and estimate a condition, but the Sir Desai was advised to obtain the aid of a competent Surveyor or Overseer to prepare plans. It is feared that the scheme has not so far been very successful. 75. At the approach of the monsoon of 1897 the Collector* of the districts affected by famine were authorized to grant loans not Loans for assistance of exceeding Es. 50 in each case for the purchase of agricultural operations- see(p cattle or fodder free of interest when it seemed to them advisable to do so, and they were desired to see that agricultural opera¬ tions were not impeded through insufficiency of aid in this matter. It Will be seen from Appendix M that advantage was freely taken of these loans by the agri- culturists. The amount advanced in 1896-97 was only Es. 93,478, and it is presumed was paid before the monsoon of 1896, for the premature grant of such advances was discouraged, but in 1897-98 the advances amounted to *tbe large sum of Es. 12,57,390, making a total for both years of Rs. 13,50,868. Of this sum Eg. 4,16,323 were given for seed, Es. 5,36,971 for cattle, and the greater part of the remainder (Rs. 3,97,57-1) for fodder, much being supplied in kind out of the grass made over to the Collectors by Mr. Shuttleworth as already explained. Advances for seed were directed to be recovered as far as possible from the crop grown from the seed, and advances for the pur¬ chase of cattle and fodder should be recovered within two years. Owing to the unfortunate failure of the early rains of 1897 in the eastern Deccan much seed was lost and the supply of fodder for the preservation of cattle became more and more inadequate. Advances of this class had therefore to be made to a larger extent than would otherwise have been necessary and their comparative utility was less. As already explained, they were given to people who had security to offer, while those who had not got free grants from the Indian Charitable Relief Fund for the same purposes. It is entirely due to the assistance l’endered iu these two ways that uo material decrease of cultivation is reported from any district except Poona and Ahmednagar. 76. The figures given in the preceding paragraph are exclusive of advances ' , ... given for subsistence under Section 143 (2) of the Loans for subsistence " • - - ■ .... x ' - - of cultivators. Famine Code. A proposal having been made in De cember 1896 that distressed occupants of land gene¬ rally should be relieved in this manner the following instructions were issued :— " The intention is that an advance should be • made if necessary for the subsistence of „ , „ , „ small occupants while they are engaged in preparing their land 10518, dated 22nd December 1896. ±01 sowing, it would be carrying the provision to an extent which would be in the higliest degree inexpedient to make advances sufficient for the subsistence of these persous. for the whole period which must elapse until they can dispose of crops. If they require relief while they are not engaged on their fields they must give labour in return for it. It is now for their own advantage that they should be supported in idleness on the chance of eventually recovering the advances from them by the sale of their land*, for snch advauces could never be expected to be realized from surplus produce.” Excepting Kolabaj where a small amount of Rs. 2,772 was advanced for this purpose, the only districts in which loans of this class were ‘given were Poona, Satdra and Ahmednagar, and in these districts the distribution was confined to occupants of land in the hill tracts. The circumstauces of thcfce people as already shown are exceptional. The occupancies are very small,*the people live from hand to mouth, the agricultural operations continue, throughout the greater part of the year, and the rains are so heavy that it is not possible to keep b 98-13 50 ( 4 relief works open in the monsoon within easy reach of the great jnajority o villages. Relief under Section 143 £2) was therefore peculiarly suited to the cireumstances of the case, and it with assistance from the Charitable Fund to such as had no security to offer saved many from starvation. It was ordered that these loans should be granted free of interest or at such low rate of interest as the Collector might deem fit to charge. The total amount advauced for this purpose in the three districts was Ils. 1,63,863. 77. A special loan of Rs. 2,25,000 was granted to the Native State cf Jatb in the Southern Mardtha Country Agency, which is Loan to Jath State- under the administration of a British Officer during the minority of the Chief, for the purpose of carrying out rehef measures. Besides ordinary relief works and gratuitous relief the objects for which this money was ' utilized were stated to be— "(1). Tagai advauces, which, as a matter of fact, do not impose any real burden upon tlio State and will be secured on rayatwdr lands, the lands remaining as security. “ (2). Sinking of wells for irrigation purposes, which, with the Jath soil (while it gives work and keeps people at home), secures a certain return for the money expended, and thus seeures the future payment of revenue. " (3). A large tank project at Chikalgi which ■will also increase the area of garden lands.” The works carried out with the help of this loan served to check the influx of famine-stricken people from the Jath State to works in the neighbouring Measures management described- already British District of Belgaum. G.—Public Works. 78. *In previous parts of this report it has been necessary to describe measures connected with the mahagemotfo of public affecting works because they were introduced largely with the view of testing the intensity of distress and reducing the extent of relief to what was really required. These measures need not be dealt with again in detail, though it may be con¬ venient to refer to them in a review" of the general method of employing people in need of assistance from the State. 79. The test-works which were opened in every district to gauge the necessity of measures of relief were in almost all cases lest-works- Local Board works, though many of them were even¬ tually converted into regular relief works carried out at the cost- of the State. As far as possible the test-works, on which the strictest exaction of tasks was enjoinecl, were carried out under the supervision of offieers of the Public Works Department, hut in some districts that Department was not ready to undertake the duty wherever necessity arose and Civil agency had in such cases to be employed. In the district of Khandesli the method was adopted of starting all test-works under Civil agency and handing them over to the charge of the Public Works Department when the number of persons demanding employ¬ ment became too large for effective control hy the offieers of the Bevenue De¬ partment. The system of the Famine Relief Code was applied on all ‘fcest- works. ‘80. Small works were started for the relief of persons whom. it is not p- -i a o-anvJVu-Vc- expedient to draft to works at a distance from their ~ ° ^ homes in all districts except Nasik, Sahara find Dharwar, but it was impossible to find any efficient supervision for them, and they were soon closed except in Khandesli, Sholdpur and Bijapur. These works consisted mainly of the clearance of village tanks or wells and the .removal of pricldy pear, but amongst them were the measures for temporary improvement of the water-supply which have already been described. They were generally in the charge of village offieers. But in*a few places works to the end of December 1897 in each district are shown below: — District. Units. Expenditure. Incidence per head. ' Rs. As. 9- ShoUpur 28,267,491 30,43,057 1 9 Ahmednagftr > 19,175,506 20,36,198 1 8 Poona 5,879,671 7,23,399 2 0 S^tdra 5,368,293 5,70,865 1 8 Nasik 5,987,205 6,28,102 1 8 Kh£ndesh ... 3,233,167 3,66,139 1 10 Bijapur 22,491,817 23,93,226 1 9 Belgaum 2,865,674 3,99,900 2 3 Dh&rwar 273,322 34,915 2 0 Kolaba 13,013 2,724 3 4 Total 93,555,189 1,01,98,525 1 9 The respective numbers of men, women and children among relief workers in the last week of each month are shown in Appendix P. IT.—Special Establishment. 89. Measures were taken in accordance with Section 19 of the Famine Code to strengthen the District staff to the extent required- District staii. to carry out efficiently the village inspectioA and other duties prescribed in Chapter IV. It was not found necessary to appoint special Relief Officers in any district. Relief Mdmlatdars or Mabalkaris were appointed in the districts of Bijapur, ShoKpur, Ahmednagar and Belgaum and. Relief Circle Inspectors in all the affected districts except Khdndesh. Special Civil Officers were, as already mentioned, also appointed for all large relief works to supervise the kitchen arrangements and to perform the other duties assigned to them by the Code. The pay of the Special Civil Officers generally ranged from Rs. 40 to Rs. 100 and that of the temporary Circle Inspectors from Rs. 12 to Rs. 15, the latter also receiving travelling allowance varying fromRs. 7 to Rs. 15. The numbers of such officers and of Relief Mamlatddrs or Mahalkaris employed in each district are stated below :— District. Relief Mdmlat- d*rs. Relief Mih&l- karin, Special Civil •Officers. Circle Inspectors. Shol&pur 6 14 38 Ahmednagar ll • M 28 66 Poona ... ... * * * 12 22 Satara ... ... ... 8 16 N&sik ... • •• • • • 14 4 KMndesh. « • • 13 ... Bij&pur ... 8 1 19 112 Belgaum 1 * . . 3 2 Dh&rwar ... . • • • • • 8 Kolaba ... ... ... III 4 Twelve temporary Tillage Accountants were appointed in the Akola tdluka of the Ahmednagar district under Section 52 (e) of the Code. Establishments of clerks and peons were given to the Relief Mamlatdars and Mahdlkari and to the Special Civil Officers, and the Relief Circle Inspectors were allowed peons wherever necessary. Special establishments were also employed ih poor-houses and kitchens in accordance with Section 122 of the Code. The staff of the Public Works Department in the affected districts was as above sbpwn strength- ened by transfers from the unaffected districts of the Presidenpy and from other Provinces as well as by temporary appointments. 60 90. The following expenditure chargeable to “33 Famine Relief ” was incurred up to the end of December 1897.on account Expenditure on special 0f the establishments mentioned in the preceding paragraph:— district establishments- District. Expenditure. Public Works. Civil. Total, ( Es. Es. Rs. Sholapur... 62,077 31,466 c 93,543 Ahmednagar 46,384 47,217 93,601 Poona 19,941 8,471 28,412 S&tara ... 16,408 5,622' 22,030 N&sit 12,453 3,048 15,501 didndesh 10,047 3,378 13,425 Bijapur ... 46,188 43,718 89,906 Belgaum... 12,477 8,392 20,869 Dh£rwar... 56 178 234 Kolaba 85 92 177 Total ... 2,26,116 1,51,582 3,77,698 91. Besides the special agency described above, which was employed exclu sively in the administration of relief, the ordinary Strengthening of ordi- establishments of the different departments of the pub- m Hc service had to be strengthen* to enabie them to 1 cope with the additional work devolving on them in consequence of the famine. In the districts of Bijapur, Sholdpur and Alimed- nagar, where the distress was most severe, Personal Assistants were attached to the Collectors and District Medical Officers iv ere appointed under Sections 32 and 48 respectively of the Code. Additional Assistant or Deputy Collectors were posted wherever necessary, the ordinary sub-divisional charges being split up to ensure more effective supervision. In order to enable the Sub- divisional officers and Mamlatdars to dispose of applications for tag&i advances as speedily as possible, a large staff of temporary karkuns was employed in cach district whose duty was to make the necessary inquiries regarding each appli¬ cation and to see that the money advanced was properly utilized. In Bijapur, where a large sum was allotted for takavi advances, a District Deputy Collector was placed for a time on special duty to secure the proper distribution of it. In the early part of the monsoon of 1897, when distress was severe in the hill tillukas of Ahmednagar and Poona, two Mamlatdars in the former and one in the latter district were specially deputed to deal with applications for advances for subsistence. The office establishments of the District, Sub-divisional and Tdluka officers were strengthened and a special famine branch under the control of the Chief Secretary to Government was attached to the Revenue Department of the Secretariat. To enable the Police to perform the duties specified in Chapter XIII of the Code and to guard relief works such addition¬ al force as was necessary was enlisted in each affected district. A large staff of Assistant Surgeons and Hospital Assistants was placed under the control of the Sanitary Commissioner to carry out the duties assigned to the Medical Department under Chapter XIV of the Code. Expenditure on account of additions to ordinary establishments- 92. The expenditure incurred on account of the additional establishments mentioned in the preceding paragraph is shown in Appendix Q. 93. The conduct of the members of all.the establishments both special and permanent appears to have been remarkably good. In of establish- Bijapur alone was there such evidence adduced of dis- honesty as to justify a prosecution, and in 4 out of the 5 cases tried the accused were acquitted. Five persons however were Conduct ments* 61 1 punished departmentally. In Ahmednagar there were allegations of fraud in all branches of relief work. It was stated that mukddams and karkuns obtained money for admission to works; that cashiers made fictitious entries in their accounts, and that village officers drew money for dole bills which they misappro- . priated, took a share of the grain dole, accepted bribes for entering names in dole registers and exacted commission on tagai advanees. But it does not appear that any evidence was adduced in support of the allegations, and they must therefore be discarded. When accusations are common there is a tendency to suspect that there must be some foundation for them, but the method of giving vent to disappointment which is most common amongst the lower classes of this Presidency is to make charges of corruption. People eligible for advanees from Government might be able to pay commissions, but bribery on the part of people seeking admission to relief works or eligible for the dole could not have been extensive. In Poona there were only anonymous accusations and from the other districts none at all are reported. j.—Relief Measures undertaken hy Local Boards and Municipaliiies. Enlistment of aid of 94. The following Circular was addressed to the local bodies- Commissioners, Central and Southern Division, on the 15 th November 1896 :— “ I am desired to invite your attention to the expedieney of using for purposes of relief ag far as is practicable the agency of the District and Municipal Boards and similar local Com- mittees as refer red to in Section 31 of the Famine Code. lam to point out that the great ditficulty of providing adequate supervision for Government relief works makes it very desirable to lose no time in utilizing that agency. It is probable also that Municipalities will,be able to provide some appropriate work for persons, such as weavers, who could not be persuaded to leave the towns and ror infirm persons and others whom it is not expedient to move away from their homes. “ 2. On the condition that a large proportion of the labour should be of a simple character likely to give suitable employment to famine labourers, Government would be prepared to give the District and Municipal Boards such assistance as may appear reasonable in each case. In the case of the larger Municipalities and of the District Boards the grant of loans on favourable terms—at reduced interest or without internt in special cases—would probably be found most appropriate. Government would also be prepared to consider the expedieney of extending the principle which has been applied with great success to the improvement of the water-supply by Local Boards—that of a grant-in-aid. It is possible that by subsidies on similar terms Munici¬ palities might undertake works at once useful and appropriate for famine relief which otherwise would be beyond their existing means, and in some cases popular contributions for such works might be forthcoming. The principle might also be applied to works under Local Boards other than those for improvement of water-supply. A condition of such aid would be that the works should be carried out strictly under the rules of the Famine Code. “ 3. In the case of all such works, whether assisted by loans or by subsidies, the Boards and Municipalities would have to make their own arrangements for supervision, as indeed one of the great advan^ages of the scheme will be to relieve the strain on the establishment which is available in the Public Works Department. But Executive Engineers will give advice and personal assistance and all project s must be subject to the approval of the Commissioners and Superintending Engineers. “ 4. I am to request that you will arrange to have the District and Municipal Boards m the affected districts eonsultedin this matter with the least possible delay, and submit*with your remarks any definite proposals any of them may make. ” Loans for the purpose of relief- 95. The response to this offer was not so great as was antieipated, but few Municipalities are in a position to undertake works of considerable magnitude, and in the only case in which application was made for a loan for a large work—that of the Jalgaon Municipality—it was considered that it would be better to carry out the project if needed for relief by State agency and hereafter charge the Munici- •Kapurvadi Tank, Patbri PalltY the cos t. Three* other large works will if Tank and Wasali Tank. completed supply municipal population with water, and in that case part at least of the expenditure will be recoverable from the local bodies. With the exception of a small loan to the Bijdpur Municipality partly to cover famine and partly to cover* plague expendi¬ ture the only loans given for the purpose above described were.thosel'or the relief b 98—16 62 ( of weavers which have already been dealt with. Some other application were made, but tbey were refused because the expenditure contemplated was not for the purpose of relief or was not needed for that purpose. Other relief MunicipalitieS' 96. The Pandharpur Municipality in the Sholapur District maiptained a poor-house throughout the famine—at its own expense given by -till the end of July 1897 and after that date with the aid of a grant from Government equal to half the expenditure. 'The Bijdpur Municipality also opened a poor-house early in De¬ cember 1896 and maintained it till July 1897 besides affording relief in other ways, e.g., by opening a small relief work and distributing doles to destitute persons for a considerable period. The Municipalities o£ Bdgalkot and Guledgud in the Bijtpur District carried out small relief works within the limits of their jurisdiction and also gave gratuitous relief to poor people. The Ilkal Munici¬ pality in the same district incurred some expenditure on doles to the needy. 97. The following statement shows the amounts of expenditure reported to have been incurred on famine relief by Munici¬ palities in the several affected districts :— Municipal for relief expenditure District. On test or relief works. On poor- houses. On gratuitous relief. On special relief to weavers. Total, Remarks. Sholapur Nasik ... Bi] i pur Belgaum Dharwar E-S. 9,643 1,535 4,1?2 Rs. 2,105 1,156 Rs. 824 2,953 1,096 Rs. *5,703 *18,667 *14,628 Es. 8,632 18,667 13,752 17,259 4,172 * Against this expenditure th~re is a set-off of the following:— Recoveries made by Value of stock sale of cloth, in hand. Rs. ' Rs. 3,299 2,513 11,097 7,6G9 5,250 8,942 ( + Rs. 531 ad¬ vance s made to weavers to be recovered). Total 15,350 3,261 4,873 38,998 62,482 98. None of the Local Boards applied for loans under the offer above described, but the Dharwdr Board took up the balance Expenditure by Local a joan which had been sanctioned for a scheme of Hoar s or re le • roads and devoted the money to work in the affected area. The expenditure on test or relief works including those for the improve¬ ment of water-supply incurred by the Boards of the several distressed districts was as shown below :— ,Rs. Sholapur « • • ... 13,308 . - Ahmednagar • * • 19,936 Poona ... % • ♦ ... 14,643 Nasik ... 19,105 Khandesh ... 25,556 C Bij&pur ... ... 11,63a 5,384 Belgaum • • • DMrwar ... 239,207 Kol&ba... • • « 3,152 Ratn&giri < ... ... 2,964 ‘ Total ... 354,890 « i . •« ^ . The question of charging the Boards with part of the expenditure which has been debited to Government is under consideration. • • t 1 J.—Relief Measur is in Native States. 99. The Native States which were affected were those of the Southern Marat ha Country and Akalkot, Aundh, Plialtan, Bhor Affected area and expen- anq surgana> The extent of relief given in these ture' States is shown in Appendix R. The following state- . 63 ment gives the total as well as affected area and population, the units reliev ed and expenditure ineurred, so far as information is available :— tftate. Total area. Affected area. Total population. Affected population. Units relieved. Expendi¬ ture. > Southern Maratha Country Sq. m. Sq. m. • •• 11,688,509 > Rss » States. Akalkot ... 1 * • 9 • ... 203,112 ••• Bhor ... 1,491 1,491 155,669 155,669 217,469 61,857 Aundh 492 335 65,146 31,730 166,684 15.314 Phaltan ... 397 39 63,552 4,794 ,30,968 7,597 Surgana ... ... ... ... ... 32,102 3,512 IX.—Final Femarks. 100. Appendix S shows the expenditure on famine relief ineurred by Gov- „ . ernment up to the end of January 1898 under the enera resu s- different heads of account as reported by the^Account- ant General, the expenditure by Local Boards and Municipalities and’from the Indian Famine Charitable Relief Fund and the amounts of advances under the Land Improvement and Agriculturists’ Loans Acts. It will be seen that the total expenditure on relief charged to Government amounts to Rs. 1,28,30,709. The cost of the former famine up to end of December 1877 was Its. 1,14,00,000. But the population affected in the past year was materially larger, and the cost per. head of that population was only Rs. 1*7 as compared with Rs. 2*3 in 1876-77, while the period of intense distress waj longer. In view of these facts it may fairly be claimed that the administration of the relief of the famine to which this report relates has been conducted * ith economy. The effects in the saving of life and the mitigation of suffering, in the preservation of cattle and in the supply of means to cultivators to resume their occupation have already been sufficiently described. It may be asserted without hesitation that no previous failure, of crops of equal magnitude has left so little mark on the agricultural community. There is much testimony that the mass of the people have highly appreciated the efforts made for their benefit, which have begotten a strong teeling of gratitude and confidence in Government. The Collector of Sholapur is of opinion that there has been on the other hand in that distinct some loss of self-reliance and self-respsct, and possibly such a result could not be altogether avoicled, but gratuitous relief was kept as completely as was possible within legitimate bounds and those on works who did not give an honest return for their wages had not much self-respect to lose. Never before has so much been done as on this occasion by the aid of advances to enable people to pass through the period of distress without any feeling of being dependent on eliarity, and the fullest advantage has been taken of this form of assistance, which confers the highest benefit on the community with little or no loss to the State. One of the principal reasons for the success which has been attained was that the method of procedure had been settled beforehand and formuiated in the Famine Relief Code, in consequence of which there was no delay in offering relief as soon as it was anywhere needed and the people with isolated exceptions never lost strength. It has been found impracticable to carry out a few of the original provisions of the Code and they have already been altered, and experience lias shown the expediency of some other amendments, which in accordance with the desire of the Government of India will be separately proposed. The general procedure however prescribed in the Code has been strictly follotved, and has been found suitable, and the Governor in Council considered *that it would be most undesirable while the operations wore proceeding t9 run the risk of 64 ( dislocating them by any radical changes. But the main cause of so satisfac¬ tory results has been the single-minded zeal with which officers of all depart- ments and of all grades—in some cases in addition to their proper work—have devoted themselves to the duty of making relief effective and co-operated with each other, while assistance, which has been separately acknowledged, rendered by# various non-official gentlemen has materially contributed to success. • I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient servant, J. MONTEATH, Chief Secretary to Government. APPENDIX A- I 31 AP SHOWING THE AREAS AFFECTED BY FAMINE IN 1896-97. - 72 ^nacar 7 4“ Sami L DAR DONCARPUR 7 5 5ANSWARA DHRANvSADRA C ianer y? 23 7 3ABUA '• QHaloL n / i \ ^ Pahta\a hdla s'! ■ <77.. >x 7 a - — VT ''U ftfcahb “* THffc V_i 7 L Jafarabad Diu <5^ !&5J Chcnrhm TarriptL- FcUffM Mairixnl i'f AMJHERA DHAR I 7l> Agrvi ^.yTa'Najfpw' /o^ Agnshc Bassein Gorcgaq Wasdwaf, Bttndori. Mdkun/ BOMBAY < Ur, ALIBAC MORUD JAN JI RA 18 • REFERENCE Pea severe ty affected shown in drey 6/acA L I 'T'T partialty affectedshown in hyhtb/ack L i *a unaffected t eft b/ank Pari of the • A fL BOMBAY PRESIDENCY iVY- — C 10 5 0 10 20 Scale, 40 Miles to Jlrudit O0 40 50 60 70 ' 80 90 100 IIP I2ST l50 140 ■ 150 zk /k • » Office, Poona. , 1838. 7 2* 7 3- 7 21 tdyn/iv Jatgadt Vua/uhira Poogm-h GOA Mbnruu/lto KARWAR* Hjrekoruv / ® B E ’T i ' ( Hi ) APPENDIX B. Statement showing the Rainfall of the seasons of 1896 and 1876. 1 District. April. May. June. July. August. September. Oc.tober. November- Decembe i:. > ^ ‘ Sholdpuf. * . f » » fl896 ... 0-05 1-16 3*19 , 4*38 2*33 0*09 0*44 6*76 Sholapur «{ 1876 ... 0-24 2*05 2*36 3*60 0*54 0*26 «»• (^Average. 0-61 0*86 . 5*24 3*80 6*69 ’ S*32 4*83 1*27 0*87 ri806T ... 0-82 6*12 680 2*65 0*10 1*40 1*08 0*06 Barsi f 1876 ... 6*02 1*98 0*97 1*94 0*10 ... ... ■ L Average. 0A6 111 5*75 4*90 5*80 9*69 4*87 1*54 1 27 f 1896 ... 0-78 1-47 6*22 2*06 1*40 0*62 0"06 0*65 0*02 'Sangola .<{ 1876 ... 0*11 1*07 107 008 ... • * . m ^ Average. 0-29 0*93 3*23 1*48 4*08 6*95 .409 1*32 0*51. * fl896 ... 1-78 4*79 3*64 0*90 ... 0*38 1*77 0*1S Jl^lsiras A 1876 ... ... 0*34 0*29 2 94 ... 0*74 »»• ^Average. 0*37 0-75 3*24 1*69 3*31 6*68 . • 4*83 1:51 6*68 Almeclnagar. > T1896 . . 0-43 0*74 8*82 5*76 1*06 0*45 0*1S 1*30 0;74 Ahmednasrar A 1876 ... » « #|f 3*24 2*30 1*28 1*82 0*09 0*26 ... (_Average. 6*22 " 0*79 4-47 2*50 . 3*99 .7*25 4*82 1*33 1*35 fl895 ... Oil 0*92 ' 14*17 6*95 2*63 0*30 0*59 1 20 0*22 Perrier ,^ 1876 ... « • • • • • 5*18 1*88 1*05 0*17 ... 0*1S • mm ^Average. 01 0*85 5*02- ( 3*16 3*27 7*02 • 4*72 1*49 o*so T1896 ... 0-73 0-58 5*35 3*75 1*52 0*89 » « » 4*30 Oil Ivariat .<{ 1876 ... • • • • « • 6*15* • • • 0*55 lil . . • ... (^Average. 014 o-si 4*14 2*35 4*27 ’ 7 06 * 3*91 0*67 1*43 /1896 ... IM 0-37 6*52 . *4*58 1*86 1*48 0*05 4 2*09 0*30 J&mkhed A 1876 ... Ml 0-15 2*89 1*67 3*22 0*84 0*04' »** »*» (. Average. 0*33 1-02 .5*74 4-15 6*09 8*40 3*92 & 0*94 1*01 4 (1896 "... 1-06 0-27 11*91 11*45 4*32 0*18 1*07 0*05 rr» Akola i 1876 ... • • • « • • 2*48' 5*07 1*42 • 0*01 * • • • . » ... ( Average. 014 0-44 3*51 6*59 3*34 6*11 3*71 0*58 0*35 Poona* f 1896 ... 2*57 4-66 6*86 16*78 „ 9*19 0*42 0*15 0*78 Poona (Have* V 1876 ... * ♦» 0*10 5*02 5*79 2*79 0*6S 0*52 *•• • ll li). ^Average. 0*79 1*61 5*52 9*21 2*90 7*01 6*95 1*86 0*57 fl896 ... 0-06 0*46 9*89 24*29 15*99 0*50 1*29 J 0*21 Vadgaon (M& A 1876 ... * * * 0*09 6*13 45*12 22*00 3*45 ».» * val). (^Average. 0*08 0*63 8*70 23*77 9*56 8*21 5*09 1*15' _ 0*44 (1896 ... 1-01 067 6*89 18*67 8-70 4.0*12: 1*16 0*54' 0*04 Junnar } 1S76 ... • * • 2*58 7*33 6*98 0*20 • . • ,».M t Average. 0-17 0-64 4*64 10*19 4*62 7*14 4*62 1*47 0*60 (1896 . J 1*57 10*79 5*60 > .1*84 0*47.' 1*55 0*08 Ghodnadi.(Si- X 1876 ... ... • •• 7*28 3*16 0*50 .... > rar). - 1 Average.. 0*09 1-17 -3*84 2*51 2*22 7*63 ; 4*94 1*17 0*69 ♦ f1896 ... 0-64 0*02 5*71 1*79 1*82 1*32 i 001 3*08 027 ind^pur ... 4 1876 ... ... > 3*17 0*60 0*23 0*44 i P*06 0*13 * » • \ Average. 0-40 0*81 4*49 2*26 3*55 7*76 4*81 > 1*06 1*05 ( iv ) . APPENDIX B—continued. Distr April. May. June. July. August. September. October. November. December, • Satdra. • t • (1896 ... 0-66 .1-30 12-96 20-57 14-21 0-48 0-28 0 39 Satdra. -j 1S76 ... *«* • • ♦ 4-72 24-39 4-16 0-32 • « « 0-30 , «• * ( Average.. • 0-62 2-23 7-21 . 16-66 6-01 5-06 4-9S 1-39 0-6S (1896 ... 2‘ 70 4-3S 7-15 1313 7-72 • 0-56 0-90 Koregaon < 187G ... o-o-i • » * 5-22 12-54 1-66 • 0-61 **• • • • • •• ( Average.. 103 1-29 4-56 8-14 2-91 5-18 4-92 112 0-61 > ri896 ... 0-79 2-44 18-48 39-86 26'09 0-75 0-79 053 006 Pdtan . < 1876 ... ... 4-80 37-3S 6-10 0-54 * • • 0-20- ... V Average.. 0-44 1-40 12-82 34-23 12-46 6-08 5-83 1-64 0-49 Dahivddi (M&n). ("1896 ... 114 2-89 5-37 4-47 2-95 1-66 . 0-26 3-14 014 4 1876 ... 0-30 6-00 2-07 0-29 0-70 . « • 0-39 t Average.. 0-54 1-12 3-41 1-9S 2-12 5-67 5-51 1-44 0-69 ( 1896 ... 1-02 5-47 3-44 5-24 4-21 0-50 0-50 1-94 1-76 Tdsgfaon < 187G ... 1-30 1-94 2-81 3-44 » •* 0-30 o-io ... • • . i Average.. 1-09 1-39 4-83 5-67 314 5-54 5-41 1-87 ( 0-36 C Khan desk. m C t C ( 1896 ... • ft 6-29 16-56 2-18 1-16 1-33 Dhulia 1 1876 ... ... 5-59 3-64 2-80 0*70 ... ... ... ( Average.. 0-12 0-24. 6-64 6-68 3-88 * 6"00 2-42 0-79 0-55 - (1898 ... 4-85 12-47 1-91 0-12 003 0-60 Sindkheda ... • • • ... • •• 3-62 2-43 0-70 . • * ... ... • (. Average.. 0-06 0-05 5*36 V4G 3-37 4-35 1-10 0-45 0-21 * ( 1896 ... • •• 0-30 7-89 26‘06 3-62 0-35 ♦ ft ft « » * Oil Cli£lisgaon ... •] 1876 ... ««• ... 4-51 331 4-54 0-85 • ft ft t € ^ ^ ... (. Average.. ... 0-44 7-64 7-37 7-60 9-17 2-35 1-04 1-06 ( 1896 ... 3-71 10-58 4-76 • k. ... 031 0-62 Bhusaval ... < 1876 ... ft ft ft ... 2-12 4-23 1-56 ... ... 0-97 ( Average.. o-i4> 0-30 ' 6-10 11-67 6-32 7-43 2-76 039 # Nasik. ( 1S96 ... 0-45 12-17 17:69 3-93 1-23 0-51 0-25 Nasik < 1876 .. !•« ... • 1-54 9-52 5-65 0-80 ... « 0-20 ft ft ft I Average . 0'06 0-69 5-93 8-62 4-47 7-51 511 0-62 0-34 1 1896 ... ft • ft 0-38 30-05 79-35 46-40 4-99 1-11 0-85 ... Igatpuri i 1876 ... (_ Average . ft ft ft 0-70 11-65 20-69 57-55 60-46 34-70 34-23 10-67 18-85 * 5*17 o'-6i 0-25 (1896 ... ft ft ft r.. 7-61 11-80 3-78 0-37 1-41 0-09 0-09 Sinnar . J1876 .. » » • • • • ... 4-05 -3-02 1-03 , , , 0-40 ... (Average. 0-27 0-79 4-14 6-55 4-64 S-96 4-24 0-76 0-51 (1896 ... 0-19 6-?2 14-61 1-58 0-32 0-10 0-10 0-02 MAlegaon ,jlS76 ... • . . ... 8-22 . 2-51 399 * 1-01 ... • • * (Average. 012 0-30 4-SS 4-53 - 4-18 6-98 2-96 0-59 0-46 (1896 ... • •• 18-69 68-05 29-35 3-56 0-08 0-42 0-03 Peint • I 1876 .v ♦ . . ... ... 41-21 '23-60 ■ 7-60 *•« .. . • •• (Average. C 0-47 12-80 38-52 23-30 15-24 3-79 117 - 0-22 ( y ) APPENDIX B—concluded. District, April. May, June, Ju!y. S August, September. October. November. December. Bijdpuv. ' (1896 ... 057 1-89 2-03 1-95 1*40 113 Oil 1-60 i 0-34 Bij&pur > < 1876 ... 1-0? 2-13 059 0-25 074 ... ••'t • • * • (Average . 0-98 1-44 3-43 2-06 . 3-46 6-52 5-59 2-34 0-55 (1896 ... 0-19 0-82 0-72 2-16 2-28 1-60 ’ 1-96 0-37 Sindgi 51876 ... , . , • • ^ . * « • • • • • * 1-52 OlO ... (Average. 0-96 1-15 5-88 3-40 6-16 6-16 4-53 1-8S 0-63 (1896 ... 0-52 092 3-35 2-27 1-39 2-29 003 1-82 0-48 Muddebihal... < 1876 ... . • » • • • ♦ » * . ,, ... 0-10 • • , • « • • • ft [ Average. 0-78 ‘1-30 3-89 ' 2-39 4-17 6-42 6-36 1-59 0-39 (1896 ... 0*41 068 1-24 1-35 1-56 1-48 O’-IO 2-32 Bigalkot -! 1876 ... ... • M • • • 1-95 0-32 • • • • •• (^Average . 1-04 2-03 3*43 2-39 3-41 6-13 5-37 1-07 075 (1896 ... 0-34 1-96 092 1*98 1-93 091 013 1-25 HuDgund < 1876 ... 023 2-60 1-87 1*16 1-86 010 ... (Average. 0-73 1-92 2-44 2-02 3-40 5-41 4-80 1*7 7 0-44 Bel^aum. . (1896 ... 2-4y’ 2-13 16-24 21-97 15-18 1-33 1-73. ’ 1-02 1-57 Belgaum ^ 1876 ... • • • ... . * • ... • • ft • • • • • ... • • • (. Average . ... 2-58 7*70 17-02 7-62 5-39 7-26 1-34 ... (1896 ... 0-19 4-74 1-70 2-08 2-39 093 1-87 0-70 Athni J. 1876 ... • • • 1*09 2-65 1-36 0-43 0-12 083 0-06 (.Average . 1-86 3-12 2-21 2-68 5-34 5-84 1-24 ... Y1896 ... 1*83 1-21 3-32 2-59 4-40 0-06 056 0-45 0*38 (xokak ... 4 1876 ... ( Average. ... 0-56 2-18 2-57 0-47 0-57 005 ... 2*09 3*44 2-94 2-58 4-53 6*’70 1-42 ... Vhdrwaf. (1896 ... 1-78 .2-66 9-59 11-59 6-13 2-73 3-24 1-22 0*49 Dhafrwdr ... 4 1876 ... * • • 2-06 8-92 1-48 1-84 1-62 0-29 ... (. Average. ... 2*73 • 3-86 7-83 3-90 4-94 5-8S 158 ... (1896 .. 0-08 1-53 1-42 3-11 0-83 1-41 040 376 015 Gadag < 1876 ... • • • 051 3-68 1-44 0-66 1-09 021 • • • • • • (Average. ... 2*90 2*57 2-65 3-63 5-72 4-89 1-44 • * » (1896 ... 2*33 2-33 1*56 0*47 0-50 1-86 0-51 Mundargi ... j 1876 ... »• * 016 0-29 0-8S 0-21 0-53 006 • •• • * »* ( Average. • »« 2-34 2-26 1-40 2-57 4-42 3-89 1-62 ... ( 1896 ... 1-65 5-74 3-46 2-62 2-61 1-59 0-16 2-60 042 Nargund •J 1876 ... . • • 020 2*50 1-58 0-77 2-41 ... 0-10 » . • { Average . 1 2-68 2-24 1-85 8-62 5-34 7-19 1-0S ... S OS - 2ap Kol&ba, Dharwdr. Belgaiim. Bijapur. ShoUpur. Ahmednagar. Sdtara. Poona. Nasik. Kh&ndrsh. ( vi ) APPEN t Statement showing number of per so m receiving relief in each rf the 1896-970 District and kind of relief* ( < Novem¬ ber 1896. December. January 1897. Febmary. March. April, May. June. duly. August, f Septem¬ ber. October. November Decem¬ ber. Daily average during entire period r Relief workers ’ 443 878 11,200 22,437 25,782 26,814 17,886 12,591 10,468 4,714 1,285 452 11,246 Dependants ... 367 4,558 9,501 S,62; 9,746 5,400 3,875 3,173 1,735 586 232 3,983 Gratuitously relieved ... ... ... 486 567 218 112 Total daily average-- 443 1,245 15,758 31,93^ 34,40b 36,560 23,286 16,466 13,712 6,935 2,438 902 ... 15,341 < Total un its 9,303 34,S60 551,530 894,264 963,424 1,279,600 652,008 461,048 479,920 194,180 68,264 31,570 ... r Relief workers 2,951 V 8,106 16,547 19,750 22,907 21,679 19,205 13,500 10,493 4,256 3,051 865 11,942 Dependants 1,133 3,608 8,925 10,20: 12,720 8,9H 7,128 5,83 4,250 1,575 1,243 331 5,496 Gratuitous!}' relieved i 13 107 145 165 434 88? 1,585 1,692 1,182 484 ... 558 Total daily average... 4,087 11,714 25,485 30,06* 35,772 30,838 26,767 20,223 16,328 7,523 5,476 1,680 17,996 V Total units 85,827 327,992 891,976 841,848 1,001,61* 1,079,330 749,476 566,244 571,4S0 210,64* 153,328 58,800 ... r Relief workers 5,741 8,037 14,669 15.76? 13,583 16,857 22,223 19,324 8,548 13,037- 14,835 11,444 5,958 5,243 12,518 Dependants 3,010 3.7S9 7,384 6,135 2,981 2,629 3,345 3,111 1,977 3,114 3,247 2,485 1,754 534 3,249 Gratuitously relieved 850 1,035 2,356 2,754 4,951 5,743 6,566 9,08? 11,432 13,852 23,993 23,998 5,414 2,517 8,184 Total daily average - 9,611 12,861 24,409 24,650 21,515 25,229 32,13 ( 31,52* 21,957 30,003 42,075 37,927 13,126 8,294 23,951 i Total units 201,831 360,108 854,315 690.200 602,420 8S3,015 899,752 882,56( 768,495 840,084 1,178,100 1,327,445 367,528 290,290 r Relief workers 666 6,740 17,479 22,698 26,896 27,311 11,183 7,57? 10,214 7,450 11,528 6,237 ( 1,951 12,148 Dependant* 177< 1,270 3,837 4,577 3,501 4,019 1,944 1,498 1,537 632 1,260 949 352 1,966 ; Gratuitously relieved 23 4 13 18 31 171 38< 1,405 3,365 5.378 3,459 137 ... 1,107 Total daily average... 866 8,010 21,320 27,28* 30,41b 31,361 13,293 9,45/ 13,156 11,447 18,166 10,645 2,440 ... 15,221 v Total units 18,186 224,2S0 746,200 764,008 851,704 1,097,635 372,344 264,794 460,460 320,516 508,64y 372,575 68,320 r Relief workers 2,685 10,548 28,041 52,847 60,651 62,736 48,870 38,11( 56,069 51,326 67,249 32,887 ... 42,669 Dependants : ... 3,761 13,5 SI 27,618 31,976 24,243 11,228 12,02? 16,771 14,936 19,49-3 9,467 ... 15,425 Gratuitously relieved 20 1,026 2,257 4,686 5,S44 7,264 12,538 17,401 23,081 15,510 7,470 Total daily average - 2,685 14,303 41,642 81,491 94,884 91,665 65,942 57,405 85,378 83,663 109,829 57,869 » 65,564 L Total units 56,385 400,652 1,457,470 2,281,748 2,656,75a 3,208,275 1,846,376 1,607,452 2,988,230 2,342,564 3,075,212 2,02o,415 ... ... r Relief workeis 8,447 34,029 43,506 63,114 76,870 69,460 87,750 80,524 72,591 79,445 81,00: 40,655 12,497 8,556 55,603 Dependants 1,893 10,696 20,6S5 32,217 36,577 35,438 27,179 23,632 22,741 25,420 25,317 12.C0S 2,733 505 19,793 Gratuitously relieved 1,170 1,170 2,827 5,967 6,26C 7,651 8,565 S,271 10,085 12,428 15,621 11,747 3,943 2,045 6,982 Total d*ily average — 11,508 45,895 67,018 101,298 119,707 132,549 123,494 112,43: 105,417 117,293 121,913 64,470 19,173 11,106 82*378 Total units 241,668 1,285,060 2,345,630 2,836,344 3,351,796 4,639,215 3,457,832 3,148,096 3,6S9,595 3,284,204 3,414,404 2,256,450 536,844 388,710 r Relief workers 9,536 25,382 50,825 58,449 56,851 52,391 48,363 50,92t 78,090 104,301 103,4S3 19,786 1,286 797 47,177 Dependants . 1,524 6,8 69 16,705 a,407 19,003 15.9C7 10,440 6,877 11,220 15,266 13,885 2,967 110 164 10,167 Gratuitously relieved 3 224 3,708 6,594 8,556 9,458 10,396 11,70C 13,87S 14,426 16,829 13,370 49 ... 7,799 | Total daily a verage... 11,063 32,475 71,238 86,45* 84,410 77,756 69,199 69,50? 103,188 133,993 134,197 36,123 1,445 961 65,143 I c Total units 232,323 909,300 2,493,330 2,420,600 2,363,480 2,731,460 1,937,572 1,946,14* 3,611,580 3,751,804 3,757,516 1,264,305 40,400 33,635 r Relief workers 743 1,186 2,074 2,555 4,111 7,647 10>S15 6,92? 11,348 15,055 16,845 5,746 927 833 6,186 Dependants ... ... ... 280 636 815 1,141 2,169 3,044 -1,84b 1,719 2,189 2,189 686 54 1,198 Gratuitously relieved ... 19 190 4U 559 559 596 67, 766 851 1,049 779 185 474 i Total daily average... 743 1,485 2,900 3,7S? 5,811 10,375 14,255 9,447 13,833 18,095 20, OS 3 7,211 1,166 833 7,858 Total units 15,603 41,580 101,500 105,980 162,708 363,125 399,140 264,51* 484,155 506,660 562,324 252,385 32,648 29,155 ... r Relief workers 777 977 876 182 342 476 381 1,160 2,508 t3,403 9*50 55 930 Dependants ••• ... ... ... ... Gratuitously relieved ... I 633 893 913 92: 972 1,041 1,041 1,025 247 ... 592 Total daily average.. 777 977 876 % sir 1,235 1,389 1,312 2,132 3,549 4,444 1,935 302 1,522 Total units 16,317 27,356 30,630 140 22,821 43,225 38,892 36,736 74,620 '99,372 124,432 69,475 8,456 r Relief workers ... ... ... ... .133 71 ... 57 163 ... 106 Dependants ... ... ... • •** ... i ... Gratuitously relieved ... ... ... ... * ... 5 1,976 495 Total da ily average... 133 71 62 2,139 601 Total units ... 3,724 1,988 1,736 74,805 r Relief workers 31,992 76 95,883 74 185,217 c M 257,613 67 287,834 67 305,237 70 206,704 7-2 229,937 70 258,981 69 2S2.092 63 302,741 66 119,195 22,674 60 15,429 73 190,109 Dependants ... 7,735 Id 30,640 £4 76,311 2S 112,475 2i) 116,527 27 103,145 23 69,708 10 5S,704 IS 63,388 17 64,867 16 67,223 U 29,185 13 5,003 13 1,203 6 57,580 Gratuitously relieved 2,056 5 2,448 2 9^118 3 16,881 4 23,379 6 29,186 7 33,485 9 39,201 12 52,732 lk 65,542 16 . 88,749 19 72,571 33 9,975 27 4,562 21 32,134 Total daily average... 41,783 128,971 270,646 386,969 427,740 437,563 369,897 327,842 375,101 412,501 458,713 220,951 37,652 21,194 279,823 Total units 877,443 3,611,188 9,472,610 10,S35,132 11,976,720 15,314,SSD 10,357,116 9,179,576 13,128,535 11,550,028 12,843,964 C 7,733,285 1,054,256 741,790 ( vii ) DIX C. (iffected districls during 18)6-97 and 1876-77. 1876-77. District and kind of relief. November 1876. December. Janunry 1877. February. March. April.' May. June. duly. August. Septem¬ ber. • October. Daily average during entire period. D ( Relief workers 3,267 4,714 2,928 4,023 3,029 3,399 2,609 2,386 2,502 8,622 ■w 8,298 3,961 • 4,145 j Dependants ... ... 808 927 961 708 450 634: 1,885 '2,638 1,191 849 Khandesh, { Gratuitously relieved ... ... 106 163 50 4 165- 519 384 116 Total daily average 3,267 4,714 2,928 4,831 4,062 4,513 3,367 2,840 3,136 10,672 11,455 5,536 5,110 i I Total units 98,010 ' 146,134 90,768 135,268 125,922 135,390 104,377 85,200 97,216 330,832 343,650 171,616 r Relief workers ... 7,382 14,275 18,000 15,078 13,586 17,872 10,224 5,517 4,008 4,537 5,486 1,093' 9,755 j Dependants 5,169 4,428 6,812 4,529 2,996 2,075 2,016 2,859 1,070 2,663 Nasik Gratuitously relieved ... ... 18 22 4 4 38 104 58 200 193 167 67 Total daily average 7,382 14,275 18,018 20,269 18,016 24,688 14,791 8,617 6, lil ' 6,753 8,538 2,330 12,485 Total units 221,460 442,525 558,558 567,532 558,496 740,640 458,521 258,510 190,371 209,343 # 256,140 72,230 r Relief workers 20,654 40,250 53,333 41,786 33,223 36,328 44,789 39,969 30,313 26,517 24,406 15,583 33,932 I Dependants ... 17,105 12,115 13,664 17,501 15,170 11,196 9,608 8,983 5,696 9,253 Poona Gratuitously relieved ... ... 1,694 1,766 2,290 4,301 7,501 12,729 12,420 21,650 24,474 8,209 8,086 j Total daily average 20,654 40,250 55,027 60,657 47,628 54,293 69,791 67,868 53,959 57,775 57,863 29,488 51,*271 { Total units 619,620 1,247,750 1,705,837 1,698,396 1,476,468 1,628,790 2,163,521 2,036,040 1,67*2,729 1,791,025 1,735,890 914,128 ... r Relief workers 4,371 16,074 18,928 23,906 26,778 32,636 44,295 48,531 29,428 20,041 17,095 9,831 24,327 j Dependants 6,210 7,483 11,444 16,127 15,216 10,083 5/466 2,554 1,172 6,313 S&tara „»*{ Gratuitously relieved ... 24 197 645 1,833 3,768 3,051 5,345 10,342 7,113 2,693 Total daily average 4,371 16,074 18,928 30,140 34,458 44,725' 62,255 67,515 42,572 ■30,852 29,991 18,116 33,333 1 i, Total units 131,130 493,294 586,768 843,920 1,068,198 1,341,750 1,929,905 2,025,450 1,319,732 956,412 899,730 , 561,596 ( Relief workers 29,555 36,285 26,555 13,661 17,752 25,788 29,341 31,762 28,647 28,443 27,839 2,119 24,816 1 Dependants ... ... 3,013 3,422 9,709 11,381 13,639 13,684 12,475 11,364 7,746 7,203 i A h m e d«^ Gratuitously relieved ... ... 944 : 8S9 1,118 1,711 3,512 5,539 3,218 2,967 3,429 4,546 2,323 uagar. < Total daily average 29,555 36,285 27,499 - 17,563' 22,292 37,208 44,234 50,940 45,549 43,885 42,682 14,411 ' 34,342 I I Total units 886,650 1,124,835 852,409 491,764 691,052 1,116,240 1,371,254 1,528,200 1,412,019 1,360,435 1,280,460 446,741 ... • r Relief workers ... 47,821 86,539 94,599 50,231 46,775 48,925 61,348 52,172 29,927 P*\560 13,797 10,101 46,556 J Dependants 6,379 11,556 14,563 19,513 19,578 9,182 4,43$ 4,221 3,525 7,750 Sholapur. •i Gratuitously relieved ... 1,018 1,429 813 2,194 6,501 16,06S 10,436 9,226 17,590 14,347 6,635 j Total daily average 47,821 86,539 95,617 58,039 59,144 65,682 87,362 87,818 49,545 30,271 35,603 27,973 60,951 t Total units 1,434,630 2,682,709 2,964,127 1,625,092 1,833,464 1,970,460 2,708,2*22 2,634,540 1,535,895 938,401 1,068,240 867,163 ... r Relief workers 3,420 16,608 45,113 36,738 28,615 43,355 72,401 78,976 84,731 119,747 52,519 10,1*23 49,362 | Dependants 2,0X1 2,789 6,879 17,745 22,147 22,296 32,105 13,571 2,453 30,167 . Bijapur ... <{ Gratuitously relieved ... ... 188 *201 392 1,030 2,994 10,699 13,656 13, *202 18,772 14,949 0,340 i Total daily average ?,420 16,608 45,301 3S,950 31,796 51,261 93,140 ll 1 ,S22 120,6'3 165,054 84,862 27,525 65,St'9 1 L Total units 102,600 514,848 1,404,331 1,090,600 985,676 1,537,920 2,887,340 3,354,660 3,741,173 5,116,674 2,545,8C0 853,275 ( Relief workers 9,573 19,220 27,016 17,742 23,772 31,285 43,196 28,456 2*2,581 25,123 21,319 9,692 23,248 J Dependants 1,027 2,334 5,162 8,904 6,507 4,940 5,962 5,544 2,613 Belgaum. Gratuitously relieved ... 388 451 1,000 2,974 7,6 1 7,972 5,486 8,896 13.S07 9. - 4,S19 j Total daily average 9,573 19,220 27,404 19,220 27,106 39,421 59,731 42,935 33,007 39.PS1 40,670 1,539 31,650 { Total units 287,190 595,820 849,524 538,160 ‘ 840,286 1,182,630 1,851,661 1,283,050 1,0*23,217 1,239,411 2 667,709 ... r Relief workers ... 10,005 • 20,443 32,188 28,454 32,097 42,002 52,969 57,3*20 24,113 24,098 32,857 17,401 31,978 | Dependants ... 295 3,021 7,578 12,092 12,903 6,102 6,641 8,701 4,0)6 5,119 Dharwar. « Gratuitously relieved ... ... 184 257 767 1,989 3,088 3,300 1,487 1,982 3,366 3,109 1,629 Total daily average 10,005 20,443 31,372 29,006 35,885 51,569 68,149 73,523 31,702 3*2,721 44,924 . 24,6)6 37,S26 C Total units 300,150 633,733 972,532 812,168 1,112,435 1,547,070 2,112,619 2,205,690 982,762 1,014,351 1,347,720 1 762,7S6 * f Relief workers 136,048 254, *08 317,660 231,619 225,627 281,590 361,172 345,089 *256,290 273,6SS 243,606 79,904 247,230 100 100 99 83 81 75 72 67 GO GO 57 47 Dependants ... 42,017 48,073 76,762 10^,500 108,606 80,192 80,643 60,-135 29,562 52,833 ... ... 15 17 si si 21 0‘* 10 17 17 Total ... Gratuitously reliev ed ... 4,434 5,039 6,687 15,011 33,148 60,183 >49,812 63,633 92,492 62,058 32,708 ... 1 8 2 U 7 IS 13 15 26 3G Total daily average 136,048 254,408 322,094 278,675 280,387 373,363 502,820 513,878 386,294 417,964 356,593 171,524 332,837 t, Total units 4,081,440 7,886,648 9,984,914 7,802,900 8,691,997 11,200,890 15,587,420 15,416,340 11,975,114 12,956,884 10,697,790 5,317,244 ... Hote.—The figures in italics represent percentagea over total daily average. The term “Dependants ” used in this statement refers to non-working children and other dependants on relief workers, who were either relieved by payment of cash allowance^ or fed in kitchens attached to the works. The term “ gratuitously relieved’' refers t> persons relieved in villages or poor-houses. ( viii ) APPENDIX D. Statement showing the Classes of people on relief works. < Class. Kk d tales h. Cultivat of s Labourers Weavers Others ... Ndsik. Cultivators Labourers Weavers Others ... Poona. Cultivators Labourers Weavers ^ Others ... Salara. Cultivators Labourers Weavers Others ... ... Ahmeclnagar. Cultivators Labourers ' ... Weavers Others ... Sholdpur. Cultivators Labourers ... Weavers Others ... Bijdjmr. Cultivators Labourers Weavers Others P el gaum. Cultivators ,,, Labourers Weavers Others Dh&mvar. Cultivators Labourers and low castes Weavers... Others ... Percentage of each Class on total number of relief workers. January. May. September 7-00 2-05 • * • 75-00 S3-10 1* • 3-5 2-51 • •• 14-5 12-32 8-23 10-32 7-18 81-24 79-20 67-16 4-34 3-93 22-26 6-19 6-55 3-40 36-9 41-8 47-3 56-1 51-4 39-0 0-1 0-3 0-3 6-9 6-5 13-4 24-07 19-82 33-23 71-77 77-43 58-45 0-33 0-42 001 3-83 2-33 S-28 36-3 371 35-59 54-4 51-3 58-52 1-0 3-1 •23 8-3 5-5 5-66 29-8 42-4 59-3 43-7 ... 3-4 3-2 « . . 7-5 10-7 • • * 291 45-6 40-0 62-6 27-4 43-0 1-3 14-S 140 70 12-2 30 8-9 16-3 14-1 73-2 65-5 67-2 3-1 3-2 2-9 14-7 . 14-S 15-5 t * C 28 27 ... 72 69 • * * ... 3 • «« ... 1 Percentage of workers of( each Class on total population of the Class. January. J May. September. 0-22 •006 . 4 . 7-97 •90 • • • 2-19 •18 ... 0-85 •072 0-4 0-5 •03 8 0 7-0 0-6 40 3-0 2-0 1-5 2-3 3-4, 5-2 6-2 6-2 0-4 1-0 1-4 M V4 3-8 1-99 •68 1-85 55-5S 16-11 19-58 1-67 •84 •15 1-70 •44 2-51 2-8 • # • 16 5 # • M 2-5 • • * fift ll « f « 11-8 10-8 55-0 36-9 14-1 5-2 •M 4-3 4-3 • • • < 11-9 6-0 • • » 43-8 13-2 3 9 7-6 # 0 3-1 2-4 •M • • • . . ( ... ... • • • * * • • • • • * # 9 ) ( i* ) APPENDIX B. RePOBTS OP THE OPERATIONS POR THE RELIEF OP WE AYERS BY EMPLOYMENT IN THEIR OWN CRAFT. Extract from a letter of the Collector of Sholapur, No. D—75, dated 5th January 1898, > The provisions of section 151 of the Famine Code as regards the grant of semi-gratuitous relief were applied to this district, and a grant of Rs. 2,000 sanctioned in Government Resolu¬ tion No. 9039, dated 14th November 1896. Rut except in ShoMpur City, where there is a large weaving colony, it was not thought necessary to initiate this form of relief. _A relief weaving-shed was started in Sholapnr in December 1896 under the supervision of a Committee appointed for the purpose by the Sholapur Municipality, who sanctioned an allotment of Rs. 2,000 in this behalf. The Collector, Mr. Deshmukh, who started the weaving shed, agreed that half the net cost of the operations would be borne by Government. This arrangement has already been reported to Government in detail, and was approved by them in their Resolution No. 1651 — Fam., dated 7th September 1897. I give below a statement showing the financial results of the operations which continued for nearly 12 months:— Expenditure. Amounts, Total. Rs, a. p, Rs, a. p. Expenditure from 8th December 1896 to 31st December 1897 ••• Amount due for the purchase of yam up to 31st December 1897 ... ... 4,768 15 2 933 14 0 6,702 13 2 Deduct* Amount realized from the sale of cloth Do. from the sale of yarn 2,677 16 9 620 ll 6 3,298 ll 3 Net expenditure ... Half the contribution of Government Amount received as Government contribution ... Balance due Rs. ... 2,404 1 ll 1,202 0 ll 1,104 14 10 97 2 1 Rs. a. p. Value of cloth in hand ... ... ... 2,296 2 9 Value of yam in stock ... ... ... 216 9 0 2,512 ll 9 From the above it will be observed ‘that the net cost, including charges of establishment, rent of building, &c., still to be recovered, is Rs. 2,404-1*11. But against this is the stock of cloth and yarn of the value of Rs. 2,512-11-9, which shows.a net profit of over Rs. 100. The Government contribution paid to the Municipality up to date amounts to Rs. 1,104-14-10, which will be refunded on sale of the goods and yarn. These are now held in stock, as owing to the prevalence of plague and consequent dislocation of trade there is no demand for them at present. The total number of persons relieved in the weaving shed is 12,423 and consisted of the following:— Males ... ... ... 6,SSI Females ... ... ... 4,637 Children ... ... 1,005 12,423 This gives an average of over 40 persons on every working day. The payment was made on the piece-work system, a fixed rate being given for a certain length of each kind of cloth woven. The following average daily wages were earned :— A. p. A. p, Hen ... ... ... From 2 6 to 3 6 Women ... ... „ 1 3 to I 9 Children ... ... q 9 Admissions to the weaving shed were made after careful enquiry into the1 cireumstanees of each applicant, and only such as were found really destitute and physically incapable of doing out-aoor relief work were taken on. The rest of the applicant s of this class were sent to work on the Ekruk Canal clearance, a relief work close to ShoMpur, which was specially reserved for ho because the work consisted only of excavation in soft ground and was near their b 98—3 ap ] ( X ) Extract* from a report by the District Deputy Collector, Belgatm, No. 1481, dated Hik December 1897. 68. The artizans and weavers, whose number is very limited in Athni, could get enough work to maintain them. There are about 800 families engaged in the weaving industry in the town of Gokak and the needy of them were provided for by the Municipality of Gokak by giving them advances of money and buying the fabrics turned out by them. The relief was commenced on 15th April 1897, and will be continued till the end of December as until the harvests are in and taken to market the manufactures will have no demand. 