‘REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY, FOR THE YEAR 1919-20’ [‎283r] (113/192)

1919-1920.]
POWER INDUSTRIES
to various unusual circumstances such as industrial unrest and consequent
repeated strikes at industrial centres and sudden fluctuations in cotton prices,
both cotton dealers and cultivators, who were accustomed to high profits in
recent years, suffered considerably. The effect of the war was chiefly felt in
the high prices and shortage of chemicals and dyes. The smaller industries in
the Presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent. were in some cases adversely affected by the war. The ginning
factories in Kaira, Panch Mahals and Surat worked fairly well whilst the
ginning factory An East India Company trading post. at Ahmednagar worked for a time and those in the district
remained closed throughout the year. The ginning and pressing factories in
Ahmedabad, Surat, West Khandesh, Nasik, Bijapur and Dharwar continued to
work on an average scale. A brick, tile and lime factory An East India Company trading post. was started at
Nadiad (Kaira) while the two tile factories at Khanapur in the Belgaum district
find a ready sale for their products. The brick industry in Thana is develop
ing enormously. Several new factories are under process of construction.
Kalyan andBhiwandi talukas are the chief centres of this trade. A few industries
continued to benefit by the war, for instance, the glass bangle and washing
soda factories at Kapadvanj (Kaira), the rug factory An East India Company trading post. at Ahmednagar and
blanket industry in Satara district. On the other band the handloom industry in
Broach, Nasik, Satara, Belgaum, Kanara, Larkana and TharParkar was seriously
affected by the rise in prices of yarn and dyes and owing to lack of capital.
The hand-loom cotton and wool factories ar Mirpurkhas in Thar Parkar district
did fairly well. A hand-loom factory An East India Company trading post. was opened at Mehemadabad (Kaira) and
weaving by hand-loom was started at Karjat (Kolaba). The Churchil loom in
Ahmednagar district with the recent improvements did well. The Sunth Boad
Glass factory An East India Company trading post. (Panch Mahals) started work again during the year under report.
The glass factory An East India Company trading post. at Talegaon near Poona continued to do well and the glass
factory An East India Company trading post. at Karad in Satara district turned out excellent chimneys. The flour
mills at Panch Mahals, West Khandesh, Poona, Thar Parkar and the Century
Flour Mill at Shikarpur did fairly well while the flour mills in Nasik City
were kept busy owing to the increased demand for flour to supply the crowds
expected during Sinvhast. The copper and brass industry at Hubli in Dharwar
district is thriving while in Ratnagiri district it suffered from want of
capital and of the necessary business aptitude and enterprise. Nasik is famous
for this industry but suffered greatly owing to the abnormal prices of metal
plates, but towards the close of the year it began to improve owing to the fall
in the prices of metal and the increased number of customers brought by the
Sinvhast fair. The carpet industry at Kune in Poona district continued to do
well while at Talikot in Bijapur district it waned for want of encouragement.
The oil industry at Nandurbar in West Khandest district, at Dhond in Poona
district and in Ratnagiri did but fairly well. The tanneries at Belgaum were
fully employed and the tannery at Pano Akil (Sukkur) was doing well, while
the tanneries at Kurla (Thana) are reported to be languishing owing to
inadequate water supply. A new tannery is being started at Dighe near
Thana. The lacquer industry at Dadu in Larkana district and at Kashmor
111 the Upper Sind Frontier district did not fare well owing to the high prices
of dyes. The Reay Paper Mills near Poona worked at a profit. The match
factory An East India Company trading post. at Karad in Satara district did not work again this year. The Belapur
Company (Ahmednagar) has been formed with a view to improving sugarcane
cultivation and the manufacture of sugar and the formation of another company
is under consideration. The silk industry in Yeola and Malegaon in Nasik
district, which are its chief centres, did fairly well owing to the great demand
or cloth for wedding festivities wdiich were very numerous during the year
under report. Silk cloth of excellent quality and artistic design is turned out
cu hand-looms in a small factory An East India Company trading post. at Shikarpur. Boat building is an important
industry in Sukkur town where the bandar sbip-yards exhibit admirable
workmanship. The ship-yards in the Thana district are not flourishing now.
here is a scheme to start several cotton and woollen mills and a chemical
Gliatkoper. A rope making company has bought land at Andheri
l hana). The sand and cement-brick factory An East India Company trading post. at Aksa (Tbana) appears to
ave Jihle or no demand for its product. The dairy business in Kaira district
Jus ^i^ulated by a demand for butter from outside. The milk industry
ana district is flourishing day by day.