IRON-PRODUCTION IN INDIA,
India is beginning to investigate her own natural resources, and most especially to inquire how far she possesses those two great agencies of productive power iron and coal. In June last year, Lieutenant-Colonel Goodwyn, Chief Engineer of the lower provinces of Bengal, addressed a paper to the local Government, pointing out the neglected state of the native iron. As in Russia, wood is used instead of the metal ; although the ore exists, and even with a miserable native labour it has been pro- fitably worked. He proposed to commence experimental workings, with a view to open a trade that would be carried on afterwards by capitalists who could supply the rolling-mills, the puddling-furnaces, and other appliances of a manufacture on a large scale. The response to this initiative of Colonel Goodwyn was an order from the Court of Directors, addressed to the several Presidencies, calling for reports upon steps already taken in regard to similar inquiries.
These began as early as the end of the year 1850, and the reports are conflicting. In December 1853, Mr. Jacob reported, from actual survey, an abundance of iron ore in the valley of the Nerbiffida, and he recom- mended the establishment of a manufactory at Poona.ssa ; but Professor Oldham, the Geological Surveyor, while admitting that there is in some parts a very large deposit of rich, valuable, and easily-wrought ores, discountenanced the manufactory, believing that, under the pre- sent circumstances, -the metal would not be worth the cost of working. There ii the same conflict with respect to other districts ; but in some parts the 5uantity of the ore is decidedly large. In the province of Ku amen, Lieutenant-Colonel Drummond found very extensive beds, ranging in thickness from twenty-four to fifty feet. The district is si- tuated at the foot of the hills, with many facilities for working and con- veyance. The great difficulty lies, at present, in the low and unskilful character of the labour; a difficulty which might be surmounted by an introduction of European labour, or still more by those improved pro- cesses which have lately been made known in this country. That iron exists in extensive tracts of India appears to have been ascertained ; in some parts the yield would be great ; and the Central Government-is tifill pursuing its inquiries, with a view, if possible, to fetch out the great lever of productive industry.
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