6t9. Acting on the advice contained in paragraph 6 of Government Resolution No. 242 — Fam., dated 23rd January 1897, the Municipality of Gokdk resolved to do their best to provide such of the weavers as were unfit for other employment with work in their own craft. After some correspondence with the Collector who sympathised with the movement, it was arranged that a scheme should be started with the sum of Rs. 5,000, which tim District Committee of the Indian Famine Charitable Relief Fund kindly promised to advance, and by raising a loan from Government. A loan of Rs. 5,000 was sanctioned in Government Resolution No. 3717, dated 28th August 1897 (Financial). The Municipality appointed a committee of five persons to carry out the scheme. The duties and powers of that body and the details of the scheme were as follows :— (1). Ssch of the weavers as had no means of their own, who were unfit to go on the relief works and whose manufactures found no sale, should be furnished by the Committee with a certificate that they are entitled to the special relief. (2). A permanent advance of Rs. 4 or 5 per loom may be granted to enable the certificated weavers to buy material. Bonds should be obtained from them for the amount. (3). The Municipality should purchase the following kind of manufactures if brought for sale at their shop :— (a) Saris from 1J to 4 rupees each. C (d) Panchas and Dhotis from annas 7 to rupee 1 each. (e) Susi Thans from Rs. 1£ to rupees each. [d) Dungry do. do. (4). A Cash-book, a Day-book of purchases and sales and a Store-book should be kept and signed by the Karkun and Agent daily and by the Chairman weekly. One week's requirements of money should remain with the Chairman, who should recoup his advance every week by drawing ''heques on the Municipality. (5). The shop should be worked under the control and supervision of the Com¬ mittee. (6). All the goods should remain in the shop. * (7). No goods to be sold on credit. (8). The establishment and contingencies should be as follows : — (a) One agent on a salary of Rs. 16 per month with a bonus equal to 25 per cent, of the net profits, if any, accruing to the Municipality. (S) One Karkun on Rs. 12 per month. (c) One peon on Rs. 5 to 6 per month. ( b 98—-4 (ip > ( xiv ) • t 18. I am afraid that the stock remaining on hand will not be sold soon, as the plague has affected the trade. I am unable to say off-hand how much time it will take to get rid of the stock, but it is believed that it will take one year unless Government are,pleased to order the purchase of khadis from the Municipality for office use of every department. 19. I cannot conclude this report without expressing a sense of gratitude on behalf of the Municipality towards H. E, Silcock, Esquire, Collector, H, B. Stewart, Esquire, First Assistant Collector, J. N. Kabraji, Esquire, First Assistant Collector, for theUdvieeand the cordial support they gave in connection with the weaving work. I am at the same time bound to thank R&o Bahadur Pandit and Azam Khan Mustekhan, Shabudin Balabhai and Subhanji Kamal, Municipal members, for the interest they took in the matter and the super¬ vision they exercised. c P, S.—Since writing the above 500 kh&dis have been sent under instructions from R. B. Stewart, Esquire, Chief Plague Authority, in connection with the plague operations at Manmad. ACCOM PANIMENTS TO THE ABOVE. Extract from the Proceedings of the Special General Meeting of the Yeoht Municipality held on the 8th November 1896.' Present: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Rao Sdheb S. S. Bhide, Vice-President. Mr. Azamkhan Mustekhan. „ Shankar Narhar Dlionde. „ Chunilal Jagjiwan. „ Ahmedulla Mowlavi. ll. Mr. G an gar am 6. Mr. Laxman Kushaba Patil 7. „ Shabudin Balabhai. 8. „ Subhanji Kamal. 9. „ Balmukund Nanabhai. 10. ,, Rupchand Govindram. Jairamsa. Resolved unanimously that a Committee of the following members should be appointed for the purpose of supervising the looms of coarse cloth, i.e., khadi. These members will be* respon¬ sible for the amount or amounts they will receive from time to time for purchasing cotton yarn. They will distribute work according to the neeessity, receive the cloth prepared by the weavers and pay their wages. A final resolution cannot be passed at this moment as to what this Committee should exactly do. They will be guided by the rules and orders that may be issued by the Collector from time to time : — 1. 2. 3. Mr. Azamkhan Mustekhan. „ Shabudin Balabhai. „ Subhanji Kama!. 7. Mr. Shankar Narhar Dhonde 4. Mr. Chunilal Jagjiwan. 5. „ Balmukund Nauabhai. 6. „ Rupchand Govindram. Proceedings of the Special General Meeting held on 24th November 1893. Present: 1. Mr. J. K. N. Kabraji, President, in the Chair. 2. Rao BaMdur R. N. Pandit. 3. Rao Sdheb S. S. Bhide. 4. Mr. Gangaram Jairamsa. 5. „ Ganesh V enkatesh, Overseer, Public Works Department. Business. 1. Consideration of Government Resolution No. 9093 of 17th November 1896, Revenue Department, with the Second Assistant Collector of N&sik's No. 2377, dated 23rd idem,‘on the subject of giving employment to the local weavers. Resolved unanimously that this Municipality ngreea to undertake the duty of giving employment to the local weavers in their own trade so far as they may need it. Provided (1) the Municipality will supplement the action of Government in this direction so far as may be needed only; (2) that Government will be pleased to advance the necessary funds to the Municipality as may be needed from time to time without interest, and the Municipality agrees to repay the loan as soon as thecloths produced can be disposed of ; (3) that the Committee already appointed at the meeting held on 8th November 1896 be empowered to make all neces¬ sary arrangements for the employment of weavers, to administer the funds, to fix the rates of wages, to make the sales, and generally fo^arry out all the work connected with the present proposal. Th'e Committee should be empowered io add to its members other gentlemen, subject to the approval of the Municipality. Resolved further that if the above proposals are approved, Government be asked to give a loan of Rs. 18,000 to the Municipality to start with, the amount being estimated to last for the first two months during which large sales are not expected. 6. Mr. Rupchand Govindram. 7. » Chunilal Jagjiwan. 8. )> Ahmedulla Mowlavi. 9. }} Balmukund Nanahhai. 10. )) Shabudin Balabhai. ll. Azamkhan Mustekhan. 12. >} Subhanji Kamal. ( XV ) . ) Proceeding* of the Special General Meeting held on 2nd Januar g 1897. Present • 1. Rao Saheb S. S. Bhide, Vice-President. 2. Kao Bahadur R. N. Pandit. 3. A'zam Shankar Narhar Dhonde. 4. Mr. Gaugaram Jairamsa. 5. „ Damodar Shaligram. 6. „ Ahmedulla Mowlavi. > 7. Mr. Azamkhan Mustekhan. 8. ,, Shabudin Balabhai. 9. Chunilal Jagjiwan. 10. „ Balmubund Nanabhai. 11. „ Rupchand Govindram. 12. „ Kashiram Chandisa. * Bead Government Resolution No. 10447 of 19th December 1896, Revenue Department, Famine. Resolved unanimously that a loan of Rs. 50,000 should be borrowed from Government for the purpose of employing weavers during the present distress on the terms of the Resolution. Resolved unanimously that the following gentlemen should be added to the Committee appointed on the 8th November 1896 : — Rao Bah&dur R. N. Pandit. A'zam Eknath Khemehand. „ Kashiram Chandisa. . The Assistant Collector and the M£mlatdar. . Statement A showing the financial condition of the weaving uork started hy the Yeola Municipality %n connection with the famine. Cr. Pr. Item. Amount. Item. Amount. Rs. a. P« Rs. a. P- J. Cash taken from time to time from 3. Amount refunded to the Municipal!ty 3,054 9 0 the General Municipal Fund 8,700 0 0 2. Purchase of yarn of different colours. 5454 ll 8 2. Sale and advance of yarn to weavers— ) 3.’ Purchase of khadis—4,805 9,401 1 7 White yarn for kh&dis £ 8,454 ll 8 4. „ sari 2 4 0 Yam of diff erent colours 3 5. „ chints—216 746 8 3 Profit on the above sale ... ... 41 12 1 6. ,, wrappers 18 14 9 3. Sale of 1,241 khadia 2,331 3 6 7. Cloth sold on credit ... 60 10 0 Profit on the above sale 3 32 7 8. Contingeucies on acoount of adver- 4. Sale*proeeeds of a s&ri 2 4 0 tisements, &c. 43 5 0 5. Sale-proceeds of 67 piecea of chints ... 232 4 5 Profit on the above sale ^ ... ... 18 2 7 Total, Expenditure ... 19,791 0 3 6. Sale-proceeds of packing materials which were received from Bombay, Balance on hand ... 6 5 6 &c., wrapped to bales of yarn 3 4 3 Profit on the above sale 9 14 8 Total ... 19,707 5 9 Total, including Balance ... 19,797 5 9 Abstract. Rs. a. p. Rs. a. p. Balance on hand— 1. Amonnt due to the Municipality 7,646 7 0 Kh&dis—3,564 7,069 14 1 2. Total profit realized in the transaction 73 9 ll Chints—149... 514 3 IO Packing materials 15 10 6 7,719 0 ll Note.—This account is from the beginning Add— 7,59912 5 to the end of October. The trausactions for November have Amount to be recovered for cloth not been included in this. sold on credit 69 10 0 Contingencies ... 4:5 5 0 Cash balance on hand 6 5 6 7,719 0 ll ) APPENDIX P. Statement showing the Mortalit^ in the affected District s from October 1803 to October 1307. I SholAfus. All MSB NAG AR. Poona. NAsik. Mortal. Deaths Death s Deaths - Deaths Deaths aiDODg Deaths Rate among Reaths Rate among DeatliB Rate among Deaths Rate among Deaths Rate children among Total, per children among Total. per children among Total. per children among Total. per children among Total. per under others. mine. under others. mil le. under others. mille. under othet£. mille. under others. mille. 5 years 5 years. 5 years. 5 years. 5 years. 1 2 3 4 ' 5 6 7 8 9 10 ll 12 J3 ll 15 1G 17 18 19 20 21 *Normal... 996 1,083 2,059 1,353 1,331 2,684 * 1,179 1,577 2,756 1,394 1,812 3,206 * • 1,283 1,219 2,502 • • * 1896. SOS 3-24 2-53 2-92 2-69 October - 799 891 1,690 2-25 1,034 918 1,952 2-20 936 1,212 2,208 2:08 1,428 1,S72 3,300 2-69 1,234 1,168 2,402 2-86 - 207 207 2-39 2-53 2-96 November .. 513 836 1,349 1-80 852 1,013 1,895 213 820 1,269 2,089 1-97 1,088 1,579 2,667 2-18 1,319 1,451 2,770 3-29 2-43 2-34 2-35 2 37 2-83 December ... 522 S 34 1,356 181 863 1,020 1,883 212 - 937 1,401 2,338 2-20 1,076 1,712 2,78S 2-27 1,314 1,448 2,762 3-28 . 1897. 217 2-16 2-13 2-13 2-89 January 493 872 1,365 1-82 792 919 1,711 1-92 814 1,726 2,510 2-39 881 1,486 2,367 1.93 1,250 1,494 2,744 3-26 1-85 1-85 1-70 1-80 2-35 February .. 563 804 1,367 1-82 728 846 1,574 1*77 840 2,183 3,023 2-85 831 1,251 2,082 1*70 917 1,223 2,140 2-54 200 2-10 1-99 207 2-73 March. 815 1,128 1,943 2-59 901 940 1,841 2-07 1,033 3,096 4,129 3-89 1,055 1,865 2,920 -2-3S 1,151 1,300 2,451 2-90 2-34 2-41 2-35 2-25 307 .April 1,292 1,518 2,810 3*75 1,320 1,014 2,334 2'63 1,175 1,916 3,091 2-91 1,527 3,036 4,563 9 3-72 L531 1,183 2,714 3-19 2-59 2 65 2-57 1,252 j 2-70 2-98 May 1,459 1,634 3,093 4-12 1,746 1,203 2,949 3 32 1,337 1,413 2,750 2-59 1,966 6,756 8,722 ) 7-12 1,612 1,108 2,720 3-23 - 2-oo 2-97 2-28 4,294 f 2 73 2-98 June 1,196 1,774 2,970 3*96 1,621 1,487 3,108 3-50 1,681 4,390 3,0711 5-72 1,353 5,768 7,121 1 5-81 1,736 3,050 4,786 9 5-25 S 86 4-67 2,221 j 3-31 2,649 f 3'30 1,312 S 3-3S July... 1,926 3,868 5,794 ) 7-72 2,135 3,955 6,090 9 6-86 2,805 7,924 10,729 \ 10-10 1,999 5,135 7,1349 5'82 1,996 3,660' 5,656 't 6-54 1,854 j 407 1,473 f 476 5,172 J 3-84 1,601 S 302 958 | 3-78 August 1,866 2,474 4,340 5*78 2,424 3,951 6,375 I 7*18 2,598 5,022 7,620 1 7-18 2,071 4,696 6,767 5-52 2,592 4,448 7,0409 8-06 3-35 1,303 } 3-64, 1,3811 2-98 3-21 924 j 3-14 September ... 1,508 2,070 ’ 3,578 4-77 1,780 2,737 4,517 5*09 1,879 3,578 5,457 514 1,887 4,612 ; 6,499 5-30 2,2S3 3,599 5,882 9 6-51 300 320 2-53 2-95 185J 2-78 October 1,354 2,544 3,89 S O'20 1,518 2,498 4,016 4*52 1,453 4,122 5,575 5-25 1,940 6,324 8,264 6-74 1,627 2,727 4,354 5-11 7f \ Khandesh. BijIpur. Belgaum. DhIrwAr ■D Tj Month. -n Deaths among children under 5 years. Deatha among others. Total. Rate per mille. Deaths among children under 6 yea^s. Deaths among others. Total. Rate per mille. Deaths amopg children under 5 years. Deaths among others. Total. Rate per mille. Deaths among children under 5 years. Deaths among others. Total, Rate per mi lfe. 1 22 23 26 25 2(3 27 2S 29 30 31 32 33 3d 35 36 37 Normal* 1896. 2,235 1,878 4,113 2-61 802 1,009 1,811 • • * 2-41 1,000 1,374 2,374 2-30 1,154 1,507 2,661 • i October 2,087 1,703 3,850 •2-04 2-K4 028 871 1,499 1-89 2-22 878 1,294 2,172 2-14 2-13 980 1,107 2,153 2 05 November ... 1,040 1,708 3,414 2-34 2 m 595 840 1,435 / 1-80 2-05 805 1,240 2,040 2-02 ■2-18 1,192 1,001 2,853 2-71 December ._. 1897, 1,004 1,784 3,448 2-30 2-69 020' 934 1,560 1-9(5 1-72 830 1,009 2,445 2-42 1-97 1,293 1,849 3,142 2-99 January 1,031 1,071 3,302 2-20 215 058 988 1,046 207 1-57 817 1,840 2,057, 2 03 195 1,240 1,975 3,221 307 February ... 1,492 1,411 2,903 1-99 2-71 590 959 1,549 1-94 1-93 810 1,854 2,004 2-03 2-23 1,047 1,020 2,673 2 55 March 1,991 1,801 3,792 2'52 .9.11 797 1,250 2,047 2-57 2-33 1,054 2,433 3,487 344 2-44 1,188 1,004 2,852 2'72 April 2,805 1,578 4,383 300 3 02 928 1,050 2.584 3-22 2-72 1,208 3,102 4,370 4-32 2-85 1,298 1,813 3,111 2-90 May 2,901 1,417 4,318 2-95 2-37 '• 1,580 3,9 35 5,515 9 2,4*3 j 6'87 2-85 1,583 3,720 5,303 5-28 2-99 1,470 1,915 3,385 3 22 June 3,027 1,018 4,045 3-17 2-95 1,190 2,447 3,043 4-50 306 1,755 3,329 5,084 J 7 5-00 2 99 1,013 2,058 3,071 350 July 2,382 2,873 5,255 3 02 403 1,554 2,630 4,184 5-25 3 00 1,044 2,195 3,839 3 73 2-78 1,079 2,017 3,090 3-52 2 64 August 5,022 5,725 10,747} 3,0*7 J 7-32 3-23 1,581 2,019 4,200 5-18 256 1,492 2,018 3,510 340 2.3S 1,525 m 1,951 3,470 3-31 2-30 September ... 5,118 w4,311 9,429 I 419 j 6-40 2-36 1,399 2,20.4 3,003 4-48 2 40 1,130 1,742 2,872 2-82 2-31 1,347 • 1,596 W 2,943 2 82 230 October 2,053 2,754 5,407 3-08 1,288 2,097 3,385 4-22 1,100 1,045 2,751 272 1,109 1,005 2,774 2-02 Note. The fignres in italics in Columns 5, 9, 13, 17, 21, 2.7, 29, 33 and 37 represent the mean death-rate for the several months for the preceding 10 years. * formal, t.e„ the monthly mean for 5 years 1891—1S95. K. 21.—The fignres in italics in Columns 4, 8,12,16, 20, 24 and 28 represent the number of death* from cholera. XV1X g s. .s: Ef S s § »■ p ex Cjq ^ g p. § 3g^£»3*^g, P- B ” g S' • • • s ” . H» KM m- «M Average rate for 30 year® ending 1895, 03 03 IM CO CO CO cn^ oo £*■ »H02 oojw KM MCO DpfnliPr CD ©I ®|H | M* ^ ^ tS3 M f O 00 OO i TS7 \rp 1Y1 ^ \p-i* otf-^coeo-'JOOK) moveinoei, *-!« tf-l» iW» „ KM w|* (WW M‘|-«Mb0tO»-*l-»O3©3 ~»JC/3CH003 K> to to to OO 00 OO CO ***J , O CO O to *-* lO WM ^ iW-* *om iHw Ww toM January. J-«»~*|-It0fc0ts0t©0000 ©« CO tO tO M- tf*M iW-* iHW «m w)kj w|w KM March. t-tt—'Mi—*tOM4|>oCOC«3 OX 05 Ot CO O* “'t m* M M tf*M ‘We' M-1 *p(—• »WW (WH <*1*3 April. MMH-'MtOM-w. tO bO (4-*Cntfs*a)fc©OJ. eO***lCD KM tf*M km lH» *W» May. M* 1—‘ M MI to m* M to to M* tO ~i© -"I M* M CO 00 *COMCrt-J^l tO »H» OEM lt-}W KIM MXM COM **M September. M-> M M* M M. to OOG5tON>COCDMON> m Mj^ >M- *HM wp CD w|w M October. M» M< M* M to M to OXCOtOO* ™ ^ X W d' «s: CJ- g P* P £• <* i? i: B g g £ p* *1 P ^ P PT D % & & *3 Cu v> : . Cu P* B *< £J fcj i . . rt> HP H p • • ♦ ® OQ ^ S t Stations. M 1 CHCDOMD»MC0-^rC0O ^ «|W M* oofco M w September. to to to to to KD. M« M1 fVtnKpr >>l Cr C7l OC LO 03 co • OO wLUUUtr. o( Ot Oil^ Si CT CD|>” j tOtOtOtO'-*M*M'* M* m* to o o oo co to : - ^ S|^ SiS November. rOt^tOt^tOtStOt^MJKiMt^c-Jk*)—rkj, KM CiK*C<^*OMiM.Q,COCoaOQ>COCOOOo'?0 ®i» rfHW (XD. £]*«■» “M wi** SJl^bSM ^l«OMM Sl» December. V o. Oi ©.M,OOm>£kQoO(^>QOQ}m‘'v30^cO oci-j <»w w>* a^« ^ ^* ] cw KM January. t$t©tOtOt>S>tO*OtOt^>tOM*MJMitOM*MiMki—i 05Cat'5iH-.M»,C0Mk00MAM‘K*»-iMA.M* C5 — - Q) (D O « Cc O ^ Oo •'i (C 00 S M S’S^ >H» COM aw KM rf-M OMig(M3laWW ^]m^M £| £ M arch. 0<:05l'OC,OoOoCOCoiWm ®m mm if*M mm #M ^jw0tM M- IW55 miM^m *>iw April. ^tO^tOfeKf^Mkr-kMkiHkHkw Ci Cl M 00 v? O Oi Of Mj© ^1° WU ^ *M tW-» M*- M) K>M p- _ «i-a #KM H., H w H_, KM o” or ^ OM Cl* c|® e|-* CIH af* June. MktOM* *—* M* Mi —• M*, >.-J Mi M* M. M* ^ . m. ^ aj)!^Wl>J »Nm lH» OM >f^M KM KM m KM KM ttjw •July. ^H^^SHk‘Hk‘Hk‘uk*H,s‘' Mim* ccioc^cooioicjoitiiwtios'iss^^: 03 m- «D,-4 rHK M[- M c.*v #4. «N ftf col*’ w)*. g. <» August. KitOM.tNDM.tOMiMIMi'—iM*Mi* Mi M» CO CO N5 05 Co M- •*?, /3 O, D t) W 4X *•! Cn 1 Oi CD KM XM KM J COC^lto )f*i» KM OO- 4*M >HW KfW m ) vj S)^ September. i C^O.0i)M--4M00C0ODC5<0>05CoCDlC0 Oi Ki O. H M Kv— M r* iHW iw» M( an MM 0C(c» cn|» M|^ Oci-4 mM WM (Wm cr o>|J*» ap cl o| ®jw i October. IOtOtOtOM*H*M*M*i—' COOOOO-^OCcOO-vl *** - ^ SH St® ^ o|S ^ Average of 12 montlis ending October 1897. H <* co co. I 05 Statement showing the monthly pru average prices, while the other figures represent the prices at the district head-quarters, station s. t? ty W > ty B 3 p' w ty W ty 0 Pi P* w ^ oo oo , co co oo Average rate for 10 oo ^ C-i 4—* o Oi I vpsva endincr td- cm— ib- *t» *-,» j >e»is enumg Jo*o. COOO^OOCOCOCOCOCO 00 CO OX G5 CO © M *H CO (W— bd- £ 1 CO Ml* CO I C7i September. totDCorototototoco CD 00 -I CO —1 "H CD Cl •Pl- *>[» Ml- til- K)W-'l—‘boK> 05 —J 0< O M 05 CO 05 05 WI- Wir- O’) w Mf- <4- November. MMMtOtDMrOtDtO oocooigooooococo Ml- »l)r M|» >f-f» t*|M #4- December. tOtOMtOtOKitOtOfcO O ID 'M CO 05 CD W 00 Vi tvl— tvf— £) ►_! Ivl— M>— V*- O-l— lP[W Januar y. tOtDMtOfcOMtDtDfcO O ID - T CO M <0 CO 00 05 W JO ocfcn mi- bd- jP|- o|» February. * tDtOMtOtDMtotOtD DtOC5Mp*©>tDC50O w ^ —» a—i o> \ d» c» s •£> id— March. MID M tD ID M ID tO tD CD -OlCO^COMCXOO 04IM «I- *|M iWW td- April. MMMlDtDWMrotD 05 CD CO O h— 05 CO H— —4 Ml- CRt- »M #4- td- OCW 031- , May. M — H 1—‘ tD M M ID tD MOiMOOtOMCO^Ci mi- *>!» ' iWw Win» id- ooioo June. M- M M i—1 M M fO K> M CO * CD Oi CO ID M CO CO ohm c<|— w- mi- td- a]w c*j —* J uly. M M M M M M M CO O CO CO M M ID 05 05 Mr- th— oww bit- to(— ihw *m» »(«• August. MM M M M . M M M O tD CD tD CO M M C5 C5 OM 03 C3lM W"* »P|W OOi* *1- Win September. M M : to fcD * tO M M ID •-*00. tD O CO >5 CO O -L «C— Id- D') M CtfW MH MfcCnH*Otf^G> •Pl- K-— Ml- M— *4- >pjW Midi Average rate for 1( years ending D 95. W S. tT W M CO w CO CO tD ID tO tD ID dD *vr tO 02 -J 00 Oi c» w co) —i -L m|k, -u *r i •-* 1 CT* (ST Csl* ad* cslw 05* -- September. tobr to>—'t—«iDpa--,M cji o id co co o -i co ov OH- *01- «b» —*1 -• -1 *4- -1 cum 01d'* c.r October. *m co ■—j 05 c?5 ypp. • 5 Ci C5 -^T -WW «[» Mi— to tD M P~4M 'P^i P— Kj,M Pm.P-1 KtH-i p-l M ID COOoOOC5CONa05C505MUl 05 •Pl- ecpi C5 O-l v? Ol C5 -L. - — -Loch «|- m*- ochoch *d- *cp- c.r e>lw mi March. to P-* Mt'sjM^MK**—iKi.MM<—« •—* ID OO *4 N tOiM {C?W OCjM M[ OCh^Cr}*- j ^ - ... cf° ol April. tD M P-»KiMKsiP-*K*p-»K*MMM M O GO OX v} O, C5 C5 C5 O5 Ol 4- ^ W-i WP-SH WI-id- r|..«- »)wic|- —• 1—• r,l“^ 05 1 vO May. tD M M k W m P^P-i HiM H H — O CO 4- Oj M Cs Ol C2 Ol Cm Oi 0, 01 M k**4 tlco -I, "Pfttt P|——i,„ w — CM— WH m- p-i M 051 cl"* o>1w <3:1 — June. p- MP*MKiP-»KiP-tKiMKiM M -H M Co M ({)W 4. W Co 01 i'uCt 4- ‘TlS SI50 «l- 4HCoglcn w)M MHMH S W July. ^ S* M |-iM Kj^p- P^.p-i P^p-i MM pa tS* 4sH ^1(1. ^co 00 ®|W w— W- tt|L3-w- ceib0«t- Mi—OCKn w)wxi« #•!« t*» August. IS ^ MKtMPHSi'M.M>HMKApa —. ^ Co -vr Co Oi co Oi C5 ^ 01 -dr -jto WKn KpaM P*l month? *•' - 50 S. £t S- S | ending Octoberl897. i# Ibs. per rupee of Joivari and Bdjri during 1898-97 and 1876-77. APPENDIX B Statement showing transactions in the principal Food-grains of the Deccan and Karndtak Districts ivith the Internal and External Blocks during the five years ending 1895-96. Jowa’ei and Ba’jri. Imports into and Exports from • ... 273,635 171,734 39,510 8,940 " 55,fil Poona and Shol&pur \ Exports ... 171,786 367,330 153,363 340,986 222,136 ... ... ,lt ... 82,253 89,440 254,829 134,989 50,214 " Southern Martftha Railway ( Imports ... ^51 42 813 131 369 82,253 89,440 254,829 134,989 50,214 ... ... ... ^ Exports ... 37,691 27,292 171,303 42,2t 3 25,482 273,636 171,724 39,510 8,940 55,811 1,044 1,200 ... ... ... ... West India Portuguese Railway ^ Imports ... | Exports ... ... ... ... ... " 22 ... ... 3,1 £8 24 1,924 1*003 16 1,064 Total, B ... 43 2,118 12-95 Note.—The figures in italics show the percentage ratio to relief workers. AX XX ( XXV )' ' APPENDIX J. Statement showing' the daily average numhers relieved in poor-houses in the last week of each month. District. Sholapur Ahmednagar Ndsik »• Sdtdra Bijapur Total .. Last week of December 1896. Men. Women. Chil¬ dren. Total. Last week of January 1897. Men. Women. Chil¬ dren. Total. Last week of February 1897. Men. 14 14 Women. 16 16 Chil¬ dren. Total. 19 19 49 49 Last week of March 1897. Men, Women, 15 30 45 22 39 61 Chil¬ dren, 35 58 93 Total. 7*2 127 199 District. Last week of April 1897. Last week of May 1897. > Last week of June 1897. Men, Women. Children. Total# Men. Women. Children. Total. Men. Women. Children. Total. Shol&pur 24 17 18 59 35 22 19 76 58 36 19 113 Ahmednagar 63 81 108 252 53 79 108 240 69 92 120 281 N&sik ... ... ... ... ••• ... ... ... ... ... ... ... SaJt&ra ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... y ... ... Bijipur 27 31 65 . 123 48 51 103 202 91 183 265 639 Total ... 114 129 191 434 136 152 230 518 218 311 404 933 — Last week of July 1897, Last week of August 1897. Last week of September 1897* District, Men. Women, Children. Total, Men. Women, Children, Total, Men. Women. Children. Total. Sliol&pur 69 62 30 161 85 74 49 208 65 52 62 179 Ahmednagar 261 321 425 1,007 . 291 425 605 1,321 314 415 607 1,336 Nsisik 61 82 72 216 65 97 122 2S4 95 108 164 367 S&t&ra 35 75 96 206 49 108 126 £83 39 101 109 243 Bijapur ... 164 335 827 ~ 826 229 383 360 972 395 712 974 2,0S1 Total ... 690 875 950 2,415 719 1,087 1,262 3,068 908 1,388 1,916 4,212 1 .ast week of October 1897. j Last week of November 3897, Last week of December 1897. District, Men, Women. Children, Total. Men. Women. Children. T otal. Men, W omen. Children. Total. Shol4pur ... 53 43 19 115 39 37 18 94 27 15 5 47 Ahmednagar 19 28 35 82 ... ... *«« ««• ... Ndsik ... ... ... ... ... ... Mt • H ... ... ... Sdtira ... ... ... ... *«4 «•* ... ftk Bij&pur 225 425 705 1,355 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Total ... 297 496 759 1,552 39 37 18 94 27 15 5 47 e 98—7 ap APPENDIX K. Statement showing the daily average number s of dependants on relief worker s in the last week of each month. r District. Last week of December 1896, Last week of January 1897. Last week of February 1897. Men. Women. Children. Total, Men. Women, Children. Total. Men. Women, Children. Total. * Sholapur * 245 # 15,440 15,685 901 26,716 27,617 1,714 33,192 34,906 Ahmednagar ... 142 6,509 33-86 6,651 350 16,033 49-43 16,383 976 29,438 49-76 *30,408 Poona *. • 254 5,101 4100 5,355 401 7,557 51-40 7.958 • •• 349 4,735 51-88 5,084 Nasik 21 .193 5,613 52-23 5,827 474 10,247 46-60 10,721 ««« 328 11,358 32-77 11,686 Satdra ... *♦. ... ' 2,571 4696 2,571 1,395 3,759 55-58 5,154 !»• no 4,332 51-11 4,442 Khandesh * * * ♦ ♦♦ -22-77 367 131 5,916 28-31 6,047 »«* 391 9,734 17-63 10,125 Bijdpur S8 11,500 US 11,588 433 17,792 36-83 18,225 . 683 19,224 43-77 19,907 Belgaum ... ... • M 578 30-24. 578 9 566 31-27 575 • • # 48 836 35-75 884 DMrw&r ..., ... ■■■ ... ... 3207 • • * ... 30-02 ... ... ... 28-97 Total ... 21 922 47,312 48,622 4,094 88,586 92,680 4,593 112,849 117,442 - 35-04 42-00 1 . 42-83 NoTE.—The figuree in italics sliow the percentage ratio to relief workers. XXVI APPENDIX K —continued* Last week of March 1897. Last week of April 1897. Last week of May 1897. District. Men. Women. Children. Total. Men. Women Children. Total. Men. Women. Children. Total. Sholdpur*.. 74 2,907 34,466 37,447 47-62 17 1,935 29,648 31,600 34-32 22 , 1,014 24,335 25,371 30-57 Ahmednagar .,. *.. fr fr • 1,057 30,471 31,528 53-59 36 417 11,223 11,676 31-06 42 364 11,351 11,757 26-49 Poona ... ... ... fr fr fr 191 2,176 2,367 21-65 9 193 2,557 2,759 13-82 180 236 2,853 3,269 U'63 JMasik 522 1,071 10,830 12,423 56-97 83 359 6,042 6,484 8-2-85 n 304 525 6,758 7,587 42-38 S&t&ra ... ... ' 33 616 3,703 4,352 15-13 ... 349 2,246 2,595 12-57 37 161 1,620 1,818 '‘19-18 KbAndesh 126 610 . 8,007 8,743 80*4 117 335 5,535 5,987 26-86 50 269 5,217 ,5,536 31-38 Bijapur ... 42 876 16,047 • 16,965 31-16 10 811 15,122 15,943 29-74 14 723 ’ ' 6,238 6,975 15-20 Belgaum... • fr fr 16 1,248 1,264 24-68 2 217 2,369 2,588 27-38 19 209 2,506 2,734 28-28 DMrwar... ... *fc» ... * • • »• fr ... ... ... ... fr fr fr ... • • • Total ... 797 7,344 106,948 115,089 39-95 274 4,616 ' ' 74,742 79,632 27-13 668 3,501 60,878 r. „ 65,047 25-89 2s oTEfc—The figures in italics show the percentage ratio to relief workers* XXV11 APPENDIX K—continued,. District* - Last week of June 1897# Last week of July 1897. Last week of AugusiTl897. Men. Women. Children. Total. Men. J Women. L Children, Total. Men. Women. Children. Total, Sliolapur ... 38 707 21,773 22,518 29-84 78 570 25,822 26,470 32-74 123 8S8 23,669 24,680 30-36 Ahmednagar 65 419 • 10,514 10,998 38-94 122 518 15,884 16,524 27-63 156 485 14,602 15,243 30-85 Poona 64 314 2,751 3,129 19-78 23 295 2,253 2,571 2355 22 342 2,875 3,239 24-19 N&sik ... " ... 79 369 4,349 4,797 45-23 69 189 2,531 2,780 40-66 35 117 1,273 1,425 38-92 Sdtara 8 145 1,152 1,305 16-76 24 172 1,227 1,423 13-37 12 42 405 459 6-53 Khandesh , 81 156 2,483 2,670 28-48 49 238 2,447 2,734 30-43 29 71 797 897 44-58 Bijdpur ... 23 1,488 5,886 7,397 12-64 50 3,280 S,99 3 12,323 13-37 41 4,671 * 13,716 18,4 2S 15-51 Belgaum ... 19 97 954 1,070 17-24 109 174 1,684 1,967 14-79. 69 277 ^ 2,185 2,531 14-89 PMrw&r... • * * ... ... • •• ... • • • ... ... • • • ... .... Total ... 327 3,695 49,862 53,884 24-91 524 5,427 60,841 66,792 23 39 4S7 6,893 59,522 66,902 22-59 Note.—The figures in italics show the percentage ratio to relief wprkers. xxviii £ 98-—8 ap APPENDIX R—concluded. District. ShoMpur Ahmednagar Poona ••• Nasik Satdra KMndesh ... Bijdpur ... ~ Belgaum DMrwdr Total Lait week of September 1897. La«fc week of October 1897. Last week of November 1897. Last week of December 1897. Men. Women. Children. Total. Men. Women. Children. Total. Men. Women, . * Children. Total. Men. Women. Children. Total. 135 851 21,773 22,759 87 222 5,680 5,939 2 2 85 89 24 41 637 702 31-76 25-72 115 802 ... 258 861 21,348 22,465 51 88 1,686 1,825 • • • 29-69 22-50 ... ... 16 417 2,519 2,952 21 267 1,721 2,009 9 • 247 934 1,190 • I « 19-49 21-16 25-54 ... • •» 30 84 998 1,112 • « * • •• • •• 40-01 M* 59 137 1,497 1,693 34 66 558 658 • a * • « a 16-12 12-81 ... 29 66 452 547 • M • M • M 45-69 ... t • • ... • • * 52 821 7,774 8,647 2 23 624 649 6 63 69 4 23 174 201 12-17 14-27 7-66 25-77 • •• 53 102 1,750 1,905 27 7 211 245 t •« IM *• • M • 12-77 12-45 ... • •• ... ... ... • * . — M* ... *•» ... ... • • « ... • •• • • • 632 8,339 58,109 62,080 172 673 10,480 11,325' ll 255 1,082 1,348 28 64 811 903 23-36 21:49 9-55 - 5-52 V Noth.—The figures in italic! show the percentage ratio to relief workers. XXIX ( XXX ) APPENDIX L. Report on Famine Grass Operations. No. **“• of 1897-98. From A. T. SHUTTLEWORTH, Esquire, < Conservator of Forests, 1st Grade, on Special Famine Duty ; To The CHIEF SECRET ARY to GOVERNMENT, . Revenue Department, Bombay. C Camp Vis d p w, Ahnednagar District\ dated 12th March 189SL Sie, In obedience to the request containel in paragraph 5 of Government Resolution No. 1805 — Pam., dated 14th October 1897, in the Revenue Department (Famine), I have the honour to submit the fallowing detailed account of the measures adopted by me for the preservation of agricultural cattle in the famine-affected districts in the Pres-idency proper. 2. By an order contained in paragraph 8 of Government Resolution No. 8939, dated ll th November 1896, in the Revenue Department, I was appointed on special duty for directing the facilitation of the supply of forage and was furnished with the following general instruction^ for my guidance :— L—To ascertain where grazing is available and to take measures for the distribution of the animals entitled to admission to the forests in the manner most suitable in consider¬ ation of comparative convenience, and the supply available.. II.—To arrange with the Railway Companies for the conveyance of such cattle as may be carried by rail to places where forage is available. III.—To facilitate as far as possible the supply of fodder by private agency, by, amongst other provisions, offering free of charge to contractors to cut and exploit any grass fit for the purpose in forest or waste lands : provided arrangements can be made to secure that it will be supplied at a moderate profit in the famine-affected districts. IV.—To afford assistance to officers employed on duty in the famine districts who may ask for aid in procuring fodder for their own animals employed for the purpose of their travelling. V.—To cut on forest or waste lands where necessary, or to purchase where it is aval- able, grass, and to send it to places where it is needed at a charge which will be sufficient to cover all costs of its supply. 3. But before the receipt of this Resolution of Government I had already entered upon inquiries regarding available supplies of fodder, consequent to a telegram from the Private Secret ary to His Excellency the Governor, which was put into my hand very fortuitously on the morning of the 9th November, while on the way to the Commissariat Transport lines at Poona, where I had been invited to witness the trial of a steam hay-baling press, a recent in¬ vention of the manufacturer Messrs. Jessop and Company of Calcutta. This telegram read— " You are to be plaeed on special duty to enquire and make suggestions to Govern¬ ment regarding the supply and distribution of fodder grass for famine districts, and sup¬ ply of grazing and removal of cattle to places where grazing is available. Orders will cfollow. You may begin your inquiries at once.” 4. The trial of the Phoenix steam hay-baling press was condueted inc the presence of General Hobday, Chief Commissary General for India, Colonel Burlton Bennett, the Commissary General, Bombay Command, and other high officers of the Bombay Commissariat Department, by a member of the firm of itspnanufacturers; and the result seemed to be highly satisfactory in the production of a very tightly compressed and substantially fastened bale of hay, of com¬ paratively small dimensions, viz., 2'6" X 2'S" x 1'3", containing about 80 lbs. of fodder grass of convenient shape, size and weight, to be carried by mules or pack bullocks, and likewise to economize railway freight, inasmuch as JhQ largest possible number of bales with the maximum possible quanfoty of compressed grass can be stowed into a railway wagon, which is an import ^ ant financial consideration, when railway freight is charged by a mileage rate on the wagon. 5. Apprehending how very serviceable this Phoenix press might be in a place where grass was available Rr compressing and baling it for transmission to the famine-affected area , I asked General Hobday, Chief Commissary General, on the spot, whether in the event of his department not requiring to use the press in the immediate future for baling hay for Military > ( xxxi ) purposes, it could be placed at the disposal of the Bombay Government in connection with famine grass operations; General Hobday replied that the press was not wan ted to be worked during the current season, as grass was scarce, and theiefore h e would gladly hand it over to the Bombay Government, on the understanding that it would be leplaeed at the end of the season; and in a subsequent interview he very kindly informed me that be had instructed hIS office at Sirpla to report to the above effect in the event of an application for the press arnving through the Government of India. I then reported my proeeedings in the matter to Govern¬ ment, and suggested that the loan of the press should be obtained; and within a very few daps the Commissary General, Bombay Command, received an order by wire, consequent to the Gov¬ ernment of India* s Resolution in the Military Department, No. 5539, dated 13th November 1896, to hand over tnis Phoenix steam baling press to me. Colonel Burl ton Bennett, at the same time, supplied me with 57,044 wire binders and 57,041 iron links, for fastening the compressed bales outturned by the press. 6. The Commissary General, Bombay Command, likewise favoured me at my request w.th the loan of a J)ederick*s patent full circle , lever horse-power hay-baling press, of American manufacture, a pattern which had taken the chief prize at the Chicago Columbian Worldl Fair, after having kindly arranged to allow me to see it at work by bullock-power, compress¬ ing and baling hay, so that I might understand its mechanism; this press had been obtained for baling hay for the Suakin Expedition, and. was then lying idle in the Commissariat Stores at Poona. ^ 7. And the Chief Commissariat Officer, Poona, Lieutenant-Colonel Reilly, was equally kind in giving me, on my asking him for the loan thereof, 5 Condens patent hay-baling hand presses, which he had then in his godown; and he had them worked in my presence, so that I might know how to use them. 8. Before proceeding further with my report I must in this connection adl here that— (i) a few weeks later on, when my operations had developed, and I was in need of more baling presses, Colonel Reilly eaused 4 Conderis hand presses to be built for me, and a second-hand one which he purchase! from a contractor, to be put into serviceable order for me, in the Commissariat Workshops at Poona ; > (ii) that subsequently in the month of March 1897, when Messrs. Jessop & Co. of Calcutta had completed the manufacture of a second Phoenix steam hay-baling press for the Commissariat Department, Bombay Command, which was intended to be sent to Mhow, this press also was placed at my disposal by sanction of General Hobday, on' the recom¬ mendation of Colonel Burlton Bennett, to whom 1 had applied for its loan, and it was sent from Howrah by the Commissariat Store-keeper, Calcutta, direct to Khardi Station, G. I. P. Railway, in the Thina districts, eonsigned to one of my officcrs, together with 130,000 galvanized wire binders and the same number of iron links ; (iii)that through the kind offices of: Captain G. M. Westropp Commissary Grass Officer, Poona, I obtained the loan of yet another press from the Chief Commissariat Officer at Bombay, viz., “ K. B. Bezonje’s pattern screw press/* which was sent by him to Wasind Station, G. I. P. Kaibvay, where it was erected; J (iv) and that later on in the month of June 1897, when the stock of galvanized wire binders and links which had been supplied originally with the No. 1 Phoenix steam hay- baling press was nearly,exhausted, on wiring to Captain Westropp to assist me with a fresh supply of 20,000 binders and 10,000 links, Colonel Burlton Bennett kindly em- powered this officer to comply with my requisition, and tbey were sent off at once by rail¬ way, and arrived in the nick of time to keep the compressing and baling operations going, .and the despatch of baled hay to the famine districts in continuous flow. 9. It will be.seen from the above account that through the eord’al sympathetic, co-opera¬ tion of the oflicers of the Commissariat Department Government in the Famine Department were furnished, on loan, for their famine grass operations, with 2 brand new steam baling presses, 1 horse-power press of the 1st class, and 6 hand-power presses : * and were supplied, promptly, on payment, with 5 hand-power presses, and with a very large number cf galvanized wire binders and iron links for fastening the steam-pressed bales : and I would venture to submit that the thanks of Government in the Famine Department for tir s very welcome and valuable assistance are deserved by— General Hobday, Chief Commissary General to the Government of India, Colonel Burlton Bennett, Commissary General, Bombay Command, Lieutenant-Colonel T. Reilly, Chief Commissariat Officer, Poona, Captain G. M. Westropp, Commissary Grass Officer, Poona; for without the agency of these presses it would have been impossible to have 3baled all the grass that had been collected during the months of November and December 1S36 and Janu- ary and February 1897, to have sent the enormous quantity of fodder, the particular of which I will show further on, into the famine-affected districts. save at ruinous cost, if at all. > x 1®* I bappy to be able to say that one opportunity was given me of making a small return to the Commissariat Department at Poona during the hot season, 1896, when their stock ( xxxii ) of stacked fodder for consumption by the Transport cattle at Poona and the Artillery hotses at Kirkee during the rains of 1896 had run very low, and they were put to styaits to complete their requirements by furnishing them wjth — From the Thana Pressing Depots „ the Khdndesh „ ,, the Poona Total Bales. Pounds. 7,675 = 601,435 8,701 =* 523,489 . .361 = 29,910 16,737 = 1,157,831 ( ll.A quantity of this grass, I am told, came of very opportune service for despatch to the Frontier with Transport cattle and Military horses for the Tochi or Malakhand forces. 12. On the 9th November I addressed a circular letter to ajl Divisional Forest Officers requiring them to report— I.—The name of forest areas in which fodder is to be had in fairly large quantities so as to justify the erection of hay-baling presses in the neighbourhood for the despatch of grass by railway to the famine-affeeted areas. II.—The name of forest areas to which cattle nrght be sent from the more famine- stricken parts to graze and at the same time to state the maximum number of cattle which can be fed on particular areas. III.—-To make suggestions regarding the supply and distribution of fodder for famine districts, the supply of grazing and the removal of cattle to areas where grazing is available. 13. And on the 14th November I addressed a circular letter to the Collectors of Kh£n- tksh, Ndsik, Ahmednagar, Poona, Satdra, Sholdpur, Bijapur, Belgaum, Dh&rwar and Kanara, asking them to favour me with opinion on the following points :— {a) The supply of grass and its distribution in their districts. ( (J) The removal of cattle from their district to plac^s where grazing is available elsewhere. 14. At the same time I informed these officers— (i) That hay-baling presses were about to be erected and that bales of hay can be delivered at any railway station according to the requisition of the Collectors. (ii) That for the cattle of the Khandesh, Nasik, Ahmednagar, Poona, Satara, Belgaum and Dharwar districts sufficient grazing may possibly be found for all local cattle of each district within the boundaries of that district in the talukas bordering the Sayhadrr Moun¬ tain, but that the cattle from the Sholapur and Bijapur districts may possibly have to be sent by railway or otherwise into other districts for grazing, and possibly the western portion of the Belgaum and K&nara districts offers the best grazing areas for cattle which cannot be fed locally on imported fodder, &c. 15. Orders were issued early in November by the Commissioner, C. D., under Sections 155 to 157 of the Famine Code to open to the free grazing of all cattle reserved forest areas throughout the Central Circle, except those specially under reforestry : and similar orders were issued in the southern and northern revenue divisions. 16. Finally by order of Government Resolution No. 9006, dated 13th November 1896, in the Revenue Department, I was placed on special duty, for a period of six months, to be under the orders of Government in the Revenue Department, and to make inquiries regarding grazing and fodder for the cattle of the districts affected by scarcity, and was granted a special deputation allowance of Rs. 10 a day while so employed: and Mr. W. G. Betham was ordered to hold administrative charge of the Central Circle during my absence. 17. An office establishment of the following strength was sanetioned for me which I yecruited from the Forest Department of the Central Circle :— t 1Head Clerk on Rs. 80 per meusem, 1 Chitnis on Rs. 60 per mensem. 2 Clerk s at! Rs. 40 each per mensem. 3 Clerk s at Rs. 30 do. 1 Havilddr on Rs. 10 per mensem. 4 Peons at Rs. 8 eaeh do. IS. And the Accountant General was empQwered to issue Letters of Credit in my favour on different treasuries, in order to pro vide funds for meeting the cost of famine grass opera tions. These funds were drawn by means of cheques issued by me, in Forest Department cheque-books, against my Letters of Credit, and it was arranged that I should keep a cash-book and render a monthly cash account, and submit accounts to the Accountant General monthly in the form of Conservator of Forests’ accounts under the prescriptions of the Forest Department Code. y • ( xxxiii ) 1 19. In the meanwhile the Collector of Khandesh had reported on the 6th November that though grass is very scanty in the plains of Khandesh and in the Deccan generally, it is plenti¬ ful in the hill tracts of Khandesh, and is being removed,thence in considerable quantities for the use of cattle in the plains, and its quicker removal was necessary, if it is to be saved from destruc¬ tion in the annual forest fires, and the Collector suggested that arrangements be made for o'etting the grass in the hill traets of Edlabad and 8&vda cat by labourers, to be pressed and sent off by rail to places where it may be most needed ; and he asked for a sum of money to be advanced to the Divisional Forest Officer of East Khdndesh to carry out these arrangement, which will, he said, provide employment for a large number of poor people in the extreme east of the Khandesh District and will result in saving the lives of cattle in the plains of Nagar and Sholapur. The Commissioner approved of and reeommended for sanction the Collector’s proposals, and they were sanct’oned by Government in Resolution No. 9007, dated 13th November 1896, in the Revenue Department, with the orders : " Arrangements should be made, if possible, with contraetors to cut and cany off some of the grass available ; that it will not be expedient to attempt the distribution of the grass through State agency, that the stack s of grass should be sold, if possible, m situ, to traders who will themselves arrange for pressing the grass. If, however, traders will not buy it where stacked, the best arrangements feasible should be made for pressing it and moving it down to railway stations, where it can be sold to dealers or eultivat- ors at the price it will fetch; not less than the cost should be taken, unless there is no prospect of getting so much. Care should be taken that only grass suitable for fodder is collected,” 20. A sum of Rs. 5,000 was accordingly advanced to the Divisional Forest Officer, East Khandesh, for cutting and stacking grass in the Trans-Purna forests of the Edlabad range and in the Savda-Satpuda forests; and the Commissary General of Bombay, at my request, very kindly caused the Jessop's Phoenix steam baling press and the Dederick bulloek-power press, which had been plaeed at my disposal by his Department, as mentioned in paragraphs 5 and 6 above, to be loaded in railway wagons at the Poona Station and despatched by rail to Bhusawal in the East Khdndesh Division. Government approved of these proceedings in Government Resolution No. 9192, dated 20th November 1896, in the Revenue Department, Famine; and they directed me to make inquiries with regard to other presses, and to bring them in use in other parts of the Presidency where this could be done with advantage; and they added that no effort should be spared to secure as much grass, fit for fodder, as possible : but every endeavour should be made to indnee private enterprise to take the place of depart¬ mental operations, as far as may be found possible; and all Forest officers were directed to use every effort to prevent the destruction by fire of grass fit for fodder. Fire-traces were to be - made without delay wherever useful, and special guards were to be employed where they may be necessary for fire protection. 21. On the 14th November I had reported to Government that it would probably be unnecessary to move cattle of the Khandesh, Nasik, Ahmednagar, Poona and Sdtdra distriets outside the boundaries of their own distriets, or at the furthest beyond the western slopes of the ghats b ordering the different district s; and I mentioned the various places in the distriets named above to which cattle can be removed for grazing; and observed that even if the situation should become very much worse than it then foreshadowed, the cattle of the Central Circle need not be taken south to Kanara; that cattle from Sholapur might be railed to the western ghdts and then marehed north through forests of Mokhdda, Feint and Dangs, &c., and I urged that special orders should be issued by Government impressing upon officers the supreme importance of protecting the forests against fire, and directing that the Revenue officers should give ail possible assistance in this duty. 22. Government in their Resolution No. 9270, dated 21st November 1896, in the Revenue Department, Famine, directed all Collector to do their utmost to have village officers and the people generally made aware of the immense importance, in the current year, of saving the grass. It should be impressed upon them that every fire will destroy the means of preserving the lives of many cattle and any one responsible by act or neglect for such a result will prove himself a public enemy.” 23. , On the 14th November I wrote to the Collectors of Khdndesh, Nasik, Ahmednagar, Poona, Satara, Sholapur, Bijapur, Dharwdr and Belgaum, requesting them to favour me with such requisitions ?s they may have to make ; (i) for moving cattle from their distriets— (a) by road, (b) by railway; (ii) for the supply of fodder— i (a) for cattle, (b) for district officers. 24. I entered into communication with the Conservator of Forests, N. C. hnd S. C. and arranged with tliem that the cutting and stacking of grass should be undertaken at different centres of available grass areas in the Thana, Belgaum and Dhdrwar distriets B 98—9 ap ( xxxiv ) (i) In the Northern Circle Mr. Wroughton. kindly provided that grass should be stored at the Wangni, Badlapur, Titvala, Ivhadavli, Vasind, Asangaon, Khardi and Kassara Stations on the G. 1. P. Eail way in the Thana 4 District; and he personally superintended these operation s with the help of Mr. Edie; Divisional Forest Officer, North Th&na, and Mr. Krishnaji Babaji Phadke, Extra Assistant Conservator. The modus operandi was the same as had been adopted by me at the Thana Railway Stations during the famine of 1878. A Forest Depot Officer at each railway station was provided with a Salter*s weighing scale and an advance of money, and notincations were published in all the surrounding villages stating that the Forest Department was prepared to buy grass by weight at the different railway stations at the rate of Rs. 2-8-0 per 1,000 lbs. or 4 aVmas per 100 lbs; villagers, men, women and boys readily and cheerfully accepted the invitation, and grass was cut by them in the forest lands and waste lands and warkas lands and was brought to the railway station depot where it was weighed; a note was given to each person of this weight of grass, and payment was made to them on the spot for the quantity. « (ii) In the Southern Circle Mr. MacGregor, the Conservator, eaused grass to be obtained and stacked in the same way, save that it was not weighed, but was received and paid for by the pulla or bundle, a measure of varying and indefinite weight : (a) In the Belgaum District the Divisional Forest Officer Mr. H. Murray eon- ducted the business. (b) In the Dhdrwar Division .Mr. G. K. Betham started the work; and on his departure for Sind Mr. W. R. Woodrow took it up and earried it on vigorously. (c) In the Northern Division of K&nara Mr. E. G. Oliver, Divisional Forest Officer, directed the gras's colleetions. (d) In the Central Division Mr. Haseklen, the Divisional Forest Officer, undertook the operations. (iii) In the Central Circle I had already arranged for cutting and stacking as under:— (a) In the East Khdndesh Division,—in the Edlabad and Trans-Purna forests, in the Satpuda forests of Raver, Sdwda, Yaval and Chopda ranges under the immediate direction of Mr. R. H. Madan, Extra Deputy Conservator and Divisional Forest Officer; assisted by Mr. Abdul Rassul Khajbaksh, Forest Ranger, 1st Grade, who was placed on special duty from the 21st November 1896, to look after the grass operations. It was arranged that grass from Chopda should be brought to a depot at the Jalgaon Railway Station for being baled. (b) In the Poona Division unde" Mr. L. S. Osmaston, the Divisional Forest Officer,—in the ranges of Junnar, Khed, M&val and Mulshi bordering the Sayhadri mountains. (c) In the Satara Division,—in the Wai and Patan ranges under the direction and control of Mr. A. D. Wilkins, the Divisional Forest Officer. (d) In the Nasik District,—in the ghdt talukas of Nasilc, Igatpuri, Sinnar, Dindori, Baglanand Kalvan, Mr. G. li. Duxbury, the Divisional Forest Officer, order¬ ing and directing. 25. Owing to a bad rainfall, which had been specially heavy during a part of the month of duly, followed hy a long break of rainless dry weather, the growth of grass was below the normal yield almost everywhere, even in the hilly t&lukas, and a great seareity of fodder made itself felt in the champaign country in the Central Division during September and October; consequently by the beginning of November no grass was left in the forests of the plain talukas in the Central Division, save in a few closed forest areas ; and grass had been very heavily removed from all the accessible localities, and bad been grazed down in the hilly talukas neighbouring the western ghats of the Satara, Poona, Ahmednagar and Nasis districts generally, and even the parts of the Satpuda hills of Khandesh open to carts had been heavily denuded of grass, so that when order s were issued to collect grass deparfcinentally, about the middle of November, it was too late, in so far as the country above the ghati was concerned, for a large supply to be obtained. In the Central Division there remained but two forest areas in Khandesh which had been untapped, and these were the only reservoirs of grass left— (a) about 40 square miles in the Trans-Purna forests of the Edlabad range; and (b) about 70 square miles in an inaccessible forest region in the north of the S£tpudas of the Savda and Y&val ranges. ( c 1 c ^ 26. In the Southern Circle the Belgaum District had been practically cleared of grass, and so had the Southern Division of Kanara. 