‘REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY FOR THE YEAR 1879-80’ [‎94r] (192/752)

1879-80.]
CIVIL DIVISIONS.
75
W ere in occupation during the year under review. The rainfall was
an average one, 31*16 inches, and the crops were on the whole good.
Cotton was damaged by heavy rain in the end of September and
early October. Four hundred and fifty-six thousand two hundred
and seventeen acres were under exotic cotton and 196,869 under
indigenous kinds—total 653,087 acres, as against 624,386 in the
previous year. Prices of all cereals except dal fell considerably.
The wages of skilled labour remained constant, but unskilled
labour was slightly cheaper. A few trifling advances were made
to some rayats for permanent improvements to their land and
for purchase of seed and cattle.
The Local Fund receipts amounted to Rs. 2,03,279, exclusive
o£ an opening balance of Rs. 51,315. Disbursements came to
Rs. 1,98,889. The chief items of expenditure were Rs. 49,825
towards the construction of 100 miles of new roads, Rs. 44,856 on
maintenance of existing roads, Rs. 12,871 on 29 new wells, and
Rs. 7,294 on repairing 45 old wells. Rs. 4,620 were devoted to
planting road-side trees.
The land revenue for collection was Rs. 31,61,010, of which
Rs. 31,60,897 was actually realized within the year. The increase
over the previous year was Rs. 60,320. The number of instances
in which distraint was resorted to was 88. The excise revenue
for collection amounted to Rs. 2,48,315 compared with Rs. 2,29,586
in 1878-79. Forest revenue rose for Rs. 88,068 to Rs. 11,1,858,
whilst expenses increased only from Rs. 52,344 to Rs. 57,538. The'
amount realized from sale of stamps was Rs. 3,97,017 in 1878-79,
and this year increased to Rs. 4,06,806. There was a slight falling
off under Court-fee labels outbalanced by the increase under the
head ( general stamps/ The license tax produced Rs. 1,42,826.
The entire Grovernment revenue derived from all sources amounted
to Rs. 45,35,747, equivalent to Rs. 4-6-6 per head of the entire
population.
The number of births and deaths registered were 22,938 and
30,680, respectively, against 22,940 and 27,026 for the previous
year. The season was a healthy one. No epidemic broke out, and
though fever was unusually prevalent in the eastern parts it was
as unusually absent in the west. The number of dispensaries was
7, independent of the civil hospital at Dhulia and Bhil Corps
hospital at Dharampur, The attendance was 67 in-patients
against 59 in the previous year, and 23,973 out-patients against
21,445. . There were 30,371 cases of primary vaccination as com
pared with 29,788 in 1878-79, and 630 cases of re-vaccination
against 450.
• ^6 funds available for education amounted to Rs. 1,63,306,
including the opening balance of Rs. 60,273. Disbursements
^3,414, leaving a closing balance of Rs. 69,891. The
number of schools kept open was 1 of superior grade and 280
^ 1 y? ar y ones, an increase of 9 on the previous year. Attendance
i/ks former fell from 128 to 111, and at the latter rose from
14 >057 to 16,283.
Chap. II.
administra
tion OF THE
LAND.
Central
Division.
Public Works.
Revenue.
Health and
Vital Statis
tics.
Education.