1 SALT REVENUE DEPARTMENT FOR THE’ OFFICIAL YEAR 1894-95.
2 purchasers simply held off until petty local dealers had cleared REVIEW BY SECTIONS.
3 the godowns of old stock. In the meantime but little new MANDI MINES.
4 salt was stored, owing to the failure of the contractor, as above
5 noted, to find the necessary labour, and in consequence, in
6 November, the contract was cancelled and other arrangements
7 made. Butin December another slip happened, which put
8 a stop to all extraction, and then the issue of sali almost ceased
9 for the time being ; and, from the time of the slip in Decem-
10 ber to the end of January, the quarry yielded barely sufficient
11 for the petty trade. Again, on the 16th of February, all the
12 labour expended in getting the place clear was lost by another
13 slip. Once more, however, with the aid of asupply of “ begari”
14 labour, given by the R4j, the quarry was cleared, and it was
15 hoped that the trade would have no further trouble. This
16 hope, however, was not destined to be realized, for on the 17th
17 of March both sides of the quarry caved in. It was with
18 difficulty that the debris was cleared away and quarrying
19 resumed when the year 1895-96 began.
20 No attempt was made at opening the new quarry near the
21 bridge at Guma on which work was started a couple of years
22 ago, and until itis opened there will be difficulty in getting
23 supplies from these workings. It is said that the new quarry
24 would supply salt abundantly and safely for 10 or 15 years
25 to come, and that there would be no difficulty in keeping it
26 open all the year round. The Superintendent reports that,
27 in spite of the fact that the Guma quarry was ina bad state,
28 none of the higher officials at Mandi visited the place during
29 the year, and that the petty officials had been allowed to do
30 much as they liked there. The miners were not paid regularly,
31 and once when one month’s wages were sent them, they, both
32 at Guma and Drang, refused to take it until the two months’
33 arrears due were also sent, This was done aud work went on.
34 Payment of the half anna per maund commission or percentage
35 on sales allowed to the miners by the Raj is also very irregu-
36 larly given. It need hardly be explained that mismanagement
37 of the Mandi mines and consequent decrease in sales does not
38 cause any loss to the British Government; on the contrary, it
39 must lead to an increase in the sale of salt which has paid full
40 duty. Nor is the officer on duty at the Mandi mines in any
41 way responsible for their working. He gives advice when }
42 asked to do so, but the whole management is in the hands of
43 the State officials,
44 381. The statement attached to this paragraph displays the — syLTANPUR SALT
45 gross receipts, the fixed and contingent charges, and the net Bc a i
46 revenue of the Sultdnpur salt works during the year under poe a
47 review and the three preceding years :—
48 Gross receipts. Charges. 8
49 5
50 Excise | Hakimi |Miscella- <3 ae | Contin- | a ie
51 duty. cess, neous. x Fixed. gent. 3 2
52 Bs Rs Rs Bs. Rs. Rs Rs. Rs
53 1891-92; 4,38,861{ 14,711 85 4,48,657 | 25,881 2,816 | 28,697 , 4,19,960
54 3,21,630 | 26,277 6,020 | 31,297 | 2,90,333
55 1,72,535 | 22,987 2,640 | 25,627 | 1,46,908
56 2,45,510 | 16,104 1,924 [ 18,028| 2,27,482
57 1892-93} 3,10,453] 10,968 209)
58 1893-94) 366,169 6,307 59
59 1894-95} 2,386,535 §,386, 589
60 lt will be seen that, as compared with the year 1893-94, the
61 gross realizations. at these salt works show a very considerable
62 ( 23 )