1 13
2 71. It will be observed that the quantity of timber disposed of by sale during
3 the year under report is excessively small, as compared with tho large stock on
4 hand. In the Western Division the stock is very inferior, as most of the better logs
5 have from time to time been picked by purchasers, and what remains has suffered
6 severely from storage, Since the opening of the railway the demand for timber in
7 that part of the Narbada valley which les within this Division has temporarily
8 ceased to exist, and at present I see no prospect of disposing of the Walanoe In
9 hand, from which, with the exception of afew good logs, even narrow gauge
10 sleepers cannot be obtained except at excessively low rates. I have therefore
11 reduced the value in the general stock return to 3 annas per cubic foot all round,
12 which is about the value of wood for the ordinary requirements of the people. Now
13 that the timber stock of the Northern Division has been reclassified, Mr. Jacob
14 hopes to be able to dispose of the timber on hand at the stuck rates.
15 72. The timber in the Southern Division is, on the whole, of superior qua-
16 My, and as the extensive sleeper operations now taken in hand will admit of con-
17 sidorable improvoments being made in the road between Ahiri and Chanda, 1t
18 will be practicable to bring into the Nagpur market the best portion of the tim-
19 ber which is still at the forest depéts of Alapilli and Bemarum at much lower
20 rates than it has hitherto been necessary to pay.
21 73. The 184 logs shown as at the Hathibari depét are being brought by
22 contract into Raipur, where they will fetch on an average Ks. 1 per cubic foot.
23 The other timber im this Division will, in all probability, be consumed for railway
24 purposes,
25 74. The exhausted condition of most of the Government forests as regards
26 large timber in these Provinces has been an effectual barmer against timber opera-
27 tions on such a scale and system as would render them as remunerative as they
28 should be. The exceptions are the Sal forests of the: Maikal range in the North-
29 ern Division, and the Ahiri forests in the Southern Division. The Bori forest,
30 it is true, is capable of meeting a small demand, but this forest will be the better
31 for being left untouched for a tew years longer. Past experience offers no field
32 for estimating the cost at which the timber from the Maikal range can be brought
33 into Jabalpur, while the high rates paid for the transport of sleepers, which has
34 temporarily upset the labour market, combined with the want of order in the
35 Northern Division at the commencement of the year, has prevented this point
36 being fairly tested during this open season ; but | would, here express my conviec-
37 tion that to bring this timber into the market at such rates as will ensure ready
38 sales, it will be necessary to connect the forests with the Narbada by a rough
39 tramway; but before work can be attempted on a large scale it 1s absulutely neces-
40 sary that the contents of these forests should be ascertained.
41 75. The Ahiri forest, regarding which negotiations are now in progress, also
42 contains a goodly stock, and can be calculated on for at least 22,000 cubic feet
43 of first class Basher annually. The sleeper operations, as already stated, will do
44 much towards the opening up af this forest, while with the aid of machinery it will
45 hereafter be practicable to supply* timber for public works in scantling which
46 will greatly reduce the cost of carriage.
47 76. Tf, as 1 deem it, the conservation of the State forests is of primary im-
48 portance, timber operations must for some years be confined to Ahir and the
49 sal forests already referred to, and the attention of this Department must be
50 given to the development of plans by which their produce can be brought into
51 the market at the lowost possible rate. In order that these operations should be
52 remunerative it is imperative that the supply brought out should be regulated by
53 the demand, and that the accumulation of stock must be avoided, and for this
54 18103 —-550