27. After having arranged for the cutting and storing of grass, as reported above, and for the supply of fvnds to all officers to pay its cost, I looked around for baling presses to compress the hay preparatory to its despatch to the famine-affected districts. On the 18th 4 ( XXXV ) • ' , 1 November I advertized in the leading newspapers of Bombay, Poona and Gujardt, English a^(I Vernacular, inviting offers to supply baling presses ; and I addressed the Public Works Department witU a view to ascertain whether a number of hay presses which had been made • over to that department for preservation after the fa,bine of 18/7 by order of paragraph 2 of Government Resolution No. 1096-P. 593 of 1878, dated 20th November 18/8, m the Public Works Department, could be made available; but no trace of them could be discovered. How¬ ever two old presses which had been used in the last famine were found subsequently by the Forest Department in the KSnara District, and were used by Mr. Haselden, Divisional iorest Officer, Southern Division, Kanara, later on, for baling hay. 28. In response to my advertisement— • (i) The Bombay Tramway Company, Limited, offered a press worked by coolie or bullock power for Rs. 750, which was purchased, and sent to the Badlapur Station of the Thana District, where it was ereeted and started by Mr. Wroughtun, the Conservator, personally. (ii) Messrs. Richardson and Cruddas of Bombay offered me a hand-press for Rs. 350 capable of turning out bales measuring 48" x 29" X 25". (iii) Messrs. Geo. Gahagan and Company of Bombay offered me a hand-press for the same price outturning bales 48" x 28" X 28". > 29. Both these presses were bought and were sent also to depots in the Thana District, one to Khadavli and the other to Badlapur. These two firms also offered to build and supply me with a new press weekly; but unfortunately the Plague, which declared itself in the city of Bombay about this time, dispersed a large number of their factory hands, so that they could not outturn new presses as rapidly as they anticipated: and as a matter of fact I was able only to purchase, up to the end of March 1897, 3 more hand-presses from Messrs. Geo. Gahagan and Company.. and 2 more hand-presses of an improved type from Messrs. Richardson and Cruddas, 1 hand-press from a Parsi manufacturer Mr. Jehangirji Ratanji Patel of Mhow; and in the month of April 1897 one English-made hand-press from Messrs. Macbeth Brothers and Company of Bombay, which was sent into the SStara District, and worked there until the famine grass operations were completed* 30.Government in the meanwhile provided me with a reserved carriage, both on the G. I* P. Railway line and on the Southern Marat ha Railway line, which was hauled at the cost of Government, and which proved of great convenience, enabling me to visit forest grass depots, those at which grass was collected and baled or “ depots of despatch/’ and those at which baled grass was received for distribution or depots of supply/* 31.Having sfcxrted the famine grass operations, or having arranged preliminaries for an immediate start in all direetions where it was possible to obtain good grass of sufficient quantity to be moved into the famine-affeeted districts, and having handed over, on the 25th November 1896, to Mr. W. G. Betham, Depaty Conservator of’Forest*, F.rst Grade, the officer appointed by Government to relieve me, the administrative charge of the Central Forest Circle, I started from Poona in my reserved carriage for Bhusaval Station in the East Khandesh District on the 28th idem, in order to arrange about the erection of the Jessop’s Phoenix steam baling press, and the Dederick’s bulloek-power press in suitable localities for baling the hay for the cutting and stacking of which funds had already been provided to the Divisional Forest Officer, East Khandesh, as stated in paragraph 20 above. The Collector of Khandesh was at Bhusaval when I arrived there and from liim I lexrnt that no grass had been cut in the Satpuda hill tracts of S&vda and Yaval, because the Tadvi Bhils who inhabit the villages placed alon^ the lower boundary of the Satpuda hills in this part of the district had for the presentother means of subsistence and they would do no grass-cutting so long as they had sufficient food for the day, and moreover it had been represented to him that these Bhils would resent any attempt to send outside or foreign labour into the 8£vda and Yaval Satpudas to cut and exploit the grass, which they would not cut, and that they would probably create a disturbance and proceed to violence; and therefore he suggested that I should remove the Phcenix st/eam bating press to some other district. This was a heavy blow at the very outset of my opera¬ tions, for it closed, against my efforts to supply fodder grass to the famine districts the only large area, 70 square miles, in the Deecan in which there was practically any substantial quantity of available grass, and which had not been touched by exploiter for local supply However, I did not give it up as a bad job, but leaving the Phoenix press with its accessories in the three railway wagons in which they had come from Poona in charge of the railway authorities at Bhusdval, I sent the Dederick Press to the Nargaon Station, and folio wed it there, and saw it unloaded and ereeted on a plot of waste land immediately outside the railway premises, and I started it at work compressing and taling the grass which had been cut and1 stacked, in the Trans-Purna forests of Edlabad. • 32.At the same time I looked round to see in what other district a sufficiently large stretch of country containing grass available for exportation within a reasonable distance of a railway line could be found, to admit of such a continued undertakinor as would iustify the moving to it, and the use there, of the Phcenix steam baling press lying idle at ( xxxvi ) y < Bhusaval: about this time I received Government Resolution No. 9618, dated 30th November 1896, in the Revenue Department, Famine, which sanctioned my proposal to collect grass in the Th&na District for being baled and sent to the famine cTisfcrictsf ‘*on the understanding that I had satisfied mystif, as far as is practicable, that the Deccan (including Southern MarTh& Great Indian Peninsula Railway. (a) For fodder conveyed into the famine distriets whether by Government or by private enterprise per wagon, irrespective of weight and without any terminal eharges— < 1 ' Rs. a. p. 1 lst 100 miles ... ... ... 0 2 9 per truck. 100 to 200 ... ... ... 0 2 6 do. Ove* 200 miles ... ... ...023 do. I > ( xxxix ) (5) Fbr cattle—3 annas per wagon per mile with 2 attendants free in each wagon. 77—The Southern Mar&tha Railway. (a) For fodder— > (i) Maund rate— , For pressed grass. 1 to 400 miles ... ... i pie per maund per mile. 401 miles and above ... ••• \ pie per maund without terminals. ) For loose grass. I pie per maund per mile with terminals. (ii) Wagon, rates— One anna per 4-wheeled wagon per mile without terminals. (Jj) Cattle rates— 4 animals or less in a wagon More than 4 in one wagon Single buffalo or bullock or single cow 14 annas per mile per wagon equiva¬ lent to 4J pies per head per mile. 3 pies for each animal in excess of 4 per mile. 4 pies per head per mile. III.—Bombay, Baroda and Central India Railway. For pressed or loose hay. First 50 miles ... Next 50 do. ... „ 50 do. ... „ 50 do. ... Over 200 do. Pie per maund. * .. 0*25 ' .. 0*23 .. 0*23 - .. 0-18 Plus a terminal of 6 pies per maund. 0-15 J Subject to a maximum charge of 3 annas per B. G M. G. truck per mile. truck per mile and 2 annas 3 pies per For cattle. 3 annas per vehicle mile for as many cattle as can be safely loaded. December 1896. 46. On the 8th December I paid a brief visit to the Budldpur Railway Station, G. I. P. Railway, in the Thana District, where the hay press purchased from the Bombay Tramway Company, Limited, vide paragraph 28 ante, had been ereeted by Mr. Wroughton, Conservator of Forests, N. C., and was being worked under his personal direction, assisted by Mr. A. G. Edie, Divisional Forest Officer, North Thana. This press was said to be worked either by bullock or coolie power, preferably the former, and if properly worked, t© be able to turn out 40 bales daily of the average weight of 250 lbs, each; but subsequent experience in working this press by bullocks throughout the season showed the daily outturn of bales to be much less, and the weight of bale to be 50 per cent, lower than the above figures, owing probably to the grass being drier; a sample bale weighing only 120 lbs. was sent to Sholapur; and one wagon-load of 52 bales containing 6,240, lbs. of grass was despatched to Bijdpur from the Budi&pur Station. On the 20th December 1896, I again visited the Budlapur Station*, and also the grass depots at W6ngni, Titw&la, Khadaoli, W&sind, Asangan, Atgaon, Khardi and Kassara. During this month a “ K. B. Bezonjee’s Pattern Screw Press” received on loan from the Commissariat Department in Bombay had been ereeted at the Wdsind Station, and one wagon-load of 53 bales of its bales, containing 4,125 lbs. of grass, was despatched from Wasind to the Yeola Railway Station in the N&sik District as a piLt consignment to feel the way. Two hand-baling presses obtained from Messrs. Richardson and Cruddas and Geo. Gahagan and Company, respectively, of Bombay, were ereeted at the Budlapur and Khadaoli Stations in the Thana District, and were started at compressing and baling. 47. The Dederiek Baling Press worked by bullock power had been manufacturing bales steadily at the Nargaon Railway Station in East Khandesh throughout December,' but it came to grief on the 29th, the cogwheel pin having broken, which was sent to the Railway Work- shops at Bhusawal to be renewed; and of the five hand-baling presses constructed by ^lessrs. Ri¬ chardson and Cruddas, of Bombay, which had very generously been put at my disposal, free of ‘ ( *1 ) charge, by Messrs. Sorabji and Cowasji Dubash, A'bkari contractor of Khdndesh, four were sent to the Jalgaon Railway Station, 261 miles from Bombay, and set up there to bale grass earted 60 miles to the dep6t from the Chopda-Satpuda forests, while the remaining one was placed at the Raver Railway Station, 298 miles from Bombay, and was worked, turiiing out 18 bales daily of an average weight of 1,000 lbs/grass. 48. It was found that villagers wet the grass which they brought to the depots for sale so as to make it weigh heavier and that when compressing and baling was given out to piece¬ work and paid according to a sliding scale regulated by the weight of the bale the village laDourers, when not closely watehed, put earth and stones inside the bales to make them weigh heavier. « ^ 49, The exportation of bales of hay to the famine districts during the month of December 1896 was as under :— From the Nargaon Press Dep6t in KMndesh 7 railway trucks containing 518 Dederick bales to—* • 1 Kopargaon Station of Ahmednagar. 2 Bij^pur „ of Bijdpur. 3 Sholapur „ of Sholdpur. 4 Bdrsi Road „ do. 5 Jeur „ do. 6 Kem „ do. 7 Madha „ do. and from the Budlapur Prfess dep6t in the Thana District 2 railway wagons of bales, viz.f one to the Sholapur Station of Sholapur and the other to Bijdpur Station of Bijapur and a third wagon load was sent to the Yeola Station of the Ndsik District as pilot consign- ments and feelers. 5(1 Four hand presses had likewise been started in the Poona DiLtrict and one had been sent to Kambarganvi in the Dharwdr District. 51. This was not a bad beginning, seeing that this business was an entirely new departure, and that baling presses had to be discovered and obtained and unskilled village labour had to be taught how to handle and work them. But the sales of grass sent to the famine districts, save at Bijapur, were not very encouraging at this time. One wagon-load of 60 bales containing 5,240 lbs. of grass, the railway freight on which from Nargaon to Kopargaon had amounted to Rs. 25-3-0, was put up to auction sale by the Mdmlatdar who reported that Rs. 27-6-0 was the highest bid made; but the actual cost price of uhe grass had amounted to Rs. 72-15-0 including the railway freight for the journey of 161 miles, so I directed the Mamlatdar to have the auction reheld on the 23rd December; and I proeeeded to Kopargaon in person on that date. to be present. Mr. R. B. Stewart, 1st Assistant Collector of Nasik, and the Mamlatddr of Yeola accompanying me from the Yeola Station, the sale was held, the attendance not being very large, and the grass knocked down to a bid of Rs. 78 made in behalf of the Yeola District Board: this was the first auction sale of famine grass. January 1897. N 52. The Jessop's Phoenix steam-baling press, with aecessories, which had been left in the Bhusdwal Station Yard on the railway trucks in which they had been brought from Poona, was moved by rail to the Raver Station, early in January 1897, as a considerable quantity of grass had been cut and stacked in the Satpuda forests of Savda and Y£val ranges, and a cart- road had been made practicable for the removal of grass from these forests to the Rd ver Station : the Press was unloaded and moved to a field adjoining the station premises where it was erected; and it started baling on 18th January 1897, and outturned 128 bales during ftiat day. The G. I. P. Railway authorities preferred a bill for demurrage and wharfage cliarges for the 3 trucks upon which the steam press and plant were detained at the Bhusawal Railway Station, while attempt was being made to have the grass in the Savda and Yaval Sdtpudas cut and stacked and the country made accessible to carts. The bill amounted to 1,040, but on re- presenting the facts of the ease to the Agent of the Company,. through the General Traffic Manager, the charge was remitted. A hand-baling press was likewise in employment, throughout the month at River. 53. During the month of January the baling operations were carried on at the Nargaon, Jalgaou and Raver depots in the Khandesh District; at 4 depots in the Junnar, Khed, Mulshi and M&vari. ranges of the Poona District; at the Budlapur Dcepot a bullock power and a hand press were at work, while at the Khadaoli and W&sind depots in the TMna District hand presses worked all the month; and at Hozgoli in the Belgaum District, by means of a Condens Press, sent from Poona, a considerable quantity of baling was done. The bullock power press having finished up the grass at the Budlapur Depht was moved by me to Wangnj about the middle of the month and was started at work there. ( xli ) > ,54. The exports of grass to the famine districts were conveyed in 49 railway wagons as under • From Station, To Station. > Number of wagons. Budl&pur • •• ... Jeur ... ... ... 6 ... Kem ... 6 ... Birsi Road ... ... a ... M&dha ... a • S) «*• ... Slioldpur ... i ... Mohol ... ... X ... Diksdl ... 2 a ... Bijapur ... ... 5 »} ... Teloji ... ... 5 ... Yeot ... ... i ... Pomalw&di »#• 1 Jalgaon ... Puntambe ... 1 if ... Kopargaon ... *#♦ 2 ... Yeola .. ... ... 2 ... V&mbori ... ... 1 B^ver ... Yeola... 5 ... Ii&kh... ... 1 >> ... BeUpur ... ... 1 ... Chitali ...« 1 t* ... ... B£rsi Road ... ... 1 49 and in addition thereto 8,300 lbs. of grass was sent to Bijdpur and 13,600 lbs. to B£d4mi from the Belgau-m forests, and 108,250 pullies of grass to Bijapur and 2.3,120 lbs. to Baddmi from the Dh&rwAr forests. 55.And 5461 bales containing 5,04,428 lbs. of hay remained in stock in the press depots ready to be sent into the famine districts, where the sales had not been at all brisk, and 489 bales only had been sold up to the end of the month, as the pinch for grass had not yet c^me, there being balances of karbi left in many villages, and of fodder grown under w ell irrigation. February 1897. 56. During the month of February. 1897 the steam press at R4ver had to remain idle for some days as the valves required to be repaired, which was done at the G. I. P. Railway Workshops at BhusAval : and great difficulty was experienced in obtaining carts to proceed into the Satpuda forests for grass, owing to the difficulties of the road, and the wild inhospitable character of the country, so that the R4ver Depot was very scantily provided with Sdtpuda grass. The hand press from Budiapur Station was removed to the Titwala Station, as all the grass at the depot at the former had now been compressed and baled, and the hand press was started at the Titwala Grass Depot during the second week of the month. Two new hand-baling presses of a more powerful and improved type received from Messrs. Geo. Gahagan and Company were erected by me at Khardi Station on the 12th and were started to bale the 3 Mkhs of pounds of grass available here. Four hand liay-baling presses were sent from the Jalgaon Depot to the Atgaon Railway Station, and were carted out to Rohida upon the Tilnsa lake catchment, and were set up there to bale the grass which had been collected. A screw press and 5 Condens hand presses eommenced to bale grass in the Kambarganvi Depot in the Dharw ar District during the third week of this month; and a hand-baling press was sent from Gahagan and Company of Bombay to this depot to assist, as the collection of grass was large. The hand press left at Jalgaon broke down ; its ratchet wheels were sent to Bombay to be renewed. Grass from the Chopda-Satpuda forests was sent during the last week of February to a new steam cotton factory which had only just been erected at that town to be baled by its powerful presses. A Condens press was sent to Londa in North Kanara for baling the grass there and eommenced at the Tinaighdt, and another Condens hand press was sent to the SdtAra District for use there. A new type hand-baling press obtained from Messrs. Richardson and Cruddas of Bombay y/as sent to Assangaon Station and also a press from Mhow; and a new improved type hand-baling press was sent to the Wdngni Station in the Thdna District from Messrs. Richardson and Cruddas of Bombay. The plague in the city of Bombay had delayed the receipt of these presses, as many of the workmen had deserted the factories at Bombay, In S. D. KAnara baling grass was started by aid of two screw presses. 57. The export of bales of hay to the famine districts during this month was not heavy as there was little demand, at cost price, for grass. I visited the depots in the ShoMpur District, and was present at an abortive auction sale held at Barsi Road Station, the attendance being smal1, and bidding unremunerative. I also went to Bijapur where grass was selling fitfully ; and from there I went to Kambarganvi and inspected the baling operations in the Dharwdr District. Twenty* seven wagon-lo^ds of bales were sent into the famine areas as under :— B 98—ll ap ( xlii ) To. From. District, Dep6t. District. Wagons. Sholdpur ... ... ShoMpur... ... Th&na... i ... 1 v ... Hot£i „ ... 1 ... B&rsi Road 4 • ... Madlia ... ... 2 Ahmednagar ... Pimpri 3 tf ... ... Belwandi %> ... L » ... ... Visapur ... ... ft 1 *•» ... Sarola ... 1 ... Nagar ... Kh&ndesh 2 v ... R&huri ... * 5> i » ... Bellpur ... 3 » ... ... Chitali ... *♦ * ** ...< 2 ft ... ... Fanvatsar... n 1 » ... ... Kopargaon • i* 2 tt&sik ... ... K4ndgaon V 1 ^ ... ... ManmM ... 1 27 58. Only about G80 bales of grass were sold in the Sholapur, Ahmednagar and Poona distriets during the month, no great demand having yet set in and the price at cost rates, being seemingly more than the village cattle owners could afford to pay. There were nearly 12,000 J^ales on hand in the press depots. ready for despatch to the famine distriets. All further grass cutting and collection was stopped in every district by a written order issued by me about the 14th February, as the grass had, by this time, become very dry and brittle, and it was fast arriving at the stage when cattle will not eat it, as there was no nutriment left in it. March 1897* 59. I had been in correspondence with the Commissary General, Bombay Command, for the loan of a second Jessop’s Phoenix steam hay-baling press, which was intended . for Mhow, and Colonel Burlton Bennett wrote to me on the 12th March, informing that the Commissary General, Bengal Command, had despatched from Hoyrah the brand new steam press to the Khardi Railway Station, Thana District, on the 8th, together with a full supply of galvanized ware binders and links. The trucks containing the press-plant on arrival at Khardi were moved to the next station, Atgaon, where the engine,* boiler, &e., were unloaded and were then transported to Rohida, on the Tdnsa lake catchment, over the road that had been made by Messrs. Glover and Company, the contractor for building the Tansa dam. The maehinery was erected at Rohida, at a distance of about 7 miles from the Atgaon Railway Station. Firewood was obtained from the neighbouring forests, and coal from the G. I. P. Railway Company from Wasind, and the steam press No. 2 was started baling Tansa grass on the 31st March 1897. Hand-baling presses were moved during the month from railway station depots in the Thana District, where the baling of grass had been completed, to other stations where large stacks of loose grass were still remaining : thus the depots at Wangni, Budlapur, Titwala, Khadaoli were baled out, and pressing power was concentrated at Wasind, Assangaon, Khardi and Kass^ra. A disastrous fire oceurred on the night of the 20th during the Holi festival, at the Sashivli Depot, on the Tansa lake catch¬ ment, when 389,333 Ibs. of grass were burnt. This depot was far away from any village, and broad fire traees bad been cleared all round the stacks of grass, but the watchmen had gone, without leave, to villages near by to participate in the Holi celebration, the fire was. clearly the work of an incendiary as stacks were evidently fired in several pLrces, but all efforts made by the Mamlatdar of Sh£Mpur and the police to discover the offender failed. It is very difficult to assign a cause for this fire. It could hardly have been the work of grass dealers, because there was absolutely no move on the part of private traders to send grass for sale into the famine distriets, and they* had no cause to regard my operations with jealousy : on the contrary fchey regardad my work in friendly spirit, and were always ready with any help they could give. The grass dealers are also the timber dealers of the district, and they were old friends of mine, and welcomed me whenever I appeared at the different stations. I had tried often and often to induce them to undertake the despatch of grass into the famine distriets, and had even gone to the length of offering them the whole of my collected grass, at railway stations, at cost price, with the loan/ free of charge, of my baling presses to compress and bale, but they had met these overtures with the replies that it would not pay/’ “they had no agencies in the famine distriets/’ “ who will bring grass there to feed cattle when bullocks and cows are being sold for Rs. 9 a dozen'”? the value of their hides; and the dealers had offered me their stacks of grass, at or near railway stations, at virtually cost prices, because they complained that the heavy cost of railway freight to the famine distriets, as well as the uncertainty of a sale when the grass was landed ‘there, prohibited them from exporting the grass themselves. However the orders of Government precluded me from buying this grass. I am glad to be able to add that the most, if not all of it, found its way to Ahmednagar and the Deccan country later on, in May and June, when there was a fierce demand for grass in those parts. At the Holi time there is much drinking, and a general state of drunkenness among Kolis and other villagers in the Konkan, but it is difficult to believe that the Sashivli grass depot was burnt in a drunken freak, to make a Holi bonjire, seeing that the drunken offender would have I • ( xliii ) ) * had to walk 4 miles from the nearest village through an uninhabited stretch of open forest to the depot. Nearly one thousand rupee#* worth of grass was destroyed by this fire—grass that would havS saved many head of cattle in the famine districts. I visited the scene two or three days after the fire while the ashes were still ^smouldering, 60. All the baling of grass had been eompletedin the Poona District, and the Condens presses were sent away°to other districts, Sat&ra and Dharwar. A new English-made hand press was purchased this month from Messrs. Macbeth Brothers and Company of Bombay and was sent to the Karad Station, Southern Maratha Railway, for employment in the Patan Taluka of Satdra District where over 200,000 lbs. of grass were stored. > 61. In the’Khandesh District the steam press was working at Rdver by fits and staits, not in honest continuous employment, as the grass from the Sdtpudas was coming into this depot very slowly, for the eartmen of the district would not be attracted to this inhospitable rough country of the Satpudas even by offers of enhanced rates, and no contractor would come forward to bring out the grass except at a cost which would have raised the price of baled grass landed in the famine district to a prohibitive price. I went to Jalgaon to the Collector^ camp to ask the assistance of the Revenue officers, but the Collector expressed his inability to provide carts. The Dederick press was baling merrily and doing excellent work; having finished all the grass at Nargaon it was sent to Chinchkheda, and after a brief spell of work at that depot it was carted on to Charthan where it was employed baling up to the end of the month. The hand press at Jalgaon had its ratchet wheels renewed, and resumed work; while at Chopda the cotton steam factory presses outtarned over a thourvnd bales. 62. In Kanara hay-baling presses worked by manual power were in employment at Sanglikop, ‘Wadgatta, Shingnalli and Sanwalli in the southern division, tod at Tinaighat, Castle Rock and near Londa in the northern division. A hand press was baling at Hozgoli in the Belgaum District; and the screw and lever hand presses were worked steadily at Kambar- ganvi in the Dharwar District: while a considerable quantity of grass was conveyed to Hubli to be pressed and baled at a cotton steam factory. * 63. The exporfcs of grass into the famine district during the month of March had been of greater volume than previously. The number of railway wagon loads of bales moved from the grass-supplylng districts were as under: — . , From To Poona. Ahpiednagar. Msik. Sholiipur, Bijapur. Th&na ... 23 3 44 Khandesh ... 4 20 7 20 Dhdrw&r ... ... 1,411 Belgaum ... 338 Total ... 27 ‘ 23 7 64 1,719 C4. But the sales in the famine districts were hanging fire: about 786 bales were sold in the combined Deeean districts of Poona, N£sik, Ahmednagar and Sholapur, while in Bijapur considerably over 1,000 b^Jes were bought. A commencement was made of selling baled grass in small lots by public auction in the suburban limits of Poona, Messrs. Hajee Cassum Ladha being employed as auctioneers under my personal supervision, and the grass was brought most of it from the Thana District and some from Khandesh, and it was bought by Military officers, private residents of Poona, and by dealer s also, who eompeted freely for it, the results showino* that the character of the grass of the Konkan country below the ghats had been maligned, and that the horses and cattle living in the Deccan had not the slightest objection to eat it. The Commissariat Department at Poona having asked me to furnish them with some grass up to 25 lakhs of pounds a commencement was made during the month to supply as much as could be spared from the Tansa lake catchment in the Th&na districts and from Raver in Khandesh. 65. Government in their Resolution No. 736-Fam., dated 5th March 1837, empowered me to establish a grass depot at every railway station in the famine-affected area, and to place a Forest officer in charge of it, and to sell bales of grass there to any person who may hpply for it at a price not less than the actual cost incurred, provided traders do not come forward to buy the grass for distribution, and provided always that whenever there is competition, not necessarily public auctions, the price will be settled by it, and that it is made generally known that if private individuals engage in the trade they will not be undersold by Government. April 1897. 66. No more presses were purchased or obtainable in the local markets ; but hand presses were moved from exhausted depots to depots where grass remalned. Thus in the Thana districts all the grass in the railway station depots excepting at Kassdra was baled and the hand presses were removed to Rohida upon' the Tansa lake catchment. In Kh&ndesh the Dederick press was moved to Rajur in the Trans-Puma reserve, and the steam presses were working at Rohida in Thana and Raver in Kh&ndesh. I visited all the press depots in Thana and Khandesh and also the depots of supply in the famine districts which had been established at the following railway stations :— Poona* 1. Poona. 2. Veot. 3. Kedgaon. 4. Patas. 5. Dhond, 0. Diksal. Alnnednagar, 1. Pimpri. 2. Belwandi. 3. Visdpur. 4. Sarola. f>. Nagar. 6. Vim bor i. 7. Rdhuri» 8. L&kh. 9. Betepur, 10, C hi tatt. '•ll, Puntamba, 12, Sanvatsar. 13. Kopargaon, ( xliy ) Nasik, 4 L Yeola. 2. Manmid. d: N&ndgaon. ShoUpur. 1. Pomalv’ddi. 2. Jeur. 3. Kem, 4. Birsi Road. 5. Midha. 6. Mohol. 7. fchohipur. 8. Hotgi. Bijdpur. 1( Bijdpur, 2. Indi Road, 3. Telgi. 4. Almatti. 5. Bigalkot, 6. Katglri. 7. Bd d-kni. 8. Mullapur. 9. Gadag. € 67.The movement of haled grass into the famine distriets this month was heavier than during the preceding, and all the sale depots at the different railway stations were stocked. A large number of wagons with baled grass was sent to the Kirkee Railway Station, as well as to the Poona Railway Station, from Atgaon and Assangaon stations, with Konkan grass for the Commissariat Department; and from Raver 38 wagon-loads were sent to Poona and Kirkee for the same department; while ll wagon-loads were sent to Ahmednagar containing Khandesh grass for the Government Remount Department from the Nargaoi* Station, making a railway journey of 229 miles. The Jath State having applied for assistance in grass, 187,5U0 lbs. were supplied to it from the Belgaum and north division of Kanara ‘ forests on payment of Rs. 1,049-4-6, at'the rate of Rs. 5-9-6 per 1,000 lbs. ; this grass wasrailedto the Mi raj Station, Southern Mardtba Railway, from the Kalmani Station in the Belgaum District and from TinaigMt in Kanara. 68.Auction sales were held by me at Poona on Konkan and^ Khdndesli grass, which was bought readily by residents of Poona and Kirkee in competition with dealers, at prices exceeding what the grass had cost up to date. The grass from the Poona ghats was brought into Poona from the Mulslr, Maval and Jannar ranges, while the grass collected and baled in the Khed range, 19,113 lbs. in 241 bales, was sold in situ by publ:e auction for Rs. 178, averaging Rs. 9-5 per 1,0QU lbs. The Mulshi grass, 361 bales containing 29,910 lbs., was given to the Com¬ missariat Department for Rs. 15 per 1,000 lbs., and the grass of the two ranges—184 bales eon- taining 16,116 lbs. of Maval and 370 bales containing 33,301 lbs. of Junnar, was sold at auction for about Rs. 12-13-3 per 1,000 lbs. A quantity of the Konkan grass from the Thana forests was purchased at auction by officer s of the Durham Light Infantry, and was pronounced by them to be as good grass for feeding horses as they had ever seen. The Polo steed of this regiment is celebrated throughout India, for the officers of the Durham have won the Army Championship of Polo several years in succession, and have swept away prizes at every meeting at which they have been repl esented; and this testimonial to the quality of the grass from the country below the ghats should set at j-est for ever all doubts as to its value for feeding cattle, including horses, in the Deccan. Local uealers were charging at this time over Rs. 2i) per 1,000 lbs. for grass in Poona and Kirkee, and were forcing prices, so that the importation and sale by auction of famine grass was regarded as a measure of considerable relief. 69.Four bales of hay were burnt in the Badami Depot.and 75 bales in the Mallapur Depot, both being in the Bijapur District, and 100 bales of hay of the Dederick press containing 7,076 lbs. of grass were burnt in the Yeola Sale Depot; the fire occurred at midday, and its origin could not be discovered. On the 20th April a fire occurred in the pressing depot at the KassAra Rail¬ way Station when 245 bales recently pressed containing 38,000 lbs. of grass were burnt. If the G. I. P. Railway officers at the Kassara Station had not given prompt assistance with their Manual Fire Engine the whole stock of bales and grass with the presses in the depot might have been destroyed. 70. Outside Poona the sales of faminq grass in the famine district were still very dis? encouraging, as will be seen :— Sholapur District Ahmednagar Nasik Poona ... Bijapur ... 71. In their letter No. Fam.—148, dated 28th April 1897, Government aslced me to report at once what action I “ propose to take in respect of the immense aceumulations of grass pressed and unpressed now in hand/’ And in my letter No. Fa?,i.—1507, dated 30th idem, I gave a complete report of the situation up to date, expressing my ability to bale aud send into the famine distriets all the grass that could be brought to pressing depots with the carriage obtain¬ able by me : the only grass regarding which there was any doubt was that in the Satpuda forests, and I had sent, far and wide, for earts, eventover the frontier into Nernar, but cartmen would not be charmed £o go into the trackless Iritis to face dangers and risks, to bring out grass ; and finally I recommended “ that the selling price of grass at all the famine grass retail sale “depots in the Nasik, Ahmednagar, Poona, Sholapur and Bijapur distriets be reduced to eight “ annas the maund of 80 lbs. from the month of May. Hitherto the price charged has been not “ less than the actual cost. It may be assumed that all or the most of the worthless cattle in the “ famine-affected areak have disappeared, and Ion d fide plough cattle are now left: and to keep 1,2571 825 ] 243 y 250 j 1,510 J 4,085 '«them in condition during the ploughing time, and to tide them over the last days of searaty “ before the new grass appears, Government might consider it worthwhile to incur ^financial “ loss, as they Will tmdoubtedly do in selling grass at eight annas per maund o£ 80 lbs. 72. Government in paragraph 2 of their Resolution No. Faji. 1163, dated 10l.h May 1897, passed the following order: —“ The Honourable Mr. Shuttleworth is authorized to accept the best prices lie can get without any restriction as to the charges being covered by them subject, however, to a minimum of eight annas per 80 lbs. or Rs. 6 j per 1,000 lbs. 73. I received a telegram from the Chief Secretary to Government at Manmad Station on the evening of the 5th May informmg me oi this order which opens a new chaptei in the h st^iy of the famine grass operations. Hitherto the demand for grass had been very* slack, and the sales tardy, and difficult to accomplish, so that it had become a matter cf very great anxiety as to what would be the fate of my enormous collection of grass, for the experience of the last famine foreshadowed a disastrous waste, with eventual destruction by fire ; and croakeis were predicting that there might be a similar fiasco. The days of thunderstorms weie already upon- us, and the rainy season was &pproaehing rapidly, and I had been anxiously debating what to do, more particularly with the very considerable quantity of baled hay upon the lansa lake ^catch¬ ment, as well as that brought to, and stored at, the Atgaoii Rahway Station, as this depot was within the region of the early monsoon and of the heavy rainfall. 13ut the lowering of the price, as soon as the news had spread over the Deccan villager, worked a magical change. A boom set in for grass, and a rush was made in all the depots everywhere by the village cattle owners, and the depots were cleared out as quickly as they were re-stocked; add as fast as rail¬ way trains could deliver bales, the latter were canned away b>y clamouring erowds, even before the bales went into the sale depot, so that every blade of grass cut and collected in the districts of Khandesh, Nasik, Poona, Satara, ThAra, Belgaum, Dharwar and KAnara was disposed of, eaten and consumed by cattle in the Deccan ; and if there had been double the quantity that was on hand and stacked in the forestson the 1st May 1897, it would all have been taken readily by the village cattle owners. May 1837. 74. In the ThAna District the last lot of loose grass remaining at a railway station depot, Kassdra, was baled during the first week of this month, and then all the hand And other presses were moved to the fiorala Depot in the Tansa lake catchment area : and the baling of the g-ass was finished both at Rohida and Borala before the end of the third week. The presses were then dismantled and sent to the Atgaon Railway Station and five of the hand presses were forwarded by railway to the Raver Depot in KhAndesh. Baling of loose grass was likewise eompleted at all the press depots in Satara, Dharwar and KAnara. The Dederick press having compressed all the grass collected in the Trans-Purna forest of Khandesh by the end of April was car ted across country, and sent up into the Savda-Satpudas, wheie it wras worked until an order was received to stop further grass operations, and then this press was carted to Raver, where it was fixed up and started again when the operations were resumed. During the first week of May I went from Poona to Atgaon to inspect the depots and arrange about the despatch of bales, &c., and then returned by way of Manmad and Dliond, visiting all the sale depots on that line. The demand was still slack and sa’es sluggish; 385 bries only had been sold at these depots since the 1st. From Poona I sent out the orders for the reduced charge to be made not below eight annas per maund of 80 lbs, and during the second week of May I travelled from Poona to Raver, examining the Kedgaon, Patas and Dhond depots and each depot on the D hond-Manmad line ; the sales were much brisker, so that 994 bales were sold during the week ending the 15th and the greater number at northern depots of Chitali, Puntambe, "\Vari and Kopargaon. At Raver I found that grass was coming down from the Satpudas in very small quantities, and that carts could not be induced to go into the hills in sufficient numbers to ensure all the grass stacks rema’ningin the forests being brought down before the rains set in, in their ordinary course, and moreover the cost of carting the grass was h'gh, and I felt at that time by no means sure that, even if all the grass could be brought down and baled, it would, in addition to the bales in the Th Ana District, and elsewhere, be absorbed by the demand at its existing temperature, and even at an inereased rate in the famine districts; and it seemed tome to be a preferable measure to abandon the grass, about 2,013,994 lbs., remaining in the Satpudas, and to close the operations at RAver and dismantle the steam press, &c., more particularly as thunderstorms m’ghS be expected at the end of May. I reported to this effect to Government on the 13th May from RA ver; and in Government Resolution No. Fam. -1217, dated 22nd May 1897,1 was authorized “ to close pressing operations at Raver at once and to bring no moie grass down and to let the people make what use they can of the grass collected.” Orders were issued to the Raver Depot accordingly. 75. From RAver I went down to Atgaon to consult about the completion of the baling up and the cart ng of bales from the Tansa catchment depots to the railway station, and then returned to Poona; and on the IS th I left again for Sliolapur, inspect ing all the grass sale depots between the two plaoes; and I was delighted to find that a great rush had neen made on the depots, and that an enormous demand for grass had suddenly upsprung, so that I telegraphed from SholApur, on the 18th May, to Mr. Ryan, Deputy Conservator of Forests and Divisional Forest Officer, South Thana, who was then supervising the famine grass operations in the Thana District, to send at once as many as possible of railway wagons loaded With bales, distributing them among the different depdts, in the Sholdpur Distinct; and I wired to the Kassara, Jalgaon and Raver to send bales to each and every sale depot, as quickly as could be done. E 98—12 ap ( xlvi ) * ( 76. On the 21st May I met the Collector of Ahmednagar, hy appointment, at that place, and arranged to hand over to him as many balcs as could be spared of our remaning supply of grass, and all the bales that may be left unsold in the sale depots after the 8*] st, for issue to ryots against tagai, and at the cost of Indian Charitable Famine Fund. From Ahmednagar I proceeded to Atgaon, inspecting depots by the way, and seeing that the demand for grass" was equally hcavy on the line of sale depots between Nagar and Manmad. I reported to Government ihechangcd Situation on the 22nd May, and proposed that the grass which had been( abandoned in the Satpuda hills should now be brought out to Raver, and baled and sent into the famine district s ; and I suggested that this could be done if Government would order the Collector of Khandesli and the District Superintendent of Police to furnish eaits. On the evening of the 24 th May I received a telegram from the Chief Secretar/ to Government^expressing approval of my proposal s, and informing me that ordcrs had been issucd about carts : so I wired instructions to Rdver to recommence operations at once. 77. On the 25th May I met the Collector of Sholapur at Rarsi Road Station, and arranged to hand over to him all the bales in the sale depots in his district* and as many more as could be sent there, for issue to ryots against tag'ai, and at the cost of the Indian Chaiitable Famine Fund: and on the 2(5th I went to Bijapur, intcrviewed the Collector, and made similar arrange¬ ment with him for liis district: and the next few days 1 passed at railway stations, seeing bales sold and handed over to the Mamlatdars : and on the 2nd June I arrived at Raver, to which depot I had eaused all the available hand liay-baling presses to be sent; and I found in full work there the 1 83. The reduction in the selling price of the compressed fodder to a minimum of not less than eight annas the maund of 80 lbs. at the famine grass sale depot was a very judicious as well as a liberal concession, for there was an absolute absence of fodder in many parts of, and practically all over, the Ahmednagar, Slioldpur and 3ijapur districts, and the cultivators every¬ where were in* great stra'ts to keep their plough cattle alive, and in working condition to prepare their field s for the reception of the seed grain against the approaching rain s; and at the same time the ryot cattle owners had no sufficient money to pay a high price for hay. Directly Jdie news of the reduced prices reached distant vlllages a great run was made on the sale depots : people came clamouring for baies which were carted away joyfully. The reduction was? well timed, for if the prices had been lowered earlier in the season while the ryot had yet something remaining in hand fqr the feeding of his cattle, it is probable that dealers and speculator would have bought up the grass, and the village cattle owner would have been compclled, later, on in the season, to pay the middleman^ profit for the fodder of his plough, oxen. All this was avoided, and the grass went into the hands, directly, of the very persons in whose behalf it hid been procured, and who m it, was intended to benefit by the baies being handed over to the Col* lector s for distribution ; who then doled out the grass to cultivators in a very methodical manner.; for example: in the Sholapui* District the MamlatcMrs of the different talukas furnished eulci- vators with permit s or orders for grass printed on green paper against the Indian Charitable Famine Fund, and on to hit e paper against tagffi : these permits were taken by the individual to grass supply depot, and here they presented the permits, received the grass, and were given a receipt in printed form for the money represented by the pass; the counterfoil of the permit was retained by the Mamlatdar who issued it, and all the permits taken at each depot were sent the same evening to the Collector of the district, while the counterfoil of the receipt was retained at the depot. 84. On the 7th June 1897 I resumed charge of duties of Conservator of Forestsin adminis¬ trative control of the Central Circle, relieving Mr. W. G. Betliam, but my I’esponsibilities and work in connection with the famine grass operations have continued ever since Bills hal to be paid. Steam and other presses had to be repaired and returned, or otherwise disposed of, and account to be rendered and adjusted; and the latter is still in progress. 84a. The special office establishment sanctioned for me—vide paragraph 17—Yas reduced and finally abolished on the following dates Date. 1 Havilddr on Es. 10 and 2 peons at Rs. S each. 7th June 1837. Head Clerk on Rs. 80, 2 elerks on Rs. 40 each, and 1 clerk on Rs. 30 ... ... ... 30th September 1897. Chitnis and 1 clerk on Rs. 30, 1 peon on Rs. 8 ... 8lst October 1897. One peon on Rs. 8 was not entertained at all and there was a consequent saving to this extent oil the sanction. * S5. I will now report what lias been done under each of the different heads of instruction* furnished me by Government which are mentioned in paragraph 2 of this report. 1.—To ascertain where grazing is available and to take measures for the distribution of the animals entitfed to admission to the forests in the manner most suitable in consideration of comparative convenience and the supply available. 86. All the forest region in every district of the Presideney proper, excepting special plantataons, recently exploited compartments of forest blocks necessarily closed in the process of reafforestation, and areas from which grass is exploited habitually by hand for the supply of fodder to cantonment s and civil stations, to large towns and cities, to the Commissariat and Agricultural Departments for feeding Government horses and cattle in the' Military and Civil Departments, were, on the pronouncement of famine, opened at once to the entry of all cattle, free of charge, and villagers were invited to send their cattle, in charge of village herdsmen, from the famine-affected villages in the east, to the west towards the ghdts for grazing in the forests. Wide advantage was taken by the village cattle owners of the opening of the forest areas to .their cattle in their own districts, and to some extent cattle from one district went into a neighbouring one, but as a rule the cattle owners were very averse to send their cattle to distant grazing areas ^ in other districts. Cattle from the Bijapur Collectorate went into the Belgaum and Dhirwar western forests to graze, and some few passed into the very eastern portions of Kanara, but it was repeatedly told me that the Bij&pur cultivator was very averse to sending his cattle into the Kanara forests to graze, from the experience of the last famine, when not only did the cattle die in large numbers owing to the new diet of forest grass to which they were wholly unaccustomed, but also the herdsmen died through malaria and other sickness in a foreign country. . Collector of Ahmednagar in his letter No. 8629, dated the 21st December 1S96, informed me— J r™ i Bs. a. p. ✓ East Khandesh ... 6,036,846 11,954 12 10 \ Nisik... ..." ... ... 231,651 , 519 7 0 Central < Poona 119,429 3H 14 6 { Sitira 264,151 675 3 9 6,651,977 ( South Thina No. 1 ... ... 1,690,843 8,989 6 0 Northern ... ... s Central Thina No. 2 • ... 2,511,263 1,470 13 3 4,202,106 r Belgaum 262,132 582 7 0 Dhirwrafr 1,400,782 5,326 14 1 Southern ... ... ^ K*nara,N. D. ~ 143,150 348 ll 0 t Do. S, D. 453,869 3,250 10 3 2,259,933 Grand Total ... 12,114,016 31,433 3 8 117. Some of the grass was not baled but was sold locally, either because the quantity was too small to export, or baling presses were not available, or to meet a special local demand for it, or because it was refused. Some loose grass was exported to the famine distriets. The following shows such transactions in loose grass :— > Sold locally. Exportsd. Cirole. Division. - Grass in Lbs. Price. Grass in Lbs. Price. R*. a. P* Rs.. a* p. i East Khindesh 137,725 716 6 1 •*» Central 1 Nisik Poona ... ... 231,491 815 0 0 , I Sitira ... 8,232 28 9 0 Northern ... C ThtfnaNo. 1 Do. No. 2 1,926 6 0 0 r Belgaum Southern ... ••••i Dh&rw4r ... ...» Kinara, N. D. 5,440 4,000 22 28 7 0 0 0 1,600 30 18 0 i Do. S. D Total ... 388,814 1,614 6 1 1,600 30 12 0, 113. Some o* the loose grass was burnt by fire breaking out in the depot where it had been collected and the following table shows the loss incur red thereby :— Circle. Division. Grass in Lbs. Value. Central Northern,.. Southern East Khindesh ... ThdnaNo. 2... Dhirwir 16,340 389,581 28,500 Bs. a. p. 58 0 0 973 15 2 142 8 0 Total ... 464,421 1,174 7 2 119. There has been a certain percentage of loss of grass by wastage, bind of its weight under dryage, and indeed the loss in weight of grass continued after it had fyeen baled, as the ( lii ) dry season advanced. In moving loose grass, and handling it, there is always much waste; and the approximate loss is shown as under :— Circle* Division. Lbs. Bbmakks. Central ...j Northern Southern ... J t East Khindesh N&sik Foona Th&na N. D. Kdnara S. D. do. 1,400 .60 20,989 66 613 32,419 6,077 Stolen, Total ... 127,588 i— 120. Thirty-one presses were employed afc one time or another in compressing and baling hay and a descriptive list of these presses is attached as Appendix No. 1 of this report, Sixteen of the presses were obtained on loan, and fifteen were purchased. On loan. Bought, 2 Steam Presses. X Bullock Power Press, 9 Hand Lever Presses. 4 Hand Screw Presses. € 1 Bullock power. 1 English made Macbeth Press. 3 Richardson and Cruddas Hand Presses. 4 Gahagan and Company's Hand Presses. 1 Mho w Hand Press. 5 Conder’s Hand Presse*. and the undermentioned number of bales with the weight of grass contained in them was manufactured in the different divisions of the three circles:— Circle. Division. Bale*. Weight of grass. Jessop’s Steam Press. Factory Steam Press, Dederiek Pre»s. Hand Press, Total. Central c ... ^ East Khindesh ... Poona S&tdr* ... 33,640 2,583 13,928 10,329 1,156 1 3,406 60,480 1,156 8,406 6,172,394 9S,440 259,605 Northern ... ^ Thin* No. 1 ... Do. No. 2 ... 10,888 |#| ... 13,827 14,747 13,827 25,635 1,625,032 2,232,557 Souther/x ^ Belgaum ... ... Dh&rw&r Kdnara, S. D. Do. N. D. ... T,244 •.. 2,992 11,7SI 5,082 1,437 2,992 13,026 5,082 1,437 262,132 1,366,842 421,450 130,577 Total ... 44,528 3,827 13,928 64,757 127,040 11,568,929 121. Some diffieulty was experienced'at the outset in obtaining material for fastening or tying up the compressed bales. In tbe Southern Circle rope was used, while in the Northern and Central Circles galvanized and other wire binders were employed, excepting in the Sd>t£ra and Poona divisions where rope was mainly used. Patent galvanized wire binders with iron links to close them were supplied with the Jessop^s Steam Presses by the manufacturers for the bales outturned by these presses. The cotton steam factories at Hubli and Chopda fastened their bales with hoop iron, such as cotton bales are fastened with, and wire ties were obtained from the Bombay Tramway Company, Limited, for fastening all the bales that were manufactured in the Northern Circle and in the Khandesh District other than at the Steam Factory Press, Chopda, and the Jessop's Steam Presses, The Bombay Tramway Company were most obliging in this respect, and if it had not been for their assistance it would have been difficult, if not impossible, to have obtained such serviceable and^cheap material for fastening bales. 3,000 wire ties of American manufacture for Dederiek bales, which the Company had in stock, were supplied by tbe Manager and sent to Nargaon Station in Khandesh at Rs. 6 per 100, and subsequently the Manager caused ties to be manufactured in different lengths to suit the varying sizes of b^les of different presses out of wire purchased in the Bombay market; and he sent wire ties, of such lengths, to such railway stations, from time to time, in compliance with requisitions made to him. The charge amounted to Rs. 3-4-0 per 100 plus railway carriage. The following is a statement of the number of ties received and their cost:— c ( Ties. Links. Price. Bor Jessop’s Steam Baling Press• - Rs, a. From Commissariat Department— With Press No. I ... 57,044 57,044 6,708 15 A Supplied in June 1897 ... * With Press No. II ... * ... 20,000 10,000 4 130,000 130,000 11,700 0 0 From Jessop and Company, Calcutta ... • ... 20,000 12,000 1,620 0 0 Total ... 227,044 209,04 20,028 15 4 c For the Dederiek and other Presses. From Bombay Tramway Company, Limited 150,350 : 6,068 14 0 > • ( liii ) 122. The Factory pressed bales were charged for at a given rate per bale including the binders, but the cost of the latter came to annas 6 per bale. 123. The cost of rope and other fastenings usediin the Southern Circle amounted to Rs. 1,460-4-11, in the Poona Division to Its. 29-15-3, and in the Sdtdra Division to Rs. 232-8-3* 124. I venture to suggest that the thanks of Government in the Famine Department should be given to the Managing Directors of the Bombay Tramway Company for the obliging assistance they gave our operations by making and providing us with thousands of wire fasteners for bales. 125. Some bales of hay were sold at the depots or in the divisions of their manufacture to meet local demand, and some bales were burnt and not exported ; and the following table will show these particular s Dlvibion. Sold. BtTENT. Bales. Lbs. Bales. Lbs. East Khandesh 257 30,835 100 7,575 Poona 1,156 98,440 ... S'&t&ra 2,146 164,788 South Th&na ... ... "245 38,000 Belgaum 8 1,780 ... Dhlrw&r... 202 18,390 ... Total ... 3,769 314,233 345 45,575 126,The number of bales with the quantity of grass contained exported from the different divisions appears to be as under :— Circle. Railway Station. Jessop’s Steam Press. Factory Steam Press. Dede- rick Press. Hand Press. Total. Quantity of grass. > Lbs. Central... r ! •••-i i L Biswa Malk&pur ... Nargaon. Raver Jalgaon Karad ... 83,640 2*,563 2,600 2,692 5,673 2,963 8,725 1,367 1,260 2,600 2,692 5,673 46,328 3,930 1,260 171,055 197,282 423,132 3,517,695 824,820 94,717 Total ... 33,640 2,563 13,828 11,352 61,383 5,228,701 ISTorthern r ...< L Badlapur ... Wangni Titv&la Khadaoli W&sind Asangaon ... Atgaon Khardi Kasara 10,888 ... * * 1,929 1,177 488 1,300 2,625 1,010 14,747 2,217 2,836 1,929 1,177 488 1,300 2,625 1,010 25,635 2,217 2,836 178,879 144,017 48,772 144,559 243 886 151^965 2,232,557 309,206 365,748 * Total ... 