Page:The Imperial Gazetteer of India - Volume 10 (2nd edition).pdf/86



74 MUZAFFARNAGAR. Natural Calamities.—The Ganges and Jumna (Jamuná) occasionally shift their channels, and thus cause destruction of villages on their banks; while the Hindan and its tributary the Káli Nadi are both liable to floods, which, in the ill-defined ravine of the latter stream, often effect considerable damage. Muzaffarnagar suffered also, before the opening of the canals, from famines, caused by drought; but this source of distress has been greatly mitigated, and its danger for the future minimized, by the spread of irrigation. The scarcity of 1860-61 pressed less severely on this District than on many others; and in the difference was still more marked. Large stores of grain were hoarded in the grain-pits, and the existence of these supplies ontributed to keep down prices. But at the close of the year 1868. wheat had risen to o sers per rupee, or 12s. 5 d. per cwt., and measures of relief became necessary. From December 1868 till October 1869, an average of 195 persons were daily employed upon famine works ; while, for the greater portion of that time, 53 persons received gratuitous relief daily. Nevertheless, grain was abundant, and continued to be exported in large quantities; and such distress as existed was due rather to the external demand than to failing supplies. Commerce and Trade, etc. — Muzaffarnagar is almost entirely an agricultural District, and its trade is accordingly confined to the raw material which it produces. Jalálábád is the great grain-mart of the surrounding country. In average years, Muzaffarnagar can spare about 80,000 tons of food-grains for export. The means of communication, though not quite so good as in the region inmediately to the south, are yet ample for the present resources. The Sind, Punjab, and Delhi Railway runs through the heart of the District for 26 miles, and has two stations within its boundaries—one at Khátauli and the other at Muzaffarnagar town. There are 60 miles of "first-class, 200 miles of 'second-class,' and 120 miles of third-class roads. Much traffic also passes by the Ganges Canal, on which Khátauli is the chief commercial depôt. Administration. — In 1860, the total revenue of Muzaffarnagar District was returned at £140,785 ; of which £101,616, or more than two-thirds, was derived from the land-tax, and about £20,000 from canal collections. At the same date, the total expenditure was £37,886, or little inore than one-fourth of the revenue. In 1883, the total receipts had risen to £165,408; of which sum the land-tax contributed £122,217, or three-fourths of the wliole; stamps realized £11,088; excise, £7449; provincial rates, £15,589; assessed taxes, £3183; registration, £1327; irrigation and navigation, £2285. Though the land revenue lias been constantly rising of late years, yet it still presses lightly on the cultivators, as the increase of value, owing to irrigation, has more than kept pace with the higlier rates of assessment;