1 11
2 in February 1872 and opened out to a total distance of 3,153 yards, being 12 feet broad,
3 and bridges and embankments to be 14 feet. ‘The country is thmly populated, and the
4 difficulties encountered in getting labor are at present enhanced, as the Revenue Survey
5 parties are working in the talook. Work was also interrupted for ten days by all the
6 coolies leaving on an alarm of small-pox. The total cost incurred was Rs, 212—7—9, or
7 at the rate of Rs. 119 per mile.
8 _ 12, A road of the same description was commenced and opened out in the Han-
9 mgere forests, to a total length of 10 miles 296 yards, at Rs. 123—10—0 per mile.
10 Four wooden bridges were also put up. This road when completed will be about 25
11 miles in length, and will bo of great public use. ‘There are several coffee holdings near
12 it which will at once be opened up, and travellers from the northern talooks to Agumbi
13 ghat will certainly come down the forest road, as it will save them two days in time,
14 and is far pleasanter, being well shaded almost throughout itsentire length. The tracing
15 of this road up to its present: stage, has been dono hy an Overseer of the Public Works
16 Department under the Executive Engineer’s orders. It was carried upto the Buttina
17 Bail Kanave, when the Overseer was obliged to leave. Mr. Stoddard, the Executive En-
18 gineer, has kindly consentéd to finish the trace.
19 13. The Lakkuvalli-Hebbe road, when completed, will form the shortest cut from
20 Shimoga to Wastdra and Chikkamagaluru, and as both roads will be practicable for carts,
21 I would suggest the propriety of the local funds bearing at least a portion of the up-
22 keep of these roads when completed.
23 14. In Ashtagram, no additions were made in the Mysore District to the State-
24 forests, and no demarcation or compartment lines‘were cut. The range was taken over
25 by Mr. Macpherson, late in July. ‘The old lines round Viranahogahalli and Mattikuppa,
26 were cleared at a total cost of Rs. 361—8—0,
27 15. In the Ilassan District the Vijiyapura jungles were demarcated by Mr. King.
28 These are intended to supply fuel and small wood to Arakalagidu and other neighbour-
29 ing towns, and also to serve as sandal reserves, the sol in many portions being well suited
30 to the purpose. The whole area will gradually be planted up with sandal, timber and
31 fuel trecs.
32 16. In the Mahdrajanadurga Talook twelve jungles were inspected and blazed by
33 Mr. King; but they have all been refused by the Revenue authorities as State-forests.
34 Fortunately the introduction of the District Forest scheme wil] eneble us now to take up
35 and work these forests; but the work done does not appear in the results of the year.
36 These jungles aro sadly in want of conservancy, and reproduction by both artificial and
37 natural means is greatly needed.
38 17. Mr. King was also actively engaged in selecting land for sandal reserves, but
39 it was found to be a most difficult thing to get land not already in occupation. The
40 best sandal in Hassan grows almost entirely in the more western talooks, and the best
41 sites for its propagation will be found in Maharajanadurga, Hassan, and Manjarabad, and
42 it is just in these talooks that land has already been so liberally given away for other
43 purposes.
44 18. As soon after the monsoon as practicable, Mr. King returned to tho selection
45 and setting off of cardamom plots. This was very severe work. The country is wild
46 and thinly inhabited, and he had the greatest difficulty in getting labor not only for the
47 work of clearing in tho forests, but evento move his camp. He set off 18 plots measuring
48 in all 393 acres, in six forests.
49 19. At the request of the Deputy Superiniendent ho also inspected several District-
50 forests supposed to bo suited to the purpose; but condemned them.