THE PROGRESS OF INDIA

Southland Times, Issue 19194, 4 November 1903, Page 2

THE PROGRESS OF INDIA

The Blue Honk on India recently published gives a review of the juogrt'Ss |of the country (luring the lost dcI Ciide. The year 1002 saw '.he close ' of a flrcadc that will long be rcnieini bt'i-ed as one () f the most 'lisastrous in tho annals of India. Two famines of uiK'.xumplecl severity ami terrible visitations of plague, fever und cholera have left their mark on the condition of the people In 1890-7 the extent of the famine-stricken area was ttOO.HOO square miles, with a population of (53,000,000 ; in 1899---1900 it was 400.000 square miles, with a population ofl 60,000,000. The advent of the bubonic plague in 189(5 increased the sufferings of Bombay, and the title of wot- i.s completed by the disastrous cyclones and earthquake that alllicted Assam and Bengal in 1897. Several military expeditions were necessary to quell tho outbreaks of turbulent tribes on the north-west frontier, and no fewer than 43.700 men were engaged in the Tirah campaign of 1897, the most extensive military operation of the decade in India- iWith the aid of British Residents or Agents much has been done in the native States to promote railways, trade and industry, while the traditional extravagance of native rulers has been, discouraged and the condition of their subjects improved. The formation oi 1 an. Imperial Cadet Corps from &?levied members of aristocratic native families and the olTer of military aid by several j winces during the Soul.h African war are evidences of the mutual trust that has arisen between the sovereign power and the protected princes. A Pasteur Institute, re-search-laboratories, and other sanitary agencies have been established during the decade. Indian medical ollicers have devoted special attention to researches- in malarial fever, to which about one-half of the total mortality of India is attributed. The health statistics of the army show a marked improvement, though the high mortality of European troops from enteric is still an urgent problem. An increase of 6"> per cent, in the "number of civil hospitals and dispensaries proves that the medical needs of the native population are j carefully regarded. At the beginning of the decade the Government wan,involved in serious financial difficulties owing to the fall in the sterling value of silver. After 20 years of currency troittdes. it was resolved to nx the sterling exchange at 15 rupees to the pound, thus practically instituting a gold standard. This policy has been a conspicuous success; for dur-

ing the last five years the rupee has remained practically stable at Is 4d. Trade is thus freed from, the baneful speculative element arising from fluctuating standard of value. Ne»v tracts of land have been brought under cultivation through the extension of irrigation. particularly in the Punjaul). Although the ancient indigenous textile industries show little or no progress, the spinning anc * weaving of cotton, jute and wool in factories have rapidly advanced, while the mineral resources of the country are being exploited by the extraction of coal, petroleum, mica, manganese ore, and rubies Corresponding with the development in agriculture a nd manufactures, there has been a £<"eat forward movement in India's export trade, especially in | oilseeds, raw cotton and cotton yarn, raw 'jute and jute goods, tea, rice, hides and skins. But a decline has to he chronicled in silks, wheat, in(ii^o and coffee. In the import trade the principal increases have I)een in cotton and woollen piece goods, nietals, machinery and miHwork. hardware and cutlery, railway materials, petroleum, sugar and aPP ar( "l- There has been an increase of 42 per centin the number of postal communications during the decade, and telegrams increased by 70 per cent. The railway mileage advanced from 17,894 miles to 2."}. 260. In education the rate of progress was admittedly slow. parMY owing to famine and plague. The growth in salt and excise revenue, trade, 'railway and postal receipts, savings bank, deposits, mill industries, utc, points to prosperity. Considering the misfortunes which the country has endured, the evidences found of material development during the past i() years are considered to be not merely satisfactory, but remarkable. Everywhere there are signs that India is on the threshold of a period of rapid material development.