10,888 ... ... 28,329 39,217 3,819,589 Southern f < Huzgoli Hubli Kambarganvi Timaighat ... Castle Bock Londha Hubli )- h 1,244 ... 2,984 11,579 1,437 5,082 2,984 12,823 1,437 6,082 260,352 1,348,452 130,577 421,450 Total ... 1,244 ... 21,082 22,326 2,160,831 Grand Total ... 44,628 3,807 13,828 60,763 122,926 11,209,121 127. The distribution of bales with the quantity of grass contained among the famine districts was made as shown below :— Bales. Quantity of grass. Districts, Jessop’s Steam Press. Factory Press. Dederick. Hand-Press. Total. Ndsik Ahmednagar ... ... Poona ShoHpur Bijipur 8. M# States 2,188 11,207 11,996 18,698 439 235 1,271 l!o57 1,244 1,601 8,138 200 2,876 1,013 2,833 13,754 8,981 13,531 19,663 2,001 6,857 34,370 21,177 36,162 22,359 2,001 Lbs. 696,235 3,448,539 1,625,846 3,099,156 2,151,845 Jo7,500 Total ... 44,528 , 3,807 13,828 60,763 122,926 11,209,121 B 98—14 ap ( ( liv •) 128. Railway freight was paid by the wagon load irrespective of weight, at a mileage rate on the Southern Maratha line at anna 1 per mile, and on the G. I. P. Railway on a sliding scale as under :— , First 100 miles ... lie. 0 2 9 per truck, 100to 200 miles... ,,020 do. Over 200 miles ... „ 0 2 3 do. 129. The G. I. P. Railway sent 1,409 wagon loads of bales into the famine district, and tir freight paid to them amounted to Rs. 45,911-12-0, while the freight paid to the Southern Maratha Railway Company came to Rs. 4,726-6-0. •130. One wagon load of bales was burnt while moving between the Malkapur and Nargaon Stations, G, I. P. Railway, the freight on which was remitted by tfie Company. Roth the Railway Companies have assisted cordially in the Famine grass operations and deserve special mention. My warmest thanks are due to the G. I. P. Railway, more particularly as our transactions with them have been more frequent, and all over^ their two lines in the Bombay Presidency. Their help has been ungrudging and ready, even in small matters, such as the lending ot tarpaulins to cover grass bales at depots when rain threatened. The Traffic Manager placed railway carriages on the siding at Raver Station for the accommodation of the officer directing the grass operations, and of his office during the month of June, when rain threatened. The Workshops of the Company and their skilled artifieers were always available for executing repairs to, and making new parts for, maehinery connected with the presses. Engineers and fitters were lent temporarily to- work steam presses. Water was given free for the steam- engine at Raver, and a pipe with tap fitted to the well; the railway fence was breaehed, and a gate fitted in the place, to admit of a tramway for moving bales to the railway trueks on the siding. Coals were supplied where and when required; and the greatest kindness and courtesy were exhibited to me, and to my officers. Railway trueks of the largest holding capacity were provided, and the Steam Baling Press No. 1, from Raver, and 5 Hand Baling Presses which had been obtained on loan, were received in the Railway Workshops at Bhusaval and put into good order prior to their being retumed to their owners; and I venture to submit that the thanks of Government may be eonveyed to the two Railway Companies for the assisu*^w they gave the Famine grass operations. 131.I will now deseribe the work done in each circle separately, and in each division of that circle. Central Circle. 132. There are seven Forest divisions in this circle, and five of them were, in a greater or lesser degree, affected by the famine of fodder grass and a dearth of grazing. 133. West Khandesh escaped scot-free, and self-supported all its cattle, bat it afforded no assistance to the cattle of any outside d'strict, because distance and heavy cost of transmis¬ sion prevented it from doing so ; its forests of wide stretch and great extent were capable of feeding a host of cattle, but village cattle owners in the famine-affeeted areas, though invited to do so, would not send their cattle to these distant forests, in what they believed to be a death march for the animals. It should be remembered in case of a future year of famine that if Phoenix Steam Hay Baling Presses are available, West Khandesh should be exploit ed for grass early in the season in the month of October, for it can supply erores of pounds of fodder grass. ^ ... . ' 134. East Khdndesh gave relief in supplying a very large quantity of grass to famine distriets, and at the same time it fed its own catjble, so that none die A of starvation. 135. Ndsik could export no grass, but it maintained its cattle with a little assistance in baled grass given to its eastern talukas, Sinnar, Niphad, Chandor, Nandgaon and Yeola, from the Khandesh and Thana Distriets. 136. Poona and Sdtara suffered in their eastern talukas ; the former division received a large quantity of grass from the Thana and Khdndesh Distriets, and a small quantity from the Satdra District, for distribution at Poona, and in the eastern talukas of Indapur, Dhond and Rdramati. The Sdtara division sent a little grass to Poona, and it maintained its own cattle. • 137. The Ahmednagar and Sholdpur divisions received very large supplies of fodder grass from the Thana and Kh&ndesh Distriets, and were heavily afflicted by the grass famine with very little power or resource to help themselves. f 138. Collections of grass were made in the East Khandesh, Poona, Sdtara and Nasik divisions : no grass was baled in the last-named division; a small quantity was baled in Poona, and a larder in Satara, bdt an enormous quantity was baled and exported from the East Khandeshdivision. It should be borne in mind in any future ftmfine that a considerable quantity of grass can be obtained in all these four divisions; in East Khandesh from its S&tpada, Trans-Purna and Sat Mala Eorests, ami in the other three divisions from the talukas bordering the Western Ghdts; provided collecting operations are commenced early, not later than the first week of October. 139. Mr. W. G. Betkam, Deputy Conservator in administrative charge of the Central Circle, assisted me as much as he could in my operations; he visitedthe country of the Sdtpudas between Raver ^pd Chopda Talukas, which had been recently opened out to cart traffic, and the exploitation from it of grass, while grass-cutting and road-making operations were going on therein, and by his presence urged and stimulated these works. ' • ( Iv ) 140. The grass-supply depots for the detailed distribution of famine grass by Government agency were optfned in the famine districts too late to be as serviceable or as efficiently administered as they might otherwise have been; for tho greater portion of the Forest establish-^ ments in all the divisionsin the Central Circle were already employed on special famine works before the famine grass-supply depots could be started, so that it was only possible to obtain the temporary services of Forest Guards on the Rs. 7 grade—men who can read and write—to be in charge of these depots as Depot Forest Offieers. 141. The history of the famine grass operations undertaken in each division will now be given in detail. , > Ead Khandesh Division. 142. The famine grass operations in this division were eondueted throughout by Mr. R. H. Madan, Divisional Forest Officer, under the direct orders of this office. Mr. Madan devoted constant personal attention and careful supervision to the work: indeed he identified himself completely with it, and its satisfactory resuits are due to his untiring energy and zealous intel¬ ligent interest. 143. Operations were commenced in Kh&ndesh rather late in the season; owing to an un¬ seasonable and deficient rainfall, there was scarcity of fodder in the plain talukas south of the Tapti river, and grass had consequently been very heavily removed from all the accessible loca- lities in the Satpuda mountains, and elsewhere, before the orders issued in Government Resolu¬ tion No. 9007, dated 13th November 1896, Revenue Department, (vide para. 1) reached the Divisional Forest Officer through the undersigned, who was at that time in administrative charge of the Central Circle. 144. Inquiries showed that there were two stretches of forest country in reserved forest containing grass which might be exploited by hand for export by railway to the famine dis¬ tricts. vi's. i— (1) An area of about 40 square miles in the Trans-Purna reserves which Jiad been tapped by local demand up to date to a very small extent. (2) An area of about 90 square miles in a very inaccessible part of the Satpuda mountains, where there were no villages and no people on the northern aspect of the slopes draining north into the Aner river, and stretching through portions of the Savda and Yaval forest ranges from Warkundia on the east to Lakria Hanuman on the west, which are names in Phil folklore given to two sites in the Satpuda mountains whereon congeries of wigwams inhabited by the wild jungle tribes used to stand in by-gone day s, a century and more ago, at present the home ^ the tiger, the bison and the bear. This ex¬ panse of forest country stretches about 20 miles east and west, by 3 to 5 miles north and south, and is at an elevation of 2,700 feet above the sea level, and about 1,900 feet higher than the G. I. P. Railway Station at R&ver, and it had never been entered by wheeled conveyance, but could only be reached by a stiff climb over a few mountain passes. 145. In my letter No. dated 21st November 1896, I ordered both these areas to be closed and proteeted against private exploitation of grass for consumption in the Khandesh Dis¬ trict, and to be reserved absolutely, and worked for feeding steam and other presses to be -established at suitable places in their vieinities for baling hay for the famine districts; and I likewise direeted that the rates to be paid for grass delivered at depots which had already been started at Ghodasgaon, R&ver and other places at Rs. 5 per 1,000 lbs. should be reduced at once to Rs. 2-8-0, which is a very fair wage, as experience had shown previously. In the Chopda Satpudas, in the Raver Satpudas, and at Ghodasgaon and other parts of the Edalabad range where some grass was still available, and practically all the grass crop of the season had not been removed for local supply ; the villagers flocked to the work, for they were feeling the pinch of a bad harvest, and failure partial, and largely proportional, if not complete, of a very bad farming season. Bhils from the Chopda range flocked to the Ohopda Sdtpudas to cut and stack grass. > 146. But the case was quite different with the Tadvi Bhils of the Tdpti valley in the Yaval, Sdvda and Raver ranges, who, early in the season, had stored their hufcs with grain looted from the fields, and not only refused absolutely to go into the Satpudas hinterland of their country to cut grass for Government, but they expressed their determination not to permit imported labour to proceed into their hills ; and were seemingly so determined in their opposi¬ tion that the Collector and District Magistrate of Khandesh, wham I met at Bhusaval in the last days of November 1896, and had consultation with, suggested to me the removal of the Steam Phoenix Hay Bailing Press, then at the Bhusaval Railway Station, from this part of the district, so as to avoid complications, lest the Bhils should give trouble by setting fire to the grass, and attaeking and looting imported labourers, and harassing and stopping operations generally. However I made arraugements to attack the grass hinterland from the rear, and thereby avoid the Tadvi Bhil villages, and also to endeavour to overcome the hqstility of the Tadvis by persistence,^ and their scruples against manual labour by force of example. Kunbis and low-caste Hindu villagers, such as Mahars from the country round Yaval, were persuaded to go up into the hills on the extreme west side with Range Forest Officer and Forest Guards ( lvi ) * < who had to take supplies of food with them for all the people as there were no villages within 20 miles, and then only on the plains below ; and grass cutting was thus started'in a humble way early in December, by Foresters Maktum*Ali Sarvar Ali, who had been brought from the Pachora range for the purpose, and Gopal Shrikrishna, Range Forest Officer of Ydval, who deserve to have their names recorded for their enterprise and tact. The effect was all that could be desired: the Tad vis, having exhausted their stores of stolen grain, seeing that they were being treated as a quantity negligible, flocked up to the hills and enlisted as labourers in grass cutting ; and the work went on so swimmingly that when grass cutting was stopped in the middle of Feb- ruary, in consequence of the grass having lignified, and being of doubtful edible quality, these very same reealcitrating Tadvi Bhils came forward with offers to go on cutting and collecting grass at half the rates, payment having been made to them by the job. i,e., at 4 annas per J00 Ibs. weight of grass cut and stacked. 147. During the time the grass cutting operations lasted in the East Khandesh division from the latter part of November to the middle of February 1897,* employment was afforded to hundreds of viilagers in what was by its own nature a famine relief work, and at the same time the predatory hill tribes were kept in honest employment in an occupation of peace, much to the relief of the eultivating classes and the inoffensive viilagers living in the Tapti valley on the borders of the mountainous forest country. 148. I had ordered on the 21st November 1896 Mr. Abdul Rassul, Ranger, 1st Grade, at that time doing duty as Range Forest Officer of Edalabad, to be deputed on special duty to superintend the grass operations, as he is possessed of great influence over the \nld tribes, and has an intimate knowledge of the country. And while grass cutting was being started from the west, Mr. Madan, the Divisional Forest Officer, taking Mr. Abdul Rassul with hiin, attached the hinterland from the rear and the north. A cart was obtained and carried in pieces to the top of the plateau, on the heads of coolies, and at a place called Debrapani in the grass area, on its western side the cart was put together, and was thence driven and hauled towards the rising sun, and when any obstruction was encountered it was promptly attached and removed, until a steep descent into the valley of the Suki river near Pal h* the Raver Satpudas was reached; here the wheels would go no further;, and consequently road making Svas started, and a practicable cart track, 16 miles in length,^was very soon nade, con¬ sidering the paucity of labour and the difficulties. This new road started from a spot known as Byramghat near a forest post, Warkundia, 6 iniles west of the Pal settlement, and after a stretch of 4 miles in the lower valley, it reached the foot of Mundiachargh&t where heavy cuttings and fillings in earth and soft murum were needed, and it wound up a spur of a hill making an ascent of 200 feet in about 1,205 feet, giving an average gradient of 1 in 6. After topping this ghat there were several ups and downs till Tinshimali, another known landmark, was gained, and then a bit of flat country for some miles to the Dhupgh^t, and some further ascents near Suparigulla and' uoyond, over rugged country to Langra Amba, and then a flat strip carried the road to Debrapani and its western terminus. So that communication for earts to ply and bring down the grass from the Satpuda hinterland to the Rd ver Railway Station was established by the Forest offieers by the end of January. Later on, when the exploitation of grass by this new route was pushed, a diversion was made from Warkundia to Tinshimali skirting the banks of the upper waters of the Suki river past the frontier forest post, Mangel. This road is 8 miles in length, and it avoids the steep rise of the Mundiacharghdt, getting up to the plateau at Tinslymali at an elevation of 2,700 feet above sea level by a series of easy gradients. 149.7: Government in tbeir Resolution No. 5^:, dated 25th January 1897, Revenue De¬ partment, were graciously pleased to express their commendation of Mr. Madan and Mr. Abdul Rassul for the energy and tact with which they had successfully opened out a new grass-producing tract, and they ordered that the Executive Engineer should be instructed through the Public Works Department to give* all possible assistance in effecting such im¬ provement of the cart track as is at once practicable. But the Public Works Department had their hands full elsewhere, and were unable to give any help whatever. * 150. While grass cutting and the making of roads for its conveyance to a press baling depot were progressing in the highlands, the Steam Phoenix Hay Baling Press which had been sent to Bhusdval Station in November 1896 was moved by railway t Poklya Anthisteria ciliata, Ischaemum laxum. 'Ischaemum pilosum. Poliloea barbata. Andropogon contortus. Pscuclanthisteria triopida. Protection of cut grass stacks and grass-gn'oducing arects suitable for grazing. ^ 152. When a large quantity of grass worth several thousand rupees had been cut an(J collected in the forests, it became necessary to take special measures for its protection against fire, and for this duty watchmen on daily wages were employed for guarding the grass, day and night, at a total expenditure of Rs. 1,239-6-6 distributed as under :— Range, Number of men. Cost. .Rs. a. p, Chopda ... ff« ... s 10 8 0 Raver ... 25 50 ll- 6 Siivda 125 282 9 0 Yaval ... ... 151 564 14 0 Edalabad ... ... ... 79 319 8 0 Jalgaon ... •*. 3 ll- 4 0 Total 386 | 1,239 6 6 15C. And under the orders of Government contained in the Resolution No. 9192, dated 20th November 1896, Revenue Department, Famine, special fire eonservancy watchers were entertained on daily wages to safeguard forest areas containing grazing against being burnt* The total expenditure under this head came to Rs. 816-9-0 as under :—■ Range, Number of men. Cost. • Rs. a. p. Chopda 24 110 4 0 • Raver 21 90 3 0 Savda ... ... #.♦ 283 612 12 0 Yaval ... ... 3 3 6 0 Total ... 331 816 9 0 Quantity of grass brought to Depots, Range, Depbts. Grass, weight in lbs. Edalabad ...{ Nargaon ••• Chinelikhed ... Chai’than 1. 806,325 S£yda Raver Yaval ••• ... •t* ... ••• 3 Raver f 763,925 < 96,580 L 2,480,573 Chopda *»• m Chpoda and Jalgaon... 889,443 5,036,846 154. In the Chopda Satpudas Rs. 1-4-0 per 1,000 Ibs. was paid for cutting and stacking^ ’ and elsewhere Rs. 2-8-0 per 1,000 Ibs.; and the wages disbursed for cutting and stacking crass in situ amounted to Rs. 11,717. ^ 155. It should be noted that the Yaval Sdtpuda forests round Langra Amba in the- western side contained a vast deal more grass than was cut and removed. Had there been a road through this uninhabited forest tract, had operations been commenced earlier in the latter b 93—15 ap ( lviii ) half of October 1896, and had there been no difficulty in the obtaimnent of labour In the earlier stage of this season’s operations, possibly 100 lakhs of lbs. of grass could have been brought from these 70 square miles of Satpuda forests. But more baling presses would have-been re¬ quired to compress so large a quantity: at least 3 Steam Phoenix Presses would have been necessary; and, as said before, grass cutting had to be stopped when labour had become plenti¬ ful, and the Tadvi Bhils had become tame, and were begging to be retained on grass cutting at half wages, because the grass had theft, become dry and turned into sticks, and it would not have been edible; and judging from the results of the famine of 1877, the cattle owners of the Deccan would have refused it, no one would have bought it, and the money that would have been ex- pended upon its cutting and stacking in the hills, its conveyance to the plains, its baling at the Raver press depot, its carriage by railway, and its distribution in the famine-affected areas, would have been poured out to no good, * Fires. 156, A fire occurred at Handia Kundia in the Chopda. forests, through the careless lighting of a fire by a eartman, when 46,340 lbs. of grass, which had cost Rs. 58 nearly, was destroyed. The man was prosecuted, eonvieted and punished. 157. On the 30th May 1897 railway wagon No. 4009, loaded with 100 bales contaimng 7,575 lbs. of compressed grass despatelied from the Malk&pnr Railway Station to Sanwatsar distribution depot in the Ahmednagar District, while attached to No. 56 up goods train, caught fire, when all* che bales with the exception of a small quantity of loose grass were completely destroyed. The wagon was next to the railway engine, and the fire is supposed to have been caused by a spark from the engine. Press Dejoots. 158, (a) Nargaon in the Bkusdval Range*—The Dederick Press, an American pattern continuous baling press, obtained on loan from the Commissariat Department at Po^na, was first sent to the Nargaon Station on the G. I. P. Railway, Nagpur extension, 19 miles beyond Bhusd- val, where it was fixed up and started in work on 2nd December. Grass was brought from Ghodasgaon and other grass depots in the Trans-Purna range to feecj this press; while employed at Nargaon Station it compressed into 5,673 bales 423,132 lbs. of grass, which were sent out to distributing depots at the following railway stations:— 1 Kopargaon. 2 Bijdpur. 3 Sholapur. 4 B4rsi Road. 5 Jeur. 6 Kem. 7 Madhe. 8 Indi Road, 9 Rahuri. 10 Belapur, 11 Mohol. 12 Hotgi. 13 Lakh. 14 VSmbori. 15 Visapur. 16 Belwandi. 17 Pimpri. 18 Sarola. 19 Wari Sanwatsar. 20 Puntdmbe. 21 Chitali. 22 Nagar. 23 Yeola. 24 Diksal. 159. One of the main cogwheels of this press was in a badly worn condition when it was received and it broke to pieces after some weeks’ working constantly at Nargaon, and was sent to the G. I. P. Railway Workshops at Bhus4val to be renewed, and an additional lever handle was fitted to the press, so as to make it possible to work the machine with two pairs of bullocks instead of one pair as could only be done formerly, and experience has shown that although a large strong American cart-horse might be able to walk the capstan arrangement which works the compressing ram with freedom and required speed, one pair of country bullocks was not strong enough to do so, and only contrived to make the circle in jerks and starts which delayed the outturn of bales, and also strained parts of the machinery; but with two pairs of bullocks yoked to the capstan the wheel went round meriily. 160. Then it was discovered that this press could be taken to pieces, cand put together a^ain readily, and a Forest Guard was taught the way to do this, so that after it had baled afl the grass of the depots within a distance of ten miles, the Dederick was taken to pieces and carted, in six carts, successively, to the grass depots of Charthan, Rajur and Wadoda, whereby a great saving in cart hire and in time was obtained. The bales from the two first-named grass and pressing depots were sent to the Malkdpur Station, G. I. P. Railway, and from Wadoda to the Biswa Bridge Railway Station for conveyance to the famine districts. . < 1 <* * 161. When the Dederick had completed* the laling of 8 lakhs of pounds of grass of the Trans-Purna forests in the Bhusdval and Edalabad ranges, the machine was moved by carts into the Ydval Sdfcpudas, where it worked for about a week, and was* then brought down to R&ve* as the Forest officers could obtain no caits at the time to bring down c s . ( Hx ) crass or bales from the Satpudas to the Rdver Station ; and orders were issued about the . middle of May (vide- Government Resolution No. 1217, dated 22nd May 1897, Revenue Department, famine) to abandon all cut grass remaining in the hills and to stop work for „ood However, when the operations were resumdd soon afterwards, the Dederick was ao-airi started at the Rdver depot, and it continued to work quietly and uncomplainingly, mght and day, turning out 120 bales in the 24 hours, each measuring 3' 6"xl'9?X 1' 6", and weighing at the tune about 60 lbs., because the grass was dry. At the opening of the operations the Dederick bale of grass full of sap weighed 90 lbs. This press convcrted 1 037 000 lbs. of grass into 13,828 bales, which were all sent into the famine districts with the exception of one railway wagon load of 100 bales of 7,575 lbs. grass destroyed_ by fire between the Malkapur and Nargaon stations, owing to a spark from the engine ftmiting the grass. 162. (h) The Jalgaon Pressing Depot. —Dive hand lever presses which had, with great liberality and public spirit, been placed at my disposal by Messrs. Dubash and Company, A'bkdri Contractors of Ivhandesh, were originally brought to this depot to bale the 183,688 lbs. of loose grass which had been carted to it from the Chopda Satpuda forests—a distance of nearly 60 miles, but these presses did not work satisfactorily; the teeth of the ratchet wheels of cast-iron broke off constantly under pressure, and new wheels had to be obtained from Messrs. Richardson and Cruddas and Company of Bombay, but they did not last long. Then there was a diffieulty about labour at Jalgaon; and when presses were required to compress and bale the grass in the Tdnsa Lake catchment area in the Thana District, four of these presses were despatchod to the Atgaon Station from Jalgaon on the 7th February 1897 and one press was left to complete the work at the Jalgaon depot; its average daily outturn was 25 bales, measuring 4'x2' 3"x2' 3", weighing about 120 lbs., or H railway maunds. 163. Altogether 1,367 bales containiug 175,712 lbs. of grass were turned out at the Jalgaon Press depot and were distributed in the famine areas thus :— Station. Bales. Grass. Lbs. % N&sik District. Yeola Ml 145 16,960 Ndndgaon »*• • M 141 2O,0SO Manmdd*. ... •** • M 327 44,320 Ahmednagav District, Kopargaon ~ ... 143 15,600 Wari... • •• 37 4,000 Punt&mbe ... *«« *•« 37 4,160 Chitali ... ... ... •»« 111 13,120 Beldpur ... Mf • «. 111 15,600 Lakh ••• .«• ••• • •• 72 9,760 V&mbori ... ... ... 37 5,360 N agar ... ««• ... 147 •19,200 Sliola'pnr District, Jenr •M »•# • •• •** 59 7,552 1,367 175,712 164. And when operations were closed at the Jalgaon pressing depot, the press was sent up to Raver Station, -to which press depot the other four presses were likewise railed from Atgaon, and they continued to work during the month of June until the close of the operations, when all five presses were put into thorough good repair at the G. I. P. Railway Workshops at Bhus&val at a cost of Rs. 253-2-0 and were returned in the month of September 1897 to Messrs. Sorabji Dadabhai and Kavasji Dadabhai Dubash and Company with many thanks. 165. (e) Cho'pda Pressing Depot.—Government having, in several eommunications addressed to me, urged the desirability of sending loose grass to steam cotton factories to be very lightly compressed into bales like unto fully steam-pressed cotton bales, and experiment having shown that a bale of compressed grass outturned by a cotton steam factory press at Jalgaon measured 101 cubic feet and contained 280 lbs. of grass, and there being an insufficiency of other than hand or bullock-power hay-baling presses to bale all the grass cut and collected in the Chopda Satpuda forests, and at the same time as the loss by wastage in carting loose grass from the Chopda Satpuda forests to the Jalgaon Railway Station pressing depot, over a distance of nearly 60 miles, was very considerable, and the liand-press working at that depot was a very inefficient one, arrangement was entered into with the manager of a cotton steam factory newly built at Chopda to bale a quantity of grass from the Chopda Satpuda forests on the first startnm of his press and 652,147 lbs. of loose grass were carted departmentally a distance of nearly 24 miles from Handia Kundia, and were dehvered down in the factory yard by weight, and were com¬ pressed and tied up m the steam factory into 2,583 bales containing 652,147 lbs. of grass, averaging 251 lbs. weight each, and measuring 52" x 19" x 19", at a cost of Rs. 4,025-12-4 or about Rs. 1-9-0 per bale, including hooping iron for fastening them; so that there was a ( Is ) . wastage of 1,318 lbs. of grass. These bales were then carted to the Jalgaon Railway Station, a- distance of about 30 miles, at a cost of Re. 0-10-0 per bale, and th ey were sent out by railway- into the famine districts as under:— Station. Bales. Grass. Manmad ... N&sik District. 55 Lbs. 13X00 Yeola ... ISO 4o,SG0 i Kopargaon Ahmcdnagar District. 240 58.960 War i ... ... ISO 4-1,960 Punt&mbe ... •«» ... ... ISO 44,060 Chitali ... ... ISO 45,120 Bela'pur ... ... ... ... ... 184 46,240 Kagar ... ... 807 78,000 < Jeur Sholdpur District* 127 38,848 Ma'dlie 186 46,560 B &rsi Road ... * ... ... 1S6 46,SCO Moliol ... ... ... ... 186 46,800 Kem ... ... ... ... 386 46,520 Sliol a pur ... ... 186 46,880 Total ... 2,563 649,108 166. The result was not satisfactory to this Department nor pleasing to the Compan^ . the latter comjfiained that grass, being less elastic than cotton, unduly strained and eaused damage to the machinery, and it was found that the hooping iron fastenings became loose readily and the bale lost weight rapidly, and the cost of its manufacture was, eompared with other hay- baling presses, high : the experimental bale manufaetured at the cotton factory, Jalgaon, early in the season when tlie grass was green weighed 280 lbs., it is true, but these Chopda bales when the grass was dry weighed about 240 lbs. on being opened at the distribution depot s in the famine districts. 167. {d) The Haver Press Depot.—This was the most important of all the grass-baling depots, as it was fed by the Satpuda hinterl^d forests of the Yaval and Savda ranges, from the uttermost parts of which a cart road had been made, as already reported, to bring loose grass to the presses : 3,200,000 lbs. were conveyed in carts over distanees varying from 20 to 40 miles, traversing a rough hilly country and negotiating a descent of over 1,900 feet on their way. The depot was located in a field owned by one Hari Bulakhi of Raver, Survey Nos. 25 and 2G, to whom a rent of Rs. 51 was paid for its occupancy. 168. The Jessop^s Phoenix Steam Press was brought to this depot and erected on the 18th. January 1897, when it began to bale, and it remained here until all the grass which had been collected for this depot was exhausted, viz., till the 29th June 1897. This powerful hydraulic press was equipped with four press boxes movable on iron rails, which were filled with grass from stages erected on the sides; between the two stages two* hydraulic presses were fixed, under each of which one press box could be placed at a time: thus while the grass in two fully loaded press boxes is undergoing compression and baling, the other two empty boxes are being filled with loose grass frdm the platforms. The engine was found to consume 18f cwts. of coal, and to drink 225 cubic feet of water per working day of 10| ljoura and two skilled artisans, one being a fitter and the other a fireman, with 22 unskilled labourers, were Required to work it and the pressing machinery : with continuous work, day and night, the press outturned on an average 242 bales, measuring 2' 3"x 1' 8"x 1' 3", which, when the grass was green at the opening of the season, weighed about 80 lbs., but with dry grass the weight dwindled down to an average of about 70 lbs. The solidity of the bales came to about 4*7 lbs. per cubic foot, and this press manufaetured 33,640 bales of grass, which all went by railway into the famine districts. 169.Before estahlishing the Jessop's Steam Baling Press at the Rd ver Railway Station in the plains, it was considered whether it would not be preferable to send it up into the Satpuda hills to work in the centre of the grass-growiiig hinterland, in view of the saving in the cost of carrying to the Railway station of despatch all grass compressed and b^led against loose grass; but there were weighty objections to this being attempted. In the first place, the road was a mere fair weather cart track over a very rough country, and as the ash box of the steam engine is of very little weight above the ground when the wheels are on a level surface, and as the cart track is covered in most parts with big boulders and large stones, and there are pits of varying and unequal depths for the wheels to run in, it was not practicable to take the engine over such, a rough and uneven line^ of country, save at very considerable expense and waste of time in I , ( 1x1 ) \ removino- obstructions and filling up rate, and this could not Le afforded. Then the eng noand plant were new, and the Forest" officers had no intimate knowledge of working it, and of its nature and construction, and there was no travelling forge, fitter’s bench, &e., &c, attached to the » plant for making repairs, so that if any of the parts should come to grief there woul 1 have been no means of replacing or repairing on the spot in the jungles : consequently it was decided to keep the press near a railway station within reach of the G. I. P. Meehan cal Workshops, where all kinds of,repairs and of renewings are possible. Experience in working the press at Raver soon demonstrated the wisdom of this decision, for it was found that the machiuery and plant were liable to be disarranged very frequently, necessitating the sending of damaged parts of >the maehinery to the Railway Workshops at Bhusaval. 170. The pump nlunger and valves at one time gave much trouble, and often went ‘out of order, until Mr. Bonner, the Assistant Locomotive Superintendent of the G. I, P. Railway Work- shops at Bhusaval, paid a visit to the press at Rd’ver, and after examining it suggested the use of spun yam packing and soft English leather plunger caps in place of the country leather ones supplied by the manufacturer of the press : this change was most beneficial. Two Baboo artisans who came with the pressing plant from Calcutta to work the engines and presses were neither clever nor very satisfactory in the performance of their cluties, and better substitutes for them were obtained from the G. I. P. Railway Workshops at Bh.usd.val. Carriage of loose grass from the Sdtpucla Forests to the Press Depot at Raver• 171. This was a work of very considerable difficulty as the grass country was a wild jungle, the home of beasts of prey, with no human habitations, and was consequently regarded as a dreaded infernal region by the cartmen of the villages on the peaceful plalns of Khandesh, and the road to and from it was a very indifferent one. The Collector of Khandesh was kind enough at first to order the lonow in the forests all further collections were to be stopped/* but there was very little need of this order, for there was no grass left anywhere. 192. The quantity cut in five talukas was so small that it was inadvisable to bale it and to remove it outside the district, depriving local cattle of so much fodder ; and therefore it was sold by auction in situ in order that it might serve the demands of local supply. It was necessary to establish thi’ee depots of grass distribution at the railway stations of N&nd- gaon, Manmad and Yeola to which bales were sent from the Khdndesh and Th&na distriets for sale; some famine grass was sent to the Nasik and L&salgaon Stations also, and the grass and grazing provided by the forests of Nasik were utilized for the support yot the •cattle of the district suppltmented by fodder grass brought from outside. 193. The following table shows at a glance the insignificant collection of grass in the N&sik ranges, with the financial results of the departmental operations :— No. Range. Weight of grass collected in pounds. Cost. Sale result, Rs. a • P- Rs. a. p. I N4sik ... ... ... 16,000 42 0 0 50 10 0 2 Igatpuri 73,000 182 ll 6 320 0 0 3 Sinnar 3,163 7 15 0 12 14 0 4 Dindori 84,000 161 1 0 255 0 O 5 BigHn 34,400 80 ll 0 91 8 0 6 Kalvan 20,928 52 4 6 85 0 0 Total ... 231,491 526 ll 0 815 0-0 194.And the following table shows the number of bales of grass brought to and sold at the famine grass depots established in the district:— PROM DepGts. Thana District. KhIndesh District. ) Wagons. Bales. Lbs. Price. Wagons. Bales. Lbs. Price. ft&ndgaon 3 108 14,936 Rs, a, p. 119 8 0 8 674 * 65,242 Rs. a. p. 649 ll 0 Manmad 23 920 112,747 1,214 13 0 15 936 98,642 1,309 ll 6 Yeola 14 483 60,625 643 6 0 38 3,513 320,272 4,141 ll 0 Ldsalgaon ... 1 34 6,204 42 0 0 ... ... ... N&sik Road ... ... ... ... ... ... Total ... 41 1,545 193,512 1,919 ll 0 61 5,123 474,056 6,001 1 6 195. On the 2nd April there were a hundred bales containing 7,076 lbs. of grass, the production of the Dederick Press, which had been received from Nargaon in KJi&ndesh, and had cost about Rs. 90 in the famine grass supply depot at Yeola, when in t^he middle of the day it was suddenly seen that the grass was on fire, and that the fire had occurred in the b 98—Ylap ( lxvi ) • centre of the stack of bales. How the fire got there has never been found out, though search¬ ing inquiries were made : a depot was in a corner of the compound, which is a large one, of the Dharmshala, but there was no one cooking or smoking close by : it is suggested that some of the grass had been wetted byfrain before being pressed, that the tight compression of damp grass had caused gases to generate, which led to spontaneous combustion. No sooner was smoke seen than there was ablaze, and out of the 100 bales only 17 charred ones were reseued, the remaining 83 having been destroyed ; the charred bales were sold by auction for Rs, 5-4-0. c • Ahmednagar Division. t 196. This district suffered very severely from the want of grass; indeed the eastern portion of it was a very Sahara in its similitude to a desert, for the whole face of the country was void of such vegetation as springs up and dies down within the twelve months, so that the Divisional Forest Officer, Mr. Hornidge, reported—taking, however, along time to do so, report No. 634, dated December, to my letter No. 4649 of the 9th November—that there is no forest area in this division where fodder grass is to be had in fairly large quantities as to justify the establishment of a hay press of any kind in its neighbourhood, and that some 75,000 head of cattle might be sent into the glidt forests of the Akola T&luka in seventeen villages bordering the Sahyadris from outside to graze. Asa matter of fact cattle were sent as early as December 1896 from eastern villages of the Ahmednagar District, as also from parts of the Poona District, into the Akola Taluka forests in search of grazing. TheMAmlat- d&v of Kopargaon reports that from his taluka about 2,000 head of cattle were marched out the Akola Taluka to graze, out of which number barely 500 returned, the rest having pro¬ bably died in these distant forest lands. 197. Very early in the season it became necessary to open famine grass-supply depots on the central line of the Collectorate; fortunately the Dliond-Manmad Railway runs north and south through the middle of the district, so that it serves as a base of supply, the most suitably located for distribution all round that could be arranged. There are 15 stations on this railway within the limits of the district, two of which are comparatively minqr or subsidiary stations, without? goods platforms, &c., viz., Vilad and Akolner, and no depots were fixed at them, but depots were established at the 13 stations of Pimpri, Belwandi, Viskpur, S^rola, Ahmednagar, V&mbori, Rahuri, Lakh, Belapur, Chitali, Puntamba, Sanwatsar and Kopargaon. The absence of grass and its consequent want was felt with the greatest seventy in the country served by the depdts north of Ahmednagar, and the heaviest run on the grass was made at the depots between Rahuri and Kopargaon inclusive. Chitali and BeWpur were resorted to more particularly for the cattle in the Nevasa and Shevgaon t&lukas. At Kopargaon there was a most energetic Mdmlat- d&r, who interested himself greatly in the fodder distribution and deserves mention here, for Mr. Waman Ganesh Kale was a most useful man and so was Mr. Sakharam Amrut Palshikar, the Special Relief M&mlatdar,* and the Assistant Collector, Mr. P. E. Percival, took great personal interest in the working of the depots. 198. A very large quantity of grass in bales was delivered at the Ahmednagar Railway Station, some of which went into the Jamkhed Taluka for distribution there, and a considerable supply—1,192 bales containing 83,915 Ibs. of grass—wras given to the Superintendent, Remount Rearing Depot at Ahmednagar. 199. The sales at all the depots were comparatively slack so long as a reserve not below the cost of the grass delivered at the depot was impo&ed: but directly the selling rate was reduced, as has been reported already in -para. 72, to a minimum of 8 annas per maund of 80 Ibs., there was a tremendous run on the depots; and m the words of Mr. Percival, Assistant Collector, people came c< clamouring for grass/7 Sales were continued by me up to the 31st May 1897, and all grass remaining in the depots on the 1st June, and such grass as was sent to the depots on and after that date, was handed over to the Collector for distribution against tagai, and at the cost of the Indian Charitable Famine Fund. In their urgent memorandum No. dated 13th May 1897, to the address of the Commissioner, Central and Southern Divisions, copy of which Government sent to me -for information, attention was invited to the orders eontamed in paragraph 3 of Government Resolution No. 10603, dated 24th December 1896, providing that advances can be made in grass in lieu of cash subject to the General Rules for Tagai Advances, and Government desired to know how far advances for fodder can be met by supplying grass out of the stock collected by me. 200. In order to give effect to the order of Government imjdied in this memorandum, which was intended more especially to secure a sufficient supply of "grass for cultivator7 cattle used for dragging the plough, at the season when the preparation of fields for sowing against the coming ivains was to be undertakep, <1 wired to the Collector of Ahmednagar requesting a meeting with him and his Personal Assistant, .and I proceeded to Ahmednagar for the purpose where it was arranged, on the 21st May, that the grass-supply depots should be handed over to the management of the Collector from the 1st June, for if sales to the public had been conti¬ nued after the end of May, the grass for which there was then an overpowering demand would have been bought up by speculator and others, with the certain prospect of very little of it Teaching the plough cattle in the villages far distant from the depots of supply. Further, in ' ( livii ) pai>. 2 of their Resolution No. 1187-Fam., dated 15th May 1897, in the Revenue Depart¬ ment, Famine, Government referred to their order and direeted that “ grass collected by me should be supplied in lieu of cash as far as is found practicable/' But it must be mentioned that some of the grass was issued to Government servant s at a higher rate than 8 annas per SO lbs. and some was sold to Gavlis and cultivator; and the following figures show to what extent: — Price of Bales. Rs. a. p. 30,515 0 0 * 3,132 10 0 506 6 0 9.7 2 4 15,071 2 4 201. The following table shows the number of bales of different kinds with the quantity of grass sold under my direction at each depot in this district up to 31st May 1896, and also the number of bales of different kinds with quantity of grass and its value at a minimum rate of 8 annas per maund of 80 lbs., or bale^ if lighter than a.maund supplied to the Collector during the month of June for .distribution against tagai and at the cost of the Indian Charit¬ able Fund. The total of these two statements exhibits the total quantity of famine grass delivered in the Ahmednagar District. Quantity of grass sold in the Ahmedndgar District. Issued against Tag&i Do. Charitable Funds Do. to Government servants ... Sold, to Gavlis and cultivator Bales. Quantity No. DepOt. Steam Press. Dederiek Press. Hand Press. Total. of grass in lbs. Amount ‘ realized. 1 Pimpri .. 6 209 215 24,861 Rs. a. p. 277 8 0 2 Belwandi ... 28 64 92 9,904 107 8 O 3 Vis&pur ... 32 83 116 12,336 113 6 0 4 S&rola , 100 55 155 14,298 132 6 0 5 Ahmednagar ... 298 3,300 190 1,738 146,959 1,947 13 7 6 V&mbori 230 101 230 561 44,857 519 10 4 7 Rahuri 312 202 749 1,263 106,425 739 6 0 8 Ldkh 471 99 273 843 67,060 772 13 0 9 BeUpur,.. 442 199 444 1,085 136,577 1,298 0 6 10 Chitali 513 106 709 1,328 158,302 201,340 1,452 1 0 ll Punt&mbe ... 524 133 681 1,338 1,452 13 0 12 Wari ... 418 484 rs 1,738 191,165 1,760 10 0 3,861 7 0 13 Kopargaon 1,090 1,133 1,410 3,633 354,222 Total ... 4,298 3,903 5,953 14,154 3,468,896 14,435 6 5 Quantity of grass supplied to the Ooltector of Ahmednagar for distribution,* No. DepOt. Bales. Quantity in lbs, Value. Remarks. Steam Press. Dederiek Press. Hand Press. Total. Rs. a. p. 1 Pimpri 91 505 599 63,146 ) 2 Belwandi ... ,., 72 28 100 8,867 V 554 6 0 3 Vig&pur... ... 68 13 81 6,394 j 4 Ahmednagar ... 3,388 2,602 660 6,550 504,983 6,738 1 4 6 V^mhori ... 99 • •• 99 6,938 ) 6 Radiuri ... ... 99 6,660 6,769 979,284 I 5,193 0 0 7 BeUpur 466 308 774 64,946 S 8 Chitali 693 192 • • • 885 55,220 \ 9 Puntdnabe 626 165 ... 791 50,638 f o t A f\ 10 Wari 1,034 386 105 1,525 106,400 > 3,765 10 0 ll Koparg.on 1,753 225 428 2,406 167,025 ) Total ... 7,960 4,002 8,607 20,569 2,013,S41 16,256 1 4 Poona Division. 202. Here also the scarcity of grass became very pronounced early in the autumn in the talukas touching the Western Ghats, while in the eastern part of the Collectorate there was no grass. However, the old established grass uealers of the city of Poona who had purehased “ valuable kurans ” from the Forest Department, had considerable stocks of grass in huge stacks near the Lakdi Pul and grass market, which they reserved mainly to meet the demands of the city and cantonments of Poona and Kirkee and of their suburban municipal populations, and also to' undertake contracts of supply at highly profitable rates. ( lxviii ) 203. Grass collecting depots were started in four ranges, each of which was provided with a Salter’s weighing balance, and later on with a Condens hand press for compressing and baling hay obtained on loan from the Commissariat Department, Poona. The price paid for grass delivered at the depots by villa^ers was fixed originally at annas 4 per 100 lbs., equal to Rs. 2^ per 1,000 lbs., but it was found to be necessary to raise this rate slightly, as no grass was being attracted at some depots. The collections made were] comparatively insignificant as under: — Range. Lbs. grass. Cost. Cost of baling. Rs. a. p. Rs. a. c P* Junnar 46,558 108 12 0 40 5 0 Khed ... 24,844 82 2 6 15 10 3 Maval 16,276 62 6 0 24 12 6 Mulshi... 31,751 71 6 0 34 13 0 Total ... 119,429 324 10 6 115 8 9 204, Coir rope and a few wire binders were used for fastening the bales. 2.05. All £he bales except those of the Khed range were brought into Poona for sale; from Mdval they came to Talegaon by earts, and from thence were railed into Poona; and from Junnar and Mulshi the bales were necessarily brought by carts. There was considerable wastage of grass shown when the baling was eompleted in the Junnar and Khed ranges. Ranges. Number of bales. Weight of grass. Average weight of bale. Cost of car¬ riage to Poona. Lbs, Lbs, Rs. a. p. Junnar 370 33,301 317 209 8 0 Khed 241 19,113 79 ( M&val ... ... 184 16,116 87 ( 8511 0 Mulshi 361 29,910 83 H52 '6 0 Total ... 1,156 98,440 95 447 9 0 206. The Mulshi bales were handed over to the Commissariat Department for Rs. 449 at Rs. 15 per 1,000 lbs. The Khed grass was sold for Rs. 178 at public auction on the spot, there being a demand for it and cartmen being averse to come into Poona on account of the plague, and the bales from Junnar and Maval were sold by public auction at Poona for Rs. 384-10-4 and Rs. 206-6-4, respectively, 207. Some expenditure was incurred in moving presses and in repairing them, in the pay of watchers at depots, in dead-stock articles, &c.; and the financial results of the Poona grass operations worked out eventually as under :— Junnar, Khed. Mulshi. Maval. Rs, a. p. Rs. a. p. Rs. a. p. Rs. a. p. Receipts 422 0 0 178 0 0 448 12 10 212 0 0 Expenditure 384 10 4 121 3 0 287 1 7 206 6 4 37 5 8 53 33 O 161 ll 3 6 9 8 So that there was a total profit of Rs. 258-7-7 : but the quantity of grass collected was very small. (208. Large numbers of cattle grazed all over the Poona forests in every direction, so that the forest areas did their duty fully and adequately in supporting, not only the cattle of the district, but numbers of cattle brought from other districts. ( 209. Considerable quantities of grass in bales were brought into Poona by railway from the Atgaon, Asangaon, Khardi and Kassara stations in the Th&na District, from -Kardd in the S4tara District and from Rdver in the Khandesh District, and by railway and earts from the Poona forests, and were sold by public auction in my presence, Messrs. Haji Kassim Ladha being the auctioneer. This grass was brought to Poona in order to break the combination of the Poona grass dealers, who had the logaLmarket entirely in their hands, and were charging the military and civil residents of Poona and IJirkee exorbitant priees. The Range Forest Officer of Haveli and Forest Guards assisted in unloading railway wagons and carting the grass to the sale depot, but the chief burden of the work in connection with their sale fell upon the record keeper of the Conservator’s office, Mr. Hanmantrao Bhau Kanse, and upon my own office peons, who deserve mention for their zealous and industrious exertions. The follow-' ing is a statement of these auction sales :— I ( Ixix )* Date. Number of bales. Weight of grass. Price. Average per 1,000 lbs. Lbs, ^ Rs. a. P* Rs. a. p. 27th March 1897 235 29,757 322 10 0 10 13 5 1-51 h April 1897 175 13^43 222 4 0 16 14 6 it 131 20,923 235 4 0 ll 3 10 » 51 4,481 63 4 0 14 1 10 V 184 16,116 212 0 0 13 1 S ft 370 33,301 422 0 0 12 10 9 it 1 0 15 0 29th April 1897 402 57,919 385 4 0 15 4 6 h 41 3,075 49 4 0 16 0 3 1st to 8th May 1897 . 361 29,920 419 0 0 35 0 0 i) 776 108,693 1,338 32 6 12 4 0 it 200 28,495 3 T3 4 0 12 0 9 20th May 1897 101 14,660 177 4 0 12 1 0 >5 1,113 70,919 997 4 0 14 1 0 >> 465 4 O 0 27th May 1S9 7 M* 147 5,926 85 12 0 14 7 6 Total ... 4,288 437,800 5,278 1 6 • . 210. The G. I. P. Railway Company were very kind and considerate in lending tarpau- iins to cover the grass stacks when rain storms occurred : the Traffic Manager .it my request having instrueted the Station Master of Poona to give me the loan of as many tarputries as were necessary. I mention this as being another instance of the ready and cordial help I in¬ variably received from the offieers and subordinates of the G. I. P. Railway, and without these tarputries considerable damage would have been done to the grass. 211. One wagon load of 55 bales containing 8,740 lbs. of grass was sent from the Badlapur depot to Yeot Railway Station, a distance of 103 miles, at the request of the First Assistant Collector : the cost of the grass unloaded at Yeot amounted to about Rs. 45, and it was sold by auction by the First Assistant Collector for Rs. 16-5-0. The experiment was not repeated. 212. Famine grass sale depots were opened at four railway stations with the following results i— Range. Depot. Bales. Sent away, bales. Received. Sold. Price. Rs. a. p. Dhond ... Kedgaon 118 58 37 0 0 60 PaJtas 118 70 43 0 0 48 Dhond 174 174 4U33 0 ... Ind&pur Diksal ... 813 813 521 9 0 ... ' Total ... 1,223 1,115 642 6 0 108 213. One consignment of 55 bales containing 4,270 lbs. of grass was cartel from Diksal Station to Baram&ti and was sold there for Rs. 55. 214. The demand at the railway station depots was very weak and sales tedious until the end of May, when there was a rush on the Diksal depot, which was the only one remaining at that time, and containing grass: from the Kedgaon depot the unsaleable balance of 60 bales was sent to Vdmbori, and from Patas 48 bales were railed to Rahuri in the Ahmednagar District; subsequently, when it was too late, villagers came to all the depots asking for grass. S at dr a Division. 