MINERALS

343

nothing of the enhanced cost of production, which the
ntroduction of expensive plant and machinery necessarily
nvolves.
Taking it altogether, the economic prospects arising
‘rom the mineral resources of India (enormously scattered
1s they are) must be considered to be poor in comparison
with those of newer countries. Development in the production
 of all the principal metals is crushed by English
competition ; and as regards the precious metals, gold and
silver, India is nowhere in a field which includes Africa,
America, and Australia. In coal and salt and some other
useful mineral commodities she may rise to the level of
dispensing with importation, and has already become selfsupporting.
 © Diamonds, rubies, and other precious stones
are her heritage, and the source of them is apparently
unexhausted ; but it still remains to be seen whether the
European mining engineer, with his scientific methods
and latest machinery, will effect very much more than
the unlimited labour resources of past ages of native
proprietors.

The Geological Survey Reports are naturally the best authorities for
all relating to India’s capacity for mining developments. But this, as
an economic feature in India’s progress, is also watched and measured
by journalists in that country, and is the subject for constant speculation
and inquiry in the Indian periodicals. Most of the information given
above is obtained from special sources, but there is a good deal to be
learned from the usually careful statements and the correspondence
relating to Indian mining progress which appear from time to time in
the leading newspapers. | am indebted to the Pioneer for a great deal
sf such general information.