Page:Indian Journal of Economics Volume 2.djvu/693

 INDIAN FUEL PROBLEM 678 Applying these standards, it absolute minimum costs, exclusive working expenses, rent and capital is found that the of contribution to outlay Will come up to rupees 5 a ton in most Madras districts and rupees 6-5 io Trayencore. If the due allowances are made, it will be found that the rates of 6 to 7 rupees a ton charged for firewood in the Government Fuel Depots in Trayencore involve a clear loss. Where firewood ig. supplied to railways after selection and sorting, a higher price has hese accounts. The Trayencore for instance, by supplying firewood f. o. b. some loss. Where railway, to the railway the firewood must in transport has charges, the the vary greatly from railway to be charged on Forest Department, at 8 rupees a ton, my reckoning meet to be loading, payment o the ailway staff, terminal charges, and the "fees" to the subordinate. and from the railway stations and ground railway premises occupied, have to be above rates. Indian railway rates for conveyed over a unloading and customary cartage to rent for added to firewood on degressive scale to railway, and are based to the distance over according which the fuel has to Be conveyed. Two specific examples in regard to supplies of the city of .[adura will make Ayalur is 66 miles from Madurn by rail. eat fuel reserve to Ayalur is 16 miles from it. loading and unloading charges are about viz., Rs. 2-8-0 for a wagon lead of seven actual transport charges over the 66 miles road will be Rs. 13-1-6 for the wagon. the tons. of the firewood this clear. The near- The same, The rail- Assuming a minimum of Rs. 5 a ton-for the cost of supplying fuel from the reserve to Ay.alur, and the cartage in the town of Madura from the station to the Depots to be a rupee a ton, a wagon lead would cost, just