1 ( 4)
2 Merchants on the spot. His Honor awaits with interest the report
3 promised on the result of the sale of the 30 sil logs sent experimentally
4 to Agra from the Gurhwal Forest Division.
5 10. The following statement shows the value of timber sold during
6 the last four years :—
7 Year under report. : Value of timber sold,
8 a i Re.
9 1868-69 = see oes eee eee eee ove one 4,76,063
10 2869-70 as ae ies ean “ss wii oes 1,64,070
11 1870-71... ae = = ne a oer 70,081
12 1871-72... zee ee , - wie nod 74,004
13 The Lieutenant-Governor has no doubt that “‘ the demand for tim-
14 ber from the Kumaon Forests will gradually increase as the railway
15 approaches.”
16 11. Outstandings.—The ‘“ Outstandings” have increased from
17 Rs. 1,95,268 in 1870-71 to Rs. 4,41,917 in the year under report. Of the
18 latter sum, it is explained that Rs. 3,72,000 were advances to Mr. Wilson,
19 the Sleeper Contractor, Bhageruttee Forest Division, which were recovered
20 from him at the close of the working season during the current financial
21 year. Whilst on this subject, attention is directed to the letter from this
22 office, No. 149F.-C., dated 3rd Augsut last, submitting to the Government
23 of India an account current with this contractor, explanatory of the causes
24 which led to such large advances. As the financial year ends in the middle
25 of the working season, the outstandings will always be heavy when the
26 works are extensive, as they were in this year.
27 12. Revenue.—The only division which shows a considerable decrease
28 of “Revenue” is the Kumaon Forest Division,—viz., Rs. 86,448 below
29 Regular Estimate. This, as explained by the Conservator, was caused
30 principally by lesser sales of ‘“‘ Timber” and “ Minor Forest Produce” than
31 were anticipated in the commencement of the year, as also by the heavy
32 rains of 1871, which made the Terai impassable for carts for months.
33 The collections of revenue, however, for this division during the first
34 three months of the current financial year are observed tobe asmuch as the
35 the whole sum collected throughout the year 1871-72, if not already
36 in excess of that sum; and His Honor the Lieutenant-Governor is quite
37 prepared to accept the statement that there are hetter prospects for this
38 Division so soon as the Railway is open to Ramnugger.
39 13. There was a considerable excess in the revenue over the amounts
40 shown in the Regular Estimate in the Bhageruttee and Dehra Doon
41 Divisions. In the former, this was caused by the payments made for
42 Sleepers supplied to the State Railway; whilst in the latter, the Conserva-
43 tor considers the increase of revenue to be entirely due to the careful
44 supervision and able management of the Deputy Conservator in charge
45 of the Division, Captain Bailey, R.E. The Lieutenant-Governor is glad
46 to receive such a favourable report of this ofticer’y management of his
47 division, but observes that the excess in revenue has to a great extent