1 ( 8 )
2 46. Tho repairing of tho road to Chickuldah, which is 1-4 miles long, has open-
3 ‘td out a route to the plains, whieh has been long unfrequentod, and has enabled the
4 kvorkoos to export timber to Damungaon with much less difficulty than hitherto,
5 47. The subject of rendering the Mailghit Forests more accessible by..yme
6 proving the present lines of export is one of great importance, ard I have ‘lately
7 been in communication with the Deputy Commissioner of Klichpur regarding the
8 possibility of so improving the present ‘‘krass”’ roads leadiug from Pili to Damun-
9 gaon on the eastern side, and from Kalumnkar to Jiri on the western -side of the
10 Mailghat, as to mako them available for carts. The Deputy Cominissioner was
11 good enough to send his Local Fund Engineer to examine the two routes, and to
12 draw up a rough estimate of the expenditure that would have to be incurred, and
13 I hope shortly to be in a position to submit definite proposals.
14 48, The only repairs that would be necessary consist in widening the roads
15 Repairs required. in places, levelling the ghits, clearing stones, and
16 making a few cuttings here and there to reduce
17 gradionts.
18 When road-making is actually undertaken in the Mailghiat, it is wonderful how
19 cheaply it can be done, as no metalling or bridges are required, and tle soil is a
20 particularly easy one to work.
21 49. Were two such roads as I propose constructed, the less valuable kinds of
22 Probable results. wood, which are now seldonr felled, could be utilized,
23 for considerable profits might then be made by ex-
24 porting them, as a pair of bullocks would take 4 or 5 times the load by cart, they
25 could by ‘‘krass.”
26 50. The same measures that wero taken during 1870-71 for the protection
27 Protection of Kaipoor block from fire, "0m fire of the Raipoor block, which occupies an
28 area of about 30 square miles, were adopted during
29 the past year. Thus a path 60 feot broad was cleared ail round the block, except
30 where protected by natural boundaries, and a temporary establishment of eight
31 watchers ata cost of Rupees 8 each per mensem entertained to patrol the same.
32 In addition to this, the road leading through the block, and in the vicinity of which
33 a fire broke out during the previous year, was cleared to a breadth of 60 foet. The
34 cost of the above amounted to Rupces 402-1-8.
35 3 Rs. A. OP
36 Clearing fire paths aes - 126 11 0
37 Pay of temporary watchers _... ns we eto Db 8
38 Total... 402 1 8
39 which is less by Rupees 245-12-7, than the expenditure of 1870-71.
40 51. No fires broke out during the year within the block, but I regrot to say
41 the same success has not been attained in preventing fires entering from without.
42 On the 24th of March, the inhabitants of a small village situated a short dis-
43 tance beyond the path set fire to the grass below some mowuzah trees, to enable
44 them to gather the fruit more readily, and took no proper precautions to prevent
45 the fire spreading. When the watchers reached the spot, a high wind had sprung
46 up, and their offorts to extinguish the flames were of no avail. Word was at once
47 sent to Mr. Ballantyne, but by the time he reached the place, the fire had leaped
48 across the path, and before it could be got under, about 7 square miles, or nearly
49 one-fourth of the block, had been burned.
50 52. Unfortunately, this fire broke out during the Holee festival, when most of
51 the men engaged in forest operations at Pili were on leave, and when the gencra-
52 lity of the koorkoos had so entirely given thomselves up to feasting, as to be unfit
53 for work of any kind.