1 SALT REVENUE DEPARTMENT FOR THE OFFICIAL YEAR 1896-97,
2 territory was obtained from the Guma quarry, that at Drang REVIEWBYSECTIONS.
3 supplying the larger proportion of the consignments to Native
4 States. :
5 The decline in the sales of the year compared with 1895-96
6 was owing to a severe type of cattle disease which occurred in
7 an epidemic form in the hill country during the latter half of
8 the year. This disease interfered with trade, not only by affect-
9 ing pack cattle, but also by preventing the free movement of
10 the population, owing to quarantine being strictly enforced
11 between village and village by the peeple themselves. In con-
12 sequence of this there was a decrease of 6,439 in ‘the number
13 of men who visited the mines for loads of salt, and of 6,168 in
14 the number of pack buHocks employed. It need hardly be men-
15 tioned that a decrease in the sales of this salt does not cause
16 any loss to the British Government: in fact it results in a
17 greater consumption of Punjab mines rock salt paying the full
18 duty of Rs. 2-8 a maund.
19 The mines continued in working order during the year,
20 and the supply of salt was sufficient to meet the requirements
21 of the trade. They were visited once during the year by the
22 Superintendent of the Raja of Mandi. The work connected
23 with the issue and sale of salt was carried on satisfactorily.
24 26.° The statement below shows the gross receipts, the
25 fixed and contingent charges, and the net revenue of the Sultan-
26 pur salt works during the past and three preceding years:—
27 Gross receipts. Charges.
28 Year. Excise ] Hakimi| Miscel Contin- spas
29 - ™, i e
30 , duty. cess. |Janeous,| Total. pee gent tate
31 Rs, | Bs. Rs, Rs, Rs. Rs. Rs. Re.
32 1893-94 | 1,66,169 6,207 59 | 1,72,585 | 22,987 2,640 | 25,627 1 1,46,908
33 1894-95 | 2,386,535 8,386 589 | 2,45,510 | 16,104 1,924 | 18,028 | 2,27,482
34 1895-96 | 2,70,332 7,864 58 | 2,78,254 | 15,508 2,551 | 18,059 2,60,195
35 1898-97 | 2,79,693 1,748 13 | 2,81,454 | 16,822 2,486 | 19,308
36 2,62,146
37 The receipt of revenue at the works has steadily increased
38 throughout the four yearly periods. The figures of the year
39 under report are in excess of those of 1895-96 by Rs. 3,200; of
40 those of 1894-95 by Rs. 35,944, and exceed those of 1893-94 by
41 Rs. 1,08,919. Under the head of excise duty there is an in-
42 crease, compared with 1895-96, of Rs. 9,361, resulting of course
43 from a larger quantity of salt taxed. Under Hakimi cess,
44 there is a decrease of Rs. 6,116 during the past year as com-
45 pared with the previous one. This cess was reduced from
46 varying rates (one anna and nine pies to six pies) to one uni-
47 form charge of three pies a maund with effect from the 7th
48 January 1896. The reduction affected the revenue of 1895-96
49 only partially: but it has had full effect on the receipts of
50 1896-97, as the decrease observable in collections of the cess
51 shows. Compared with 1895-96 there is a decrease in mis-
52 cellaneous revenue of Rs. 45. Collections under this head are
53 petty and do not call for further remark.
54 There is an increase of Rs. 1,249 under charges, the expen-
55 diture of the past year amounting to Rs. 19,308 compared with
56 Rs. 18,059 during 1895-96. Under fixed charges there is an
57 increase of Rs. 1,314, which is owing (1) to the payment of
58 the usual annual increment to the Superintendent in charge
59 of the works, and to the posting to them of an Assistant Super-
60 intendent in place of an Inspector ; (2) to an Inspector having
61 ( 2 )
62 MANDI MINES.
63 SULTANPUR SALT
64 WORKS.
65 Receipts, charges and nek
66 revenue,
67 °