215.Depots were opened at the commencement of December 1896 for buying grass from villagers at the following plaees :— Range. Names of depots. 1. Witi 2. Javli 3. S&t&ra 4. Pitan 5. ShirMa (1 Wasioli. * 12 Asgaon, , 1 Medha. ,, 1 Pa~ali. ( 1 Belwak. . < 2 Morgiri* ( 3 Bhojgaon^ . 1 Shirafla. And the rate of purchasing was fixed at annas 4 per 100 lbs., the work being carried out by the Depot Forest Offieers employed on Hirda operations in all ranges excepting Pdtan, where Round and Beat Guards were in charge. It was soon found that no grass could be bought at Parali in the Satara range and at the Shir&la depot, as grass was selling at these plaees for over Rs. 5 the 1,000 lbs., and these depots had consequently to be closed : and in the b 9S—1S ap ( kx ) < / Wai range tlie rates had to be raised to 6 annas per 100 lbs. as villagers could get this price in the surrounding villages, But in the Javli and P4tan ranges the original rates were adhered to throughout. 216,The total quantity of grass purchased in this district was small, as the number of its cattle is large, and they had already, before the end of December, overrun the grass of the forest s, and there was consequently a considerable dearth of, and a demand for, fodder grass on all sides : the following table shows the collections made : — Range. Depdt. Grass. Price paid. Lbs. Rs. a. Wai Wasioli ... ... 19,201 70 31 3 Asgaon 5,425 19 1 6 J&vli Medlia 2,300 8 10 O P&tan Helwak f 190,4374 { 6,500 j 476 1 6 Morgiri 1^,3874 * 45 15 6 Bho jgaon ... 21,900 54 32 0 Total ... 264,151 675 3 9 217. Three Conder’s hand presses were sent into the district from the Poona division after having ^finished work therein, and a new hand baling press working with a vertical screw of English manufacture was obtained from Messrs. Macbeth Brothers of Bombay for baling the gTass, which was compressed and made into 3,406 bales; the Macbeth press turning out 35 to 40 bales per diem of about 50 lbs. each, and the CondePs 25 bales of from SO to 100 lbs., but the grass was very dry when baling commeneed, late in the season, as presses could not be obtained for love or money earlier. 218. Coir rope was used as binders to fasten the bales, as no galvanized wire ties were to be purehased anywhere in the district: the expenditure thereupon amounted to Bs. 232-8-3. 215. The quantity of grass collected at Medha being small( and in local demand, and no press being available, and it not being worth while to move a press to1 bale 2,300 lbs.y it was sold at cost price. At Wasioli in the Wdi range 1,432 lbs. of grass were sold locally, at oost price, without being baled, to serve a demand; and similarly 4,500 lbs. of loose grass were sold in the P£tan range at Bhojgaon for the cost that had been incnrred upon it; and the baled grass was sold at the press depot —114 bales for Rs. 67-11-0. The baled grass of the Wai range was carted to the town of W&i and was sold there by public auction—225 bales for Bs. 191-4-0, while the bales frqm the Morgiri and Helwak depots of P&tan were carted to Karad for sale, a distance of about 33 miles. 220. No demand for grass at Karad, however, appeared at the outset, and as purchasers were not forthcoming for it even at cost rates. 959 large and 301 small bales were sent by railway to Poona, and were sold by public auction there for Rs. 1,087-15-0. But when the inhabitants of the villages neighbouring the Kar&d Station realized that the grass was being railed away to Poona, they flocked to the depot from all sides and bought up at once the remaining 1,341 large and 436 small bales for Rs. 1,172-12*0. 221. The financial results of the grass operations in the Satdra District were Rs. a. p. Receipts by sale... .... .... 2,548 7 0 Expenditure ... ... ... ... 2,195 12 G Profit Rs. ... 352 10 6 . The cost of the baling presses and of establishment is not included in the expendituie, 222. The Divisional Forest Officer, Mr. Wilkins, directed the operations, and the Range Forest Officer of Kardd, Mr. Dinkar Narayen Damle, Ranger, 3rd Grade, made himself useful in sending bales from Kardd to Poona and in selling bales at that place. 223. The experience in the Satara District, as elsewhere in the Demean, points to the desirability of fencing substantially with wire as many of the closed forest areas as is possib e, so as to protect them as sources of fodder supply against early grazing in a_year of scarcity. This view is expressed by tfle Collector, Mr. Winchester, as well as by the Divisional -roies Officer; and it is a very correct view of the situation, for cattle cfowd on to the hi I Is when grass is scarce elsewhere, early in the rains, and they trample down and destroy wit eir feet much mpre than they can eat, so t#hat a few cattle, by preventing the new grass 10m growing, deprive a multitude of anim&ls of food later on in the season. SJiol&jmv Division. 224. Whatever grass may have sprouted in this part of the country duringthe period of the S0uth-westc monsoon of 1896 was eaten up, or had otherwise practically disappeare % by the end of September 1896, and there was a complete faibue of the more important later rain s, or Madras monsoon, which, in seasonable years, deliver lieavy downpours over the eastern Deccan, giving life to agriculture and vegetation; so that the cattle began to suffer for the want of: fodder long before a state of famine was declared in the month of November 1896. All the forest areas had been overrun by huugering cattle, and there was no keeping thera out, for irnpounding trespassing animals had lost its power, because their owners preferred to abandon the animals rather than to release them by payment of pound fees. But the principal cultivation of the district is fodder-producing crops, and there were numerous stacks of Karbi and Sarma in all the villages from the last harvest, and moreover under artificial irrigation by means of canals and wells fodder was grown here and there, throughout the dry season; so that the village cattle owner contrived to keep his more valuable cattle in life> and fair condition until the commencement of the ploughin,g Reason for the next rains, viz., May 1897. Compressed grass was seut into the district early, the first consignment being delivered at Sholdpur on 14th December 1896, and during January and February 1897 a few wagon loads were placed at the larger railway stations, such as Jeur, Kem, B£rsi Road, Madha and Sholapur, but the bales did not sell at this time. All the re¬ dundant cattle not required for the plough, nor for cart traffic, and those not in profit at the time, were abandoned to the butcher, as not worthy of their up-keep. Attempts made by the Divisional Forest Officer, Mr. Fisher, and by me personally to sell bales by auction at Bdrsi Road junction, Kem, Jeur and other large centres, were not successful. One wagon load of bales was pushed to Barsi town by the new light railway, but the venture fell flat. During March and April and early May the demand for compressed gras« progressively increased with the exhaustion of the stored fodder, but not to any considerable extent, and nothing approaching to the degree necessary to absorb all the grass that I bad ready collected, and was being compressed, for deli very in the famine districts. The railway distances for bringing grass were so great, and the cost of freight consequently so high, that the cultivator could not afford to pay the price which was then being demanded, viz., actual expenses. But when the rate was reduced to 8 annas the maund of SO Ibs., a scramble for bales set in at every depot. 225. Grass supply depdts were located at all the chief railway stations, viz., Pomalwadi, Jeur, Kem, Barsi Junction, M4dha, Mohol, Sholapur and Hotgi Junction, and as soon as the rush commenced, compressed grass was poured into these depots by railway; on*one day, the 26th May 1897, no less than. 58 railway wagon loads were despatched from one station, Atgaon, to another station, Barsi Junction. The depots were handed over to the Collector and liis Personal Assistant from the 26th May 1897. 226. The following table will show the number of wagon loads of compressed hay sent to each railway station famine grass-supply depot during the season :— Station DepOt. During Total. December} 1896. January 1897. February 1897. March 1897. April 1897. May 1897., June 1S97. Pomalwadi 2 S 5 Jeur 1 6 *9 *45 7 68 Kem 1 6 S *9 49 7 80 BArsi Junction 1 4 i 7 3 113 15 347 Mddha ... ... 1 3 2 7 '74 5 92 Mohol 1 ... 13 1 14 21 50 Shol&pur 1 I X 8 12 9 ••• 32 Hotgi Junction ... ... 1 H ... 2 ... 34 Total ... 6 23 8 63 28 306 " 488 227. And this statement exhibits the bales of hay and their price distributed in the district :— Dep6ts. By Forest Department up to 25th May 1897. By th s Collector from 26th May 1897. t By Sale. Against Tagatf. Against Charitable Fund. Balee. Grass. Value. Bales. Grass. Value. Bales. Grass. Value. Bales. Grass. Value. •Pomalwadi Jeur Kem Barsi Road Madha Mohol Sholapur Hotgi Total ... 174 1,133 2,025 1,675 1,053 1,092 892 303 8,347 Lbs, 14,418 98,584 168,984 150,614 97,924 98,455 77,726 29,433 Bb. a. p. Ill 6 0 1,105 13 f 2,067 8 0 1,655 4 e 1,721 13 e 991 2 0 9G9 9 C 249 10 C 623 644 9,805 1,002 776 409 320 Lbs. 54*141 66,382 681,261 161,254 70,109 61,033 27,671 Rs. a. p. 477 0 0 493 6 0 6,305 4 0 1,461 12 0 660 5 0 498 1 0 216 8 0 751 1,045 375 ) Lbs. 47,400 98,730 28,783 Rs. a. p. 493 8 0 630 0 0 363 12 0 2,430 3,620 1,109 1,454 1,503 91S 268 Lbs. 236,329 275.937 118,678 145.937 120,367 112,299 32,644 Re. a. p, 1,908* 2 0 2,599 8 0 852 14 0 988 4 0 1,373 14 0 763 12 0 217 0 0 736,138 8,262 2 5 14,179 1,101,851 10,112 4 0 2,171 174,913 1,487 4 0 11,297 1,042,191 8,703 6 0 ( Ixxii ) f * t • / 228. Double the above quantity of grass could have been sold had it been available in the latter half of May and during June and July, for there was a furious demand for it at that time. , 229. The forest area of the Sholapur District is 278 square miles, which is spread over the country in patches; had some of thes/been enclosed by wire, and been efficiently protected against cattle, there would have been a reserve supply of fodder grass within the district. But the villagers have often stated to me that the forest reserves were of the greatest assistance to the support of their cattle in the grazing that they furnished, however poor it may'have been, daring the first half of 1897 ; and it has been told me, that a greater number of cattle died proportionately in the villages in which there are no forest reserves. The root stocks of the grass in the forest areas sent up slioots when showers of rain fell in December 1896, and like¬ wise in May 1897, and there was generally something found for the «cattle to nibble here and there. 230. Mr. G. S. Hinge, Extra Ass’stant Conservator of Forests, 2nd Grade, was deputed to the Sholapur District to superintend the grass distribution arrangements during May and June 1S97, as the Divisional Forest Officer, Mr. Fisher, and most of the Forest establishments of the Sholapur District were at that time employed on famine duty. Mr. Hinge worked under the immediate direction of the Collector in distributing grass to village cattle owners, who brought permits, issued by the Mamlatd&rs for grass, to the forest supply depots, where their permits were taken and grass given to them either against tagai advanees or at the cost of the Famine Charitable Fund, « Northern Circle. 231.. A considerable quantity of grass was collected, compressed into bales and despatelied to the famine districts from the south and central divisions of the Thana District, the only one of the three districts included in the Northern Circle, which from its position and facilities of railway communication could give any assistance in fodder grass to the famine-affected country of the Eastern Deccan. 232. There were two distinct divisions of famine grass operations in Thana, viz., one which included all the principal railway stafcions on the G. I. P. Railway excepting Atgaon Station between Kasyan Junction and the eastern frontier of the Than^ District, on both the North-East and South-East lines; and the other which was confined (to the catchment area of the Tdnsa Lake with the Atgaon Railway Station as its base and the station for the export of its compressed grass by railway. 233. Mr. R. C. Wrougliton, Conservator of Forests, Northern Circle, started the opera¬ tions of cutting, collecting and baling grass with the assistance of his two Divisional Forest Offieers, Messrs. Edie and Dodgson, and his two Sub-division Officers, Messrs. Phadke and Master, in both of the famine grass divisions, and be personally direeted and over-looked the work until about the end of December 18^6, when he withdrew himself and his European officers as the forest administration of the circle and of their divisions required their attention and presence elsewhere. And Mr. Wroughton plaeed — (1) Mr. Krishnaji Babaji Phadke, Extra Assistant Conservator, 3rd Grade, in special charge of the famine grass operations being carried on at the railway station depots, which I will call No. 1 famine grass division of Thana, and he plaeed Mr. Phadke under my direct orders. (2) Mr. Ardesar Nasarwanji Master, Extra Assistant Conservator, 3rd Grade, in special charge of the famine grass operations being carried on in the Tansa Lake catchment area, which I will call No. 2 famine grass division of Thana; and his Divisional Forest Officer of Central Thana, Mr. Dodgson, requested mein his letter No. 90 of 20th January to correspond direct with Mr. Master in future on all the grass business. 23 4<. Subsequently at the commencement of April, when there was still a very large quantity of grass to be compressed and baled, and when an enormous number of bales remained to be exported by railway from the railway station depots and to be brought in carts from the Tansa Lake catchment area to the Atgaon Railway Station to be sent off from there in railway trueksto the famine districts, I applied to the Conservator of Forests, Northern' Circle, for the services of Mr. G. M. Ryan, Deputy Conservator of Forests and Divisional Forest Officer of South Th&na, who had served under me during the early portion of his Forest service for several years, and whom I knew to be an energetic and zealous officer, to supervise generally the important grass operations in the Thdna District. The Conservator kindly complied with my request, and under Mr. Eyairis active assistance the whole of the grass was baled and was despatched out of the district before the rains came down, which might have spoilt much of the grass and have impeded the work. Thana Famine Grass Division No. I.‘ Railway Station Depots. 235. The forest depot officers at the principal railway sfcations were employed to purchase grass, which villagers were invited to bring and brought to the depots for sale by weight at the rate of 4 annas per 100 lbs.; the grass was weighed by means of a spring balance supplied to each depot officer, who was provided with funds to make immediate payments, and thus up to the 10th February 189 7, when I issued an order to stop further collections of grass, a very large I ( Ixxiii ) quantity hid been received, as will be seen from the following statement. Some villagers were detected in wetting their grass in order to make it weigh heavier; so, as the grass was usually brought in the early morning, each person was made to open out and dry his bundle, and it was weighed subsequently and paid for. 236.The purehases of grass were—* Station Dep6t. Grass in lbs. Price, Rs. a. p. Wdngni 149,591 372 3 3 BadUpur ... 182,257 461 9 O Titvafla ... 49,486 121 4 0 Khadavli 161,971 402 3 6 Wdsind 292,422 728 8 6 Asangaon ... 142,622 362 10 0 Atgaon 1,926 5 4 9 Khardi 299,072 744 15 3 Kasara 411,496 1,044 4 9 Total ... 1,690,843 4,232 15 0 and 2,758 Tbs. of grass which had been saved from the disastrous fire at the Sashivli dep6t were brought to Khardi Station to be baled. 237. One bullock-power and 7 hand baling presses were employed in compressing and baling the grass at the railway station depots, and presses being moved from station to station concurrently with the early completion of the operations at any station. The last three stations to be finished were Asangaon, Khardi and Kasdra. On the 14th April all the grass was baled at the first named, when the two presses that had been working here were sent to Kasara, and on the 25th April Khardi Station was cleared out and its presses were moved to Kasara, at which depot S presses were concentrated, and the last blade of grass was baled the^e on the 30th April, when all the presses were sent off to the Tansa Lake catchment io bale the grass remaining at the Borala and Rohida depots. There was a great fear of thunderstorms, especi¬ ally in regard to the stations such as Kasara and Khardi near the Western Ghats; and had a heavy downpour, as may be expected generally more than once in the months of April and May in these part s, deluged the depots, some of the grass would have been spoilt, and the work of baling would have been seriously retarded; therefore during the whole of April, Mr. Ryan, at my suggestion, worked with double gangs night and day. The Forest ofiicers and their sub- ordinates exereised supervision, night and day, Mr. Ryan very often being present at the press depot one-half of the night and Mr. Phadke the other half. Ten men worked at each hand press, five during the day and five at night, and were paid generally at 1^ annas per bale for day work and 2 annas for night work, provided the bale reached the minimum weight of 150 lbs. It was discovered that stones and earth had been put into several bales to increase their weight by the labourers when the supervision was not present. At Kasara it became necessary to equal the rate to an all-round one of 2 annas per bale ; as some of the men who were making 6 annas a day struck work for higher wages, eausing thereby delay in the baling work. It was at all times difficult to obtain labour, and unskilled village labourers had to be taught how to manipulate the presses. Men had to be brought from other parts of the district, and labour was even imported from the Nasik District above the ghats; families came down together and worked for a time, the men on the press levers and their women and children on feeding the press boxes with grass ; women were paid 4 annas a day and children 2 annas, but yet they would not remain long in the Konkan. Mandvas had to be ereeted over each press to protect the people from the sun, or else they would have stopped work between 12 and 3 p.m. owing to the heat, and imported labour had to be hutted. At the close of each day, depot officers went round and weighed the bales, and a ticket with the weight written on it was attached to each bale so as to guide the depot officer in the famine district in determining its selling price, and the labourers were paid every evening. 238. On the 21st April, at about 3 a.m., a fire oecurred in the grass depot at Kasara while night work was in progress, and 245 bales eontaining 38,000 lbs. of grass costing Rs. 118 were burnt. The fire was alleged to have been caused by a Mussalman out of ill-feeling towards the depot officer; he was seen near the burning grass when the fire was first observed, and he immediately ran away and was chased by the night watchmen. The police were called in to inquir e into the case and the prosecut ion of the accused was undertaken, but un¬ successfully. 239. The Station Master of Kasara lent the railway fire engine and hose for extinguish¬ ing the fire, and both the day and night Station Masters with subordinates came promptly to assist; and had it not been for their ready and cordial help a greatly heavier loss would undoubted¬ ly have oecurred. I brought specially to the notice of the General Traffic Superintendent, G. I. P. Railway, the good services o£ their station staff at Kasara and requested that they might be thanked. The MAmlatddr of Shdhapur, Mr. Anandrao Rhaskar Pradhan, and the Chief Constable came promptly on the scene and rendered great assistance. , .. 24(h Each hand press on an average baled 5,000 lbs. of grass working day and night uninterruptedly. But the ratchet wheels of the presses were continually coming to grief, the b 98—19ap ( lxxiv ) teeth broke off, and then the chain used to slip, and the press would not compress properly : besides, parts of the machines used to break now and again, so that a fitter and a carpenter from Messrs. Geo. Gahagan and Compaify's workshop was entertained on daily wages in constant attendance on the presses to do such repairs as were possible on the spot. 241. The Bombay Tramway Company, Limited, supplied galvanized wire binders of dif¬ ferent lengths, with catches fitted to them, for fastening the bales, sending such quantities of diffident kinds to the different railway stations on requisition from Mr. Phadke, and bills were sent through the Extra Assistant Conservator to me for payment of their price, which was made by means of cheques on the Government Treasury at Bombay. 52,850 wire binders were supplied; their price at the rate of Rs. 8-4-0 per 100 amounted to Rs. 2,172-10-0. The price of the hand presses and of stores obtained from Bombay from time to time, such as new ratchet wheels, new ehains, &c., to repair the presses, was paid in the same way. 242. The number of bales despatched to the famine districts, with their weight of grass, is as under :— Depot. Number of Bales. Grass in Lbs. lY&ngni bW 144,017 Fadl&pur ... 1,929 178,879 48,772 Titv&la « • A 488 Khadavli - ... 1,300 144,559 W&sind 2,625 243,886 151,965 Asangaon 1,010 Khardi and Sa&hivli 2,217 309,206 Kas&ra ... 2,836 365,748 Total 33,582 3,587,032 243.The Konkan grass grown under a heavy rainfall has much moisture in it when it is cut earljr, and this grass dries rapidly and loses weight. The following table shows the loss in weight. In two stations there appeared an increase and this was due to a large proportion of grass having been received on estimate and not by actual weighment before weighing scales were supplied Depdt. Grass Lbs. received. Grass Lbs. despatched. Increase Loss. W&ngni 1*9,591 144,017 5,574 BadUpur ... ... .M 182,257 178,879 ..4 3,378 Titvila ... ..« 49,486 48,772 ..4 714 Khadavli ... ... 161,971 144,559 ... 17,412 W&sind ... ... 292,422 243,886 ... 48,536 Asangaon. ... ... ... 142,622 151,965 9,343 ... A'tgaon *.. 1,926 *1,926 ... Khardi ... 299,072 306,460 *7,388 ... Sashivli ,,, ... 2,758 2,746 12 Kasdra ... 411,496 365,748 ... 45,748 Total ... 1,693,601 1,588,958 36,731 121,374 * Sold locally. 38,000 lbs. of grass were burnt at Kasdra, so that the loss by dryage and wastage is left as 7,748, but much sweepings covered the ground at all depots and this was sold by auction, realising Rs. 39-5-0. At Khadavli and Wdsind the loss was much greater than can be reasonably admitted, and the depot officers at Wdsind were sentenced to dismissal with an order that they are never to be re-employed in the Forest Department. 244.Rs. 7,596-6-0 were advanced from time to time to Mr. Phadke, the Extra Assist¬ ant Conservator in charge of the operations, and Rs. 7,522-13-9 were expendedand aecount- ed for by him and the remaining balance, Rs. 73-8-3., was paid into the Treasury by hirm This expenditure is sub-divided thus:— Rs. a. p. 1. Price of grass collected 2. Cost of eomprcssing and baling 3. Cost of loading in railway trucks 4. Cost of-depot establishment 5. Contingent charges 4,232 15 0 1,092 5 6 416 2 0 626 2 6 1,155 4 9 7,522 13 9 Paid by Conservator— 6. Price of wire-binders ... ’ .**• • •• 2,172 10 0 7. « Railway freight on carriage of bales to famine district. 8,519 1 3 18,214 9 0 * ( lxxv ) » 245. Mr. JKrisliaaji Babaji Phadko, Extra Assistant Conservator, devoted himself to the work with great zeal and interesthe was present day and night at depots where his supervision was strict*, and he displayed great intelligence in handling the piesses" and ^ in carrying out the operations generally, which were quite new to hi m ; and X am of opinion that his services deserve special mention. No. 2 Famine Grass Division. > Operations on the Tansa Lake Catchment Area. 246. In November 1896, Mr. A. N. Master, Extra Assistant Conservator of Forests, brought to my notice, in consequence of inquiries that I had made of the Collector of Thana, that there was a large quantity of grass on the Tansa catchment, and he finally suggested that contractors might be obtained to bring grass to railway stations from thence for Rs. 5-8-0 per 1,000 lbs., and when it seemed to be almost hopeless that a large quantity of grass would be exploited from the Satpuda forests of East Khandesh, I turned to the Tansa catchment as a substitute, and proceeded to Wasind and Atgaon, where I discussed with Mr. Wrought on, Conservator, Northern Circle, and his officers, the project of making large collection in the forest areas draining into the lake on the side nearest the railway line, and orders were issued accordingly by the Conservator, Northern Circle, to Mr. Master on the 23rd December 1896, to establish depots and to eoinmence collecting grass. 247. Three depots were located on the 24th and 29th December and 4th January 1897 at Rohida, Borala and Sashivli, respectively, and the work of collection was started at the rate of 4 annas per 100 lbs., equal to Rs. 2-8-0 per 1,000 lbs. Not only did the inhabitants of villages in the Shdhapur and Vada talukas, near and far, come in to the work, but 300 families—men, women and children—came down from the Poona and Nasik Districts ancf worked away until I gave a final order, on the 8th February 1897, to stop further collecting', as the grass had then become very dry and brittle and any cut later on might have been rejected by the Deccan cattle. I had visited the depots on 29th January, and finding the grass then to be dry, and inclined to have a musty smell, I told Mr. Master to complete up to 25 lakhs and then stop, so that from that day forward the work progressed slow and with care to select the better grass. 24S. The following table show s the quant ities colleeled :— DepOts. Lbs. Rohida ... ... 1,216,261 Borala 902,663 .Sashiyli 332,339 Total .. 2,511,263 There is not the least doubt that if grass cutting had been started from the last fort¬ night of October, an unlimited quantity, say, over one crore of pounds, of excellent grass -could have been taken off the Tansa catchment. But up to now the Th&na grass had a very bad name : it was currently reported that the cattle of the Deccan would not eat it, and that all the grass which had been sent up to the Deccan from the Konkan last famine had been wasted, and the money expended upon it was like money east into the .sea. This had been the popular tale of years, and consequently the project of collecting grass on the Tansa catchment for the supply of the famine district had to be entered upon with great -circumspection, for I incurred a great responsibly in sp mding hundreds and thousands of rupees of public money upon an operation which popular belief and tradition had de¬ clared to be useless, certain of failure, and a waste of money; more particularly was this 4he case in the face of Government Resolution No. 9618, dated 30th November 1893, in the Revenue Department, Famine, which reads :— u Sanction is accorded to the requests of the Honourable Mr. Shuttleworth, on the understanding that he has satisfied himself as far as is practicable that the Deccan (in¬ cluding Southern Maratha Country) cattle are likely to eat the grass proposed to be collected below the gh&ts*’ 249. All the depots of collected grass were fire traced, and special fire watchers were ■employed for the protection of the grass. At the Sashivli depot three Forest Guards and one depot officer were stationed solely to guard the grass ; but during the Holi or Shimga festival all these men left their post without obtaining leave or giving intimation, and some evil-disposed person came while they were away, and set fire to the grass, whereby all but .*758 lbs. were burnt on the night of the 19th March. Inquiries were made hj the Police,, ( Ixxvi ) by the Revenue and the Forest authorities, but they were productive of no result. How-” ever the Forest Guards and the depot officer were dismissed the sen ice. 250. At first there was a difficulty in obtaining baling presses to compress and bale the grass. The desertion of Bombay by factory and workshop labourers owing to the raging plague, prevented hand hay baling presses from being made as quickly as they might otherwise have been, and there were no ready made presses in th<* market. Govern¬ ment declined to order out presses from England, and those that I could have bought in Calcutta were very heavy in weight apparently and slow in working, so I determined to leave them alone. The only Phoenix Steam Hay Baling Press at that time in existence I had already got hold of, and was in Khandesh, but I knew of another being made for the Commissariat Department at Mhow and I had already been promised it on loan. The extreme doubt as to the obtainment of baling presses of sufficient number and power to compress and bale more than 25 lakhs of grass was a consideration which in a great measure recoilciled me to the decision of curtailing the extent of grass collection on the Tansa catchment to 25 lakhs of pounds, 251. On the 2nd February 4 hand hay baling presses which the A'bk^ri contractor of the Khandesh District had lent to me, and which came originally from the workshops of Messrs. Richardson and Cruddas of Bombay, were received at the Atgaon Station from Jalgaon, from whence I had sent them, and were carted out 3 to Rohida and 1 to Borala, where they were erected, and started during the second week of February, but they were continually coming to grief: further these presses required hard manual labour to work them, so that the unskilled village labourers could not be induced to remain in the wilds, miles from any village, after about a week’s experience ef the work : consequently new gangs of men had to be brought constantly, and this eaused slackness in the work; compa¬ ratively, a short outturn of bales and a higher rate of cost than*if skilled labour had been continuously employed. 252. No. 2 Phoenix Steam Baling Press and plant arrived at the Khardi Station on the ldth^March, and was then sent on to Atgaon, where it was unloaded from the railway trueks in which it had come from Calcutta from its maker’s workshops, viz,, from Messrs. Jessop and Company; it was then steam boiler and engine only hauled out by buffaloes to Rohida 7 or 8 miles on the Atgaon-Tansa road, where it was erected and started by the end of March. Water had to be brought in casks mounted on carts daily from the Tansa Lake to feed the boiler. Iron tanks for holding wTater had to be obtained from Her Majesty’s Dockyard at Bombay, and coals had to be procured from the G. I. P. Railway Stores at Wasind, but teak firewood was mostly used for the furnaces. On the 31st March 3897 this press began to work, but in April it wps stopped for IS days on account of the breaking of the plunger and the cracking of a cylinder: the broken parts were sent to Her Majesty’s Dockyard at Bombay to be repaired or renewed. But from the 28th of April to the 22nd May 1897 the press was worked night and day, humming along and baling as fast as it could. 253. On the arrival of the Phoenix Press the 3 hand baling presses were sent to assist the fourth at Borala, where veryjittle impression was being made on the enormous store of grass. A screw hand press was received from Wasind and put up at Kangaon on the 10th April, about J mile west of Rohida, where there were nearly 1| lakhs of pounds of grass ; this press though slow did good work, going all night and day. The presses at Borala were breaking down constantly, and on the 1st May it iooked very doubtful whether the 14 lakhs of pounds of grass remaining at the two depots on that date could be bale d before the rains. 254- But 7 band presses and a bullock power press came to the rescue from the Kasara Station, where they had baled up all the grass, and from the 8th of May 12 presses were kept going day and night. The labour difficulty was overcome by bringing reloys of men from distant villages. So that by 2 p.m. on the 14th May all the grass at Borala depot was compressed and tied up with wire binders, and the 12 presses were at once dis- maktled, loaded in carts ready waiting for them, and carted that night to Rohida, where they were fixed up, 2 at Kangaon and 10 at Rohida, and all 12 were keeping the steam press and the screw press in company, compressing and turning out bales night and day from the morning of the 17th May when 5 lakhs of pounds of grass were still on hand : but rhe whole quantity was compressed and baled by 5 a.m. of the 22nd May. 255. Labour for working the presses was obtained with great difficulty from distant villages and from the Igatpuri Taluka of the Nasik District, there being no villages and no people living on the T&nsa catchment area. At first men were employed on daily wages at the rate of from 4 to 5 annas each per diem, when it cost 9 annas to bale 1,000 lbs.; but latterly the wage had to be increased fo 6 annas a day to induoe men to slay, and piece¬ work was arranged at 2 annas of a minimum 'weight of 125 lbs. The Sashivli grass that was saved 2,758 lbs., was carted to the Khardi Station depdt and compressed there in 21 bales. . 256. Th*e collection of grass at Borala, which was estimated partly by weigbment and partly by guess when received at 902,663 lbs., was baled into 8,098 hand press bales, which weighed 980^82 lbs., while the grass at Rohida estimated at 1,216,261 lbs. was I ( lxxvii ) compressed and bound into 17,537 bales, of which 10,88S were steam press and 6,643 hand press bales and their total weight came to 1,252,275 lbs. 257. The bales from the two depots were caited to Atgaon Railway Station, and the first lot was sent off in the month of March, the rate being about 1 anna per bale from Rohida ^nd 2 annas from Borala. Rut a difficulty of obtaining carts when the number of bales became large soon prescnted itself, and on the 16th May, when I met Mr. Ryan and the two Extra Assistant Conservator and discussed the situation at Atgaon; the prospects of getting all the grass baled, all the bales car ted to the railway station, and from there the bales sent oft to the famine districts appeared hopeless, for there was very little demand for grass then at the sale depots in the Sholapur and Ahmednagar Districts, so that the plan of stacking and chappering in bales at the Atgaon depot for the rains was considered. And on the 17th 1 wrote to Mr. Ryan from Poona that if there should be any reasonable doubt of his ability to have all the bales that may be produced under a continued night and day working of the steam and other presses conveyed to the railway station before the rains come down, say the. 5th June, and entrained and despatched to the Deccan forthwith, thereafter, then he should stop further pressing operations at once, and abandon the grass, if it cannot be sold locally, as it would be more profitable to sacrifice some thousands of pounds of loose grass, than to have several hundred bales of pressed hay destroyel by the rain. However, on the 18th May I went to Sholdpur from Poona, and found that a grass boom had set in, and there was a rush on the depots, an$ a scramble for grass. So I wired to Mr. Ryan on the 18 th May 1897 from Sholapur to despatch all the bales that he could, and as fast as possible, to the famine districts. The situation was completely changed. All the black clouds obscuring the horizon had blown, and now it only remained to finish baling, to cart in the bales to Atgaon, to get railway trucks and to load and send them off as quickly as could be achieved. 258. As a large number of bales remained to be moved from the Rohida and Borala depots to the Atgaon Station, and carts were difficult to procure at this season when the timber merchants were getting all their timber and other forest produce to the railway before the rains, Mr. Ryan went to Bassein and saw Mr. Logan, the Collector, on the 20th May, asking assistance in obtaining carts, and the Collector at once issued ordfers on the subject and through the cordial co-operation of Mr. W. C. Shepherd, the Second Assistant Collector, who interested himself very actively in the matter, Mr. DuBois, the District Superintendent of Police, and the Mamlatdfirs of Shahfipur, Yfida and Bhiwndi, a very smart piece of work was done, about 262 carts were provided daily between the 23rd and the 27th, and by the 28th May every bale had been brought away. I was at Atgaon on the 22nd May, and the carts were bringing bales. Altogether 17,537 bales were brought to the Atgaon Station from the Rohida depot in 1,514 carts, and on 2,478 pack bullocks, and 8,098 bales were brought from the Borala depot in 1,748 carts. 259. The railway trucks were loaded night and day, relays of workmen being employed. The General Traffic Manager, G. I. P, Railway, sent a special officer to assist in providing trucks, and the Station Master helped all thathe could. The number of trucks sent off to the famine districts after the rain had come was as under:— Date. No. of trucks. 17th * • • • • • 29 19 th • - • » • • 15 20th ... ... 8 21st • • • • • . 19 22nd • . « 38 23rd .... 46 24th ... ... 44 25th ... 48 26th ... ' ... 60 27th • • • ^ 45 28th 30 29th '■* • • » 7 Total... 389 making up 13 special trains. 260. Mr. G. M. Ryan, Deputy Conservator, 4th Grade, was a tower of strength, and deserves, I respectfully submit, the thanks of Government. The two Extra Assistant Oonser- vators, Messrs. K. B. Phadke and A. N. Master, also worked with great zeal, tact and intelligence, and they were engaged in the operations from the beginning, and I should be glad if Government could see their way to acknowledge their services by conferring a personal native title upon each of these officers of Rao Bahfidur on Mr.K. B. Phadke, Extra Assistant Conservator, 3rd Grade, and of Khan Bahfidur on Mr. A. N. Master, Extra Assistant Con¬ servator. The Native officers of the Provincial Forest Service have had no personal title® bestowed upon them yet. 261. I must mention that Forester Sorabji Hormusji, Range’ Forest Officer of Shahdpur, managed the steam press himself without a fitter or ecginesr during day b 98-r-2Q ap ( Ixxviii ) work in the month of May, and I would recommend him for a special honorarium of Rs. 50 (fifty) as he saved Government jnore than this sum in wages and performed duties outside the ordinary course of his own duties without interfering with the discharge of the latter. Southern Circle. C32. Here famine grass operations were undertaken in five forest divisions, four of them, viz., Belgaum, Dharwar, N. D. Kanara and S. D. Kanara, being divisions of baling and despatch, and the fifth, Bijapur, a receiving and relievecl district. The late Mr. Mac¬ Gregor, Conservator, S. C., directed his Divisional Forest Officers to carry out the duty of collecting, compressing and baling under my direct orclers. Later on the Divisional Forest Officer of Bijapur superintended the sales and distribution of the baled grass at seven railway station depots between Gaclag and Telgi on the Southern Maratha Bailway, Iiotgi and Gaclag Section, while Mr. W. D.. Sheppard, I. C. S., Personal Assistant to the Collector of Bijapur, managed the sales and distribution of grass in the city of Bijapur and at the Indi Road Station depot. The success of the famine grass operations in the Southern Mardtha Country is due mainly to the personal exertions and interest taken in the business by Mr. Sheppard at one end at Bij&pur, where the grass was sold and distri¬ buted, . and at the other end where grass was collected, baled and clespatched by Mr. W. R. Woodrow, Divisional Forest Officer, Dharwar, who gave me very willing and efficient assistance in every direction. Both these officers identified themselves with the work, and were cordially helpful, and I venture to hope that they will receive the thanks of Govern¬ ment, which in my opinion they richly deserve. The Dharw&r division collected and sent into the famine parts more grass than the other three supplying divisions taken together. 263.The Southern Maratha Railway Company, with wisdom and liberality to be very highly commended, reduced their freight on fodder conveyed in their trucks from 3 annas to 1 anna per mile per wagon, and as an immediate result a very large quantity of karbi was moved by traders and private enterprise into the Bijdpur District, and this trade continued throughout the whole season much to the benefit of the owners of cattle and seemingly also of the Railway Company in traffic reeeipts. Another result of the reduction was that Government grass, both baled and loose, could then be sent from long distances even so far as from remote Raver in East Khandesh, a long lead of 467 miles, into the famine parts at a sufficiently low cost price to command ready sales. The Railway authorities also very obligingly provided us with their largest wagons, the C. G. H. and C. G. M. classes, and every requisition for carriage was met promptly, and the Traffic Department, I may be allowed to mention the names of Messrs. Dunn and Crichton, District Traffic Superintendent s, showed the greatest eourtesy and willingness to assist Government to the utmost extent of their power. Had it not been for the facilit ies afforded by the Com] any, either our grass vTould have remained undisposed of, or Government would have had to sell it at considerable loss. Dhdncdr Division. 1. Kamliarganvi. 2. l'andur. 3. Kalkeri. 4. Kalkundi. 5. Biranhal. 6. Kargod. 7 Jandalgatti, P. Tarlagntti. 9. Tad as. . 0. Artal. 31. Kunnur. 12. Bi eh w ad. 13, Dundoeki. 264.The Divisional Forest Officer, Mr. Woodrow, Deputy Conservator, 3rd Grade, directed the operations in this division with the greatest vigour and cordiality. Cutting was started in the centres marginally mentioned, which were selected as likely to afford the mcst grass, and to be at the same time conveniently situated to read and rail for its ready removal. Then women and children were employed in cutting, and in the forest s where¬ in famine cattle from Bijapur were being grazed, the herdsmen thankfully turned to also, and, it is reported, blessed Government that not only provided fodder for their cattle, but likewise gave them employment. The grass when it had dried somewhat was conveyed. by carts to the depots. The cutting was continued up to the third week of February, by wliich time the grass had become so brittle as to break in the cutter’s hands, and the carting and stacking continued a few weeks longer. The grass was, according to immemorial custom, delivered by the cutters in poolies or bundles, and not by weight, which the viilagers would not agree to, as it was a method of dealing unknown to them. It was found subsequently that the poolie weighed a little over half a pound. Altogether 2,378,905 poolies were cut and stacked, weighing approximately 1,400,782 lbs., at a cost of Rs. 5,874-8-0. 265.Considerable delay was experienced in obtaining presses. The first set up was a screw press, which Mr. Woodrow hired from Mr. Coen, a merchant at Hubli: it was started to work on 5th February, and continued day and night till the end of the operations, about the middle of May, turning out on an average 68 ba!es measuring 3' X 2' x equal to 9 cubic feet, and weighing' from 90 to 100 lbs., in tliet24 hours. On the 25th January, the fil st Conderis Press sent from Poona was received, and between that date and the 2nd Xfarchfour more Conderis Presses and one Gahagan’s Pi ess were supplied to the Divisional Forest Officer, Dharwar. All these presses were first used at Kambarganvi, where the largest amount of grass was collected, and two presses were afterwards sent to Bandur, and the remaining ones to the S. D. Kanara. 263. In the Kalghatgi range 431,800 poolies of grass had been collected, of which 57,000 were burnt in two fires : one occu ‘red at Biranhal in the mouth of February, and the other in the Bichwal forest in April *wlien 28,0c 0 weieburnt; the origin of the:e tires has not been di s- ( lxxix ) covered j that tkey were intentional eannot be doubted, as the stacks were surrounded by fire traces, and the fires oceurred at night time; it is suggested that, dacoits set the grass on fire, and in the Banhipur range 177,105 poolies were collected. 0£ this grass, 337,705 lbs. were carted to Ilnbli at a cost of Rs. 1,436-1-0 and were compressed at a steam cotton factory, belonging to the West Press Company, in 1,24 i bales. It was originally estimated by the Manager* after an experimental trial, that the bale would weigh 350 lbs., but the weight \?as soon reduced to 270 lbs. and the xnachinery of the presses broke down, two large iron doors of the presses being rendered useless. The Engineers explained the damage as due to the great lateral pressure of the grass on the doors, which wrere not able to stand the strain. Whatever the reason may be, grass got such a bad name that none of the seven steam cotton presses at Hubli would undertake a further contract to press the KAnara grass ; another objection was that the Insurance Companies raised the rate of insurance on the cotton brought to the press, owing to the grass being there, and the owners of cotton gave trouble in consequence. The rate paid was Rs. 1-4 per bale, averaging 270 lbs., including iron hoops wrorth about 6 annas a bale. Forty of these cotton steam press bales were carried in the small C. G. wagons of the Southern Maratha Railway. 267. No wire fasteners for bales were obtainable nearer than Bombay, so rope was used in the first instance for tying the compressed bale, but it was very dear. Mr. Woodrow pur¬ chase! 63 cwt. of old rope from the Gokak Mills; then the Dharwar Jail was kept employed many months making rope; experiments were made with fibre and bark from the forests, and with ropes made of grass and reeds, and with e'ocoanut fibre, and cotton: the former wTere not strong enough, and the latter too expensive. Aloe fibre was finally found to be the eheapest and best rope, and Mr. Woodrow, on visiting Bijapur, arranged with the rope-makers in that city to supply aloe fibre rope, which was then used up to the end of the operations, and some small relief was given thereby to an industry in the famine-stricken city, where the rope- makers found it to be hard to earn a livelihood. 268. The* whole of the Dharwar grass was sent to the Bijapur District. The Collector of Dhdrwdr issued a circu1ar in the affected parts of his district, informing the villagers 9f the depots and of the price of grcss, and inviting them to go there and take bales of grass at cost price. I disapproved of this proceeding, because the grass of only a very small fractional portion of the forest area of the district had been, reserved for export to Bijapur, which had no forest of available grass of its own to turn to, while all the rest of the Dharwar District was open to the Dh&rwdr villagers. However, no local villager took advantage of the convenience, the distance for earts to come from the east being prohibitive, and in the west there was not such scarcity of fodder as to send them to the famine grass press depots. All the Dkarw&r Tiluka bales were despatched to the Bijapur District by the 22nd May and the Hubli bales followed in June. It was fortunate that the season was a dry one, unusually so, and that beyond a fevr thunderstorms at the beginning of April there was no rain. 269. There was practically no demand for grass in the Dharwdr District. At the railway station depots of Bijapur 3,333 bales were sold, and 1,495 handed over to the Revenue Depart¬ ment, and 79 were burnt, so that 4,907 bales were accounted for at these depots ; Bagalkot, taking 1,382 bales, was the largest consumer. 270. From the Dh&rwar range alone 11,658 bales, containing 1,141,127 lbs. of grass, were exported by railway to the following destination :— Station. Bales. Lbs. Bijapur »«• .. 6,345 575,483 Indi Road... ... . 336 29,370 Alnmtti ... ... .. 1,974 218,790 Bagalkot ... .. 1,079 117,279 Katgeri ... 497 50,548 Telgi ... 497 51,962 Badami ... 235 36,180 Xlall&pur ... . , . 294 25,862 Gadag ... 369 32,982 Alur 30 2,481 Poona ... 2 190 Total . .. 13,658 1,141,127 271. The. Range Forest Officer of the Dharwar Taluka, Mr. Ganpat Mane, displayed the greatest energy in conducting the operations, and it was owing to his personal attention and, I may say, devotion to the work that such a very large collection wTas obtained in this t&Iuka alone. Mr. Woodrow, the Divisional Forest Officer of Dh&rw&r, in a letter addressed to me on the 20th May 1897, writes of Mr. Mane as follows :— ‘.As I may not have another opportunity, I take the liberty to put in writing the exceptionally good work done by Mr. Ganpat Mane, Range Officer, Dhdrwar, in connection with the grass operations. Beginning towards the end of December, in the short space of six weeks ^ ^ia<^ cut and stacked over 17 lakhs of poolies. In another six weeks he had the bulk of it baled and brought to the railway stations, and with equal despatch had the wagons loaded and sent off to their destination. Since the commencement of the work he has simply lived in the unhealthy jungles round Kambarganvi, and though subject to attaeks or iera, has eonducted the operations with a zeal, intelligence and fertility of resource wmt y oi all piaise. Had it been a private enterprise of his own he could not have shown greater keenness and energy.” * # * * * * * * 272. ( lxsx ) Bel gaum District. 273. The cutting and collection of grass was begun during the last week of November and stoppcdby the middle of Februsfty 1897, when the grass had become dry. Mi\ Hugh Murray, Deputy Conservator, 3rd Grade, and Divisional Forest Officer, direeted the business, and earried it out with his accustomed energy and care. 274. The total collection amounted to 513,550 poolies, equal to 262,132 lbs., and was a vrry small one for such a large district possessing such a large forest area bordering the Western Ghats, but it is explained that almost all the grass in the forests had been cut and removed or grazed down before order was received for famine operations to be undertaken. 275. In the Belgaum range the grass was collected from the forests of the Huzgoli and surrounding villages; about 214,200 poolies were obtained, which were compressed into 1,079 bales containing 81,832 lbs. of grass ; nearly all were sent to Bijdpur, as 1,071 bales weighing SO,052 lbs. were despatched there and sold for Rs. 607-8-0. The remaining grass was sold locally for Rs. 13, the total cost incurred being Rs. 514-11-5 and there was a net profit of Rs. 105-12-7. 276. In the Khanapur range the grass was collected in the Jamboti, Kalmani and Hemadgi forests, from 12 to 15 miles cjistant from Khdndpur Station, and was bound into 1,913 bales, weighing about 180,000 lbs. As the sales were very slack in the Bijapur town and district about the month of Febraary, and the Collector of Bijapur wrote then that no more grass was wanted, the whole of the bales in the Khdndpur range were despatched by railway to the Jath State as the Administrator of that State had asked for assistance in fodder grass. 251 bales were sold for annas 9 each and 166 smaller bales at annas 8 each, realizing with a local sale of binders, &c., Bs. 974-7-6 against an expenditure of Rs. 897-14-11, showing a net profit of Rs. 76-8-7 on the transaction. All this grass had to be baled at Jamboti and Kalmani depots, and then to be carted to the Desur Station, from whence it was earted to Miraj Station, Southern Maratha Railway, for the Jath State. 277. A Conder’s Hand-baling Press was sent to the Divisional Forest Officer, Belgaum, to Khanapur, but not being an efficient press, it was not used to any extent, the bales being made better by means of ropes and bamboos. 278. The financial results of the division appear as under:— Rs. a. p. Receipts ... ... ... ... ... ... 1,504 15 G Expenditure ... ... ... ... ... 1,412 10 4 Net Revenue ... 182 5 2 Northern Division, Kdnara. . 