1 ‘SALT’ REVENUE DEPARTMEN? FOR THE OFFICIAL YEAR 1896-97.
2 The sales of the year ‘under report showa decrease of. REVIEW BY SECTIONS.
3 maunds 97,007 as compared with 1895-96 were more thanthose PUNJAB MINEs.
4 of 1894-95 by maunds 1,85,061, but fall below the figures of yening off explained,
5 1893-94 by maunds 46,151. ‘Tuc average annual sales of the
6 past four years amount to maunds 20,15,993, and the figures
7 of the past year exceed this quantity by maunds 10,476.
8 In last year’s report I showed that the year 1895-96
9 ended with well stocked markets, and that there had been a
10 considerable trade with Kashmir towards its close. Consider-
11 ing that 1896-97 was a year of scarcity and high prices, some
12 falling off in the trade under such circumstances might have
13 been looked for. It is, however, satisfactory to note that sales
14 have been fairly well maintained. The Assistant Commis-
15 sioner of the Division reports that the trade of the past year
16 frequently showed signs of being at least equal to that of
17 1895-96, but that simultaneously with the enhancement of the
18 duty on Kohat salt a rumour arose that the duty on the salt
19 of the Punjab Mines was to be reduced to Rs. 2 a maund.
20 Telegrams were received by traders at Khewra, Pind Dadan
21 Khan, and Miani to stop purchases, and a lull in the trade fol-
22 lowed. It was not until after the 1st January 1897 that
23 confidence was restored, and by that time it was not possible,
24 owing fo the continuance of high prices’ for food grains, to
25 recover lost ground.
26 The total clearances of the year amount to maunds
27 20,48,563 compared with maunds 21,51,088 during 1895-96,
28 or a decrease of maunds 1,02,525. But the figures of 1895-96
29 are abnormally high owing to the removal of the large
30 uncleared balance of 1894-95. The average clearances of
31 the past four years amount to maunds 20,12,879. The removals
32 of the past year are in excess of these figures by maunds
33 35,684. From this it will appear that the volume of the
34 supply of salt issued was maintained.
35 17. The figures relating to the through traffic and ordinary Through traf and ordi-
36 trade of the division during the past four years will be found = ™Y****
37 in the. following comparative table :—
38 1893-94. 1894-95. 1895-96. 1896-97,
39 Mds. Mds, Mds. Mds.
40 Through traffic ade 18,20,776 | ~ 15,094,719 18,01,987 17,67,409
41 Ordinary toe si 2,51,844 2,46,689 3,21,489 2,59,060
42 Total ane 20,72,620 18,41,408 21,238,476 20,26,469
43 Through traffic business is carried on at the Warthganj
44 depdt only in connection with the Mayo Mine. Compared with
45 the entire trade, it amounted in 1893-94 to 87°84 per cent. ;
46 in 1894-95 to 86°60 per cent.; in 1895-96 to 84°86 per cent. ;
47 while during the: past year it rose to 87:21 per cent. The
48 quantity sold under this system during the past year was
49 less than the figures of 1895-96 by maunds 34,578 ; more than
50 those of 1894-95 by maunds 1,72,690; and again below those
51 of 1893-94 by maunds 53,367. Ordinary trade was less than
52 what it was in°1895-96 by maunds 62,429, but was in excess
53 of the figures of 1894-95 and 1893-94 by maunds 12,371
54 and maunds 7,216 respectively.
55 18. The following statement shows for the past four years Distribution of traffic.
56 the quantities of salt cleared and removed from the Punjab
57 Mines Division by railway, road and river for consumption— —
58 ( 1 )