1 ( 7?)
2 26. Sir William Muir observes that the surplus of revenue of this
3 year over the last has been entirely owing to the Sleeper operations, the
4 net increase in favour of this year as compared with 1870-71 having been
5 Ry. 3,67,420, of which upward of three lakhs were paid to Forest Depart-
6 ment for the sleepers for the Rajpootana State Railway. Bearing in mind
7 the fact that the Oudh and Rohilkhund Railway have refused to take s4l
8 Sleepers from the Kumaon Forests even for their railway at the foot of the
9 hills from Moradabad to Ramnuggur on account of the excessive cost
10 over iron, the Lieutenant-Governor cannot but be apprehensive that
11 the sale of Sleepers to Railways may not be a very permanent source of
12 revenue, and without it the cost of the Forest Establishinent would
13 be greatly in excess of the income. The falling-off of the regular
14 sale of timber (as noticed in the 10th paragraph above) is brought
15 to the special notice of the Conservator, with the strong expression of
16 a hope that the preparation of Sleepers for the State Railways is not
17 allowed to interfere with due attention to the demands of the regular tim-
18 ber merchant in the forests. The supply of the regular market, and pro-
19 vision for the wants and comforts of the public in the plains, are to His
20 Honor’s mind of much greater importance than meeting the spasmodic
21 demands of Sleepers for the State Railways, and should on no account
22 be neglected.
23 And in connection with these remarks, the Lieutenant-Governor
24 would desire a special report of the causes which have led to the result
25 shown in the 10th paragraph.
26 27. Isis assumed that the Officers of the 55th have adjusted the
27 amount of Rs. 6,000 due for timber supplied to them, as they have
28 received from Government the price of their houses.
29 28. The Lieutenant-Governor regrets much the death of so effici-
30 ent an officer as Almed Khan, whose services are acknowledged by
31 the Conservator ; while the premature death of Captain Lillingstone, to
32 whom is due the successful utilisation of the economical canal] slides,
33 has already formed the subject of an official despatch, in which His
34 Honor deplored the event as a grave misfortune to the department.
35 29. His Honor notices with pleasure the commendation hestowed
36 by the Conservator on Assistant Conservator Sheikh Mohee-ood-deen for
37 his good work in improving the system of granting lcases fur minor forest
38 produce in the Goruckpore Division.
39 80. The Lieutenant-Governor is glad to observe that the change in
40 Mr. Colvin’s position is likely to prove advantageous to the depart-
41 -ment’ and himself, but it is necessary to state that His Honor had
42 reason to be seriously dissatisfied with his conduct of the duties while
43 he was in charge of the head office, numerous cases having been held
44 back for long periods of time.
45 31. Messrs. Bagshawe and O'Callaghan have done good wark, and
46 the approval of the Ligutenant-Governor may be communicated to these
47 officers.
48 32. Finally the Lieutenant-Governor has great Satisfaction in
49 acknowledging the excellent service of the Conservator himself during the
50 past year. In every part of his work he has shown rare energy and