DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.24890#0085
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536,000, and the total number of persons in receipt of relief
of all forms was over 1,000,000. It became necessary
to arrest the new dispositions that had been ordered to
meet the change of season and to revert to the Code system
of works in districts where the more stringent Intermediate
system had recently been introduced. The Meerut Division,
protected by its canals, and the Benares Division, which received
the remnants of a current that brought copious rain to the
neighbouring province of Bengal, alone maintained their
position of safety. Elsewhere the tension had become extreme,
and there were even gloomy estimates of mischief done which
could not be retrieved. The situation had become so critical
that the Lieutenant-Governor undertook another tour of the
Provinces, to concert measures to meet this fresh emergency.
He had scarcely started when, on the 12th July, the long-
expected rain descended over practically the entire country.
Ploughing and sowing were resumed with great activ-
ity, and it was soon ascertained that but little substantial
barm had been done. A few more days of drought would have
proved ruinous; but the rain revived the crops, and in the
few fields where seeds or seedlings had perished they were soon
replaced by fresh sowings. It may in anticipation be here
said that the area sown was 3*3 per cent, above the normal:
and that practically the crops have been uniformly excellent.
Prices began to fall, and the 31st July saw a distinct
drop in the rates for coarser grains, though the finer staples
remained as dear as before.
During the tour which the Lieutenant-Governor made
in July the whole relief arrangements were again reconsi-
dered, at the chief centres of distress, in conference with the
local officers. Such readjustments as the circumstances of
time and place called for were sanctioned: and a plan laid
down for winding up the relief system when the early autumn
crops should have ripened. To this plan, further reference
will be presently made: here it may be conveniently men-
tioned that the rearrangement of relief works which had been
arrested in some localities when the break of the rains set in
was again undertaken, and before the end of July the Code sys-
tern of works had ceased in all districts. Some difficulty was
experienced in devising works suitable for unskilled labour
which could be carried on during the rainy season. Tank
excavation and indeed earthwork generally became impossible,
and consequently all the great relief works had to be closed.
In the country south of the Jumna, where stone abounds, quar-
ries were opened and numbers of labourers were employed in
quarrying and breaking road metal. In other districts where
the nodules of impure limestone known as “ kankar ” are largely
used for road metal the work of digging, cleaning, and stack-
ing them was started. Gangs were also employed in finishing
536,000, and the total number of persons in receipt of relief
of all forms was over 1,000,000. It became necessary
to arrest the new dispositions that had been ordered to
meet the change of season and to revert to the Code system
of works in districts where the more stringent Intermediate
system had recently been introduced. The Meerut Division,
protected by its canals, and the Benares Division, which received
the remnants of a current that brought copious rain to the
neighbouring province of Bengal, alone maintained their
position of safety. Elsewhere the tension had become extreme,
and there were even gloomy estimates of mischief done which
could not be retrieved. The situation had become so critical
that the Lieutenant-Governor undertook another tour of the
Provinces, to concert measures to meet this fresh emergency.
He had scarcely started when, on the 12th July, the long-
expected rain descended over practically the entire country.
Ploughing and sowing were resumed with great activ-
ity, and it was soon ascertained that but little substantial
barm had been done. A few more days of drought would have
proved ruinous; but the rain revived the crops, and in the
few fields where seeds or seedlings had perished they were soon
replaced by fresh sowings. It may in anticipation be here
said that the area sown was 3*3 per cent, above the normal:
and that practically the crops have been uniformly excellent.
Prices began to fall, and the 31st July saw a distinct
drop in the rates for coarser grains, though the finer staples
remained as dear as before.
During the tour which the Lieutenant-Governor made
in July the whole relief arrangements were again reconsi-
dered, at the chief centres of distress, in conference with the
local officers. Such readjustments as the circumstances of
time and place called for were sanctioned: and a plan laid
down for winding up the relief system when the early autumn
crops should have ripened. To this plan, further reference
will be presently made: here it may be conveniently men-
tioned that the rearrangement of relief works which had been
arrested in some localities when the break of the rains set in
was again undertaken, and before the end of July the Code sys-
tern of works had ceased in all districts. Some difficulty was
experienced in devising works suitable for unskilled labour
which could be carried on during the rainy season. Tank
excavation and indeed earthwork generally became impossible,
and consequently all the great relief works had to be closed.
In the country south of the Jumna, where stone abounds, quar-
ries were opened and numbers of labourers were employed in
quarrying and breaking road metal. In other districts where
the nodules of impure limestone known as “ kankar ” are largely
used for road metal the work of digging, cleaning, and stack-
ing them was started. Gangs were also employed in finishing