[५०६] “In this respect India of to-day stands in contrast to the India of a century ago. The European chemist armed with cheap supplies of sulphuric acid and alkali and aided by low sea freights and increased facilities for internal distribution by the spreading net work of railways has been enabled to stamp out in all but remote localities the Once flourishing native manufactures by alum, the various alkaline compounds, blue vitriol, copperas, copper, lead, steel and iron and seriously to curtail the export trade in nitre and borax. The high quality of the native made iron, the early anticipation of the processes now employed in Europe for the manufacture of high class steel and the artistic products in copper and brass gave the country a prominent position in the ancient metallurgical world, while as a chief source of nitre India held a position of peculiar political importance until, less than forty years ago, the chemical manufacturer of Europe found, among his bye-products cheaper more effective compounds for the manufacture of explosives.
The influence of the modern mineral dyes (more especially aniline and alizarine) has been more destructive to the tinctorial and textile industries of India than is commonly supposed. These cheap colours have injured the artistic feelings of the people and demoralised many of the indigeneous crafts. Cotton-weaving was only introduced into England in the 17th century and in 1721 an Act was passed prohibiting, in the interests of Manchester the importation of printed calicoes from India.....
