1 ( 2 )
2 success, though in some places unavoidable damage was caused by the unusually
3 high floods of the year. The formation of an extensive plantation along the
4 Chinib has been commenced, to supply the wants of the Northern State Railway,
5 large tracts of suitable land having been taken up for this purpose.
6 10. The felling of live trees in the various forests was wisely restricted
7 as far as possible, the energies of the forest officers being devoted to clearing out
8 and launching the logs of past soasons.
9 11. The attention of the Superintendent of Chamba will be called to the
10 remarks in paras, 243 and 244 regarding the inaccuracy of the returns of deodar
11 trees cut in the Chamba State for domestic purposes, and he will be directed
12 to take care that the conditions of the lease in this respect are adhered to.
13 12. The information supplied for the first time in the present report of
14 the number of logs in transit by river is of interest and value.
15 13. The financial results of the year showa surplus of Rs. 37,862 in
16 receipts over expenditure. The value of timber in stock was Is. 3,20,180
17 more at the close than at the commencement of the year, and the value of dead
18 stock and buildings increased during the year by Rs. 4,212.
19 14. As a financial experiment the forest system now in force cannot be
20 said to be successful. The profits are small, the expenses very large, and the
21 establishment out of all proportion to the results attained. The Lieutenant-
22 Governor 1s of opinion that the Forest Department could be far more econoimi-
23 cally worked, and that the number of European employds is unnecessarily high.
24 Natives would be found fully competent for most of the duties of the Department.
25 These remarks do not specially apply to the Punjab, where His Honor the
26 Lieutenant-Governor considers that the operations of the Forest Department
27 during the year under review were generally satisfactory, and that credit is due
28 to the Officiatihg Conservator, Mr. Baden Powell, and the officers who have
29 served under him.
30 Orper.—Ordered, that 320copies of the report and of this review be forwarded
31 to the Secretary to the Goverument of India, Department of Agriculture,
32 Revenue and Commerce. ;
33 Also, that three copies be forwarded to Secretary to the Financial Commis-
34 sioner, with a request that enquiry be made, and report submitted on the subject of
35 para. 2, and that three copies be forwarded to Conservator of Forests for infor-
36 mation.
37 By order of the Hon'ble the Lieutenant-Governor,
38 LEPEL GRIFFIN,
39 Offg. Secretary to Government, Punjab.