The Statistical Reporter. A Monthly Journal of Statistical Enquiries Concerning India. Calcutta Thursday 15th December 1870

Mr DEAR SIR -Wait reference to your favour of the 24th instant I beg to submit the statement showing the calculation for finding the average quantity of cotton cloth requisite for the annual use of each person in this district hoping the Secretary will find the calculation reliable. [...] One of those scales believed to indicate the exact amount of food that is necessary to meet the waste of the tissues of a man employed daily on some form of severe labour is known as the Labouring Scale." The other is calculated as suffcient for the demands of a man's system who passes his clays in idleness and is called the "Non-labouring Scale." The first is that to which all prisoners [...] The only difficulty in the way is that at this season of the year there is but little of the money allotted to meet the expenditure of each gaol remaining to its credit ; but I am inclined to think that the advantageous results of making large annual purchases are so evident; that a loan or advance might be obtained from the Accountant General for the purpose. [...] It is easy to understand that the shipping in-the port of Bassieu is mainly the cause of this dearness and the absence of any market at the remote station of Sandoway that of the cheapness there. [...] The greater part of the oil used in the Maulmain Gaol during 1868 was prepared from the Till seeds by convict labour and with the rude mills of the country the cost of it being a little more than 10 annas a viss or thirty per cent.