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MALACCA-FEDERATED MALAY STATES
STRAITS STEAMSHIP CO., LTD.-4, First Cross Street; Teleph. 102; Tel. Ad: Kapal
C. Taylor, manager Tan Kim Bong, agent
Chee Lim Cheng, clerk
Tan Cheng Boo, clerk and collector
UNITED ENGINEERS, LTD, Civil, Mech- anical, Electrical, Sanitary and Ship- builders, Steel, Brass and Iron Founders-1 to 6, Riverside; Tel. Ad: Uniteers. Head Office and Works: Singapore. Branches: Ipoh, Penang, Seremban, Taiping and Rangoon
WHITEAWAY, LAIDLAW & CO. LTD. (Inco
porated in England), Drapers, Boot and Shoe Importers, China and Glass Men chants-River Side; Teleph. 200; Te Ad: Whiteaways
WOMEN'S MISSION HOSPITAL AND DISPEN SARY AND MATERNITY TRAINING SCHOOL (Church of England)-545, Tranquerah and 15, First Cross Street, Malacca › Teleph. 136
Miss Davies, doctor in charge Miss Corbett, nursing sister
FEDERATED MALAY STATES
The Protected States comprise four Residencies, namely, Perak, Selangor, Negri Sembilan and Pahang. These have been federated since July 1st, 1896, and the administration is presided over by a British Officer styled the Chief Secretary to Government, who is subject to the High Commissioner to the Malay States, who is also Governor of the Straits Settlements. Each State has its own Resident and the native rulers retain their titles and dignity. The Federal Offices are at Kuala Lumpur, Selangor. The Federal Council was inaugurated on December 10th, 1909.
The record of these States is one of progress and prosperity. The States have 1,188- miles of railway in the Malay Peninsula (paid for out of current revenue), yielding good income; they have 2,494 miles of metalled roads, 140 miles of unmetalled roads, 1,794 miles of bridle roads and paths; and the wire mileage of telegraphs and telephones is 17,297 (of which 5,196 miles of wire is in underground cables). Water- works, wharves, hospitals, prisons, schools, and many other public buildings have been constructed, while the Government of Perak has carried out an important scheme of irrigation which will benefit about 60,000 acres of land and cost about £200,000.. The principal sources of revenue and prosperity are the alluvial tin deposits, which, at the present price of the metal, can be worked at considerable profit, and the plantation rubber industry, the country producing one-third of the world's supply of rubber. Tin has been worked in the Malay States for centuries and the F.M.S. have been for many years now the largest producers of tin ore in the world. The deposits worked are for the most part alluvial but the country also possesses lode deposits.
As the richer and more easily worked deposits are becoming worked out, grcater use is being made of machinery and labour-saving devices. Capitalists have already realised the attractive possibilities of these fields and a number of companies have been formed to systematically work these lower grade deposits.
The Government has not overlooked the fact that in the export of tin its capital is being reduced, and it has inade an effort to supply another and more useful investment by the construction of railways with part, at least, of the revenue. The Federated States have expended over $173,983,371 in the construction or purchase of railways. The profits give a return of 0.29 per cent. on the capital expended.
Planting enterprise in the Federated Malay States for many years had not proved very successful, but the introduction of rubber cultivation completely transformed the agricultural prospects of the country. The area now in possession in estates of 100 acres and over is approximately 1,650,000 acres, of which 1,250,000 acres are under cultivation for rubber. Sugar has practically gone out of cultivation, but the Govern- ment is endeavouring to revive the industry by offering land on special terms. Over 161,650 acres of land are under coconuts, for which the soil and climate of these States are peculiarly well suited, and the cultivation of rice is only a question of irrigation
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