Page:Indian Journal of Economics Volume 2.djvu/680

 662 K. If. RAN(ASWAMI AIIAN(AR might lead to some additional demand for wood-fuel, but taking the country as a whole the strain on the available supplies on thi account could be ignored for several years to come. We have thus far considered the domestic demand (in a large sense) especially that part of it which is readi.ly met by a non-specialised fuel like firewood. The demand for other rapidly, particularly in kinds of industrial fuel fields, is extending from which firewood is being ousted. This is only natural, as weight for weight, coal a fuel than firewood, more efficient than coal. Coal 'rad" p. 700). coming into competition with firewood in domestic consumption, particularly in urban areas, where special ovens or stoves for their consumption is 2 times more efficient as and liquid fuel is 1 times (H. S. Jevons, "The Br/t/zh Coal and liquid fuel are even by the as in are available, conditions of the City Im- and their use is also dictated living, or the rules of tenancy provement Trust areas in Bornboy. The bulk of the Indian population is, however, rural and slow to change its habits. It is very doubtful if, even after the lapse of another 50 years, such progress would have been made in the domestic uses of these sub- stitutes, as to enable fitem to be regarded as of appre- ciable importance in meeting the firewood shortage. however, r. egard to The production are indicafd of great importance to the industrial demands consider of the and in consumption of coal and the three graphs I am It is, them n future. petroleum exhibiting. These will show how large has been the increase in the consumption of both. As regards coal, it is noteworthy that railway consumption accounts only for between 28 and 84 per ceu of the output, and that practically all the coal available is absorbe by the growing demand of the country in industry