A comparative view of the consumption of cotton
cloth per head shows an equally sad state:
U. S. A. 64 sq. yds.
U. K. 35 „ „
Japan 21 linear yds.
India 16 „ „
(only 10 or 12 in 43-44)
Per capita consumption of coal in U.S.A. is 4.72 tons:
in Great Britain 2.6 tons; in India, however, it is only
0.07 tons.
Railway mileage in India is 41,000 (with a capital
investment of Rs. 850 crores) that is, 35 miles per 100
sq. miles against 100 in U.S.A. and 200 in U.K. Still, all
broad-gauge locomotives have to be imported and till
lately, even wagons. In 1943-45 estimated imports
were of 900 locomotives.
It must not be forgotten that the railways in
India were constructed not for national development
but for military purposes. Some of the major Railway
Companies were floated by British businessmen who
were guaranteed a certain percentage of profits on
their investments. As a result, these railways were
worked in a manner so as to result in losses over
several decades all of which were made good by the
Indian tax-payer.
We have 35 miles of Roads per 100 sq. miles of
territory while the corresponding figures of other
countries are:—
Japan 300
U. S. A. 200
Great Britain 110
In a total area of 1,580,000 sq. miles there are only
85,792 miles of metalled roads. Of this, total mileage,
of roads with cement or bituminous surface is only
9680. The Nagpur Conference of Chief Engineers
66