Directory_and_Chronicle_1915 — Page 1414

SELANGOR

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The population of Selangor in 1884, when the first census was taken, was 46,568 ; but at the last census, in 1911, the returns gave a total of 294,035, of whom 150,908 were Chinese, 64,952 Malays, 74,067 natives of India, 1,348 Europeans, 1,739 aborigines.

The principal industry of the State, and from which it derives the largest portion of its revenue, is alluvial tin mining, on which a duty is charged.

In addition to its mineral resources the State, however, possesses large tracts of land well adapted for agricultural purposes, and the removal of restrictions on the free importation of Indian coolies into the Protected Native States rendered it possible for European planters to obtain cheap labour and to open estates on a large scale. Small plantations of coffee, coconuts and pepper have been successfully con- ducted, and rice, and other products of the Peninsula under native cultivation are doing well in various parts of the State, and to encourage pioneer planters, large grants of land have in recent years been made, on special terms, for the planting of sago, pepper, and gambier. But the principal agricultural product here, as in the other Malay States, is rubber. The year 1913 saw a marked expansion in rubber, coconut and coffee production. There were 495,643 acres alienated for agricultural purposes at the end of the year, comprising 208,714 acres under rubber, cocounts 38,708 acres, coffee 10,045, and rice 6,560. Two hundred and seventy-three estates produced 10,110 tons of rubber against 7,482 tons from 258 estates in 1912.

The principal exports are tin, rubber, hides, garmwood, tapioca, canes, rattans, coffee, copra, spices and guttapercha. The principal imports are opium, salt, salt-fish, rice, oil, tobacco and tea. The only import duties are on opium and spirituous liquors, while export duties are payable only on minerals, agricultural products, ivory, fish, horns and hides, jungle produce and guttapercha. The export duty on tin has, in recent years amounted to about three and a-half million dollars a year, the duty on the gross value of the tin being, roughly, 14 per cent. There were 71,296 acres alienated for mining at the end of 1913, mostly for tin. Tin and tin ore exported amounted to 258,825 piculs against 255,381 in 1912. The duty collected was $3,403,014 as compared with $3,513,142 in 1912. Of wolfram 1,918 piculs were exported. The Rawang Coalfield promises well. Prospecting operations having proved successful, the Company that has been formed is preparing to work on a large scale. An extension of the railway system to the coal- fields is to be made. Boring has been made to a depth of 306 ft. The clay on the field can be used for making tiles and pipes.

There is frequent and regular communication, by means of coasting steamers, between the Straits Settlements and Selangor, and from Kuala Lumpur a system of cart and bridle roads extends to the boundaries of Perak, Negri Sembilan and Pahang, A line of metre gauge railway, connecting Kuala Lumpur with Klang (a distance of 21 miles 14 chains) was formally opened by Sir F. Weld, then Governor of the Straits Settlements, on the 15th Sept., 1886, and an extension, Kuala Lumpur to Kuala Kubu, was opened on the 6th October, 1894. Branches now extend in all directions, and the main trunk line passes through Selangor. Port Swettenham is the terminus of the railway, on Klang Straits, and wharves have been constructed there, capable of accommodating ocean-going steamers. The number of merchant vessels, other than native craft, enter- ing the port in 1913 was 1,471 against 1,405 in 1912, and the aggregate tonnage 1,577,335 compared with 1,427,556 in 1912. There entered 103 ocean-going steamers against 95 in 1912.

Telegraph lines connect Selangor with the other States in the Malay Peninsula; telephones are established throughout the State, and postal and telegraph offices are to be found in all the towns and principal villages.

The State revenue in 1913 amounted to $15,561,395 against $14,848,357 in 1912, and the expenditure to $16,725,817 against $12,410,814 in 1912. The balance of assets over liabilities was $29,998,068, Trade statistics were as follow:-

Imports...... Exports......

1912

$36,144,051

61,902,362

1913 $ 41,186,141 56,897,277