279. A very small collection of grass, amounting to 143,150 lbs. only, was made in this division, where a very large one might naturally have been expected. The Divisional Forest Officer explains this by the statement that the grass operations were commeneed too late in the season, for they were begun in December, wdien there was very little good grass left in the coun¬ try. But it would appear that the late Mr. MacGregor wired to the Divisional Forest Officer an order on the 1st December 1896, “Please cut immediately 200,000 lbs. fodder grass, Tenaq Dudhmul and elsewhere, if necessary/' and this was not too late in the season to cut in Kanara. 280. Collecting depots were established at Jagalbet, Boregalii, Konshet, Tenaighat and Tenai; most of the grass was collected at Tenaighdt and was received from villagers at the rate of Rs. 2-8-0 per 1,000 lbs.; it wras then carted to the pressing depots at Castle Rock, Tenai¬ ghat and Kumbeli, where it was compressed and baled by means of Conderis presses sent from Poona. About 30 bales were outturned daily by 6 eoolies, who received 4 annas each per diem. Canes were used for ropes for binding the bales, as rope was found to be too expensive : it was an ingenious and economical proceeding to thus utilise produce of the surrounding forests in order to supply a want that it would otherwise have been not only expensive, but difficult to satisfy. 281. One wagon load of loose grass was sent to Bijapur in the month of December 1896 as an experiment to see whether cattle would eat the grass of the Kdnara forests, and the Collector said they elid eat it “ greedily” Some 8,000 poolies were supplied for building plague shed s at Londa at the request of the Collector of Belgaum, and all the bales of hay were sent to the Jath State by railway to Miraj Station, Southern Maratha Railway, and to the Bijapur District, also by railway. Altogether 88 bales containing 7,500 lbs. of grass were sent to the Jath State and 1,349 bales containing 123,077 lbs. to the Bijapur District. 282 ****** < * 283. The Divisional Forest Officer, Mr. Oliver, remarks as fojlows in forwarding his Range Forest Officer's final report giving a history of the operations :—> e( The orders to cut and press grass were received far too late. For this of course no one is*to blame, as the famine *licf not definitely declare itself till late. But if the grass could have been cut in the latter part o£ October or early in November, there would have been far more nourishment in it. The Kanara grass is never good, but being cut late it was on the whole very bad. The Political Agent of the Jath State told me that the grass sent there was unfit for food for cattle and they would not eat it. It was also unfit for thatching as it smelt so bad. I belie ve the bulk of this grass came from the Belgaum District, but I sent a little/’ 284. The best commentary on these depreciatory remarks regarding the quality of the grass is to be foiind in the fact that the whole of the grass sent into the Bijdpur District was bought readily there, and was eaten by the cattle without hesitation, and no i ll-effect s have been reported. The pilot wagon load of loose grass, which was sent as an experiment, was, the Collector of Bijapur stated, eaten greedily; and Mr. Rebeiro, the Divisional Forest Officer, Bijapur, reports of the seven famine grass supply depot s under his charge when the agricul- turists found it necessary to keep alive as many cattle as they could for the fast approaching monsoon sowing operations, the sales were very rapid, and in fact so rapid that grass could* not be brought fast enough ! This was just the time when, as Mr. Rebe.ro says, “ later on, the consignments were all from Tenaighat.” The people in the Jath State may not have been prepossessed by the appearance of the Kanara forest grass, because it is very different from the grass grown in the open country under a light rainfall, and it may have had a smell peculiar to itself, the smell of the forests ; but notwithstanding all this, it was good, wholesome, nutritious grass, and I entirely agree with Mr. Ebden. the Commissioner, S. D., in the opinion conveyed in the following words of his letter to me : - “ As far as I can gather any information, the question whether local (Bijapur) cattle will eat the Southern Circle grass, appears to depend very much upon whether it has to be. paid for.39 The touchstone of experience has amply veritied this conclusion. 285. The expenditure ineurred locally on grass amounted to Rs. 1,024-10-1, thus :— Rs a# p, ... 349 ll 0 ... 316 I 5 ... 10 0 0 ... 153 12 2 ... 39 12 0 ... 22 1 6 ... 333 4 0 Cost of grass .... Cost of carting... Cost of cane Cost of baling ... Contingencies ... Cost of loading ... Cost of railway freight Total ..1,02110 1 and in addition thereto railway freight for famine grass moved to Bijapur from TenaigMt was paid by this office anuunting to Rs. 210, bringing the total expenditure up to Rs. 1,234-10-1. 286. On the other side 143,150 lbs. of grass were collected, veritably an insignificant quantity for this division. 1,437 bales were manufactured containing 130,577 lbs. of grass, of which 88 bales containing 7,500 lbs. were sent to the Jath State, and its price, Rs. 77-9-6, was received and credited, and 1,349 bales containing 123,077 lbs. of grass were exported to the Bijapur District and were sold there and the proceeds credited in the Bijdpur accounts. The pilot wagon load of loose grass sent to Bijapur itself from Castle Rock early in the season was sold for Rs. 30-12-0, and a sum of Rs. 26 was received on account of the grass supplied at Londa to build huts for plague detinues, Southern Division, Kdnara. 287. Mr. Haselden, Assistant Conservator, 1st Grade, and Divisional Forest Officer, con- ducted personally the famine grass operations in this, district with great interest and zeal, and exerted himself to the utmost to obtain as large a collection as possible of edible grass to have it compressed and baled quickly, and despatched as soon as possible, to Hubli by carts, from whence it was all conveyed by railway into the Bij&pur Distriets for consumption. 288. The work of cutting and collecting was undertaken in the two ranges of Yellapur and Mundgod, and the particulars are as under:— Range. Yell&pur Mundgod ..t Forests where Grass was cut. Quantity. Cost of conveyance. Press Depdt to which Grass was conveyed. Cost, Lbs. Rs. a. P- 8angtikop. Rs a. 155 9 P* Sangtikop 84,422 390 10 2 84,422 lbs. 8 Amalgar ... 60,000 157 8 0 Ckitgeri 24,000 63 0 0 Singanhalli. 323 5 0 Kliodambi 11,200 29 0 5 128,900 lbs. Malgi ... 35,400 89 2 0 130,600 339 0 5 12 ,900 lbs. 323 5 0 Bhadrapur Karkikop Kulkeri.., | 79,560 208 ’.3 6 Kanwalli 102,660 lbs. 115 9 2 Sanwalli Bahalkalli | 23,100 60 10 2 v Wadgatta Sudgeri... j 125,000 340.10 0 Wadgatta 136,187 lbs. 192 15 0 Kusur . . 11,187 22 4 0 Total Mundgod ... 369,447 971 6 1 367,747 631 13 2 Grand Total ... 453,869 1,362 0 3 452,169 7o7 6 30 B 98—21 ap ( lxxxii ) % 289.No grass was sold locally, but it was all pressed into bales with the following results:— §—. Press Depots. Grass. Bales. Cost. Cost of cartage to Hubli. Cost of Ro pes. Sangtikop Singanhall SanwalCi ... ... ... »«• Wadgatta Total ... 84,422 98,181 10 i,660 136,187 1,128 3,607 3,428 919 Rs. a. p. 151 12 6 130 7 7 132 2 10 92 1 9 Rs. a. p. 317 4 0 542 12 6 454 1 6 349 7 0 Rs. a. p, 59 12 5 |547 H 6 421,450 6,082 506 8 8 3,663 9 O 607 10 ll And there was also some miscellaneous expenditure, such as Rs. 221-4-7, for erecting trestles and stacking bales and grass and for fencing; Rs. 117-15-6 for special watchers to protect the grass against fire ; Rs 191-4-7 for eontingencies. 290. Of the 453,869 lbs. of grass which had been cut, a defieiency was discovered in grass of the value of Rs. 80, and after a careful departmental inquiry the Deputy Conservator in charge of the Southern Circle directed that Rs. 60 should be recovered from the Ranger and Rs. 20 from the Forest Guard who was in charge of the operations at the grass depots of Amalgar, Chitgeri, Khodambi and Malgi and of the press depot at Singanhalli whereat this defieiency oceurred. The total cost of the operations amounted to Rs. 5,457-12-4. 291. Two screw presses which remained over from the famine of 1876-77 were first employed in compressing and baling the grass and later on three Conders and one Gahagan Press were sent from Dh&rwar after they had been working in that district and had broken the neck of the work there, so that the residual of loose grass could be baled easily by the big screw press left at Kambarganvi in Dharwdr Tdluka. 29§. All the bales sent to Ilubli were consigned to Mr. Woodrow, the Divisional Forest Officer of Dhdrwdr, who had them loaded in railway trucks and sent off to the famine districts, where the grass was all sold and eaten by the cattle of the country. 293. Mr. Haselden deserves thanks for the care and attention lie devoted to this grass work. Bijapur District. 294. This was a district supplied apd relieved; it had no grass of its own to be collected and distributed. The Personal Assistant, Mr. William Didsbury Sheppard, I. C. S., to the Collector, undertook the sale and distribution of the grass delivered in the city of Bijapur and elsewhere in the district up to the last week in March, when he gave over to the Divisional Forest Officer the control of the depots at the railway stations to the south of Bijapur, keeping in his own hands the transactions in the city and at the railway station of Indi Hoad to the north of it, and Mr. Sheppard gave up much time and attention to this work, and brought it to a very satisfactory conclusion through the keen interest and zealous energy that he took in distributing the grass and in obtaming purehasers for it: the work was by no means so simple as might be imagined,' for there was at starting a great prejudice against grass brought from the Dharw&r, Belgaum and Iianara forests, and it was only by coaxing and by the force of example and urging that the people, so very conservative in their habits, were induced to give the foreign and abused grass a fair trial, and when they saw how good it was, and that its old-standing bad character was unmerited, they no longer hesitated to buy. 295, The consignments of grass sent to Bijapur from the Thana and Khandesh districts longer railway distances than from Souden (London ?) to Edinburgh appear in this statement:— £ From To Montli and Date. Depot. District. Station. Railway distance. Wagons, Grass. December 32th Badlipur Tliafna Bijipur... t.. 310 1 Lbs. 6,240 >1 January 3 4th Nargaon ... Kliindesh ... Do 465 1 4,960 7th Do, Do, ... ... Indi Road 463 2 15,760 8th Do. Do Do ... 1 7,581 8th Badlipur ... Thana ... ... Bijipnr 310 5 26,629 V eth • ... Do. Do, 1 Telgi c 337 5 27,559 9 th Nargaon ... Khtndesh ... t ... Indi Road 433 2 16,066 it 31th Do. ... Do, Bijapur.. 465 5 24,219 Total ... ... 22 129,014 296. Mr. Rebeiro, Extra Assistant Conservator of Forests, 3rd Grade, and Divisional Forest Officer of Bijapur, directed the work in seven famine-supply grass depots located at the railway • • ( lxxxiii ) station s of Telgi, Almati, B^galkot, Katgiri, Bddami, Mallapur, Gadag South of Bijapur the last two being in the Dharwar District, from the 25th March to the end of the season, ten Forest Gnards being plaeed in charge of them as depot offieers and assistants. A weekly examination of all the depots and of their aecounts was made by Mr. Kebeiro^ who regulated the orders for fresh eonsignments of bales according to the demands at, and issuess from, each depot. Ai/ first the grass was imported from Kambarganvi in bales partly hand-bound and partly press-bound: later on the eonsignments were all from Tenaighat in the N. D. Kanara division. This is a point to be noted, because of the bad character given so undeservedly and recklessly by Mr. Oliver, the Divisional Forest Officer, N. D. Kanara, to the grass of his district. In the beginning the sales were slow, the chief consumers being cartmen, Gavlis and profes¬ sional owners of cattle, and at the depots south of Bagalkot hardly a bale was sold for a fort¬ night, the complaint at some places being that the cattle ate this grass very shyly and were affected with looseness of the bowels : if this were the fact it was not to be greatly wondered at, seeing that these cattle had been fed mostly on karbi and grass grown in an open country and green grass all their lives. The agriculturist in general held aloof from the depots and let their cattle pro vide for themselves or die, as they found it to be beyond their means to feed a large number of animals on grass. Only very valuable agricultural cattle were fed on karbi very largely imported from Mysore. However later on, end of April and May, when cattle which had been removed to other districts in search of fodder and which having fared worse there on account of the tick disease began gradually to return, and also when the agriculturists found it necessary to keep alive as many cattle as they could for the ploughing of fields^he sales were very rapid, and in fact so rapid that grass could not be brought and supplied fast enough. On the 31st May all the grass in stock was handed 6ver to the .Revenue authorities for disposal, and it was partly issued at the cost of the Indian Charitable Famine Fund and partly used in feeding cattle bought for distribution to cultivator. 297. Out of 4,907 bales received in the*seven depots, 3,333 were sold at prices realising . Rs. 2,839-15-9. Seventy-nine bales were accidentally burnt in two fires, one at Badami when 4 bales were destroyed, and the other at Mallapur depot when 7 5 bales were consumed; and the remaining 1,495 bales were handed over to the Revenue Department for disposal and their price, Rs. 1,101-10-0, was received and credited. > 298. The reeeipts and issues at the seven depots were as under :— Received. Issued. Dep3ts. Bales. By sales. Burnt. > By Revenue Department. Total, Price. Telgi ... 842 696 146 842 Rs. a, p, 682 10 9 Almati 825 347 ... 478 825 807 33 6 B&galkot 1,382 1,003 779 ... 379 3,382 1,106 12 6 Katgeri 1,050 ... 271 1,050 884 4 0 Bidami 204 99 4 101 204 120 5 6 Mallapur 266 191 75 ... 266 141 0 O Gadag 333 218 ... 120 338 198 ll 6 Total ... 4,907 3,333 79 3,495 4,907 3.941 9 9 299. Mr. Sheppard, the Personal Assistant to the Collector, informed me in his letter No. 3805, dated 11th September 1897, that all the grass sent to the Indi Road Station, Bijapur and elsewhere in the district, had been sold and the proceeds credited. In reply I considered it my duty to inform Mr. Sheppard: “ If it had not been for your cordial and valuable assistance, the operations in the Bijapur District could not have been either satisfactory or successful, and it has been personally a pleasure to me, as it has been decidedly to the interest of Government, that you have taken so prominent a part in the work/* 300. The following is a brief statement of the reeeipts and issues of grass in the tAwn of Bijdpur and in other depots, not including the grass which Mr. Rebeiro received and disposed of:— r Bales, Grass. Amount. Lbs. Rs. a. p, feijdpur 14,376 11,93,623 Indi 1,123 3,5t),l£7 Katgiri 36 3,636 B&galkot 900 76,500 ► 13,018 12 4 Almatti 492 82,360 Telgi 495 41,580 Alur ... 30 2,481 * Total ... 17,452 15,55,377 13,018 32 4 ) \ ( lxxxiy ) Financial Results. 301.The total expenditure up to date, 28th February 1898, has amounted to Rs. 2,15,547-7-4 and the total reeeipts to Rs. 1,42,807-10-11, so that the former has exceeded the latter by a sum of Rs. 72,739-12-5. But some adjustments remain still to be made which may decrease the value of the concession of fodder grass to the famine distriets for saving agri¬ cultural cattle to some extent; for example : (a) The value, Rs. l,4S7-4-Q, of grass issued against fcagai in the Sholapur District has to be recovered by the Jlamlatdars from the cultivators and then to becredited to the famine prass account. (b) Rs. 5,887-2-0 represent the value of the wire-binders which were fastening the compressed bales of hay handed over to the Collector of Ahmednagar for issue at the cost of the Famine Charitable Fund to village cattle owners and against tagai. These wires have not been returned, and numbers of them, if ever returned, will be found to be broken and unserviceable. (c)Rs. 8,431-6-6 represent the value of the wire-binders supplied to the Collector of Sholapur with the bales of hay furnished to that district; a large heap of these binders. are in the Madhe M&mlatdar’s Kacheri and are being sorted and arranged, but a considerable number of them is broken and useless. < 302.In paragraph 2 of Government Resolution No. 252-Fam., dated 25th January 1897, it was ordered: ((The Collectors of the distriets to which the grass is sent should be requested to arrange, as far as possible, for the prompt return to the Government grass depots whence the presSed grass was despatehed of the metal binders fastened round the bales, as their cost repre- sents no insignificant portion of the aggregate cost of the pressed bales/5 . 303.The patent galvanized wire-binders and iron links of the Jessop’s Phoenix Steam Press bales have a present value, for the Commissariat Department will probably be glad to take those that are intact and serviceable at a reduced price of 25 per cent, below original cost. Rut the other wires of the Hand Press, Dederick, &c., bales will not realize very much when sold. 30*4. Then there are the following hand hay baling presses lemaining unsold, attempts hitherto made at selling them not having proved successful; they may sell later on. Description of Press, 4 Gahagan & Co/s Presses at Rs. 355 each ... 1 Mhow Press ... 4 Condens Presses at Rs. 179-1-0 each 1 Do. do. Total . Revenue credited up to end of February 1898 : — I.—By sale of grass Rs. a. P- Khdndesh 732 10 3 Nasik 7,920 12 6 Ahmednagar, ... ... 32,690 5 ll Poona ... 27,035 5 8 Satara 1,460 8 0 Sholapur ... 28,580 13 9 Thana 31 13 6 Rijdpur 7,557 13 10 Belgaum 1,237 5 6 , Dharwar ... 13,030 13 8 Kdnara 245 6 4 II.—By sale . of presses, wire-binders and dead stock articles, &c. ... III.'—By sale to Gt I. P. Railway of coals remaining on hand IV.—By refund of excess cost of freight by G. I. P. Railway, &e. ... Expenditure debited up to the enS. of Febrpary 1898 : — I.—Cost of collecting grass ID—Cost of carting grass to depots to be pressed and to Railway stations for despatch III.—Cost of labour for compressing and baling grass ... Original price. Rs. a. p. 1,420 0 0 300 0 0 716 4 0 90 0 0 2,526 4 0 Rs. a. p. 1,20,523 12 ll C < 7,607 6 10 272 0 0 • 85 14 8 Rs. a. P' 31,433 3 S 42,064 9 5 14,740 14 2 a. P- ( lxxxv ) IV. — Cost o£ wire-binders or ties for fastening bales— 1 (d) The Jessop’s Phoenix Steam Baling Press binders cost Rs. 0-12-0 per 100 and the iron links Rs. 2-4-H per 100. 4 b.niers and 4 links are ^ requ’red to each bale. . i (I) The wire-binders with fastening ends for hand press bales run to Rs. a-4-0 per 100 and from [ 3 to .0 go to each bale and ropes, canes, &c. J V.—Cost of loading bales into and unloading from railway wagons .** ••• ••• *** VI.— Cost of coals and firewood for working steam presses VII.—Cost of artifieers on Steam Baling Presses VIII.—Cost of freight paid to the Railway Companies for conveyance of grass, loose and baled IX.—Cost of Hay Baling Presses purchased X.—Stores, such as lanterns, kibrieating oil, tallow, &c,, weighing scales, dead-stock articles, repaits to Steam and Hand Presses, &c., &c. XI.—Snndries, including railway and cart charges forcon- veying Steam Presses from Poona to Raver and vice versa and from Howrah to Afcgaon and to Poona. Railway and cart charges for moving Hand Baling Presses. Cost of erecting and dismantling Presses. Hire of a Press in Dharwar, &c., &c ... XII.' Cost of special watchers employed for prot.ecting forests from fire-guirding grass depots, &c. ... XIII.—Cost of road making Rs. 26,820 9 9 2,909 7 ll 2,292 3 0 1,397 0 10 50,638 2 0 5,547 15 0 4.773 S 1 7,450 8 2 3,854 0 5 593 12 6 Total expenditure under A ... 1,94,515 14 ll 13*—Establish merit s. L—Cost of salary of Superior officers- .... 13,034 7 1 II. District and Office Establishment on special duty 4,082 3 1 III.—travelling allowances to Special Officer and Estab- lishments, District and Office 2,825 4 6 IV.—Contingencies 1,089 9 9 Total B ... 21,031 8 5 Grand Total ... 2,15,547 7 4 305. In conclusion, I would venture to make two suggeetions in view of the possibility of a famine -occurring again in the immediate future : — (1) That a Jessop’s Steam Phoenix Hay Baling Press plant completed should be provided, and stored one at the head-quarters of each Forest Circle with 209,000 binders and links sufficient for 50,000 bales. (2) That the wire-fencing of forest areas in the plain country of the Deccan be pushed at the rate of 20 linear miles of barbed wire fence per annum for the next 10 years. The Steam Press plant will not deteriorate nor decay rapidly, and it may come in of use at any time for baling grass when a military expedition is sent over the seas, as not infrequently occurs, or when Government cattle, including horses, are moved from one part of this vast empire to a distant portion by railway, 306. Enclosing forest areas against cattle will increase the sources of fodder-grass supply and will promote the use of fodder-grass and^stimulate stall feeding : at the same time the produc¬ tion of firewood and timber and the growth of trees in the Eastern Deccan will be increase!. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient Servant, A. T. SHUTTLE WORTH, Conservator of Forests, First Grade, on Special Famine Duly. s 98—22 ap ( ( lxxxvi ) APPENDIX No. 1. List of IT ay Baling Presses. Portable Jessop's Steam Phoenix Hay Baling Press. Dederick's Full Circle Patent Lever Bullock Press. Messrs. Richardson and Cruddas’ Original Portable Lever Press. Messrs. Richardson and Cruddas of Bombay Improved Lever Hay Baling Press. Messrs. Geo. Gahagan and Company's Improved Portable Hand Press. Messrs. Macbeth Brothers and Company's Hay Press. Portable Jessop}s Steam Phoenix Hay Baling Presses. Each plant consists of two hydraulic presses, each fitted with two press boxes that run out and into the presses on rails, so that whilst the contents of one box is being pressed the other is b£ing filled ready for pressing, thus keeping the press working continuously. The presses are supplied with hydraulic pressure by a Duplex steam pump, which stops automatically when the maximum pressure is reached, thereby reducing the risk of break down and when working with unskilled labour. Steam is supplied by a locotype boiler, mounted on wheels, with specially enlarged fire box for burning either wood or coals, The whole of the plant can be taken to pieces and any portion carried by a country bullock cart, except the boiler : this goes on its own wheels. The entire plant can thus be easily rnoved from one district to another, though in actual practice it is found preferable to have a central pressing station and cart the grass in from the surrounding districts. Each plant is supplied complete with 'all fittings ready for erecting and starting to work. A tripod and chain block is also supplied for erecting and dismantling the press. A trained Native Mistri and Tindal, i.e., Fitter or Engineer and Fireman, with about 30 coolies, are required to work the plank About 20 cwt. of coal or 40 maunds of wood are required for the boiler daily. The plant is designed to turn out one maund (80 lbs.) bales measuring 24" x 18" X 12". equal to about 90 cubic feet to the ton. The bales are bound with Jessop’s patent binders : these are made of light flexible wire, the necessary length to go once round a bale, with an eye formed at each end, the two ends being connected by a small open iron link. The bales are pressed a little and smaller than the required measurements, the binders then passed round and the links put on. By this means bales are quickly and securely bound by unskilled labour. When it is required to open out the bales the eyes of the binders are drawn together with a pair of tongs and the link taken out and the binders and links can be re-used ; four binders with four links are required for each bale. Price of press ... ... ... Rs, 12,200 Price of wire binders with iron links * „ 90 per 1,000. 1. 2. 3. 4/ 5. 6. t Dederick’s Full Circle Patent Lever Bulloch Press. The power-baling case and connections are constructed of steel and iron. The connec¬ tion between the press and power end of the machine is a steel tube *or pipe, through which the staff of the traveller (another pipe) passes and communicates the power to the traverser, so that there are* no visible moving parfcs for the bullocks to slip over. The press and the power are under the surface of the axles of the wheels, pits being dug for the purpose, so that the steel tube or pipe rests on the ground level and a damp of earth is banked on either side of it for the bullocks to walk over the pipe. 3 wire ties with patent fastening ends are used to bind each kale. ORIGINAL PATTERN ' PORTABLE LEVER PRESS FOR HAY, &c. This Press is strong, portable, compact, effective and cheap, and is largely used in America, the Colonies, and also in this country, for pressing Hay, Straw, Cotton, Jute, Hidos and numerous^ other kinds of merchandise required in neat and compact bales for trans¬ portation , It is easily worked by two men, and with its aid 103 pounds of unpressed "hay, occupying 50 cubic feet of space, can be readily compressed into a neat bale measuring 48 in. X 29 in. X 25 in. (Experience has shown thbf 6 men ere absolutely necessary to work this Pres When used for cotton, 300 pounds can be put into a balo 48 in. X 29 in. X 28 in. Weight about 9| ewt. Price, its. 350. a o DEDERICKS FULL CIRCLE PATENT LEVER BULLOCK PRESS ( lxxxvii ) Messvs. Geo. Gahagan and Company’s Improved Portable Hand Press. These Lever Presses being strong, compact and cheap, can be recommended for light balino- uurposes and to those who reuuire a press to work by manual power only. They are easilv worked by two men. The inside measurement of the standard size press, when closed '45 by 26 by 28 inches ; slight variations from these sizes are made without extra charge. Kor1 hay four or even more trusses may easily be compressed into a space of 46 by 25 by 25, and for cotton 320 lbs. can be pressed into a space of 48 by 28 by 28. A bale of rags weighs about 6 cwt. This press is an improvement upon the American press, in which the chain was drawn up by means of small teeth between the ratchet wheels; these teeth were required exactly to lit the links of the chain, consequently a very little wear of the chain or of the teeth caused the chain to slip over the* teeth, and thus render the press useless. In this improved press, as shown in the above drawing, the chain is coiled upon a grooved cone, the end being fastened to the laro-e end of the cone ; the winding commences at the large end, and therefore winds up much more chain at first for each depression of the lever than it does at the last, thus increasino- the power as the resistance of the bale becomes greater. The end of the. chain being fastened securely to the cone, there is no possibility of any slip occurring. This press when packed for shipment, measures about 56 cubic feet. Gross weight about 10 cwt. Messrs. Macbeth Brothers and Company’s Hay Press. To make oales 2 It. 3 in. x 2 ft., with travelling wheels and shafts, 11s. 450. 1 1 1 1 3 4 2 1 1 efcs • • 8 2 6 8 • 12 12 1 1 2 1 1 2 8; 1 1 1 4 2 1 1 1 2 6 3 2 1 ( ( lxxxviii ) APPENDIX No. 2. Statement of Bead Stock Articles purckased in connection with Famine Grass Operations, Value. Us. a. P- 742 9 0 350 0 0 354 0 0 300 0 0 1,050 0 0 776 4 0 900 0 0 30 0 0 450 0 0 350 0 0 37 12 0 7 0 0 6 0 0 48 0 0 8 0 0 10 0 0 6 0 0 13 0 0 114 ll 6 100 0 0- 118 15 3 326 0 0 52 0 0 108 0 0 24 0 0 2 8 0 6 10 5 6 8 0 4 0 0 1 4 0 0 6 0 1 6 9 0 12 0 0 14 0 1 10 0 1 0 0 20 0 0 2 8 0 0 5 0 ‘ 0 6 0 0 0 0 18 6 0 1 0 0 0 8 6 1 8. 0 Description. pany. Gahagan Press Richardson and Cruddas Press Hay Press Hay Presses, 1 for Rs, 350 and the other for Rs. 700, from Messrs, George Gahagan of Bombay. Condens Band Hay Presses from the Coi missariat Department, Pood a. Hay Presses, improved type, from Mess Richardson and Cruddas. Hay Press Do. Appliance* (Tommys and Tongs) for open¬ ing bale* of hay, Dogs and bolts hatchet wheels Ratchet wheel and catch Articles of Press from Messrs. Richardson and Cruddas Dogs for Hay Press Ratchet wheels Ratehets Hot APPENDIX No. 2—continued. Description. ) Value. Voucher Ko. i Rkmaeks. Rs. a. p. East Khandesh Division—continued. Buckets Tin boxes Padlock Lanterns . ... Cylindrical tanks ... Salter's spring balances Pincer... Box with lock and key Pincer Scraper Water-pipe ... Bend ... Coupling Iron lap Iron tanks Buckets •... Hammer? Circular spring balances Weighing scales .. Lanterns Iron files Pick-axe ... Lanterns Axe ... Pincer... Iron bars Bolts ... Iron clamp and Iron bracket Scissors ~ ... Hink's lanterns Iron pincer Iron ring Hammers Pincer Cane baskets Iron tank Penknife Firewood box ... * 1 1 0 9 12 20 0 0 1 0 8 0 0 4 11 1 0 24 10 12 2 0 2 0 1 3 1 2 0 37 0 0 4 0 2 4 1 1 12 0 9, 0 4 0 0 0 7 9 10 0 6 0 6 0 0 0 7 0 11 6 9 0 4 6 0 0. 4 10 2 0 8 0 0 0 14 0 0 0 2 0 10 0 10 0 14 0 0 0 0 0 8 0 0 0 12 0 8 O 8 0 4 0 0 0 12 0 4 0 8 9 0 0 0 o >103 of Januaiy 1897. I J 149 of February 1897. 150 of *\ do. I 151 do. > >315 do. 316 do. 286 of April 1897. 287 do. 28S do. >-497 of 1 J May 1897. >■517 of do. 525 do. 113 of June 1897. 82 of July 1897. 83 of July 1897. 100 of July 1S97. 14 of October 1897. Ndsih Division. Loeks with keys ... Salter's balances ... Poona Division. Lantern Weighing balances Needles Pincer Sdtara Division. Spring balances ... Bolts ... Iron bolts Iron chains ... , 8—23 ap 0 10 0 292 of April 1897. 13 8 0 498 of May 1S97. 0 6 37 0 1 2 1 0 0 0‘ 0 0 61 of Januaiy 1S97. 104 of January 1897. 146 of February 1897. 147 do. 8 12 1 0 0 9 2 10 0 0 0 0 148 of February 1897. 42 of June 1897. } 20 of July 1879. \ ( xc ) APPENDIX No. 2—continued. Number « of Description, Value. Voucher No, Articles. c Re. a. p. Sholdjmr Division. 2 Locks «•« 0 ll 0 21 of March 1S97. 2 2 Boxes... Locks ... 0 0 15 5 0 0 j- 12S of do. 1 Dealwood box 0 8 0 0 1 Do. 0 5 0 J-232 of April 1897. 3 Do. 1 5 0 3 Padlocks 0 ll 0 231 of do. South Thdna. C 1 < Bolts ... Hammer and 1 wrench ... 8 7 2 10 0 6 1152 of February 1897. S Spring balances .., *.» 94 8 10 153 of do. 4 3 Engineer^ oil cans and 1 parallel wrench. 0 13 1 154 of do. 2 1 Spring balances ... Hammer ... • *. 28 1 8 ll 4 4 j-155 of do. 5 Iron bars ... 0 10 0 97 of dp. .3 Do. .., 0 6 0 4 Lanterns • •» 4 0 0 ’ .1 File c.. •». 0 ll 0 24 5 Doz. Bolts ... Do, ... ... ... ... 1 2 8 O 0 0 >156 of do. 1 Chaki •.. 0 8 0 2 Iron dogs ... 4 0 0 4 Screws >.. 1 0 0 j 4 Lanterns • •. 2 8 0 Screws ... 3 5 0 1 Bolts Iron Patti ... t 1 0 2 13 0 0 of April 1S97. 4 Tin boxes ... 0 8 0 Nails ... ... 0 6 0 1 Spring balance 12 8 0 J 499 of May 1897. 4 Spring balances ... ••. 37 12 0 7 of August 1897. 1 Iron chain ... 15 S 0 1 Iron catch ... . .... 1 0 0 Central Thdna. 4 Teakwood boxes ... ll 0 0 4 Hurricane lanterns 0 12 0 6 Salter’s spring balances 62 3 5 105 of January 1897. 2 Ladders , 0 12 0 * , 5 Salter* s spring balances 55 0 0 157 of February 1897. 4 24 Buckets ... Hurricane lanterns 3 40 4 0 0 0 1317 of March 1897. 2 Iron tanks 60 10 8 7 of final March 1897. 4 Wooden casks 20 0 0 4 Brass casks 6 0 0 290 of April 1897. 2 Funnels ... . ••• 1 0 0 2 Tin cases 2 0 0 276 of do. 12 New eatehers for Hay Press ... 15 0 0 276 of do. 16 Do. do. 23 0 0 289 of do. 14 Hurricane lanterns 3 8 C 500 of May 1897. S Tin cases • ... ^ • t 1 0 0 501 of do. 8 Hurricane lanterns < 24 0 0 1431 of do. 1 Box ... 1 0 0 4 Hurricane lanterns 3 8 0 502 of do. Forks, iron hooks, and 49 0 0 443 of do. '*3 Iron catcbes ratchets 3 0 0 503 of do. 6 Remarks. t ( ) APPENDIX. No. 2—eoncluded. lumber of Description* Value. % Voucher No. Remakks. Artieles. i Rs. a. P- Dli&rwar Division. > 10 Lanterns 40 0 0 313 of March 1897. . 4 6 Do. 6 0 0 1 Pair of scissors * i * 0 14 0 314 of March 1897. »•« Screws, &c. • • t 0 7 9 Kdnara Southern Division. 6 Serews and bolts ... ... 1 1 0 28 of July 1897. Supplied by the Commissariat Department. 10000 10000 Binders Links... ... J. 900 0 0 13 of final March 1897. 57044 57044 Binders Links ... | 5,133 15 4 12 of October 1897. 10000 Wire binders 675 0 0 130000 Do. links from Calcutta ... 11,700 0 0 Purchase of wire binders. 10000 Galvanized wire binders 675 0 0 10000 Do. do. 675 0 0 >48 of August 1897. 12000 Iron links 270 0 0 3 20seers Wire ... 4 0 0 37 of February 1897. Do. Do. ... 4 0 0 38 of do. 27600 Wire ties from Tramway Company 1,034 8 0 6 of do. 4 5000 . Do. do. 187 8 0 12 of do. 2500 Wire ties 81 4 0 250 Do. 8 2 0 2000 Do. 65 0 0 12000 Do. 390 0 0 2000 Do. 65 0 0 • ■ . Do. 620 12 0 5000 Do. 162 8 0 900 Do. 29 4 0 5000 Do. 162 8 0 20000 Do. 6o0 0 0 18 of May 1897. 20000 Do. ... ... - 650 0 0 36 of do. 29000 Do. 962 8 0 10 of June 1897. 3000 Do. ISO 0 0 3 of November 1897. 6000 * Do. 180 0 0 28 of March 1897. Total ... 32,766 2 ll Camp Visdpur, Ahmednagar District, 12th March 1S98. } A. T. SHUTTLEWORTH, Conservator of Forests, 1st Grade, On Special Famine Duty. APPENDIX No. 3. Statement showing Receipts and Expenditure* , Expenditure. Receipts. T? 17Tlf A T> ll d Particular. Amount. Particular^ Amount. JCV iS uL A ii ll y # Rs. a. p. Rs. a. p. (X) - In connection with grass operations— Cost of grass collected - ... 31,43* 3 8 By sale of grass 1,20,523 12 ll Cost of carting to Press Depots 42,064 9 5 By recoveries of excess pay men ts 357 14 8 Cost of compressing and baling 14,740 14 2 By sale of Presses, wire-binders and other dead Cost of binders or ties for fastening bales Of grass 26,820 9 9 stock articles already adjusted 2,513 7 2 Loading in and*unloading bales from Railway trucks ... 2,909 7 ll To be adjusted on account of the price of wire- Cost of coals and firewood for working Steam Presses... 2,292 3 0 binders of grass bales supplied to the Collector of Freight paid to Railway Companies 60,638 2 0 ^Ahmednagar 5,887 2 0 Watchers for protecting the forests from fire, for pro- Do. do. Sholapur 8,431 6 6 tecting loose grass at the Press Depots and bales at Do. on account of the price of wire- the Sale Depots... 3,854 0 5 binders of grass supplied to the Commissariat Cost of Presses purchased 5,547 15 0 Department 5,093 15 8 Stores and repairs to Presses ... 4,773 8 1 Sundries ... 7,450 8 2 Temporary Establishments on steam-baling Presses ... 1,397 0 10 Road making ... 593 12 6 Total Expenditure on grass operations ... 1,94,515 14 ll B.—Estallishments. Special officer’s salary 13,034 7 1 - Executive and Office Establishment^ salary ... ... 4,082 3 1 Travelling allowanees ... 2,825 4 6 * Contingencies 1,089 9 9 Total, B Establishments ... 21,031 8 5 Grand Total of Expenditure ... 2,15,547 7 4 Total ... 1,42,807 10 ll Camp Visa pur, Ahmednagar District, dated 12th March 1898, A. T. SHUTTLE W ORTH, Conservator of Forests, First Grade, on Special Famine Duty. XCll ( xciii ) APPENDIX No. 4. * Statement of Beceipts and Expenditure shown under each head and sub-head. Budget Head and Sub-head. Beceipts, I.—Timber and other produce removed from the forests by Govern ageney— e» Grass and other minor produce Y,—Miscellaneous— 5, Refunds... ... e. Other sources Total Expenditure. A>—Conservancy and Works, I,—Timber and other produce removed from the forests by Government ageney— e. Grass and other minor produce VI.—Live stock stores, tools and plant— c.Purchase of stores, tools and plant... VII.—Communications and Buildings~- at Roads and Bridges ... ... VIII.—Demarcation, &c.— f. Protection from fire IX.—Miscellaneous— Other charges... ... Total I?.—Kstablishments. I,—Salaries— a. Oonservators c. Subordinate Forest and Depot Estab lishment ..> ... ... d. Office Establishment e. Deputation and special allowance .. II.—Travelling allowances^-* a. Oonservators c. Subordinate Forest and lishment d, Office Establishments III,—Contingencies— a. 8tationery e. Official postage f, Sundries Addr— A.—Conservancy and Works Total Grand Total ... Actuals to end of March 1897. Actuals to end of J anuary 1898. Total. Estimate during February and March 1898, Total, Bs. a. p. Rs. a. p. Rs. a. p. Rs. a. p. Rs. a. p. i 5,750 2 0 84,008 3 ll 89,758 5 ll 30,765 7 0 - 1,20,623 12 ll 357 14 8 357 14 8 357 14 8 2,513 7 2 2,513 7 2 19,412 8 2 21,925 15 4 5,750 2 0 86,879 9 9 92,629 ll 9 60,177 15 2 1,42,807 10 ll > 46,029 7 10 1,08,402 12 1 1,51,432 3 ll 1,64,432 3 ll 9,551 14 7 23,918 8 10 33,470 7 5 33,470 7 5 441 6 6 152 10 0 594 0 6 694 0 0 730 1 0 803 1 0 1,633 2 0 1,533 2 0 1,490 14 10 2,995 2 3 4,486 1 1 4,486 1 1 68,243 12 9 ) 1,36,272 2 2 1,94,515 14 ll 1,94,516 14 ll 5,120 0 0 4,800 0 0 9,920 0 0 9,920 0 0 ’ 333 5 4 523 14 3 857 3 7 857 3 7 950 8 ll 2,274 6 7 3,224 15 6 3,224 15 6 , 1,120 0 0 990 0 0 2,110 0 0 2,110 0 0 565 15 1 438 8 0 1,004 7 1 ...... 1,004 7 1 . 1,018 5 0 1,755 13 0 2,804 2 0 2,804 2 0 14 0 550 15 4 652 3 4 552 3 4 , 17 15 5 79 7 9 97 7 2 97 7 2 , 80 2 6 112 5 9 192 8 3 192 8 3 127 9 0 242 10 0 370 3 0 370 3 0 , 214 14 3 312 0 3 626 14 6 526 14 6 , 9,579 15 6 12,080 0 ll 21,660 0 5 21,660 0 5 , 58,243 12 9 1,36,272 2 2 1,94,515 14 ll 1,94,515 14 ll 67,813 12 3 1,48,352 3 1 2,16,175 15 4 2,16,176 15 4 * Deduct ... 628 8 0 *On account of refund of travelling allowances. 2,15,547 7 4 Camp Visapur, Ahmednagar District, dated 12th March 1898, B 98—24 ap A. T. SHUTTLEWORTH, Conservator o'f Forests, First Grade, on Special Famine Duty. APPENDIX M. Statement showing the advances made under the Land Improvement Loans' Act XIXof 1SS3 and th# Aqriculturists’ Loans Act XII of 1884. Land Impbovembnt Loans Act XIX or 1883. Agriculturists* Loans Act XII of 1884. District. Wells. * Other land improvements. Total. * Seed. * Plough Cattle. - 1896-97. 1897-98. Total. 1896-97- 1897-93. Total. 1890-97. 1 1897-98. Total. 1896-97. 1897-98. Total. 1896-97. 1897-98. Total. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ll 12 13 14 15 36 Rs. Rsf Rs. Rs, Rs. Rs. Rs. Rs* Rs. Rs. Rs. Rs. Rs. Rs. Rs. Sholapur4 ... 2,20,009 1,34.110 3,54,119 16,391 800 17,191 2,36,400 1,34,910 3,71,310 39,863 39,863 70 40,884 40,954 Ahmednagar ... 4,75,701 1,65,830 6,41,531 2,650 14,545 17,195 4,78,351 1,80,375 6,58,726 2*490 79,911 82,431 2,135 2,205 4,340 Pood a 3,21,980 1,55,835 2,80,815 29,685 68,675 95,360 1.54,665 2,24,510 3,79,175 395 1,24,492 1,24,887 1,065 41,224 42.289 S&tara 3,86,100 69,620 2,55,720 68,768 44,490 1,13,258 2,54,868 1,14,110 3,68,978 51,685 51,685 510 20,625 21,135 N&sik 1,18,520 25,145 1,43,665 9,760 9,760 1,28,280 25,145 1,53,425 1,369 43,890 45,259 KMndesh 1,11,655 47,430 3,59,085 1,686 1,900 3,586 1,13,341 49,330 1,62,671 38,646 38,646 7,554 38,486 46,040 Bijapur • 3,26,310 * * * 3,26,310 6,05,090 6,05,090 9,31,400 9,31,400 51,804 51,804 ... 2,42,811 2742,811 Belgaum ... .... , 49,780 1,650 51,430 3,41,970 15,150 3,67,120 „ 3,91,750 16,800 4,08,5o0 10,184 10,181 250 15,238 15,488 Dharwir ... 21,400 21,400 2,71,380 2,71,380 2,92,780 2,92,780 2*080 14,743 16.823 3,740 74,183 77,923 Kolaba ..* 600 ... 600 50,270 4,250 54,520 50,870 4,250 55,120 ... ... 732 732 Total 16,35,055 5,99,620 22,34,675 . 13,97,650 1,49,810 15,47,460 30,32,705 7,49,430 37,82,135 4,965 4,11,358 4,16,323 16,693 5,20,278 5,36,971 District. ‘ Agricdlturxsts’ Loans Act XII of 18S4—continued* Total under both Acts. Remarks. ' Subsistence under Section 143 (2), Famine Code. Other purposes. Total. ‘ 1896-9*. 1897-98. Total. 1896-97. 1897-98. Total. 1896-97. 1897-98. Total, 1896-97. 1897-98. Total. 1 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 - 27 28 ?9 Rs. Rs. Rs. Rs. Rs. Rs. Rs. Rs* Rs. Rs. Rs. Rs. Shol&pur 2,184 1,37,882 1,40,066 2,254 2,18,629 2,20,883 2,38,654 , 3,53,539 5,92,193 Ahmednagar ... 45,193 45,193 13,206 88,608 1,01,814 17,831 2,15,947 2,33,778 4,96,182 3,96,322 8,92,504 Poona 860 58,416 59,276 2,320 2,24,132 2,26,452 1,56,985 4,48,642 6,05,627 S&t£ra 59,394 59,394 50 3,311 3,361 560 1,35,015 1,35,575 2,55,428 2,49,125 5,04,553 x'sAsik ... ... 4,540 4,540 5,909 43,890 49,799 1,34,189 69,035 2,03,224 Rhahidesh 7,655 1,489 9,144 15,209 78,621 93,830 1,28,660 1,27,951 2,56,501 Bijapur 30,300 82,040 1,12,340 30,300 3,76,655 4,06,955 9,61,700 3,76,655 13,38,355 Belgaum 550 317 867 800 25,739 26,539 3,92,550 42,539 4,35,089 Dharw&r .-S. .. 725 12,107 12,832 6,545 1,01,033 1,07,578 2,99,325 1,01,033 4,00,358 KoUba 2,772 2,772 12,610 12,610 12,610 3,504 16,114 63,480 7,754 71,234 Total ... 860 1,65,775 1,66,635 71,820 3,25,754 3,97,574 • 94,338 14,23,165 15,17,503 31,27,043 21,72,595 52,99,638 XC1Y APPENDIX N. MAPS SHOWING THE LARGE WORKS CARRIED OUT DURING THE FAMINE. /7777///Z////7s GROUNO L/A/E w//////r/r/////////////////////t/t/v///////?///-//?./////////////////s/?////?/'//;/////'///'///////////sy')—^'^'^^"* V77777/////////////777777777//////////Z 777///////////////sy/77?//////////} GROUND 't* //////wr//'//;//s?vvur?/z/7777? E LEVATJON Bo/ier anc/ pump can be place d any suifab/e distance up to too par do away from Press e s END VIEW portable: forage pressing plant f bp W 1 p: ■ ' ‘ J SUITABLE FORI MAUND BALES OF HAY OR BHOSA Scale i I n c ^ to a Foot Fa c tr P/ and m to the. Serna fr//e d The Press iart rear/// wh e working wifi Steam i Pre Box for The who buttock car e as if/ move fo hare a ce Each H a Tripod an A train e a and if the « per Bate, M About 20 The P for* cubic feet 1 fight f/exibr each endj 7 are press e round ar?c un skiff e d ft Wh e n / with a pair for further Four S PORTABLE PRESSING PLANT 'ant consisfs of two ffydrorufic Press e seach fitted writ? two Press Boxes, that run out ’ Press as on Ra its, so that whiist the contents of one Box is being pressea\ the other is read/ for Pressing; thus keeping the Pr e sses working, continuous//, es are s upp tie d with tty dr cru tic pressure bp a Buy/ex steam Pump, which stop s oufom- n the maximum pressure is reached thus r e due/ na the risk of break down when f -A//// / *7 v rw rseoff i unskfJ/ea labour. . _ s supp/ied bp a Loco TyPe doifer, mounted on whee/s, with sgeciaffp en/arged " burning e/then wood or coaf ■ fe of the Pt ant can be taken to pieces, and amp-portion carr/ed bp ex country t/ except the boi/er; this go e s on its own whee/s; The entire P/anf can thus be ■d from one— district to another, though in acfua/practice if is foundpreferah/e ntraf pressing station, and cart the grass /n from'the surround/ng A s tric fs. 'ant is supp/ied complete with a// fitf/ngs reaofy for greeting, and starting to work, d chain block is a/so— supp fie d for er ecfing and d/s manning the Fr e sses, * Nat/ve Bistre e and T n dot i, with about Th/ r ty cootie s are r e gu/re d to work the P/ant, same coofies are employ ed da/fy, and pafd on the contract system, at fixed rate> 7ey can turn out JO to 4V Ba/es per hour ' ‘ cwt. of coat or 4-0 maunds of wood are repair ed for fhe Boi/er per day. at is designed fo turn out one maun d 'Bates, measuring 24 xVx /$/ about BO Lo the tom The Bates are hound w/th our Patent Bin dens, these art* made of re wire; fhe necessar/ fength to go once round a ha/e, w/ th an /e for-n e d at he two ends being connected h/ a smutt open Link thus. (§=§> The Ba/es a f/ftie smaf/er than fhe reguired measurement, the binders then passed f the L/n h s put on, by fh/s means, Bates are guickiy and s e cure/p bound with y hour. ' 't is reguired to open out the Bates, the ey e s of the Binders are drawn fo aether of tongs, ana' the /ink taken out, they can ft/e n be refurned to the Batin a station use, thus reduc/ng their cost to a verg nominat f/pure. y }inders are reguired for ■ e ach Bate 4 ‘ v & Ve O L- ■; ■ MMLAFOIE € ®MM€TCmAm; yraonffi "'ffh Scale of Miles 'v-' . X W V£j KhddJtulga VOMGAON r hi <71#*,, R / v ladval A |y§$S§K o o / 4 £ C T ° R A W ■- sr Suigevadz/ Kcwkcv o ** /'Parl/AdC r ° ^~ i CTunchgaon/ / AS * V- -W !% ' i.f T ^ Rothta ^>Dahigfe 9P*“ - PttTZ/ / r h srruindcd/ MADHAj IS/«1 Kluuidvv. \. A / i Dddsl/aigo >R Scu-n p, A ' A A V ar/rfidx’advi i fGaro i A / AJlf /A Ak an| tcr&u Uplu \ J S S / nbgciwcugTt/ Save. /T 3^ T>ha/; 'TaJdi/ Wa/Cau* \Yavalc TcuZvc 7% i&uh b *• *Shdga u/vat /. Vcu>h/M \Bha.i, \Karlcer / \/X GUT -C / fir0’ r> TslatjipT^Qb ■'"w w/ (^kz v— .-. f vA-' —" / x ■, S ' A / \ ❖ j.Kfi*&eg(iorr/ f ifi ' njtfl A. ^Sj 'cx W<-r^r~A? A.Jforarruus -V-A_ . „ri?/7*Z' , , c^^piqJiabh'Uqaarri iW/v/^(P..X. V 5s T -. 1T ) .-~A rA PfajlCfKruihoh/ 'KWd — -y JK _ .,,TTT1 w >-A\' - ( / ,&Kini< nr —3™- -«,/ 722 f 7%4^s. z-3 7 ^ - M (? :hi K / Sa / i _ 'S- /F^ X ^hJawur A ~>r-Nv' / " A 7 TdgS^ ^ri^vrI /\Yd„ )\ o~ atq’ Ta.ua/ Ke/sar ./avalp'a ongcurrv ^ 'ScwatJ\ Vasixji;' VadaMtiZ^ A / Refebence © Subdivision* /ieaui quartern w Market Tawn or Bagdr Village H Subdivision Head ajuarters and' Market- Town © /&A' Division Head-quarters 23 /V/yj’ Division Head quarters and Market/ Town. * Cbiet' 7'rdde Cmtres £{ Place of Pilgrimage and Fair iffi TYaveller#’Bungalow ® District Do• CKopctfo (W < / \ IV—7”^T / ,•>•-' Q\ v//y ,/ /» «.» V . / VS) V—'V • \A Jbkmbom/ >' i/cUinvadiJf.ff s'Kajurv A S/ S 1 lO"’ , .—- K7 Head/ Post Office Sub Post Office (2 Branch- Do: T Telegraph' Office 4 Muniapalbty H Hospital D Du/pensary S Town School/ iO Perry 7K. Bridge R Toll £3 Fort 'Made Road/ Railway open '< 0. b- '< ./ /KolaA/A S - '%%- ; (,Jun/>/us ve % / /'X AS / % ^ ssrpAvi A-/ ''' «^"'v r 1 vur-Ai /rr ,> W # *fe .■ /«v -MANJALVE'BrfAAVi'' JSL-lrj ZSU“' f / /\ —^ i«±fe_Ar V^iAf^&^L.P-'rT ngwB. YeJiJiaCpi. uJ |/\ SANG o ' \7; V / \4 A t 1%/ dfoad/qju/r^^- j Z ” ’ rr" ’ ' ^^2' T* S' C3 Ahirvadi-/ dair /fev-...Vi ( r Ajaj or ^ea; i-v asJiadabqaon 1 MAINDARGl i > •. mv^ % / ^HatiX boom *0'fSdwA iffgl M’ShdtaT^^ *arlgoglSBayA~>.--.- \ ' A A Tr " (Son,// A YjY 'c- • # . \ i 'Mlauini •-./ A—.Z HdngiX/a/S' W$tkJS 1 T) 2o | V> * \ Statement showing several large works in the Sholapur District Central Division carried out during the \ m i n e of 1896-97 & as shown ON THE ACCOMPAN' G MAP Distpicts v&A Pa/hvay Station H- N°. Name and nature of work A. ComMUNICATIONs. RasIumb Ye r ma/a Road. Diversion of Karma/a A/japar Road hnproving £ and stackiny rnetaf thereon fo Karmata Jofepaon Road Do. do Tandu/wadi)— Do — Kas/umb Ye r ma (a Road Do- ShoJapur to Barst improv/h Jeur fo Tembhurni Do: de Kurduwadi Tembharm Road Do a Sh oia pur Pandharpur Road /mprovinq. Pandharpur Janori Road Do-. Pandharpur Pha/tan Road. Do--. . de do San go/a to Aktuj_ do-road from . do- Moho/ Pandharpur Poad Do: de Vedst Tadwa/ Road. Do-.. do 2. Railway s Pars/ Staf/on Pandharpur Railway Pandharpur Sango/a Railway — B. Irrigation ty Water supi Pat hr i Tank Consfrucf-ny M angr Tank Do E Irak Tank & Cana t s. repairs to — M h as wad Tank Can a Is. Strenqthemng d m banks of. Date of Date of Highest opening CLOSURE N? OF RELIEF OF WORK OF WORK WORKERS !3 - 5~97 ■to Oi 1 On. j NJ 3768 'elal/inq. _ repairs.. _ $ 1 t\> 1 rsD C* 24-6-97 3141 do- !8~ i-97 /S- 7-97 367/ tapur rf-j — do. — \ 16-11-96 ll — ll—97 6344 —do-. & O'! 1 1 16 - 72-96 1738 from T, 1 V 1 / — 5-97 4067 do- 4 — 2 -97 9 — 5-97 33/8 n eta Hing] •pairs J. £ 1 's i Oi 0-v O) 1 V 1 go <\l 2522 do: - 13-1-91 26-5-97 5373 — 16-11-96 s. o> 1 1 3397 me/a/hnch vrs, J 9-1-97 7—5-97 7999 _ dO: S 1 i 1 1 6 - ft—97 7588 portion of s Us 1 1 - Oi 23-2-98 j 57/ Gavt Fhotozin/jO; Office-, Poona 18D S : 1 C @>577 Hcirt/tts above metis* Set t /eve/ Statement showing several large works in the Aha/iednagar District Central Division carried out during the famine t>F I8S6-97 & Ajs shown- on THE ACCOMPANYING MAP 1 ' ^ m*Mm th ' , Districts N°. Name and nature of* work Date of Date of Highest OPENING CLOSURE * N° OF RELIEF OF WORK OF WORK WORKERS / A. Communications Nasik Poona Road — Collecting metal on _ 5- !—37 13 — 10-97 2728 Naaar Ma/egaon Road Do Dn 16-11-96 28- 10-97 21826 Kolhar Barr Road Do Rn 1-12-96 13—10—97 18375 Belapur Station teeder Road Do Do I- 12-96 25-5-97 5572 Lorn Be! a our Road Do Dn 14- 1-97 6-6-97 6/29 > N Newasa Belanar Road _ Do Do 19-2- 97 28-10-97 11676 Ana ghat Road from Nagar to the boundary of \ Naaar Taluka fmnroving thp j 25-3- 97 20- 10-97 5592 B Irrigation 8f Water supply. Reservoir at Ha par wadi in connection with the 't water supply to the town of Ahmednagar J 22- 3-97 27- 10-97 7552 Lakh Cana/ Clear in p the bed of 7- 6-97 7 - 10-97 1704 h* o Ojhar Right Bank Cana/ Constructing 23-7—97 / - 9 -97 137 A Communications QC te o Sheogaon Bodhegaon Road—Construction of __ Kh arda. S h ri cron da Road Section Ibetween Jam 't 8- 12-96 14- 10-97 7108 ■khed & Kharda ~ Do—Section H. between Sina River 1! —H—96 28-10-97 /2676 CO < J & Jam kh e d O < Kharda Jotegaon Road 1- 8-97 15— ll *-97 2107 z o lU "5 Mahi Jalgaon to the Shotapur Frontier Road from. Constructing miles N?.s 37 to 40of Nagar Mir ajgaon 'j ~!7 — 9 -97 15-/0-97 1638 I Shotapur road from a cteared track to an un bridged) 10-H-96 19-5- 97 ‘ 2710 < Murum Road I Nagar Sheogaon Rob d Section B. Special repair s to 4 — /— 97 28-/0-97 10859 Notgar Paithan Road Collection of materials for //- If—96 7- /0-97 6601 Imam pur Ghat to Toka Road Do _* Do 19—H -96 IS- 5-97 3 604 Khicvuri Ism al dut Road ‘ Dn Dn 24-9-97 13-10-97 3272 Naaar Sinnar Road .... Dn Dn 16-11-96 27-5-97 ; 2891 ’ Nag an Sheogaon Road S,T Do Do ~ _ /e-ii-96 2- 10497 4654 Kharda Shn’aonda Road \ Dn Do 26- 7-97 15- !0 -97. 3543 Nagar Karma!a Road Dn On 10-11- 96 IS - 5-97 2710 Shrigonda Khesto Road . Dn Dn IS- 3-97 77— 6-97 734 Pirnpri Station Feeder Road '—.Do Do ll- n-96 17— 6~\97 1092 ? B. Irrigation % Water supply. i i V/sapor Tank- Construction of Storage Dam for Irri- "] - a at i on to— r _j 19-7-97 j 28- 10-97 3843 1 Mala de vr Tank 19- 3 --97 * i 27-10397 j 7134 NOTE _ Metal co/lection on road# sh own - Do Quarries. e\ Cr Road# construcked or unproved} _ W/fh meter/ codec f/gn h Tanks or Carna/s Rad way embankments — 1 1 H 1 M M M- s Gcrv/ Phopozznco Office,. Poorna 1898 % iPOOTA (SoiyL.ieTOiiykt'i Scale of Mile s TXXX'TT-X Rag me/clu F'k <&> mkaT i,™— £or&t0j$§( Khandala KOLABA ** ^5 Peih/Shdhqg, Garfu/lofdF*. % “ Reference @ Subdivision; Head -quarters m Market Town or Bagar Village ©i Subdivision; Head-quarters and Mltr/iet. Town © Petty Division Head-quarters ffi Petty Division, Head quarters and Market Town. * Chief' Trade Centres •A P/aee of Pilgrimage and Fair © Travellers' Bungalow fflt District Do: H Head Post Office S! S ah Post Office E3 Branch/ Do: T Telegraph; Office. M Mwucipadty H Hospital D Dispenoary S Town/ Behoo f » Ferry Bridge K Tolf £3 Fort; Made Read Bml way open Hallway Station; St7. Heights above mean Ned level; Statement showing several large works in the Poona District • C ’ ‘ Central Division carried out during the famine of 1896-97 & as shown ^ES ON THE ACCOMPANYING MAP Districts Name and nature of work A. Com MUNI IC ATI 0 NS . Indapar Per normal/ Road tmprovements to Poona 'Sfto/apur RoadL Co/fecttng meta/ on Poona Nasik Road. Improvements to Bara matt Nira Station Road Constructing Bombay Agra Road Collecting metal on _ Cho d a Ambegaon Road Do-. . do. Junnar Narayar/gaon Road Do: do: B. Irrigation 9/ Water supply. Shefphat Tank . Date of opening OF WORK Date of closure of work Highest N° OF relief WORKERS tO —// —96 2f~ 2 — 97 9528 18—11-36 26—S- 97 2527 — 7-/2 -96 5-8 ~97 7368 - - r- 23- 12-96 i i 27- 10 -97 reopenect on 28-3-98 2966 — 29-1-97 23- 6-97 2003 — 4-2-97 17- 6-97 5382 — 25-2-97 18- 6- 97 1226 2 - 2-97 37- /2-97 13/29 r?openedvn 3f3 98 NOTE — Meta! cot tect ton on roads shown Dq Qttarries Roads consfritcfed or tmproucd w/th meta/ collection Tanks or C an a Is Pa//way embankments GovtPhetozinco Office, Poonay 1838. © Su/idrvision/ Hercd-quartem Market Town or Bagdr Vi/titge Subdivision,'Head quarters and Market Town Petty Division, Hea/Tquartens Petty Division Head quarters and Market Town;. '* C/uef Trade i ip tres P Place, of Tide/rimage and Fair Jffi. Travef/ers' Banga/vw fft District- Do: S Head/ Post Office S Sid Post/ Office a Praru'ti Do T Telegraph,' O/fice M Muruapalrty H Hospital D Dispensar} S Town School; to Ferry Bridge ty Tod; £3 Fort ''Made Poor/ ' liaihvay opew 10—2.-—dl 7-8-97 3525- 20-//-96 ■ 3-4-9? 379 t-4-91 19-5-97 I/S4 26-4-91 16-6-97 1085 8-4-91 30-5-31 2863 \ 21- i - 91 19-6-9/ 2261 t 21-1-91 25-5-97 4540 ■ 25-ll-96 3-4-97 3330 23-1-91 27-2-97 3040 CK 1 1 Yi 16-/0-91 1404 1-3 -97 15-10-91 4! 10 ll-12-96 27-5-97 1254 3-12-96 H-6-97 780 1-10-96 4-5-97 543 28-/0-96 14-2-97 844 1-12-96 10-6-97 750 12-4-97 10-6-57 659 29-4-91 2-10-97 33Q4 19-3-97 70-6-97 1/39 5-4-91 10-6-97 1382 13-3 -97 73-5-97 637 15-3-97 29-8-97 1/4/ 22- 7-37 25-8-97- 742 w r REFERENCE^ . Proyin^ia/ roads shown m red and marked P P Z oca/ Po: '» burnt sienna. dO: /mo roving road s. — Constru cfing new roac/s Meta/ breaking Tanks shown tn blue Improvmg ana/) metal breaking j Doccavafrnq pud-\ 'die trench. j Metal breaking. - Do: . /mproving and j metal breaking I DO: - /mprovlngj- /mprovfng and j metal breaking j Do: Constructing and\ meta/ breaking- j doccavating pud- -die trench , Metal breaking Improvmg and j metal breaking J Constructing and) metat breaking..-J /mprcving and I metat breakingJ Do: .i. Do. Metal breaA'ing Constructing and) metat breaking. Metal break in q. JD o ■' ! „ _ Constructing. Name of road or tank. When 0 P E N ED When CLOSED Average N? or PEOPLE M A1 u- -TAINED FER WEEK- Total EK.Pf.NDI- -T URE. D. M. Y. D. M. Y. Rs. / /ndi Shiradhon roaat. Z p 12-96 16-10-97 205735 2 t nd i station road. _ _ _ - 16-8-37 ■IS-10-97 SUB 3 Jndi Stndgt road, /sFSect- Do: do: 2nr DO: _ ^ _ _ 6 - H-96 26-10-97 f 190418 4 7-12-96 IS-9-97 j S Sangogi tank. 19-8-97 11-12-97 54826 6 Bi/apur Hon wad road _ 1 _ ^ . IS-11-96 10-5-97 37477 7 Btjapur Stndgt road, /d Sect2 )_ Re open ed J 4-12-96 16-8-97 28-4-37 /-10-97 — 77998 S - Dr): do: b'ffil dr): 7-1-97 9 1 37 S 16 Devar-Jtlppargi Ta/ikot road, 1 d Sect S Do: do: 2nd do.-.-. 3-12-96 7-12-36 !8-10-97 29-6-97 > 241079 // Te/gi do /h an road. 22-2-97 6-11-97 73995 12 /iuvin-Hippargt Te/gi road, 2ndSeeth-- 11-11-96 30-10-97 I /3 Do: - do: /~ do: }- 24-11-96 15-6-97 \ 153 OSS Reopened Ji 3-9 -97 30-/0-97 i 14 Hu vi n - Hipparg i Taiikot road . . 8- 1-97 30-10-97 > 52680 146897 /5 Hufur tank 30 7 97 21 1 98 303.90 /€ Mudehihat Chlmalqi road. _ 24 H 96 1 8 97 90107 17 Mudebihat Tatikot road. j 28 S 97 6 S 97 30 10 97 18 10 97 I.HStO !8 Mudebihat Nalatwad road. S 3 $7 16 10 97 ° 168149 19 Sholapur Bellary road, d Sect2 7 S 97 30 W 97 34002 20 dhajidoni Bagalkot road. . 1 12 96 10 10 97 64682 2/ Baga/kot Hungund road, id Sect* S 3 97 S 12 97 .... } 22 Do: do: P'd do: )_J _ 4 12 96 10 7 37 f 160930 Reopened j ,. S 9 97 11 9 $7 j 23 Sho/apur Bet t ary road, 5 P Sect? 12 9 97 30 10:97 9.060 \ 24 Hungund Nana'wadgi road. 5 4 97 30 10 97 81240 1 25 Hungund Ilk a I road. 14 1 97 5 9 97 53679 \ 26 Sho/apur Hub// road\ J r- Sec/T 7 11 96 16 5 97 23162 S 27 Ba da m i Mudakavi road. 29 H 96 20 10 97 121241 ! Gratuitous re/lpf , 155334 Too/s and P/ant, — — Grand Tol or t.% 47447 2365511 1 J i i h At 3? 6,20, 3( 26 are Proven elat roaols S( are marked P t? - 1 HeoBali ffrvrR i 4 A R c o Gov* Ptwtozmco: Office. Poona 1828. Siinkagur'. P.-- V"L \ _ a> Mu dy al ' td k-'i x*n , Kandgal \ %v—\ ® - Subdivision Head-quarters is Market/ Town or Bapdr Vvdajje ii Subdivision Bead-quarters and Market 7bwa © Pettv Dr,vision /dead,-quarters Petty /division Head quarters and- Mar ket Tbu •n * Ch ief Prade Centres P Place of Pdffrimaqe and fair Travellers' Buns/a. tow "Tt J) tsfuel Ho: S Head Post Office Reference m M H D S 30 H San Post Office Bra ru-// Ho: o. Munietpality Hospital Dispensary Town School Perry Toll ' Made. Hoad Bad way open Hallway Station/ 0u JAC7 J| a t H _ ! I \ o A' -dSf.Sy j —• -, Jf\ '-sr •/!>-. « ■„v a**, ' ^c7A \^rr v f frv rr ^Af'l $C\ ; fanchoaJv , x i'V-i 4 r i,-rf/,„n,v~,sTt. ) m—.. /E i O M* SftH^:VrVH'r>A *-‘l s f'—S'i h'ltJwli' ^ SjZ A ■phrdm/difi feOTapur Vw r- ■-.sdCfloi -5> ( .i <5 4- "'—■j^SF^siPaarvek %\j • S/ j fj?Vquidgati / 0 Avra/fjJ * '~^\^' \ / fil « ,7\ >5I!?S®W “■ ~'-y^ \ /; JPafGSij8ulL^\ j ^ . Ay+Kogdhal -«o] ^ "i *4^ \!( _. i 2ttW*irmjd' ^p$das/7rnu$l(te& '. i ~v . -^^nrr/Wj-jd ^p \ ) ^ •'. \ / ~mrdaannw • j i.1 - > j \ / DODVAD ' ' >v r SrJ i - • ~ ■^pffaAtJunal' O TO Reference ® Subdivision Head-quarters p Market down, or Bafidr VU/tztje 5 Subdivision- Head-quarters and Market/ Town 6 Petty Divisiaa Head quarters EB Petty fJiviewn Heeul quarters and Market/ Town * Chid''Trade Ckntnes ^ Place/ oP Pd/qnmsufe and/ Fad ® Travebiers’ Bunycdon' in District Do: S? Head Post Office m Sub Post Office/ m Branch/ Do. T Telepraph' Office M MunidpaUty H Hospital D Dispensary 8 /own School » Fccry "d Bridge R Toll £3 ^ ^ Made. Bead Ra d way often, .'**“'* Vo in prvqress RuHm u v Station ®S/7. Heights above mean/ Sea level C o v> v> Y> ^ {rad1 • ( f' |v; I^KakeViXVO 1 i wsG^w-r,.\|o 'x/ pto Dharwar ^(btduo ^ l\ V \N , s< ,vr s - ■ tRuTribapla. ..___ v o^Jtagargafirt I «^ j / - yj ''O- -* Whether Constructing iMPROViNG OR Metal breaking Name of Road or Tank When opened D. Nl. Y. When closed d. m. y. Average n?. OF PEOPLE MAIN i AIN ED N-°. Total expenditure Rs Construcf/ncf Shedbaf Alhni Road !6 4 97 16 ID 37 684 26.459 Do. Honvacf Athni Road ll 3 97 1 u 97 1462 46.508 Do: Dam Taosi Tank 14 / 97 n / 98 386/ 2.41,304 1BI1ILOMJM C©LLIB(DT©3RAT3B /? A C O Scale of Miles GwPPholozmtw: Offuc. fPooiiU/. 1898 BHIAimm (D©]LlLl©l©EAllIi Scale of Miles C T E V 0 B G ^ 0 t £ Y \ ^ d^Hargnluh $ PO ,~r r j r=|$v Rd m \ J~\ ‘ / /\ .i / / i" /,' •*/ •' / Shirpi! >, Z7/ J i :'/ > J L- i C ’hJfA Narqusid ^‘/Bqxnxnluzltir iX. X/ t i / / '' \NARGFrNT?i*r„ v. v \ Earunsmluil/ *> :i%, o- \ « **«*•“' W.7 ‘w'% .1 Vv * i \ Hurssiltafp, iitfryt-1 Sji§*6 '^^^’^Hjendragad y uagedeekaRi ! & Mall O ^ , - KitturVi^L ^ Tadkod Lohlcr V XPade.’!uroJ s. i izrlapjjr p S> Ahtdvaf\ hom- Monruigao )Momzgatn- \7r Mdtfipur^ lepr A wiWMTTGl Kdgen- dyptdpu W /HosJfjCt, DHARWA.A -to, l y L 1 Jr /JJLl/S/fjUAJLO • & \ s. DevarHufcli ^>^nkopk \tfauuylky " < „ TTnE w/ • dom Haley al M ST I V* i altr 07 ammapujp ri? ' k"’ Ilombaly H El f ^ Kffreya/ \ Gaudgpri 1.^,7 Huilgol iasapuru ysur -jy-Bennur \ TDUndur 20'4^ 'afsapj/.r 1UPP± & Haruipurg-^—^ , /'../w- ^ J7aa*^/i , r j , -.. (,.^ ^ V? imfcal 'X ~L ' frc fA Wnev •1640 O r> r" dlANGAL HandihdlNp Shnngert'^ Pj J{ufllta •'i. wr ^ CruAk / 6W-, * y mcuexipur^ \ ^'Guddalulddpuri ( j rJfe #■' v« ^Biaalhaih '

