Hazaribagh Town
This article has been extracted from THE IMPERIAL GAZETTEER OF INDIA , 1908. OXFORD, AT THE CLARENDON PRESS. |
Note: National, provincial and district boundaries have changed considerably since 1908. Typically, old states, ‘divisions’ and districts have been broken into smaller units, and many tahsils upgraded to districts. Some units have since been renamed. Therefore, this article is being posted mainly for its historical value.
Hazaribagh Town
Head-quarters of Hazaribagh District, Ben- gal, picturesquely situated in 23° 59' N. and 85° 22" E., on the high central plateau of the District, at an elevation of 2,000 feet above sea-level, in the midst of a group of conical hills. Population (1901), 15,799. The town is little more than a cluster of hamlets, with intervening cultivation, which sprung up round the former military bazar. Hazaribagh has been the head-quarters of the civil administra- tion since 1834. The cantonment lies south-east of the town. The last military force stationed here was the second battalion, 22nd Regiment ; but owing to an outbreak of enteric fever in 1874, which resulted in numerous deaths, the troops were withdrawn, with the exception of a small detachment, which was chiefly designed to guard against a possible outbreak of the prisoners in the European penitentiary situated here. Subsequently, on the abolition of the penitentiary, the European troops were entirely withdrawn. Hazaribagh was con- stituted a municipality in 1869.
The income during the decade ending 1901-2 averaged Rs. 11,600, and the expenditure Rs. 10,800. In 1903-4 the income was Rs. i 7,000, of which Rs. 5,000 was derived from a tax on persons (or property tax), and Rs. 4,000 from a conservancy rate; and the expenditure was Rs. 16,000. The town contains the usual public buildings. The Central jail has accommodation for 1,257 prisoners ; the principal articles manufactured are blankets and cloth. The Hazaribagh Reformatory school has since 1882 occupied the buildings formerly used for the European penitentiary. It is managed by a board subject to the general control of the Director of Public Instruction, and has cubicle accommodation for 357 boys, who are taught weaving, agriculture, tailoring, gardening, carpentry, shoe-making, and blacksmith's work. The chief educational institution is the Dublin University Mission First Arts college, which was opened in 1899.
