Doings in India and Burma.
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Progress of Road Train. The Prospects in Burma.
From Our Calcutta Correspondent.
Renard Road Trains.
When I come to think of it, the Renard road train has been endeavouring to obtain a solid footing in Calcutta for many years past. Messrs. A. Bachmann and Co., of this city, were, I think, the first to take it in hand. Then Sir Allan Arthur took over the idea.. But progress is slow in the sleepy East till a start is really made, and then the rest is easy. I am led to make these remarks because I see that the Renard is to the fore again in Calcutta, and public attention is to he drawn to it by the carriage of goods through the streets. There is nothing that takes the Indian's fancy so much as an ocular demonstration; and, as the Renard people have so long and so persistently been hammering away at this commercial nail, I hope that they will be really able to drive it right home this time. This concern has, I understand, made more headway up-country than in Calcutta, but in any case there seems to be good reason to hope that this mode of transport has come to stay.
Motor Lorries for the Mint.
I see that the Government Mint here is using a Milnes-Daimler covered lorry for the conveyance of rupees from one centre to another. Not so long ago this conveyance of boxes of coin used to be done by the ubiquitous bullock cart, each cart being guarded by armed soldiers. Now, however, the soldiers look more picturesque travelling with the lorry. As I have told you before., it is often maintained here that the commercial motor will never be able to oust the extremely cheap bullock cart. Here, at all events, we have a ease in which it has done so, and it is not a solitary ease. either. Other instances are those in which commercial motors arc Ti OW employed to convey parcels from the city to the Eastern Bengal State 'Railway arid to the East Indian Railway, and goods to the docks, Kidderpore and other places. We have made a start—and there is no tenting of the clock back now : the bullock cart must go sooner or later, and the sooner the better for all concerned, including the animals.
Openings in Burma.
One of the richest parts of Burma is the territory known as the Shan States. This territory is rich in metals, minerals, timber, and produce of many sorts that would be welcome in Lower Burma and in many parts of the world besides. But in the matter of commercial development the Shan States are where they were long ages ago. I notice, however, that the Railway Department of the Government of India, is awakening to the wealth ol the Shan States, and has allotted funds for the pushing on of the proposed line, which will give railway connection with Burma, including, of course, the great seaport of Rangoon. The next thing to be done, I am told, is to construct roads and make arrangements for feeding Oa. new railway. Here is where the commercial motor should come in, and catalogues posted to the Manager, Burma Railways, Rangoon, Burma, should bear fruit in due season. As I told you in a previous letter, Burma is a groat potential field for the commercial motor, and manufacturers could do worse than keep an eye on it.
Motors for Grain Transport.
A gentleman in the grain trade tells me that. I ought to urge the necessity for commercial motors for the carriage of grain, mostly wheat, from the farms to the various railway stations in the Punjab. As a matter of fact, I have already referred to this matter in your columns. I may explain, however, that the conditions of the Indian wheat harvest are peculiar. The crop is always an enormous one, the yield being in the year 1910-11 not fewer than 9,954,500 tons. Reaping time occurs just before the monsoon, or rainy season, makes its appearance, and there is, of course, a spirited contest to convey all wheat to the shelter of the railway stations before it can be damaged by damp and the wheat weevil, which commences its great work of destruction after the monsoon breaks.
Here it. is perfectly obvious that rapid transport is of prime importance, and the only proper vehicle for this purpose is the commercial motor. It is true that during this great rush. the North-Western Railway is quite unable, in addition to its ordinary traffic, to handle all the wheat on offer, for the simple reason that it does not, possess sufficient. rolling stock, and it would not, it is urged, pay the railway to buy additional wagons for which use could only be found during the month or so of the Punjab wheat harvest. It is nronosed to overcome this difficulty by the erection of wheat elevators, such as are in use in the United States, Canada. Areentina„ and elsewhere. This will suit the commercial motor even better, because, in that case, good motor roads will run from the wheat, fields to the elevators.
Yes, commercial motors seem to be badly required in the Punjab, as elsewhere in India, and perhaps a line or a catalogue dropped to the Director of Agriculture and Industries, Punjab, India, will be a uitable means of sowing the seed for a crop of commercial motors later on. And here, I may add, the field is more hopeful, because the farmers are already acquainted with mechanical devices, such as reapers, threshers and so forth, of which Indians in most other parts of the country are totally ignorant.
Still Another Opening.
Shillong is the official capital of Assam, the district tram which you receive the great bulk of your supplies of Indian tea. To reach it. from Calcutta, or any part of Bengal, the journey has to be made by rail and river, but mostly by river, to Gauhati. From Gauhati to Shillong, some 20 miles, the traveller may proceed on foot, by bullock cart, pony or motor. But this part of the journey is not considered to be satisfactory, and it will interest your readers to know that the Chief Commissioner of Assam, who is the real Governor of Assam, has appointed a strong committee to consider steps for the improvement of traffic by this route, either by means of commercial motors or otherwise. He hopes that the committee will be able to see its way to shorten the time of the journey from Calcutta to Shillong from 30 to at least 24 hours. This reduction of time is an important matter because, under present conditions, the people in and about Calcutta. desirous of a change to the hills, make off to Darjeeling, which is only 19 hours distant, and thus give Shillong. which is also an admirable hill station, thgo-loy. It is quite certain that if the time of tine journey could he reduced for passengers and goods, Shillong would attract more visitors. This object the Chief Commissioner, I hear, is determined to achieve ; and he has no manner nf doubt that, commercial motors will he of the greatest service to him. Thom, who may desire to take advantage of this opening should address letters, etc., to the Honorable the Chief Commissioner of Assam, Shillong, Assam, India. There . is not much time to lose. Manufacturers who get in here should not experience great difficulty in finding other openings in various parts of this immensely wealthy country. A. OF C.