E / Karur / ;Qukim^' 0• s ..^y/ ’■'ir Abjur \ \ / Hod/Gtd>bi' / ^ | (^rw ^HIRERERUR HoMl/in/l' ,v-\ >■ odjyal i® E HAR I HAR VTEMENT SHOWING SEVERAL LARGE WORKS IN THE DhARWAR DISTRICT FW^ uthern Division carried out during the famine of (896-97 & as shown ON THE ACCOMPANYING MAP O ^ cc f o U5 U ii -I ? D z 5 tr - r. c< if > Uj UJ 0) cr m o 2C O ^ Names of Roads or Tanks When OPEN ED When CLOSED O LU o 2 -iiu a y L! O _ 'i al < < CL h- no 5 LJ Li. ZZ > O < s LJ cr _j => < n o ‘P i— Z- U1 Q_ x' '-U D. M. Y D. M. Y. Nos Rs. Consiructmq Rargand Gokak road ( Provincial) 12-8-97 31-10-97 929 8,326 Do.— Nareaal Gajenc/ragao/ road (Local) /2-2-97 31-10-97 1109 3,335 Do: Nargu nd Mallapur road {Local’) 24-2—97 31-10-97 921 31 7/7 Do. — Pon Gajendragad road (Local) 2-8-97 31-10-97 2040 17,926 Improvmq Gadacq Mu I gu nd road {Local) 0- 6-96 31-10-97 504 59,93/ Special re parrs Ra regal Kotumchigt road (Locatj 20-9-97 31-10-91 259 1475 M e fa i collection Nava/qund Ron road (Local) 12-11-96 15-12-96 43! i, 400 Do-. Gadag Hesrur road (Provincial) 26-5-97 30-9-97 1293 ll, 765 Do: Hu bi t Sho/apur road (Provincial) Tanks 24-9-97 18-10-97 U8 3// Improvmq Tank at Heriha! 0-2-97 0-6-97 365 4868 Do — i S’ i V >s 1 1 1 1 1 i " 1 1 1 1 0-3-97 0-6 -97 26 3,235 Do Do - a i Har/si . 0- 1-91 0-7-97 46 1243 Do: — Po.•- at Kit rlkot i 0-1-97 31-10-97 88 3948 ' Do:— _ A?__ at Shalva cl t \. 0-1-97 0-9-97 80 3,028 Do — _Do■■— at Ben nurd Cj i n3 . i M 0-9-97 59 956 —. Do- — _ Do■■ ~ at Natvadi . 0-1-91 0-7-97 27 1,065 — Do- — —Do. — at Ha regal : 0-12-96 0-6-97 474 2,945 _ Do — ~.Do —at KadadhaHt : 0-1-91 0-3-97 131 1,377 Etcavahnq -Do:- at Datnat 0-1-97 0-7-97 108 2,//8 Do. Do. at Nagnur 0-/-97\ 0-9-97 i 103 2,275 zMaUJ^p:-, MAOAC%TANHti<,„ »•• \ Halur\ VV V . v ^ekf,, <•' ^ Iv 1 0) Reference ■i5 Siebdcvisa/rb Uead-- JJivi/ium- Head- quarters and Market- Town-. * CkieT T'rade Cm des A P Lace of Pilgnfncuqe and Fair T* Travellcrs' Bungalow fft JjUitnrt Do• S Head Tost Office §3 Post- Office is) Branch- Do T Telegraph- Office M Mumapaldy H Hospital- D Dispensary S Town /School- sr> Ferry X j Bridge H Toll £2 Fort- , y Ma-de Road- R-ailM'ay opav M'** iE in-pdgress -—' Railway propohed a 'Sr* Rrulwdy Sfcdwn \ DHARWAR IRFU GAT !0N REFERENCE DISTRICT NAME OF WORK PLACE WORK* OPEN ED WORK CLOSED average NO. OF PEOPLE MAINTAIN ED NO. TOTAL EXPENDITURE RH Excavating Had a m pur Section of the Feeder Channel DambaI Tank T a/uka Gacfag \t-W-S7 18-10-97 15.7 4 03 L Gvvtph/)to2uu'-o. Office-, Phono-, 1898 oVavarga, ^ A.'hau' roan/ lalotco JHfokasi Vfaniksjasl' \ fc|LAPd KARANJA ALIBAG^ M "'t RolabaSS RevdancLa + U ^ Agarkotfy Kbrlcufd-, '/QS//Msor'z Khdn/uon/^ QUA ■ S M uirlu iKumhha/ Ghat MAH DA D CREEK SKevtya/ Ghat/ gra/ulluz- Ghdh rad' oj- Kdngi fLwdhatihab SAV I TR t RIVER Afahdpral j MurrucrsTu-o 'S ''havloMhdl tf-GeraldGhat to Malcdlm/Peth Wi WHETHER C ON'ST RU CTIW 6 WHEN WHEN AVERAGE VO TOTAL i M P R 0 V! N 6 OR METAL NAVI E OF ROAD OPEN E D CLOSED OF PEOPLE EXPENDITURE BREAKING. D. M. Y. D. M. Y. MAINTAINLD W RS • Provincial Metal breakt ng AU bag Campoli Road / S eel i on from D ha ram 1'an /3H-37 19-/097 636 2693 Do — to Campoli Dharamfar Mahad Road) • Section from Nagotna to) 13-3-97 8-10-97 13 32 " Reference © Tcduka Head. Quarters ® Pet h w Head/ Quarters 8S Sghdiviswn. Head -quarters and * Chi eh' T’racle Gentres A P tare of Pilgrimage a/ud Pair JTraweffers’ Bungalow fli District Do: CZ! Post Office T Telegraph/ Office MimtdjpaZhby Hospital Dtspensary Town School Perry ft Bridge H Toll £3 Fort/ • Light House ® /’art Metalled. Boae/s Mooru.-nod Beads Kucha Beads or Cart, TraeBs se*’&**~KeuDvaAr open/ S Railway Station. level Govt PJwtozuuw Office i bona, 1838 'Rhgtgfvar \ ,, tSomard/wd Akdru- / ( dmeato PcAIl {: P H ALTAI Ti/nblakf - \ ( 3 Dkavat I / Tiungnapur- |£J1§I S^aw^R... .e Amboli/ (r/uit \ Yalv,'* ORLO lAffGAW MAHULI \ES iJ’jrnpri pSiAgurnx ,,?Eurn//tN 3 ' A/dh^S;(^W“<$m o Qurst dbxad ijflM dp?u>ndevddi r, \ *A/ tamp! poPaU?/ Shenvadi fvr S^tydftypanhavada' N ^ 5LjjiE3 ** •Bomhevdch Cfyor&d? Chilli ~MaJuisuma katrdl p. ypsdda/ \ E3 safe oTadvalasp dfihetphal- WukMi, u.lty/aci •p- y,*0t ■ftumgrj f ^hvpalgad Bhaiavani 'BabUtd/ Haiti/ Ml/taru^ Sonya/', 14 /y' Sheeiae ta/rn Jjwaras) &-■ \ ■ C-WvAl- ^,\>-' '%/ /'p;'op, 'P'^C ,ws-\pt/' \r<^———g sfe MadapyM rumh]u fyaesoru' lSi“ [s*. PT'Ra&aaBe* wax/p^S. V* GhaiS/piid,^ Kl.S>>j^ Asht!av tyf/df Yelurm TizffHiiNddi, Brdhm< yarn Vatsang"/ Char a. /Sank* 7 %jath%:e —^'C^'vA 7 BDABHLAPUR ikgara/ \ iNanctra SOTUy 23 - Hi . Vddibi Kona \.f X j OlcbPantuda/ 'PadnMldXp^%^f / dh^aoa. \tv,!SV.<- <’ \ V' ! i i jWj23 EupvOd * | c “ .77*7 ~r' §Qa M < RAJ -rr- Umeant VARNA wm BHORmon>x;m Smn - VantnX^ ' o /?/?///Zfl>/¥,53 ^Mvuuaxl* A fLAT ^<2 ^©lilikstomj A'iTAlEA i/i N ‘i rrJ r- to Pandharpu. Scale of Miles c~-,> ^ of U.~-5>. .,r'Vv o tL i w /° Af Tzvra G. /-XSirUw sS'l 'Ptttvak r' °wT<^X/'Nrp ',; c^- '. ^/~PJ)ip?uubcM^' > %yM4rhuwv >* • W SVIANGALVEDHA%M % ^OHA/y . aP \ / ■ Mala, Mala, Gh/l Sfouies 5' IWrayGfuzC c / / * v \ lJariBatUuYUf' / { / /\ v. : i ifcW- _V / ( 'XX.JBoMdsl \ P^ -••x / \ ^/\ i y,/ \ /** '"V j f I \ i I .../ '*\\ i ^ •-•t'15 n . / o li / L « ^ V >,o ./)>'-, \-' ® 1 ^ X-X~ A S SXlOTYAL,.! Y / / B Kokrud ^ ’Xjy:/rqjatgaaTV d V ^EL«/ ^ L G A Reference WHETHER CONSTRUCTING IMPR0VIN6 OR METAL BREAK1NG NAME OF ROAD OR TANK ml WHEN OPEN ED WHEN CLOSED AVERAGE N9 OF PEOPLE MAI NT Al NED TOTAL EXPENDITURE Breaking Metaf _ S afar a P ad t i road 1-3-97 tO —5-97 9932 47901 Do-. Boona Bungalow road 22-H-36 21— S- 97 5948 t24 826 Construct' ng Road from A s h t a to Ashta ■Tv. road station !0- 2-97 Z - 6 -97 2638 25325 Breaking Metaf Karad C tup fun road 10-2-97 3- 7-97 2501 3/873 Do t Karad N a craz road \ 2997 Improvi ng Do: > 6-12-96 8- H-97 4926 j 130228 Breaking Mefaf Sf Stack mg Safara Mahabfesf war I Me.taf. . road V 9-12-96 /3 — 7- 97 32 i 0 10791 Improv/ng Do: 69689 Constructing d Takan fsfampur roacf M—12-96 13-8-97 276/ 57003 /mproving Safara Pandharpur roaa ' 2548-97 15- 77-97 4178 28675 S'u6divrsion/Jead>-qiWJ'terf> S Market Town, or Rayar Vi/lae/e ® Sidn/iA'iswfb ffead-yuartem and Mar/ut Town © Telly Dideqe/n /Tead-quarter* ffi ■ Petty Durudon- Head, quarters an d Market Town. *• (/def Trotjde tlvdres ^ J/lace of Pilt/rimage and/ Fair A Travel/os' Bungalow a Dufr-vct liv s Head Post Office ^ AW /W- Office ra Branch Jla T Telegraph Office M Municipal'ty H Hospital D Dispensary S Town Seine 1/ so Ferry d Bridge Ki Toll S3 Fori/ —''Made Road' .—^ Radway open, csc' Rai lway Station.' 5/7 Ifeiylds above mean Nea level- GuyPPhotuzmto: Office/, Poona,, 1898 APPENDIX 0. ( xcviii ) APPEN Statement giving cletails regarding Relief Central District. Classification. Name of Work. Amount of Famine Expendi¬ ture. Value of Work done at ordinary rates of construc¬ tion. Nature of Work. 1 2 3 4 5 6 • Provincial Communications. Rs. Es. Sholapur Construction of new roads. < Kuslumb - Yermala road diversion. 30,569 15,849 New diversion road in black soil and murum 22 feet wide at top and in one foot of average embankment. Local Gon\mu nications. (< i Do. Improvements and repairs of existing 4 roads. I m proving and me- tailing Karma la - Aljapur road and stacking metal thereon for repairs. 43,090 20,300 Improving surface, easing gradient s and collection of metal and murum. Do. Do. Improving and me- talling Karmala- Jategaon road and stacking metal thereon for re¬ pairs. 49,394 25,700 Do. ✓ * Provincial Communication*. Do. Improvements and repairs of existing roads. Improving and me- tailing Poona-Hy¬ derabad road, Sec¬ tion III (between Sholapur and Tan- dulvadi) and stack¬ ing metal thereon for repairs. 96,791 43,387 Improving section, easing gradient and collecting me¬ tal and murum. Do. Do. Improving and me- talling Kuslumb- Yermala road and stacking metal thereon for repairs. . 20,500 10,851 Improving surface, easing gradient and collecting me¬ tal aud murum. Local Co m m u nical i on s. . Do. . Improvements and repairs to existing roads. Improving road - from Sholapur to ’ B&rsi. 26,298 20,494 Improving section, easing gradient and collecting mu¬ rum. Utility of Work. 7 Will be of perma¬ nent utility only if the Pathri Tank is completed. These roads are not important and the expen¬ diture can only be considered as of tempo¬ rary utility. This is a work of permanent utility. Do. Do. ( xcix ) DIX 0. \ Works supplied by the Executive Engineers, D ivision• ) Reasons for Selection, General management including tasking, &c. Camp management. 8 9 10 A portion of the existing road about 4 miles in length will be submer¬ ged on completion of the Pafchri Tank. The diversion was therefore undertaken to replac*- the portion that would be swamped. These are not important roads, but no other works were then available in the Kaiinala Tdluka They Were therefore undertaken to provide work in the early part of the famine. This road is an important road with good traffic, but partly metalled. It was therefore proposer! to metal and i m prov e the whole length. This is an important road leading to the Nizami frontier with a heavy traffic.. The work wa^ undertaken to provide employment for work- ers from the Barsi Tal uka. This is an important road and was the first work started to provide em¬ ployment for worker*- from Barsi and Shola- pur T&lukas. These remarlcs a p fly generally Classification and division into gangs were made according to the Bombay Famine Code, Sections 70-to 76. Towards the close of the famine the classification was made by Special Civil Officers. Each gang consisted of from 50 to 60 workers and was. under a Muceadum. Gangs were for* rned of workers from the same village rmd of the same caste as far as possible. Each kdr- kun was given charge of 4 or 5 gangs having one writing Muceadum under him. Earth¬ work was tasked as per Ap¬ pendix III, page 54 of the Bombay Famine Code, and the full tasks in metal breaking were 8 to 1 0 cubic feet for A class men, and 5 to 6 cubic feet for A class women. Inst- ances cf performing full tasks and earning full wages were rare. Hence fining to the limit of minimum wages had to be resorted to, but this had no effect on the idle and lazj who- were satisfied with mini¬ mum wages. Each upper subordinate was put in charge of numbers v ary in g from 5,000 to 14,000, and was assist- ed by Sub-overseers and Alais- tries working under him. There was generally a Sub- overseer or a Maistry for every 1,500 workmen. Payments were made by Cask- iers wkose salaries varieu from Us. 40 to 50 per mensem. Muster roll s were closed every Wednesday evening and were ready for payment on Thurs*- day. Actually payments were made on Friday aud Saturday, Sunday being'the* day of rest for all. Each Cashier wTas re¬ quired to furnish* a cash secu rity of at least Rs. 500. to all works in the Sholapur Workers on arrival were hutted as far as possible. When ow¬ ing to the rapid increase of numbers, hutting materials were difficult to obtain, the people were made to live in regularly marked out camp: until the huts were built, Wells were eleared and fresh wells often dug to increase the supply of water. Where the water was scarce or at a dis¬ tance from the works, water carts or tanks in carts were used to bring the drinkin water on to the camp. Low caste people were either given separate wells or they were served with water by high caste eoolies. All ndla beds and wells were guarded to prevent the fouling of the water. Each camp was gene¬ rally made large enough t( accommodat© about 1,000 work ers. Huts were put up> inlines and they were generally of the dimensions and size shown in Appendix IV, page 55 of the Famine Code. Generally five members of each family lived in one hut. Police guards were employed in each camp to guard treasure and to pre¬ vent abuses, petty thefts, &c. Conservancy arrangements were carefully looked after, workmen being employed in sufficient numbers to keep the camp sites clean. The grain supply w*as generally ample. Firewood for fuel was collected ■by labourers from adjacent fields and forests without much difficultv. > itolARKS. ll District. Those who came to the relief works in the ear- ^lier months of the fa¬ mine were in good phy¬ sical condition and they continued in the same state till the close of the famine, and no fal¬ ling off in condition was noticed. Those who came to the works after February 1897 were rather emaciated and weakly, but they im¬ proved physically after being sometime oa the works. There were no deaths from starvation. ( C ) APPEN District. ' Classification. ( Name of Work, Amount of Famine Expendi¬ ture. Value of Work done at ordinary rates of construc¬ tion. Nature of Work, Utility of Work. 1 2 . 3 4 5 6 7 c Local Communication s— continued. Rs. Rs. S li o 1 d p u r— continued\ Improvements and repairs to existing roads. c Improving road from Jeur to Temburni. 16,291 9,378 Improving road sec¬ tion, e sing gra¬ dient and collecting raurum. A work of temporary and doubtful uti- H ty. < Do. Do. Improving and me¬ tallic g Karm&la- Boregaon road and stacking metal thereon for repairs. 26,186 12,531 Improving surface, easing gradient and collecting me¬ tal and mumm. ( A work of perma¬ nent impi’ovement. Do. Do. Improving and me* tailing Kurduvddi- Temburni road and stacking metal thereon for repairs. 48,807 17,490 Improving section and collecting me¬ tal and mumm. Do, Do. Do. Improving the Sho- lapur - Pandharpur road. 42,121 19,0.00 Easing gradient^ e xcavatin g catch water drains and collecting murum; length of the road is 27i miles. # Although this work would never have been undertaken in ordinary circum- stances, it may be considered as of permanent use, Provincial Communications. Do. 4 Improvements and repairs to existing roads. • Improving and metalling Poona- Hyderabad road, Section I (from the river Bhima to the river Sina) and stacking metal thereon for repairs. 63,503 13,100 Collecting metal only. The length of the road is 45 miles. Of permanent util¬ ity. Local Communications. Do. Improvement and repairs to existing roads. Improving and me¬ talling Pandhar¬ pur-Jan on i road and collecting metal thereon for repairs. 3,36,146 96,500 Collecting hard mu¬ rum. The length of the road is 42 miles. This is a useful work which will much improve the road. ( ci ) ) DIX 0—continued. Eeasons for Selection. > General management including tasking, &c. Camp management. Remark s. • 3 9 10 » ll This is not an important road, but was taken in hand as there were no suitable works in the southern part of the Karm&la Taluka. 's • This road has a fair amount of traffic from the Nizam’s frontier. In the absence of other important work in the Karm&la Taluka, this work was undertaken to give employment for relief workers. > > This was one of the first works star ted in the Madha Taluka where work was much wanted to give employment to relief workers. ...*#• This is a principal road to a place of pilgrimage. The work was under¬ taken to improve the present condition of the road and to give work to relief workers in the Sholapur, Ifadha and Pandharpur Talukas. The work was started suddenly to provide labour for relief workers who had been taken over from Civil A gen ey Works closed by order of Government. This was one of the first works started and was for the purpose of pro¬ viding work to appli- cants in the Malsiras, Pandharpur and San- gola Talukas. * At the commencement of famine, non-working chil¬ dren under 7 years of age were paid cash allowances instead of cooked food, but later on, a kitchen was open- ed on every work in charge of the Special Civil Officer where cooked food was given to non-working chil¬ dren and other dependants. This system of management was observed on all rebel works in this district with the exception of the Mhas- vad Tank Canal knd A'shti Tank berm. On the las’ two works, the limited piece* work system was introduced Y The ratea of piece-work wen • MM* b 98—26 ap ( oii ) APPEN District. Classification. 1 < o * Locul Co m m unicafions. Slio 1 a pur— continued. Improvement and repairs to existing roads. if i Do. ... Do. Do. ... Do. I Provincial Com m it nicet lion s. Do. ... Collecting metal Do. ... Do. Local C o m m unicafions. rt Do. ... Collection of metal . i Name of Work. Amount of Famine Expendi¬ ture. Value of Work done at ordinary rates of construc¬ tion. 3 4 , 5 Es. Us. Improving and me¬ tallurg Pandhar- pur-Plialtan road and stacking metal thereon for repairs. 3,42,010 83,400 Improving and me¬ tallurg road from Sdngola to Akluj and stacking metal thereon for repairs. 51,296 15,600 Improving and me* tailing Mohol-Pan- dharpur road and stacking metal thereon for repairs. 1,22,064 59,000 Collecting metal for * 10 years* repairs to B4rsi-Yedsi road. 63,061 35,650 * Collecting metal for 10 years’ repairs to Yedsi-Tadwdla road. 13,053 9,603 Stacking metal for 10 ye ars* repairs on Jeur-Karm&la road. 35,479 18,634 Nature of Work, Utility of Work. * 6 7 Easing gradients, exeavating side gutters and catch water-drains and • collecting mumm and metal. The length of the road is 45 miles. This is a useful work which will much improve the road. Exeavating gutters and catch Water- drains and easing gradients. The length of the road is 34 miles. A useful work per¬ manently improv¬ ing the road. Improving surface, easing gradients and collecting me¬ tal and murum. The length of the road is 24 miles. *N Do. ^Collecting metal... Permanently useful works, i Collecting metal ... A very useful work as tlie road is an important one. ( ciii ) DIX 0 -^contirned. Keasons for Selection. The work was s tar ted to give work to worker s of MAlsiras and Pan- dharpur Talukas. This was opened suddenly for the same reason as the Sholapur-Hyder- abad road. This work was opened to pro vide for relief work-, ers of the Madba and Pandharpur Talukas. These two roads con¬ nect B&rsi Town with important cotton marfcs in the Nizdm’i territory, such a Latur, &c., and cari'y a very heavy traffic. They are repaired annually and maia- tained as metalled roads. Metal collec¬ tion for future years was therefore under¬ taken on them to provide employment for relief workers. General management including tasting, &c. This is an important me¬ talled road. Metal col lection for future yearsJ repairs was therefore undertaken to gr employment to workers in the Karm&Ja Taluka so *p*ranged that able-bodied persons could earn by them A class wages for all working days and Sunday wages and allowances for non-working children and dependants. This limited piece-work sys¬ tem did not prove very successful, as. the people had become demoralized by having been previously on regular task works carried on under Code rules. Good work-people, however, earned proper wages. The piece¬ work system is now being introduced on Patkri and Mangi Tanks. It has had the effect of driving awTay from the works all who were really not in need of any relief. Every large work had a Hos¬ pital attached to it which was in charge of a medical officer or subordinate. The Hospital Assistant or As¬ sistant Surgeon in charge looked after the medical wants of the workers and establishments, and was also useful in supervising sanitation and water-supply arrangements. Camp management. 10 Remarks. ll ( civ ) APPEN District. Classification. ( Name of W ork. Amount of Famine Expendi¬ ture. Value of Work done at ordinary rates of construc¬ tion. Nature of Work. Utility of Work. 1 t 2 3 4 5 6 7 Imperial Railway s. Rs. Rs. Shol a p u r ^ continued. Embankments and cuttings. < Earth-work on the Barsi Station-Pan- dharpur Railway. 5,04,934 2,70,000 Embankment in mururn and earth and cutting in earth, soft and hard mururn and rock. This is a continuation of the Barsi Light Railway and con- nects Bdrsi Road with Pandharpur, an important town of pilgrimage. The length of the road is 32 miles and the Barsi Light Railway Company have expressed their willingness to take over the earth-work at normal rates. Do. Do. Imperial Irrigation. Earth-work on Pan- dharpur-S&n g o 1 a Railway. 2,91,659 1,80,000 Embankment in earth and soft murum and cutting in earth, hard and soft murum and rock. The line is an exten¬ sion of the work described above towards , Sangola. The total length is 19 miles. Its use¬ fulness will depend on the railway being extended, which is somewhat doubtful. Do. Water-supp ly.—Con¬ struction of storage tank for Irrigation, • Constructing Pathri . Tank. 3,03,107 S9,400 Constructing earth¬ en dam across the Pathri N&la to form a reservoir. The work will give a water-supply to the B£rsi Town and will also serve as an Irrigation tank. Do. Do. Constructing tank at Mangi. 2,04,336 50,638 Constructing an earthen dam across the Kawta River. When completed this will be a use¬ ful irrigation work . in Karm&laTaluka, which suffers frequently' from drought. Do. , Dam and Canal £ earth-work. 5 Repairs to Ekruk Tank and Canal. 53,782 17,629 Clearing silt and widening and rais¬ ing canal banks. A work of perma¬ nent utility. Do. , Da , Draining and filling in the pool of water behind the Ekruk Tank Dam. 2,400 1,180 Filling in the pool with earth, murum, &c. Do. i i ( CV ) DIX 0—continued. Reasons[for Selection. General management including tasking, &c. Camp management. Remarks. > 8 9 10 ll The work was selected for giving suitable work to large numbers of relief workers hither¬ to employed on metal breaking. j > > It was taken up as being likely to be a useful work in the future and better than the metal breaking work hitherto taken in hand. ' It was started somewhat late in the famine after the Bdrsi-Pandharpur line had been commenced. * > • This work was undertaken in preference to road works in the t&luka, which were stopped. This woik was undertaken in preference to road works which were closed on the opening of tank works. % This work which consists of earth-work entirely was undertaken to give employment to weavers of Sholapur. • * m > • * The work was specially selected for the weavers of Sholapur for whom metal breaking on roads was considered unsuit¬ able. i > B 98—27 ap ( APPEN District. Classification* t Name of Work, Amount of Famine Expendi¬ ture. Value of Work done at ordinary rates of construc¬ tion. Nature of Work. Utility of Work. 1 3 3 4 5 6 7 Imperial Irrigation—contd. Rs. Rs. Shola pur- co nd aded, < Dam and Canals earth-work, . Breaking metal,,. All these works are of permanent uti¬ lity. Do. ... Do. Collecting metal on L oni-Bel&pur road. 49,841 12,687 Do. Do. . Collecting metal on Nevasa-Bel apur road. 93,986 12,289 Do. Improvement s and repairs of existing roads. 1 Improving the An- ; naghat road from Nagarto the bound- ary of N agar Taluka. 76,786 28,958 This work consists of earth embankment on portions of the road and murum surfacing some parts and improv¬ ing the nala dips. A work of perma¬ nent improvement. Do. , Collection of metal , Collecting metal on Ann^ghdt road. . 2,861 2,471 ...*«( Do. ( cvii ) DIX 0—continued. Reasons for Selection. General management including tasking,&e. Camp management. Remarks. i 8 9 10 ll The work was started to give additional work in the S^ngola and Pan* dharpur Talukas. The work itself is useful and would have had to be done sooner or later. ) > > This work was started as it was actually required to strengthen the dam. > - 4 Condition of Workers. Breaking metal was first chosen as relief work in this district. It formed a good test as the workers, men, women and children disliked it. The metal will all be used in future years for road repairs. The metal breaking was carried out by Public Works Agency * and the people were paid by task work by gangs, each of about 50 workers. The ticket system was for a time tried, a ticket being given to each worker for each basket of metal; but it was abandoned as it afforded unlimited power to the karkuns issuing tickets to show favouritism. There was also a distance test. Work¬ ers were not taken on within five miles of their villages. The workers were all hutted and residence in camp was com¬ pulsory. The huts were of bamboo matting, but during the monsoon gunny bags were used for hutting. Huts of this material stood the rain well and were also easily moved when camps had to be shifted. The workers generally were healthy and there was never much sick¬ ness in any camp, nor was there any epidemic. This road is of local im¬ portance to facilitate communication within the Colleetorate. ) * ' * > Waterpig was chiefly managed by the Civil Depart¬ ment. Earthen pots were used and filled by Bhistis. Pre¬ caution s were taken to prevent the water being f ouled by work¬ ers. Wells were also hired and special men told off to draw the water. ( cviii ) APPEN District. Classification, < Name of Work. Amount of Famine Expendi¬ ture. Value of Work done at ordinary rates of construc¬ tion. Nature of Work. Utility of Work. 1 2 3 i 5 6 7 «. ^ Rs. Rs. Ahmednag a r —contd. C Excluded Local Fund. Water-sup- ply.—Construction of storage dam. (Earth-work.) Reservoir at Kdpur- v&di in connection with the water- supply to the town of Ahmednagar. 1,03,455 36,271 A work of perma¬ nent utility much needed. C Imperial Irrigation. Do. ... Repairs and addi- tions to dams and canale. Clearing the bed of L£kh Canal. 14,735 12,859 This work consisted of clearing the bed for its whole length, i.e26 miles. The material was uti- lized in raising the banks which had sunk in many places to below flood level. This is a work of permanent utility. Do. ... Canal excavation ... Constructing Ojhar Right Bank Canal. 1,900 1,418 This is a new canal, the only work done was Survey, lining out and con¬ struction of huts. Local Communications. Do. Construction of new roads. Nev&sa-Shev gaon- Bodhegaon road. 1,82,427 58,103 A work of perma¬ nent utility. ( cix ) DIX 0—continued. Eeasons for Selection. The reason for selec this work is that the Nagabai aque< which supplies the town of Ahmednagar of deficient rainfall as it did last year in June, July and August, and that the duct had to be fed by drawing water from wells near its course by bullock power and running the water into the duct. General management including tasking, &c. Camp management. 9 10 The work was in charge of an upper > subordinate, and the workers were paid by task work. Sanitation.—Trenehes were dug for sanitary purposes at each camp, being about 200 yards from the camp. Grain.—The grain was supplied by private traders, shops being opened in each camp. ) > Firewood was obtained from the Forest D epartment where practicable, and the workers found their own fuel when situated far from villages. There were Hospital Assistants at each camp and accommo¬ dation was provided for hos¬ pital. The work was. in charge of a temporary Assistant Engineer. The workers were paid by limited piece-work. Huts were erected for all wor¬ kers. Water-supply was good and ample. Work was undertaken to facilitate eomnmni cation within the Collectorate. The work was in charge of an Assistant Engineer. Carried' out by Public Works Agency under a Sub-Engi- neer. The work was carried out by task work by gangs, each of abouj; 50 workers. The workers were all hutted and had to live in camps. The camps were moved from time to time as the work pro- gressed. Water was supplied by the Civil Department and the cost was charged to works. There were grain shops in each camp where the camp was more than a mile from the village. The workers found their own fuel. There was one central hospital for all camps. Bemarks. ll B 98—28 ap ( ex ) ( District Classification# C Name o! Woik, t Amount of Famine Expendi¬ ture. Value of Work done at ordinary rates of construc¬ tion. Nature of Work. 1 2 5 4 5 6 < " Local Communications— continued. Ra. Rs. Ahmednagar —continued. Construction of new roads. Kharda-Shng o n d a road, Section I, between Jamkhed and Kharda. 1,15,152 33,813 ...«•« Do. ... C Do. < Section II, between Sina River and J&mkhed. 64,351 21,450 Do# Do. Kharda-Jd t e g a o n road. 22,929 2,824 * Do# ••• Do# *• Road from Mahijal- gaon to the Shold- pur frontier, 5,933 717 Do. ••• Do. Constructing miles Nos. 37 to 40 of the Nagar-Miraj- gao n-S h o 1 & p u r road from a clearec! track to an un- bridged murum road. 10,267 3,970 APPEN Utility of Work* 7 useful work to permanently im¬ prov© communi¬ cation. It is doubtful if this road will be ever completed. This work will pro¬ bably disappear. This will be a useful road to open up local traffic. DIX 0—continued. General management including tasking, &c. i ' Camp management. 9 10 Reasons for Selection. Remarks. ll This road was eonstrucfced to facilitate communi¬ cation with the railway for Jamkhed Taluka. The road is intended to open up communica- tions by cart between the town of Bhoir in the Nizamds territory and the town of Khar- da in the Jamkhed T&- luka via the Mohori Gh&t. This road is to facilitate communication with the railway via Karwalla and Jeur Station. «•«•« * The work was in charge of an Assistant Engineer and was carried out by task work by gangs, each of about 50 wor- kers. The work was under an Assist¬ ant Engineer and there was only one camp at Mohori. ;} Owing to the Famine ceasing little had been done before work was stopped. Camps were made about 5 miles apart. All workers were hut- ted and had to live in camp, nearly all camps were near running water and there was not much difficulty about water-supply. Grain was sup- plied by private enterprise, shops being opened in each camp. Trenches were dug for sanitary purposes, but the > people could not be got to use them. There was, however, never much sickness at any camp. There was one central hospital. The huts in this camp were all of sacking and stood the rain very well. The supply of water was from a running stream. Owing to this work being kept open after other works were closed, it attracted the residents of all the famine camps in the t&luka and when the work was finally closed on the 15th Nov¬ ember 1897, there were about 250 workers in camp. The people were not emaciated, though very badly off for clothes; just before closing the work, a grant of clothing was made from the charit¬ able fund to all women who had been at least 5 months on famine works. These num- bered about 115. A Sari and a Kambli (country blanket) were given to each. # The earth-jyork and murum barrelling were constructed in the early part of the famine, after which the people were all assembled in two large metal breaking camps at Mahijal- gaon. Please see remarks below of materials). under Head C (Collection ( cxii ) APPEN x District, Classification. « Name of Work, < Amount of Famine Expendi¬ ture. Value of Work done at ordinary ] rates of construc¬ tion. Nature of Work. Utility of Work. 1 2 3 4 5 . 8 7 Local Communications— continued. Rs. Rs. Ahmednagar —continued. Construction of new roads. Improvements to Kharda-Shrigond a road. 269 • • • Do. < Improvements and repairs of existing roads. Special repairs to Nagar-Shevg a O'n road, Section B. 1,15,739 33,551 The repairs consisted of embanking the road where re¬ quired and collect¬ ing metal and spreading it. A work of perma¬ nent utility. ( Provincial Communications. Do. Collection of metal . N a g a r-P a i t h a n road. 1,51,058 21,739 Do. Do. Im£mpur Ghdb to Toka road. 49,833 11,154 - Do. ... Do. Nagar-M d 1 e g a o n road. 1,37,671 57,125 Local Communications. Do. Collection of metal , Khospuri-Islam pur road. 8,122 2,666 - Provincial Communications. Do. ... Collection of metal ♦ Local Communications. Nagar-Shirtir road . 33,446 8,730 i *• Breaking metal... All these are works that will be per¬ manently useful. Do. Collection of metal , Nagar-S h e v g a o n road. 43,993 8,943 Do. ... Do. Kharda-Shrigo n d a roach 19,296 4,616 Do. ... Do. NTaga r-K a r m d 1 a .road. 41,832 11,382 Do. • *» Do. Shrigon d a-K a s t e road. 6,174 1,552 Do. Do. Plmpri Station Feeder road. 20,885 6,636 ( cxiii ) DIX 0—continued. I Reasons for Selection. Generaltmanagement including tasking, &c. 8 9 This road was undertaken to improve the existing road which was much cut up. The work was carried on de¬ partment ally by task work gangs of about 50 workers. The metal breaking was for a time carried on a by ticket system by issuing a ticket for each basket broken and this turned out more work. Camp management. 30 The workers were hutted and compelled to live in camps. The huts were of bamboo . matting and sacking. The huts were shifted from place to place as the camps were moved, and consequently the bamboo matting suffered much damage. The water arrange- mants were latterly made by the Special Civil Officer. Rbimbks. ll The relief workers were in good health and the Civil Department dis¬ tributed occasionally clothes from the Chari¬ table Fund. Breaking metal was chosen as a staple famine relief work in this district. It form- ed a very good test as the people—men, women and children—all dis¬ like it. The metal will all eventually be used on road repairs. Metal breaking was carried out by Public Works Department Agency and the people were paid by task work by gangs of about 50 men. For a time, the ticket system was tried, a ticket being given to each worker for each basket of metal, and this produced a much better outcome of work than the gang system. The workers were all hutted and were compelled to live in camp. Anyone not sleeping in the camp was liable to be turned off the works. There was also a distance test. Workers were not employed within 5 miles from their houses. The huts were at first all of bamboo matting as being cheapest. By July 1897, the supply of bamboo matting both in the district and in Bombay was exhausted and it being the monsoon, no fresh supply could be ipaported. Huts were then made of sacking, the^ ordinary gunny bags used by native merchants for their grain. This made very good huts which stood the rain well. It was further very easily transported from place to place when camps had to be moved. There was great and unavoidable waste of bamboo matting when a camp was moved. The The workers nearly always came on to the works before they were in any. degree emaciat¬ ed, but when on the works they were an¬ xious to do as little as possible. In conse¬ quence they were nearly all soon drafted into the C class and barely did the task of that class. However, they all kept very healthy on C class wages and there was never any epidemic in any of the camps. Towards the end of the famine some emaciated B 98—29 ap ( cxiv ) APPEN District. Classification. C Name of Work. < Amount of Famine Expendi¬ ture. Value of Work done at ordinary rates of construc¬ tion. Nature of Work. Utility of Work. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Ahmedna'g «* r —concluded. < local Communication8 —continued. < - Rs. Es. • Imperial Irrigation. Do. ... Constructing stor¬ age dam (earth¬ work). • Construction of storage dam for irrigation. I. Yisdpur Tank. 34,029 8,756 The work consists of an earthen dam more than a mile long and 70 feet high at the high- est point, with an irrigation canal about 15 miles long. It was not sanctioned till the famine was nearly over; so little has been done. This is a work of permanent utility. DIX O—contirtufd. Keasons for Selection, General management including taskingj|&c. ) > Camp management. 9 10 Rbmarks. ll bamboo matting suffered macb damage by wind. The gnnny bag huts kept out rain better than the bamboo matting, Tarriag was tried both on bamboo matting and on sacking, but proved too expensive for general adoption. The camps were at first small camps, each of a few hundred workers scattered along the roads, but as the numbers of those demanding relief increased, the people were gradually contracted into larger camps. The water-supply was chiefly managed by the Civil Department, A common arrangement was for a row of large earthen pots to be placed in some convenient position near the camps. These pots were filled by Bhistis with puhhal bullocks and over the pots was placed a mucadum whose business it was to see that they were not contaminated in any way. Sometimes the workers were not allowed to fill their private vessels from public pots, and men were especially appointed to fill the workers’ vessels. This was in order to prevent the public supply being fouled. This regulation was also extended to wells, and special men were appointed to draw water, and no private vessel was allowed to be dipped into the well. System of sanitation.—Trenches were provided, but these were not generally used. The sanitary authorities prescribed that the trenches should be 600 feet (200 yards) to the leeward of the camp. This distance appear s to be too great. The workers certainly considered it to be too far to be convenient. It was possible to keep the camp itself clean. But the workers would not use the trenches. Grain was supplied by private enterprise. Traders were always allowed to open shops on the works and usually built their own huts. The site for the shops was selected and was usually chosen so that the police guard might be between the grain shops and the tool-shed. workers came demand¬ ing relief. And in one or two cases, the system was tried of having a receiving camp near a taluka head-quarter town, where there was already a hospital and a Hospital Assistant. Any weakly or emaciat¬ ed people were detained at this camp and the heal thy ones were draft- ed Provincial Co m m unica tions. Do. C Collection of mate¬ rial s. Bombay-Agra road . 87,126 38,810 Do. Do. N^sik-Poona road .. 1,17,740 1,01,000 Do. Do. Malegaon-Manm&d. 64,826 38,715 * Do. Do. < Do. Do. Local Communicaiio ns. Manm&d-Kopargaon. N andgaon-Auranga¬ bad. 22,788 53,718 10,965 41,520 i >Metal breaking ... 'All these are works of permanent uti¬ lity. Do. Collection of mate¬ rial. Nasik, Dindori and Kalwan. 4,525 1,430 Provincial Communications. Do. Collection of mate¬ rial. Sati Gh&t Harsul... 388 150 j Do. Imp trial Irrigation. Embankment and metal for the exist- ing dam. Wdghad Tank 26,424 11,873 Dam embankment, metal breaking. Useful work ... Do. Constructing a »tor~ agereservoir (Earth¬ work) . Khirdi Sathe Tank... 55,831 13,269 Dam embankment building. Permanently work. useful Excluded Local Funds. Do. Miscellaneous im¬ provement (W ater- supply). Wasali Tank 15,675 9,330 Puddle trench exca¬ vation and a little dam embankment. Do. *• * Do. Do. Peint Tank 3,497 2,5S6 Silt excavation Do. Do. I ** Imperial I Irrigation. Constructing storage tank with earthen dam. Malddevi Tank in the Ahmednagar Dis¬ trict executed by the Executive En¬ gineer, Nasik. 76,164 19,735 Puddle trench exca¬ vation and a little miscellaneous work. A work of permanent utility. * i ( cxvii ) DIX 0—continued. X Reasons for Selection. General management including* tasking, &c. Camp management. Remabks. 9 10 ) ll Hutting,, water-supply, sanita- tion arrangements made by >■ Public Works Department. Cooked food in kitchen by Civil Department. ^Condition- of workers excellent. Conveniently situated in respect to distressed population. Tasking by piece-work Hutting, water-supply and > sanitation arrangements made by Public Works Department. No kitchen. These works were se¬ lected on account of their forming pro¬ tective works when t eompleted and as-<( they were conveni¬ ently situated with respect to the affect¬ ed area. Tasking by piece-work Do. Tasking Do. No camp, no kitchen. Condition of - workers middling. Hutting, water-supply, sanitation by the Public Works Depart¬ ment. No kitchen. Condition of workers good during fair weather; fair during rains. .. ’Hutting, water-supply and sanita¬ tion by Public Works Depart¬ ment. Kitchen and hospital by Civil Department. Condition excellent. of workers ... Hutting, water-supply and sani¬ tation by Public Works Depart¬ ment. Cookod food in kitchen and hospital by Civil Depart¬ ment. ... Water-supply and sanitation by Public Works Department, No kitchen. Condition of workers ex¬ cellent in fine weather,- Good in rains. Condition of workers fair. This work was selected to employ on more useful work distressed people previously put on metal breaking. Do. > Hutting, water-supply and sani¬ tation carried out by Public Works Department. Cooked food in kitchens and hospitals by Civil Department. Condition of workers ex¬ cellent in fair weather. Fair during rains. b 98—30 ap ( cxviii ) APPEN District. Classification. ■ Name of Work. t Amount of Famine Expendi¬ ture. Value of Work done at ordinary rates of construc¬ tion. Nature of Work. Utility of Work. 1 2 3 . 4 5 6 7 Do. Do. Do. Do. Do. Khandesh Dis¬ trict. Do. Do. Do. Do. • Provincial Commmications. Collection of metal Do. Do. Do. C Provincial. Collecting metal Local Communications. Collection of metal. Do. Collection of metal , Do. Do. Metal collection at Morana for Dlmlia- Surat road repair. Metal collection at Songir for Bombay- Agra road. Metal collection at Sakri for Dhulia- Surat road, 1st coat. Metal collection at Derabardi for Dhulia-Chalisga o n Metal collection at Ndndra for G. I. P. Railway. Metal collection at Khadkinalla for - (a) Neri-A j ant a road, 1st coat. (d) Neri-A j anta road repair s. (c) Current Repairs to Jalgaon- Jamner road Neri to Jam¬ ner repairs. (d) Current Repairs to original. Metal collection at Mehrun for Jal¬ gaon-Jamner road, Jalgaon to Neri repairs. Metal collection at Anjala for— (a) Anjala-D h u s kheda road. (5) Bhusdval-Ydval road. Metal collection at Udhali for — (a) Sdvda Gatha and * Udhali road repairs. (b) do. original Metal collection at Wanjdra for Amal- ner-Pdrola road. Rs. 43,056 6,923 3,901 3,757 8,475 7,875 7,875 20;996 14,614 23,162 13,289 11,526 12,979 13,159 8,471 Rs. 14,702 4,970 3,035 1,656 3,737 3,340 3,340 8,840 4,091 11,890 6,201 5,378 5,047 5,158 2,496 \ Breaking metal All these works are of permanent uti- lity. ( CX1X ) DIX 0—continued. 1 > Reasons for Selection. General management including tasking, &c. Camp management. Remabks. > S 9 10 ll ^ * ) • The works were selected on account of their being conveniently situated with respect to the dis¬ tressed area. Each famine work was in charge of an upper or lower subordinate, who was a sub-divisional officer and who had his office on the spot. Musters were closed on Wednesday, completed on Thursday and for each muster the amount required was eounted out to the Cashiers on completion of each muster; and payment was made at once by them. The code task mg system was in force, the whole gang being fined to the minimum wage for short task, but when after due warning the tasks still fell short, the wages paid were in proportion to the task done. By this measure a healthy tone was maintained and idleness was minimised. If any individual did the proper task he was promoted to a higher class, but if he continuously failed to do the task, then he was paid pro¬ portionate wage of the class, but not put in a lower class. The water-supply was good and obtained from existing wells or wells sunk on the river banks. There was no difficulty in get¬ ting firewood. Grain-dealers had shops at each camp, but many people preferred to obtain their grain supplfes from the town. Very few people from out¬ side territory came to Khandesh works. Gang tasking gave fair result s ; individual task¬ ing was found to be im¬ possible. Children, when properly selected with due regard to their age and constitution, gave a fair outturn of work. But age alone was no eriterion. ) ( cxx ) APPEN C District. Classification. < Name of Work. Amount of Famine Expendi¬ ture. Value of Work done at ordinary rates of construc¬ tion. Nature of Work. Utility of Work. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 r ' Local C ommunications —continued. 1 Rs. Rs. Khandesh Distric t— continued. Ho. ... Collection of metal... Do. ... Railways. Metal collection at Sarola for Bodvad- Edlabad road. Metal collection at Dhulia for Dhulia Station road. 22,084 386 6,246 ' 109 \ ^Breaking metal ... ✓ These works are of permanent utility. Do. ... Embankment s and cuttings. < Provincial Communications. Constructing Amal- ner-D harangaon Railway eartli-work. 43,167 25,115 Earth-work... A permanently use¬ ful work. Do. ■ Construction of new roads. Constructing Sakri- Gor da road. 5,258 ... ■N Local Communications. Do. Do. ... Do. ... Construction of new roads. Do. Do. Constructing Sind- k hed a - G orana road. Constructing Nan- durb a r - T a 1 o d a road.* L Constructing Amal- ner-Parola road. 2,890 1,055 • 868 ... ^Road making J These works will probably not be completed in the near future, and it is doubtful if the work done will not have deteriorated so as to be of no value. Do. , Improvements and repair s to existing roads. Special repairs tc Bcdvad-Edl a b a d road. i 4,554 i ... Irn'perial Irrigation. m Nasik Ini g a* tior. . Constructing storage reservoir. Earther dam. ) Chank&pur reservoir, i . 3,621 1,253 * y These works consist- ed of breaking metal for concret* and earth-work d j earthen dam s and canal s. • These works were ; intended to extend i irrigation in the ! upper Girna valley I and likely to be remunerative. Do. .. , Canal excavation •* . Girna Left Banl Canal. ; 32,846 15,664 ( cxxi ) DIX 0—continued. Reasona for Selection. General management including t asking, &e. i— —~ > Camp management. 9 10 (Same as overleaf). These work s were selected to concentrate labour. These works were under an As¬ sistant Engineer with a tempo¬ rary Sub-Overseer and Overseer Gang task system was in vogue. A certain task was set for the gang and when that was not done, fines/were imposed on the whole gang. Hutting with bamboo matting according to the Code was pro¬ vided on the tank work which was closed by the beginning of rains. The river and wells in the neighbourhood supplied good and abundant water. The trench system was introdueed and strict discipline was main- tained. Food-grain shops were on the works. The supply of fuel was sufficient. Rfi MARKS. ll Health of the people good. 1* *98—31 ap ( cxxii ) APPEN District. Classification. « c Name of Work, < Amount of Famine Expendi¬ ture. Value of Work done at ordinary ratea of construc¬ tion. Nature of Work, Utility of Work. « 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 c * Imperial Irrigation—contd. Rs. 1 Rs. Kh&nd e s h Irrigation— continued. Construction of sto¬ rage tank. Earthen dam. Constructing Talvada Tank. 367 ... Earth-work for exten¬ sion of irrigation. Of no permanent utility. < Do. Repairs and additions to Irrigation dams and canals. Special repairs to Jdmda Left Bank Canal. 