Punjab.

Date:
1908
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Punjab. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    or 6o per cent., were classed as irrigated. Of this area, 386 square miles, or 53 per cent., were irrigated from wells; 344, or 47 per cent., from canals ; and 1,750 acres from streams and tanks. The District is traversed by the Lahore Main, Kasur, and Sobraon branches of the Bari Doab Canal, from which 486 square miles can be irrigated annually. In 1903-4 the District contained 12,159 masonry wells worked with Persian wheels by cattle, besides 349 unbricked wells, water- lifts, and lever wells. The inundated lands are chiefly on the Ravi, but some lie on the Beas. Forests. There are four Deserved’ forests, with a total area of 2,886 acres, under the Forest department, and 119 acres of unclassed forest under the Deputy-Commissioner. Waste land is scarce, and trees are few. The revenue from forests in 1903-4 was Rs. 3,200. Minerals. The only mineral product of value is kankar^ which is much used for road-metal and for making lime. Arts and The manufactures are practically confined to Amritsar City, manufac- which formerly had a considerable trade in weaving shawls from pashm^ the fine wool of the Tibetan goat, but this industry rapidly declined after the Franco-German War. Its place has been largely taken by the manufacture of carpets, which are turned out in great quantities and find a ready sale all over the world. The work is done entirely on hand-looms, and the prices range from Rs. 10 to Rs. 50 per yard, or even higher. Silk piece-goods are also extensively made. Of the minor artistic industries, wood-carving, ivory-carving, and the manufacture of brass and copper ware may be mentioned. Amritsar city contains a number of steam factories, the most important of which are the Amritsar cotton-spinning mills, with 312 employes; five combined cotton-ginning factories and flour and rice-mills, with 377 employes; the Canal department workshops, with 250 ; the Government forage press, with 69 ; and the municipal workshops, with 37. The total number of hands employed in 1904 in the thirteen registered factories in Amritsar city was 1,129. A small manufacture of acids and chemicals is carried on, and soap is largely made. Commerce Amritsar city is the most flourishing trade centre in the and trade. Punjab, and the value of the yearly imports and exports is estimated at 3 crores and 2-2 crores respectively. The principal articles of import are grain, pulses, sugai-, oil, salt, tobacco, raw cotton, English piece-goods, thread, shawls, wool, silk (raw and manufactured), broadcloth, blankets, metals and hardware, glass, and dye-stuffs. Many of these are re-exported; and the
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