5,841 1,863 a Do* •*» < Do. Special repairs to J&mda Right Bank Canal. 1,572 1,589 ► Earth-work such as re-making broken bank s, silt clear¬ ance, &c. Floods had damaged the canal and it was put in order. These works are im¬ provements of a permanent char¬ acter. Do. Do. Repairs and exten¬ sion of Wadgaon flood embankment. 3,720 3,086 ✓ Do. Repairs and addi¬ tions to dams and canals. Improvements to the Kasdra Channel. 3,584 2,486 Cutting side slopes and earth'work of channel. Silt clear¬ ance, repairs to Bank channel, &c. Of permanent utility. Do. Do. Improvements to SMh&d a Channel. > 13,441 12,844 Do. Excluded Local Fund. Do* . Miscellaneous im provements. Water supply. - Improvements to th - Jalgaon water supply. e 3,709 1,457 Diversion of waste weir channel, &c. i Do. ( cxxiii ) DIX 0—continued. > Beasons for Selection, General management including tasking, &e. j —-—-—-———■— > Camp management. 8 9 10 • This was under an Assistant En¬ gineer and a temporary Overseer. T t was subsequently abandoned owing to the commencement of Tapti Valley Railway work. — ^ As being spedall}r suit¬ able for famine. - The Sub-Overseer in charge of canals managed this work in addition to his ordinary duties. Gang task system in vogue. \ The people provided themselves with huts and aid was given when materials fell short. The Girna supplied water. Trench system strictly enforced. Grain was available to meet require- ments. There was no want of fuel experienced. The people provided themselves from neigh¬ bouring waste lands. i j A project for improve- ments and repairs to the channel had been ' pre¬ pared as an ordinary work j when it was found necessary, the items suitable for famine were utilized as relief works. An Overseer was in charge with a temporary Sub-Overseer under him. > • Same as for Jam da Canals above. Similar to Kasara pro¬ ject, this Shahaia ehan * nel project had been got up as an ordinary work, but was utilized as a relief work when famine pressure became heavy in the t&luka. An Overseer was in charge with a Sub-Overseer. Gang task sys¬ tem was in force. At first, the people provided themselves with shelter, but when the rains approaehei huts were provided of bamboo mat¬ ting dammered and covered with foliage procurable in the locality. Gunai River supplied the men with water. Trench system enforced. Grain shops on the work. Enel sufficient. Opened as a relief work when distress inereased in East Kh&ndesh. Do. -> • > The work having been started just when the rains commenced, a fairly water tight camp of huts was made by using gunny bags well dammered. Trench system was * strictly enforced. Well water was used for drink¬ ing Durposea. ( cxxiv ) ( APPEN District. Classification. « ——— 1 Name of Work. t Amount of Famine Expendi¬ ture. Value of Work done at ordinary rates of construc¬ tion. { Nature of Work. U fcility of Work. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Local Comm unications, Us. Rs. 4 c ^ | Poona Dis¬ trict. Improvement s and repairs to existing voads. Improvements to Indapur-B&rama t i road. 71,925 32,597 Collecting metal and mu ru m. •"N € Provincial Co m mu n ic at ion s. Do. Collection or metal . ( , Collecting metal on Poona-S h o 1 a p u r road. 31,310 15,918 Collecting metal ... t W o Improvements and y repairs to existing \ roads. Improvements to Poona-Nasik road. 1,27,791 29,569 Breaking and col¬ lecting metal. i ^All works of per¬ manent utility. Local Co m m u ni ca t ion s. Do, i Construction of new Constructing Bara- mati-Nira Station road. 83,031 44,151 Constructing road, earth-work and collecting metal. Provincial Communication s. • Do. Collection of metal . Collecting metal on Bombay road. 21,324 6,290 Collecting metal > - Local Communications. Do. Collection of metal . Collecting metal on Ghoda-Ambe g a o n road. 49,005 6,076 Collecting metal ... Works of perma- ^ nent utility. Do Do. Collecting metal on Junnar-Ndrd y a n - gaon road. L 12,270 2,298 Do. - ... ( cxxv ) DIX 0—continued. > I - ; > Reasons for Selection. General management including taslung, &e. Camp management. Rbmarks. 8 9 30 ll The work was convenient for people in the Indapur Tdluka. The work was convenient for people in eastern portion of Poona Dis¬ trict. Selected for giving em¬ ployment to people in Khed and Junnar Ta- lukas. This was selected to gi employment to people in the south of the district, and will be an important feeder road to the South¬ ern Mar at li a Railway Station at Nira. Selected for giving em¬ ployment to people oi Haveli and Maval Ta- lukas, Selected for giving em¬ ployment to people in Khed T&luka. Selected for giving em¬ ployment to people in the Junnar Taluka. y Under Public Works Depart¬ ment subordinates in charge of their respective sub- divisions and the general superintendence of Captain Scudamore, R.E., Assistant Engineer. Task work was adopted. Piece-work was not tried. J J These works were in charge Public Works Department subordinates in charge of their respective ^ub-divisions and heeler the general superi tendence of Captain Scuda¬ more, P.E., Assistant En¬ gineer. Task work was adopted. Huts were provided. Camp sites were selected near good water. Grain and firewood supply was looked after by the Collector. Sanitation was everywhere attended to, It was the duty of sub* -divisional officers to pay particular attention to water- supply and sanitation. Huts were provided. Camp sites selected near good water Gram and firewood supply was under the Collector^ supervision. Sanitation every¬ where attended to. T t was the duty of the Sub-Divisional Officer to pay particular attention to water-supply and sanitation. > > Condition of workers everywhere good. No complaint s were received. No cases of fraud dishonesty. or Condition of worker? everywhere good. No complain ts w ere received. No cases of frau I or dishonesty known. b 98—32 ap ( cxxvi ) APPEN . X District. Classification. t Name of Work. ( Amount of Famine Expendi¬ ture. Value of Work done at ordinary rates of construc¬ tion. Nature of Work. Utility of Work, 1 2 < 3 4 5 6 7 c c Imperial Irrigation. Rs. Rs. Poona Irriga¬ tion. < Construction of stor¬ age t a n k s, eartlien dam. < Shetphat Tank (opened in February 1897 and still in progress.) 3,15,339 1,46,305 Excavation in soil, marum and rock for puddle trench, puddle filling and a small part of em¬ bankment. The tank is very use ful in itself, being intended as a Pro¬ tective Irrigation Work receiving its supply from the Nira Canal in the monsoon and sup- plementing the supply of that canal in other seasons for irrigation at its tail. ) ( exxvii ) DIX 0—continued. > Reasons for Selection. General management including taskmg, &c. Camp management. Remark s. > 8 9 10 ll This was selected as being situated in one of the centres of the famine- stricken area near the boundary between the Poona and Sholapur Dis- tricts ; it was convenient for drafting people from both districts. -Work was in charge of an Assis¬ tant Fngineer. Kitchen under a Civil officer, camp management and sanitation under another Civil officer and an Assistant Surgeon. All tasting has been by the gang. Code tasks were imposed but were imperfectly worked up till end of September, when orders were given to fine down below the minimum wage if necessary. There has been a slight improvement since Piece-work is only being intro- dueed now and it is too early to report on it. Water-supply was obtained from the Nira Canal and stored in cisterns. Wood and grain supplies have been satisfactory. > > Condition of workers was good all through. There were a few cases of cholera and of emacia¬ tion among children owing to diarrhoea. Health in the ’eamps generally fair due chiefly to good water-supply. > ( cxxviii ) ( ABPEN Southern District. Classification, C Name of Work. Amount of Famine Expendi¬ ture. Value of Work done at ordinary rates of construc¬ tion. Nature of Work. Utility of Work. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 c < Imperial Irrigation. Rs. Rs. Bijapur < Construction o£ ear¬ then storage dam. Hullur tank 26,071 3,400 Puddle trench exca¬ vat ed to an average depth of 16 feet be¬ low level ground. Rock nowhere met with. No item of work has been com¬ plet ed. It is probable that this work will have much deteriorated before funds will be available* to finish these tanks. Do. Do. C Provincial Communications. Sangoji tank 25,799 1,409 Puddle trench on the left flank' was in pr o g r e s s. The greatest depth to which it has been excavated does not exceed 6 feet. No item of work has been completed on this work. Do. Do. Collection of metal... Collecting metal for Shol dpu r~H u b 1 i Road, 3rd Section, from Kolhar to M&lprabha, 41 miles. 29,719 15,973 Metal has been col¬ lected in 12 miles and is sufficient for 10 J miles for 10 years. A work of perman ent utility. Do. Do. Collecting metal and kankar for Bijdpur- Honvad Road, 24 miles. I 42,094 t 14,301 Metal has been col¬ lected in ll miles, i.c., in miles 1 to 8 10, ll and 18 and on quarries in miles 7 and 10. Do. Do , Improvements anc repairs to existing roads. Local Co mmunications. Collecting metal for. * and improving the B a galkot - Kagedoni Road, 18 miles. , 70,986 * L ** 31,036 'Collection of metal for the whole length of the road is completed. The road has been com¬ pletely improved from mile 81 to 87 and the remainder partially improved. The road has been permanently im¬ proved. Do, , Collection of metal... Collecting metal for the Bijapur-Sindgi Road, portion from Bijapur to Hippar- gi, 22 miles. 81,811 ■ 15,751 Metal has been col¬ lected by the road¬ side in miles Nos. 1 to 4, 7, 8, 9 to 13 and on quarries in miles Nos. 1, 3 and ll. A work of permanent utility. ( cxxix ) DIX 0—continued. Division. Reasons for Selection. These Ternar ks General management including tasking, &c. ajpply generally to all Works in Camp management. 10 the JBijdpur District. Remaeks. ll i > Generally the works car- ried out by famine la¬ bour were selected mainly in view of the convenient provision of employment. The whole district was in charge of an Executive Engineer and was divided for the greater part of the time into five sub- divisions. The head-quarter sub-division was small, never having more than two works in progress and was in charge of an Upper Subordinate ex¬ cept in September and October 1897, when it was in charge of a Junior ^Assistant Engineer. Of the other four sub-divi- sions, the two largest having about fi ve large works in each were in charge of Executive Engineers and the two others having three or four works each in charge of Senior Assistant Engineers. Each work was, as a rule, in charge of an Upper Subordi¬ nate, though in some cases, when these were not obtainable, Lower Subordinates were put in charge, and those whose ability warranted it were sub¬ sequently left in charge after sufficient Upper Subordinates were obtainable. The works were sub-divided into sections in charge of a Lower Subordinate or experienced Maistri who worked as assist¬ ant to the subordinate in > charge. The general average was about 2,000 workers to one Lower Subordinate or ex¬ perienced Maistri. Workers were divided into gangs of about 50 each under a ganger and one karkun was appointed on an average to four gangs. As far as possible .one cashier was appoin ied to each sub-di¬ vision of a work, i.e,y for about 2,000 workers1. Thfe karkun having after daily morning muster entered the number of workers in a book in a pres¬ cribed form given to each ganger calculated the amount of task from the standard task The hutting accommodation at the beginning of the year was insufficient, but further large orders for hutting material were given and in about May and June sufficient accommo- • dation was provided, but there was some difficulty in main- taining it, owing to the conti¬ nual shifting of camps which damaged or destroyed much material and to many camps having to be burned or partially burned on account of cholera, In July when the great in¬ crease in numbers took place the material in hand was in¬ sufficient to accommodate all, and although much fresh mate¬ rial was purchased, it did not arrive in time, and consequently a large balance of unused ma¬ terial was left when works were closed at the end of Octo¬ ber. . The enforcement of sanitary measures was one of the great¬ est difficulties that the Public Works Department had to con¬ tend with during the famine. As it was, muk&dams were kept on every camp to seek out any cause of offence and remedy it, and the camps were thus kept generally fairly in¬ offensive. Every camp was provided with - water from wells and bhistis were always appointed to serve water to the people while at work, B 98—33 ap ( cxxx ) APPEN District, Classification. t « Name of Work. t Amount of Famine Expendi¬ ture. . Value of Work done at ordinary rates of construc¬ tion. Nature of Work, Utility of Work. 1 2 « 3 4 5 0 6 7 c < Local ' Gommunications —continued. Rs. Rs. Bijdpur— continued, e Improvements and repairs to existing roads. Improving Huvin Hipp a r g i-T e 1 g i Road, vid Bagewd- di, 1st Section, from Huvin-Hip- pargi to Bdgew&di, 1 to 7 miles. 138,715 10,621 Earth-work eomplet- ed. The road has been commie ted with the exception of harder surfacing for 3 miles. A work of permanent utility. Do. ... Do. ( Improving Huvin- Hippargi-Tel g i Road, 2nd Section, 12 miles. 1,20,549 42,549 Earth-work and mu- ram collection and spreading has been completed. Rolling has been done all al i Reasons for Selection. General management including tasking, &c. Camp management. 8 9 10 ' Remarks 14 given him by the subordinate in charge, and the book was then given in charge of the ganger who was responsible for the presence of his gang as entered in the book. Tasks were set out as follows :— In the case of metal-break- ing, two parallel lines, six feet upart, were marked out on the ground in front of the gang and at the end of the day the workers brought the metal they had broken and stacked it between the two lines to a height of one foot giving a mean width of five feet, and the karkun having measured the length of the heap entered the quantity in the ganger’s book. Each day’s heap was kept separate and at the end of the week the measurements were checked by a subordinate and the daily heaps carried away and stacked by the road¬ side. In the case of earth-work, gangs were generally sub-divided into small parties of 6 to S. The calculation of tasks in this case is'a little more intricate than in the case of metal col¬ lection and the subordinate in charge therefore usually worked out an average task for each person having due regard to the proportion of > ' men, women and children on the work, and the task for each gang or party could thus be easily calculated by the kdrkun. In setting out the task it was usual to set out a certain width to be excavated one foot deep and the length was measured at the end of the day. In the collection of muram the measurement* were taken of the heaps stacked at the road-side which were all of standard size. At the end of the week the subordinate in charge would allot the fines, by the help of > ( cxxxii ) APPEN District. Classification. < Name of Work. « Amount of Famine Expendi¬ ture. Value of Work done at ordinary rate of construc¬ tion. Nature of Work. Utility of Work. 1 « 2 C 5 4 5 6 7 Bi j apu re- continued. Local Communications — continued. Improvements and repairs to existing roads. Do. Do. Do. Do. Improvements and repairs to existing roads. Do. Improving Indi-Shir- dhon Road, 26 J miles. Do. Do. Do, Do. Improving Indi- Sindgi Road, 1st Section, 1 to 19 miles. Improving Indi- Sindgi Road, 2nd Section, 12| miles. Rs. 2,17,774 93,267 1,13,621 Do. Constructing new roads. Improving Telgi*? Kolhar Road, 10 miles. Improving Deur-Hip- pargi-Talikot Road, 1st Section, 19 miles. Improving Deur-Hip pargi-Talikot Road, 2nd Section, 13 miles. Constructing Huvin- Hippargi-Tal i k o t Road, 17 f miles. 77,041 1,79,450 80,252 Rs. 47,831 23,880 37,168 45,109 57,703 16,235 1,57,430 73,534 The whole length of the road from mile 1 to 10 has been completed. The metal will have to be spread and rolled. 10^ miles of the re¬ mainder of the length have been embanked and bar¬ relled with muram. Portions of the ex- isting road in 14th and 22nd miles are in good condition. Metal has been col¬ lected on the road and at quarries. The road has been embanked and par¬ tially barrelled. Boulders have been collected for metal in miles 16 to 19. The whole length of the road was com¬ pleted and metal collected at the road-side and quar¬ ries. The earth-work and muraming - have been completed. Earth-work and mu¬ ram surfacing com¬ pleted. Metal has been collected fcr i short portion. The whole was finish ed with lime kan- kar and muram surfacing. Bad ndlas were pro¬ vided with dips Metal collected on about a mile. Entirely a new road. Earth-work complet¬ ed. Muram spread and a few miles rolled. Metal has been collected. This road has been permanently proved. lm- Do, Do. Do, Do. Do, A new road; will open up the District. ( cxxxiii ) DIX 0- continued. 'y Keasons for Selection. General management including tasking, &c. ' > Camp management. Remarks. 8 9 10 •ll - tables provided from the Exe¬ cutive Engineer’s Office. In regard to payments to work- ers, from the beginning of the , year, as a rule, sufficient small change was obtainable in the Treasuries to allow of payments being made without delay, but owing to the fact that nearly the whole of the payments were made in sum s of less than a rupee, it was rarely possible to obtain ^sufficient for paying each individual separately and consequently payments were frequently made by groups. This was held objectionable both by the Examiner and the Revenue Department, but it could not be avoided. Weekly payments were made generally by cashiers. The market day for the loeality was the holiday for the work and a week*s pay¬ ment was regularly finished before the holiday. • > > • > ) * . • > • b ap ( exxxiv ) ( APPEN District. Classification. « Name of Work. c Amount of Famine Expendi¬ ture. Value of Work done at ordinary rate of ‘ construct¬ ion, Nature of Work, Utility of Work, t i 1 2 ' 3 4 5 6 7 * Local * Comm unication s— Rs. Rs. € 1 continued. B i j d p ur— Constructing new Constructing Hun- 86,388 23,306 Of the total length A new road; will open concluded. roads. gund-Nandwa d g i Road, 15 miles. 8| mil^s are finish¬ ed. T h ey are em~ banked throughout and muramed up the District. Metal has been col¬ < lected in a small portion of the road. | Do. Collection of metal . Supplying metal for 98,518 29,623 Metal has been col¬ A work of permanent] utility. • the Mudd e b i h a 1- lected at road*side Chimalgi Road, 19| miles. and at quardes. Do. ... < Do. Supplying metal for 56,987 13,185 Metal collected at Do. ...I Hungund -1 1 k a 1 road-sde and at 1 Road, S miles in length. quarries. Do. Do. Supplying metal for 84,418 17,287 Do. Do. Bagalkot-IIungund Road, Section in Hungund Taluka, 151 miles. • Do. .. Do. Supplying metal for 83,593 19,974 Metal has been col¬ Do. Bagalkot-H ungund lected at road-side Road, Section in Bagalkot Taluka, and quarries. Ilf miles. Do. ... Improvement s and repairs to existing Improving Sholapur- 32,624 13,207 Neaily five miles oi The road has been Bellary Road, 4th the road have been permanently im¬ roads. Section, 10 miles. finished with hare mumm and metal has been collected at proved. road-side in about If miles. 1 Do. ... Do. Improving Sholapur- 8,957 2,953 Metal has been col¬ A work of permanent Bellary Road, 5th lected at road-sidt utility. Section. and quarries. Do. ... Do. . Improving Road from 8,61 i 2,245 Catch-water drain;- The road has been Indi to Indi Road have been excavatec! permanently im¬ Station, miles. | and the berms level- proved. j i led. Provincial C ommunications. i i Satiira Collection of metal... Collecting metal on 1,1?, 840 16,335 Metal has been broker A work of permanent Poona-Bang a 1 o r e and partly stacked at utility. Road. i i road-side. 1 i ( cxxxv ) DIX 0—continued. - ) Ketsons for Selection, General management including tasking, &c. —— ■ — Camp management. Remarks. 8 9 10 ' .11 • y > > > ) These remarks appl g generally to District. i all the 'Works in the Sdfdra I i This road was within a reasonable distance from the distressed hilly* tract and was selected as a relief work on that account. System of tasking and fining* Tasks. — With regard to earth- work the tasks given in appen¬ dix III of the Famine Relief Code were adopted. For breaking metal the task for a male of Class A wras fixed a’ from 8 to 10 cubic ffet a da) and for a female of Class A from 6 to 8 cubic feet a day. The task between the above limits varied according to the hardness i ( cxxxvi ) APPEN District, Classification. Name of work. Sdtdra—contd. Provincial Commnnications — continued. Collection of metal.. Do. Do. Collecting metal on Karad-0 h i p 1 u n Road. Do. Do. Do. Improvements and repair s to exist in g road s. Collection of metal, .. Improvements and repairs to existing roads. Amount of Famine Expendi¬ ture* 31,682 Collecting metal on Karad- N agaz Road Improving Karad Nagaz Road. Collecting metal on the Satdra-Mahd- baleshwar Road. Improving Sdtara- Mahaba 1 e s h w a r Road. 2,997 *1,46,010 Do. Local Comm unica tions. Collection of metal,, Value of work done at ordinary rates of construc¬ tion. 10,791 66,526 Collecting metal on the Satara-Padli Road. 47,846 Nature of Work. 6,616 Metal has been bro¬ ken and partly stacked at road-side 78' 29,112 2,698 18,981 Do. Bmbankments and cuttings. Sid gutter s. Metalling 16 feet width. Col¬ lecting metal, mu* ram and sand. Metal has been col¬ lected. Metal and muram collection. Diver¬ sion of road. Catch- . water drains. Em- bankments and cut¬ tings. 4,626 Metal has been col¬ lected at road-side and quarries. Utility of Work. 7 t A work of permanent utility. The Karad-Nagaz road has been im¬ proved by easing gradient s, &c., y and metal for repairs has been collected. This will be of perma¬ nent utility. j The gradients have been cut down ?» and the road much improved, This is a road with heavy traffic and the work is of per¬ manent utility. ( cxxxvii ) DIX 0 —continued. lUasons for Selection. General management including tasking, &c. ) Camp management, 9 10 > Remaeks. ll This work was started to give additional facilities to people in need of re¬ lief in the Gh&t tracts, especially in the Koyna valley where the distress was probably more acute than anywhere else in the Satara district. The road has a heavy traffic and a reserve of metal will be of use hereafter. The Karad-Nagaz road improving and metalling works were selected to provide for the eastern part s of the district as they were within about 24 miles of all parts of the district except the hilly tract. These were selected to re¬ lic ve the rush on the Poona-Bangalore road. The work was useful inasmuch as the road was in great need of improve¬ ment and it was situated right in the hill tract and was easily accessible to people in the Javli T&luka. As there is heavy traffic on this road from Satara to the Railway Station and as the surfaeing metal was very thin, it was decided to open this work and draft workers to it from the Kashil Camp on the Poona- Bangalore road. of the stone. For boulder stone or large pebble-shaped stones found, in nala beds the lower limit was made applicable and for quarried stones the task varied from the lower limit to the higher. For one quarry at Kashil on the Poona-Bangalore road, where the stone was ex¬ ceptionally hard the task was fixed at the lower limit as in the ease of boulder stone. For miners in the quarries special men wer^ selected, who were paid special rates at 3 annas a day. A miner usually drilled 2 holes a day from 18 to 24 inches, but no task was exacted as the supply of miners was limited and if they deserted the work there would have been no employment for the mass of the labourer s. They, however, worked satisfactorily and gave no trouble. Fining—From the commence¬ ment of the works it was evi¬ dent that the labourers looked upon the relief works as a system of more or less gratui¬ tous relief where they might do merely a nominal amount of work, but in accordance with rule 79 (c) and 87 (a) much patience was exereised and con¬ tinual warnings given before the introduction of.fines. At last, however, it became clear -that more stringent measures must be taken as labourers were not doing more than from 10 to 17 per cent, of the task. Accordingly orders were issued by the Executive Engineer on 6th January 1897, regulating the wages from minimum wages to full wages according to the work done, starting with a minimum wage for g^ngs that perforated less than | task, and it was at the same tinle directed that when less than 75 per cent, of task was done the gangs should be re-classified by reducing Class A to Class B. It soon, however, became apparent that labourers were -perfectly content with i * This includes Rs. 26,303 on account of gratuitous relief to dependants on workers on this as well as other works in this district. B 98—35ajo ( cxxxviii ) APPEN District, 1 SSt&ra-5 conid, Classification. 2 € Local Communications — continued. Construction of new roads. c c Name of Work. 3 Amount of Famine Expendi¬ ture. Value of work done at ordinary rates of construc¬ tion. Nature of Work. Utility of Work. 4 5 6 ■'T 7 Constructing road from Ashta to Ashta Road Station. 24,645 7,233 Embankment. Mu- ram collected and spread Metal col¬ lected. A new railway feeder road. Do. Do. ( Constructing Takari- Islampur Road. . 55,550 16,063 Embankment. Cut¬ ting in muram and boulders. Collect¬ ing and spreading mnram. A new railway feeder road which will be most useful. Do. Improvements # and Iniproving S&t&ra- repairs to existing Pandharpur Road, roads. §5,390 8,992 Embankment im¬ proved. Catch- water drains exca- vated. Muram col¬ lected. The gradients have been permanently improved and the work is one of per¬ manent utility. 1 DIX 0—continued. ( cxxxix ) * > Reasons for selection, ' General management including tasking, &c. Camp management. % * » 9 , 10 > In view of the distress! along the western gh&t it was considered that more relief works were needed at the foot of the hils and accordingly thils work and theKarad- Chiplun road were op ened. This work was opened to relieve the pressure on the Poona-Bangalore road. It was within easy distance of the hill country and Shirala * Petha where distress was being felt. Owing to the scarcity of early kharif rain during July and August 1897 in the Man T&luka accompanied by un¬ favourable reports of the condition of the people there it was decided to open a relief work on this road. The road was never before pro¬ perly made and the work was a useful one. minimum wages and further steps had therefore to be taken. Accordingly a new scale of fines was introdueed by the Execu¬ tive Engineer on the 21st Feb- ruary in which the fining was continued below minimum. In order to introduce the fining gradually only ^ of the fine due was inflicted the first week and | the second week till in the third week the full fine was exacted. On March 20th, a more stringent scale of fine was issued to come in force on 29 th March in which 70 per cent, of task was requir ed to be done for receipt of minimum wage. In this scale a large class was entered includ¬ ing all those who did from 30 to 60 per cent, of task who were to receive only three-fifths of minimum wage, while below 30 per cent, of task the wages were the same as before. The object of change was two¬ fold. (a) to fix the task for mini¬ mum wage in closer proportion to the value of the work done and -{h) to induce all to do more than 60 per cent, of task by fixing the wages for those who did less than 60 per cent, at what was thought would be an unsatisfying wage and to en- courage still better work by rendering the transition from one class to another easy after the 60 to 70 per cent, task had been performed, together with substantial increase of wages as the labourers passed from one class to the next above it There was some delay in putting the new scale into force pending the receipjd of approval by the Commissioner, but it came into general use about 18th April 1897. A modification of this scale of fines worked out by the Super intending Engineer was subse¬ quently introdueed. Kbmiekb. ll -JL ( cxl ) AP PEN Ditricfc. Classification. Name of Work. Amount of Famine Expendi¬ ture, Rs. Value of work done at ordinary rates of construc¬ tion. Nature of Work. Rs. Utility of Work. c * Belgaum Do. Do. Do. Po. Imperial Irrigation. Construction of sto¬ rage reservoir with earthen dam. Constructing tank. Taosi 2,39,120 89,792 Excavating puddle trench and filling it partly, This work will be of no utility until the tank is completed. Local Communications. Collection of metal... Construction of new roads. Collection of metal... Collection of metal... Breaking metal for the road from Go- kak Road Station to Nargund. Road from Gokdk Road Station to Gok£k (Section II mills to Gokak). Breaking metal for the road from Ma- noli to Saundatti. Breaking metal for the road from Dh&rwdr to Hongal via Saundatti to Gurl Hosur. 50,573 5,803 5,717 12,824 30,923 Collecting, breaking and stacking metal. A work of perma¬ nent utility. 4,677 Embankment and collection of metal. 3,803 Collecting, breaking 1 and stackmg metal. Clearing side berm s. 5,877 Breaking and stack¬ ing metal. This is a very useful new road in conti¬ nuation of the pre¬ sent feeder road. A useful work Do. ( cxli >) DIX 0—continued. Reasons for Selection. ^ General management inoluding tasking, &c• > > Camp management. REMABE0# 8 9 10 5 ll This work was selected to relieve pressure in the Bijapur district where the distress was so severe that it was thought that there could be no diffieulty in draft¬ ing large numbers of re¬ lief workers if necessary over 40 or 50 miles. This was opened to provide work for those in need of it. Do. Do. Do. Orders were given on 8th May to introduce the Superintending Engineer's scale on all works in the week commencing 17 th May and this scale of fines re- mained in force till the closing of relief works, being modified of course in accordance with the; price of grain. It will thus be seen that from 21st February payment was practi cally by piece-work, the people being paid according to the work done, but the cost of work varying according to the pro¬ portion oiiclasses A., B., C. and D. in the various gangs as well as of men, women and children. It was in fact a system of piece work with the rates for work done proportioned to the capabi- lities of the labourer s. b 98—36ap (< cxlii ) District, 1 B elg a u m- conclhdecfc Do. DMrw&r APPEN Classification, t f Name of Work, Amount of Famine i Expendi¬ ture. Value of Work done at ordinary rates of construc¬ tion. Name of Work, Utility of Work. * 2 3 4 5 6 7 / c Local Communication s —continued. Rs. Rs. Constructing new, roads. Constructing Shed- bal-Athni Road, 28,047 15,982 New road. Em- bankments and cut- tings. Collection of mur am and me¬ tal. This will be a very useful feeder road. Do. t Constructing Hon- vad-Athni Road. 50,012 25,420 New road. Em¬ bankment s and cut- tings. Collecting and spreading mu- rtim. Do. Provincial Communications. Collection of metal... Collecting metal on Karwar-B e 11 d r y road Section from Gadag to Hesrur. 21,765 16,248 Metal collection A work of utility ... • ( cxliii > ) DIS 0—continued. Reasons for fcelection^ General management including tasking, &e. ) > Camp management. S 9 10 r Remarks. • ll ft The question of the con¬ struction of this work was under consideration for many years as a most necessary eonnectmg link between the im¬ portant Tdluka Town of Athni and its nearest Railway station on the Southern Maratha Rail¬ way. This work was taken up as a work to which Bi- japur labour could be diverted, the distress in that District being so severe that it was diffi¬ cult to find sufficient useful work there for the people. The se remarks cipply generally to all works in the Dhdrwar District. Provision of labour for those in need of it. The system adopted in this district was what is known hs the Gang task work system and this continued until almost the closing of operations when, under the orders of the Su per- intending Engineer, the inter¬ mediate piece-work system was rigidly enforced. The workers were divided into sfritabl^ gangs of men, women and children, and comprising about 70 members in all, care being taken to see that in earthwork the proportions of diggers and carriers were maintained. In the case of metal collection the workers were permitted to arrange among themselves who were to fetch boulders, who to break the metal and who to carry the broken stuff to the staeks. The object of this arrangement was that when people became tired of one kind of labour they could rest the particular muscles which had been exereised by engaging in another form of labour. To arrive at the day's task for the gang the simplest method was found to be to fix on what experience showed to bej Every attention was paid to the sanitation of the camps and the health of the working partiesj and it is satisfactory to know that not a case of cholera or! other epidemic disease oceurred^ on any work in charge of this Department. Cholera dic! ap¬ pear at Dambal on the Gadag- Hesrur Road, but not while work was in progress within the limits of the town. The Assistant Engineer took prompt measures for keeping all people who came from Dambal aloof from the other workers, and the disease did not spread. j i (< cxliv ) < • • APPEN District, Dha r w a r— concluded. Do. Classification, Provincial Communicat ion s — con tinned. Collection of metal... Name of Work, Imperial Irrigation • Construction of feeder channels, Earth-work. Collecting metal on the Hubli-Shola- pur Road. Amount of Famine Expendi¬ ture. Value of work done at ordinary rates of construc¬ tion. Rs. 311 Dambal tank feeder channel. 402 Rs. 234 Nature of Work, Metal collection Utility of Work, A work of utility 300 Earth-work This is a small work of permanent uti- lity. Local Communications. Do. Construction of new roads. Constructing Nar- gund-Gok£k Road. 8,326 6,244 Embankment This road is the ex¬ tension of the Go- kak-N4rgund road in the Relgaum District, which has been completed. It is a very useful road connecting Nargund with Go- kdk Railway Sta¬ tion. ( cxlv ) DIX O—continued. > Reasons for Selection# General management including tasting, &c. > > Camp management* Remaeks. 8 9 10 ll > Provision of labour for a good rate-for the work in > a > > those in need of it# course of execution; the total wages that would be earned during the day were known and the quantity of work of the value of the amount of wages at the fixed rate could easily be calculated. This task was then marked on the > o Do. ground and the people shown what they would be expected to do before they could be * permitted to leave work*. They were told at the same This is the portion re- time that they would be per¬ mitted to go as soon as the task was finished. Some gangs were able to push on so fast that they were able to leave work by 5-30, but others were obliged to work > maining incomplete of the Nargund-Gokdk till sundown. Fines were, whenever possible, avoided road. The portion of it in the Belgaum Dis¬ trict had been complet- ed, but it etopped ab¬ ruptly oft. the DMrw^r bounaary. The want of a connecting link had long been felt* It is one of the most useful, works executed in the DMrw&r District. and never inflieted unless there was wilful laziness and neglect of work. Wages were practically fixed by the Collector, for be gave orders as to those to be paid on Civil Agency works, and these were followed on Pro¬ fessional Agency Works. They were fixed in such a way as to be slightly higher than w so 00 1 co * M those allowed in the Famine Code to A class labourers, but on the other hand the labourers were required to support all persons dependent on them and no poor houses or kitchens were opened. This system worked admirably. It proved economical, and under it the labourers have remained cheerful and con¬ tented, and there has been no sign of falling off in condi¬ tion. A short time before the works closed tjie intermediate piece¬ work system was introduced, ' but it did m>t last fong enough to permit of a decided opinion being given with rpgard to it. The workers were divided into small gangs and paid according to the actual work executed, subject to a certain maximum. j -p > APPEN District. Classification* t Name of Work, Amount of famine Exp end i- ; fcure. Value of work done at ordinary rates of construc¬ tion. Nature of Work, * Utility of Work. 1 . 2 3 4 5 6 7 C 1 ft Provincial Communications. Hs. lis. - ~ C • m KoMba Collection of metal... t Collecting metal on Alib&g-C a m p o li Road. Section from Dharamtarto Cam- poli. 2,700 1,020 Metal collection at qusbrries. The materials collect¬ ed would be re¬ quired for the ne¬ cessary repairs to the road. Do. Do. * Collecting metal on Dharamtar-Maha d Road. Section from Sakeli Khind to Mahad. 32 2 Metal collection Do. • ( cxlvj} ) DIX 0—conclnded. Eeasous for Selection* Generel management including tasking. &c. The works were selected] with a view to gauge the extent of scarcity prevailing in the neighbouring portion of the district, and - also with due regard to their utility, the materials being re¬ quired for the neces sary repair of the roads during the ensuii monsoon. The works were started on the regular task-work system laid down in the Famine Code, The Alibag-Campoli road metal work which had first been taken up as a test work was subsequently eonverted into a regular relief work. For the first 15 day s the num- bers went on increasing and rose on 27th September 1897 to 1,410, but t hey began to fall ofl almost from the next day, and from the 6 th to 18th October there were only, on an average, 171 in all on the work, when they left it owing to the commencement of the harvest season. Generally the labourers were all fairly strong and able-bodied persons and belonged to classes ordi¬ narily employed on field or forest labour. The work was not, of course, of the precise nature to which they were usually accustomed, but they displayed this time a passive determination to do as little as possible, and from the first to last did but a small portion of the tasks allotted. Firm¬ ness having to be shown to get them to do any work at all, only minimum wrages were paid for the time being, but with no better result s. The modified piece-work sys¬ tem was introduced from 11th October and was in operation till the work was virtually closed finally on the 19 th idem. Camp Management, 10 Bemark*, ll »,««•« APPENDIX P. Statement showing the daily average numbers of men, women and children among relief workers in the last week of each month. Last week of December 1896, Last week of January 1897. District. ShoMpnr... Ahmednagar Poona Nasik Satarn Kli&ndesh Bijdpur ... Belgaum ... D Mr war ... Kolaba ... Men. 17,065 36-84 5,594 34-49 3,781 36-88 4,424 35-65 5,706 50-55 11,332 29-58 563 31-24 550 43-00 Women. 19,809 42-76 7,915 48-79 5,050 . 49-26 * 5,607 45-19 3,296 29-20 17,703 46-23 802 44-51 504 39-40 Children. 9,454 20-40 2,713 16-72 1,421 13-86 2,377 19-16 2,2S6 20-25 9,280 24-19 437 24-25 225 1760 Total. 46,328 16*222 10]252 12*408 li’2SS **’878 38,315 *1*802 1*279 Men, 19,398 34-72 9,991 31-37 6,060 35-49 6,983 36-20 7,291 40-05 4.462 27-18 14,268 24-48 494 25-80 885 51-10 Women, 24,739 44-28 15,317 48-08 7,510 43-99 8,707 45-13 6,397 35-14 7,967 48-53 24,908 42-73 838 43-76 722 41-69 Children. 11,728 21-00 6,546 20-55 3,504 20-52 3,600 18-67 4,518 24-81 3,988 24-29 19,106 32-79 583 30-44 125 7-21 Total, 55,865 31*854 17]074 19^290 is’206 16*417 58,282 1^915 1//32 Total 49,015 60,686 35-95 43-73 28,193 20-32 138,772 69,832 97,105 31-65 44-01 53,698 220,635 24-34 Last week of Febrnary 1897, Men. 24,156 34-44 18,397 31-40 5,498 35-44 7,966 34-84 10,883 43-19 6,043 28-13 15,085 27-10 790 25-90 Women. * Children. Total. 30,191 15,794 70,141 4304 22-52 27,648 12,558 58,603 47-18 21-42 • •• 6,451 3,565 „ 15,514 41-58 22-98 10,286 4,609 22.S61 4500 20-16 | * ••• 8,224 6,089 25,196 32-64, 24-17 1 10,889 6,198 23,130 47-07 28-80 • • • 24.916 15,672 55,673 44-75 28-15 | • * • 1,283 978 | 3,051 4205 32-05 m • • 1 88,818 32-40 119,888 43-72 65,463 274,169 23-S8 j Node,—The figures in italics show the percentage of the numb era in each class to the total number of workers. cxlviii APPENDIX P—continued. Last week of March 1897. Last week of April 1897. Last week of May 1897. 5 District, Men. Women. Children. Total. Men. Women. Children. Total, Men. Women. Children. Total, *3hoMpur... «n 26,440 33-62 32,747 , 41-65 19,447 24-73 78,634 30,330 32-94 38,425 41-74 23,313 . 25-32 92,068 27,316 32-91 34,476 41-53 21,216 25-58 83,008 Ahmednagar ••. 18,931 32-18 27,731 4 7-15 12,161 20-67 58,823 17,817 32-14 25,m 46-90 11,620 20-95 55,435 14,112 31-79 20,206 45-53 10,061 22-88 44,379 Poona 4,076 37-28 4,731 43-28 2,126 19-44 10,933 6,411 32-11 S,950 44-83 4,602 23-08 19,963 7,110 31-81 9,997 44-73 5,243 23-46 22,350 Ndsik ... 7,799 35-77 9,818 45-02 4,189 19-21 21,806 7,019 35-56 9,051 45-89 3,664 1855 19,734 6,396 35-73 8,046 44-95 3,459 19-32 17,901 • • • S&tara ... 10,959 38-10 10,816 37-61 6,984 24-29 28,759 7,783 37-71 7,588 36-77 5,268 25-52 20,639 3,105 32-76 3,859 40-72 2,514 26-52 W 9,478 Khandesli ... 8,165 2S-24 12,944 44-78 7,799 26-98 28,908 6,833 30-66 9,858 44-23 5,596 25-11' 22,287 4,915 27-86 8,110 45-97 9 4,616 23-17 17,641 Bijdpur ... ... 14,693 26-99 24,548 45‘08 15,203 27-93 5 i,444 14,518 27-08 24,079 44-92 15,007 28-00 53,604 13,093 28-55 20,103 43-83 12,670 27-62 45,866 Belgaum ... ... » 1,280 25-00 2,151 41-99 1,691 33-01 5,122 2,362 24-99 3,973 42-04 3,116 32-97 9,451 2,422 25-05 3,923 40-58 3,324 34-37 9,669 Dh£rw£r... • *. 168 27-49 316 51-72 127 20-79 611 94 34-43 153 55-05 26 9-52 273 228 37-26 322 52-61 62 * 10-13 612 KoMba ... ... • «* ... • •• ... ... » ... ... 147 49-33 108 38-24 - 43 14-43 298 Total »•* 92,511 32-12 125,802 43-67 69,727 24-21 28S,040 93,167 31-75 i 128,076 43-64 i 72,212 24-81 293,455 78,844 31-39* 9 ' 109,180 43-45 63,208 25-16 251,202 Kote,^—The figures in italics show the percentage of the numbers in each class to the total number of workers. APPENDIX P—continued. r> D'utrict. Last week of Juno 1897. Last week of July 38D7* r Last week of August 1897. e Men. Women. Children. Total, Men. Women. , i 1 Children. L Total. Men. Women. Children. , Total. A Shol&pur... ... 24,999 3313 31,507 4175 18,957 25-12 75,463 28,239 34-93 34,171 42-27 18,436 22-SO 80,846 .«« 28,847 35-48 34,437 42-36 . 18,009 22-16 t 81,293 • * * Ahmodnsgar • * * • • * 10,673 32-94 14,589 45-02 7,144 2204 32,466 * • * 20,304 33-95 27,223 45-51 12,282 ' 20-54 59,809 17,328 35-07 22,254 45-03 9,839 19-90 49,421 • • • Poona ... • « • • ll [5,223 33-02 7,120 45-02 3,473 21-96 15,816 3,869 35-44 4,728 43-31 2,320 21-25 10,917 5,044 37-68 5,742 42-89 2,601 19-43 13,3S7 Ml Ndsik • • • # * • 3,879 36-58 4,872 45-94 1,853 17-48 10,604 2,611 38-19 3,075 44-98 1,150 16-83 6,836 • « • 1,406 38-40 1,651 45-10 604 16-50 3,661 Sdtdra • • • • • • 2,476 31-79 3,249 41-71 2,064 26-50 7,789 3,699 34-75 4,217 39-62 2,727 25'63 10,643 «»* 2,377 33-82 2,815 4005 1,836 26-13 7,028 Khdndesh \ ... • • • 2,354 2511 4,477 47-76 2,543 27-13 9,374 ... 2,330 25-93 4,116 45-S1 2,538 23-26 8,984 614 30-52 886 44-04 512 25-44 2,012 • •• Bijapur ... ... ... 15,358 26-25 25,793 4407 17,373 29-68 58,524 26,293 2S-54 3S,660 41-96 27,183 29-50 92,136 35,858 30-19 48,524 40-84 34,424 25-57 1,18,806 Ml Bel go am... • • * » •» 1,546 24-91 2,575 41-50 2,084 33-59 6,205 ... i 3,566 . 26-81 5,401 40-61 4,332 32-58 13,299 4,861 28-53 6,779 39-79 5,396 31-68 17,036 Dh&rwar... • •• ll 13-41 62 7561 9 10-98 82 554 2619 1,263 59-72 298 14-09 2,115 • # • 1,235 35-89 1,726 50-17 4S0 75-94 3,441 Koldba ... • • » • • . * •• III ... ll* III til Ml ... ... » • • • • * • « » • • • • • • ... Total « • • 66,519 30-76 94,244 43-58 55,500 25-66 216,263 • «» 91,465 3202 122,854 43-02 71,266 24-96 285,585 • •• ' 97,570 32-95 124,814 42-16 73,701 24-89 296,085 Note.-—The figurcs in italics show the percentage of the numhers in each class to the total number of workers, APPENDIX P—concluded. District. Last week of September 1807. Last week of October 1897. Last weet of November 1897. Last week of December 1897. ' Men. Women. Children. Total. Mon. Women. Children. "Total. Men. Women. Children. Total. Men. Women, Children, Total, ShoKpur ...* ... 25,208 30,468 15,978 71,654 8,123 9,690 5,274 23,087 i 2,692 3,333 1,749 7,774 3,080 3,843 1.832 8,755 35-18 42-52 22-30 • •• \35-19 41-97 22-84 34-63 42S7 22-50 ... 35-18 43-89 20-93 IM Ahmed nagar 25,779 34,779 15,109 75,667 2,708 3,754 1,649 8,111 M* Ml l«l • i. • •• 34-07 45-96 *19-97 ... 33-39 46-28 20-33 Ml ... ... • •• • • • • « • ... ... Poona ... 5,730 6,513 2,897 15,140 3,518 4,027 1,950 9,495 • M « • • 4,660 2,188 3,199 718 6,105 * 37-85 43-02 19-13 ... 37-05 42-42 20-53 • •• Ml • ll ttl 35-84 52-40 11-76 ... Ndsik ••• 1,141 1,286 352 2,779 • ft Ml ... Ml ... ■ • * •• • 41-06 46-28 12-66 • • • • • ♦ • M ... • • * • • • ... ... Ml ... • * • Sat&ra Ml 3,686 4,238 2,575 10,499 1,845 2,085 1,203 5,133 It# • M Ml • 9 • 9 • • • • • 35-10 40-37 24-53. ... 35-94 40-62 23-44 ... ... Ml Ml • • * ftl • •• ... ... Khdndesh ,.t M. 811 530 356 1,197 • fl • • • Ml III • M 25-98 44-28 29-74 ... IM ... ... ... ... ... ... ... • M ... • • * Bijdpur ... 19,496 30,046 21,511 71,053 1,183 2,072 1,293 4,548 212 408 280 900 134 393 253 780 27-44 42-29 30-27 ... 26-01 45-55 28-44 ... 23-55 \45-33 31-12 ... 17-18 50-39 32-43 ... Belgaum ... 4,244 5,981 4,695 14,920 656 959 353 1,968 254 390 138 782 254 336 US 708 28-44 40-09 31-47 ... 33-33 48-73 17-94 ... 32-48 49-87 17-65 ... 35-88 47-45 16-67 ... Dhdrwdr ... M* 797 1,833 369 2,499 135 1S9 22 346 ... • • • .»• ttl * • • « • •• 31-89 53-34 14-77 ... 3901 54-63 6-36 • • • ... Ml • M Ml ... • • IM ... Koldba ... • ft ... ... * 228 • * * Ml ... IM • %• ... fif ... • • • t • t M t • • • # * W • t* IM • • . Total 86,392 115,174 63,842 | '265,636 18,168 22,776 11,744 52,688 3,158 4,131 2,167 14,116 5,656 7,771 2,921 16,348 32-61 43-36 24-03 ... 34-49 43-22 22-29 ... 55-39 29-28 15-35 34-8) 47-53 17-87 ... Note.—The figures in italics show the percentage of the numbers in each class to the total number of workers. APPENDIX Q. Statement showing the cost of extra Fstablishments employed in connection with the Famine in the year s 1896-97 and 1897-98. Establishmbnts. District. Remauks 3 Land Revenue, U Forest, 15 Post Office. 18 General Administration. 19 B. Jails. 20 Police. 0 24 Medical. Total Establishment. - Rs. a. P- Rs. a. P- Rs. a. P- Rs. a. p. Rs. a. P- Rs. a. P- Rs. a. p- Rs. a. P- Ahmednagar 22,660 10 5 ■N 125 10 10 8,657 S 8 4,452 7 O o 35,896 5 2 (a) Salaryof Mr. N. Iv. Tha- f nedar on duty under the Kh&ndesb 936 9 7 797 6 1 16,641 15 3 1,147 13 0 19,523 ll ll Chairman, Executive Committee, I. F. Cha¬ ritable Relief Fuml. JSTfeik ... 2,928 9 6 256 5 3 13,466 1 5 839 3 1 17,490 3 3 (5) Salary of Mr. ohuttle- worth and his establish¬ Poona ment. 5,559 2 5 12,727 8 6 1,516 1 2 • 19,802 12 1 (e) In the Secretariat and the Accountant Generalis S&tara ... 3,081 7 0 176 8 0 2,729 . 6 9 5,987 5 9 Office. (d) Ineludes the cost of es¬ tablishment in the Office ShoMpur 16,789 12 10 1 (h) > 17,059 10 ll 14,268 12 6 2,100 4 0 1 38,158 13 5 of the Sanitary Commis¬ sioner and salaries of ex¬ tra Hospital Assistants. Belgaum 1,549 1 1 451 0 0 3,896 8 2 830 0 6,726 9 3 The correct cost of the latter cannot, however, be Bijapur 22,513 ■ 2 ll . 11,584 5 ll 1,693 8 ll 35,791 1 A V ascertained separately from those on account of Dharwar the plague. 2,047 6 4 •"S-. 189 15 0 2,237 5 4 (e) Ineludes item marked (&). KoUba... 806 4 1 1,222 14 1 2,029 2 2 Ratn&giri ..... • •1 23 12 3 23 12 3 - Elsewhere (a) 2,038 ll 4 J (c) 14,264 1 7 (cZ)l,53£ > 5 4 (e) 34,897 13 2 Total 80,910 13 6 17,059 10 ll 451 0 0 14,264 1 7 1,855 14 2 85,408 12 6 14,114 10 10 2,13,564 15 6 Nom—The cost o* extra establisliments employed in the Public Works Department is not shown in this Statement as that Department could not furnish the figures in time, APPENDIX R. O zo Statement showing the numbers of persons receiving relief in Native States, Native State and kind of relief. December 1896* Jannary 1897. February. March. April. May. June. , July. i August. September* October. November. December Daily average during the entire period. ^03 r f Relief workers 3,076 14,820 19,446 24,175 32,372 34,921 27^844 27,047 27,817 30,660 13,737 23,265 §5 I Depandants 368 3,860 6,657 8,981 12,774: 14,413 11,129 12.221 13,788 15,004 5,891 9,553 Gratuitously relieved 9 138 . 283 457 868 1,722 2 322 3,777 4.802 5,844 3,478 2,155 §4 § i Total daily average 3,453 18,818 26,386 33,613 46,014 51,056 41,295 '43,045“ 46,407 51,508 23,106 34,973 ^Total units * ... 96j684 658,630 738,808 941,164 1,610,490 1,429,668 1,156,26(T 1,506,575 1,299,396 1,442,224 808,710 r Relief worWers ... 68 495 674 602 610 864 641 327 725 1,081 517 189 59 619 2 > Dependants • •• ... ... * ... ... / "3 -s Gratuitously relieved ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... M \ Total daily average 68 495 574 602 610 864 641 327 725 1,081 517 189 69 519 l^TStalunits 1,904 17,325 ,16,072 16,856 21,350 24,192 . 17,948 i 11,445 20,300 30,268 18,095 5,292 . 2,065 ... f Relief workers 13 537 851 612 509 1,064 912 176 299 409 331 183 53 457 u i Dependants 2 ... 4 ... ... ... 2 4 Gratuitously relieved 1 75 84 127 246 150 156 121 61 95 107 42 6 98 « 1 Total daily average 14 614 935 743 755 1,214 1,068 297 360 504 438 225 59 555 l^Total units 392 21,490 26,180 20,804 26,425 33,992 29,904 10,395 10,080 14,112 15,330 6,300 2,065 f Relief workers ... 166 343 241 109 129 * 197 § i Dependants ... ... ... ... vv.‘> <( Gratuitously relieved ... ... ... ?? 1 Total daily average ... W. ... 166 343 241 109 ■ *‘*129 ». . 197 l^Total units ... 4,648 12,005 6,748 3,052 4,515 ... ... f Relief workers 320 342 461 426 738 882 255 83 97 50 330 ^ I Dependants ... 34 58 218 145 264 373 10 ... 100 | ^ Gratuitously relieved ... 5 9 30 49 97 108 42 69 239 # * 172 20 77 ■< j Total daily average ••• 359 409 709 •* 620 1,079 1,363 307 152 336 222 20 507 ^Total units ... ... 12,565 11,452 19,852 21,700 30,212 38,164 10,745 4,256 9,408 7,770 560 ••H . f Relief workers ... .. ... 73 150 62 ... W 41 § | Dependants ... .. ... ... ... ... *§3 -{ Gratuitously relieved ... 30 33 163 272 216 69 5 112 s I i Total daily average ... ... 303 183 225 272 216 69 5 153 ^ Total units ... ... 2,884 5,124 7,875 7,616 6,048 2,415 140 T* ^Relief workers 3,157 16,172 21,213 25,850 33,917 37,640 30,595 • 28,210 29,165 32,356 14,764 - CO 312 21,040 —I Dependants 368 3,896 6,715 9,203 12,919 34,677 ^ 11,502 12,231 13,788 15,004 5,891 ... ... < 8,169 <3 O Gratuitously relieved 10 218 376 614 1,163 1,999 2,619 4,103 6,204 6,394 . 3,826 67 6 2,046 H Total daily average 3,535 20,286 28,304 35,667 47,999 54,316 44,716 44,544 48,157 53,754 24,481 439 118 31,255 ^Total units 9Sj980 710,010 792,512 998,676 1,679,965 1,520,848 1,252,048 1,569,040 1,348,396 1,505,112 856,835 12,292 4,130 UOMBAI i PRINXED AT TUU GOVERNMENT CENTRA!. APPENDIX S. Statement showing the total expenditure on Famine Relief. A * District. Government Expenditure on Famine Relief. Expenditure incurred by District Local Board s on Famine Relief. Expenditure incurred by Munieipa- lities on Famine Relief. Expenditure incurred out of the Indian Famine Chari¬ table Relief Fund, Total Expenditure (Columns 8 +r 9 + 10 + ll). m ' Loans and Adyances. I. Salaries and Establish- ments. ll. Relief Works in charge of Civil Offreers. III. Relief Works in charge of Public Works Department. iv. Relief to people employed otherwise than on Relief W orks. Y. Gratuitous Relief. VI. Miscella¬ neous. Total. Under the Land Improve ment Loans Act. Under the Agriculturist s Loans Act. Total.