1 REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE NORTHERN INDIA
2 REVIEW BY SECTIONS: drawn charge allowance and the employment of an extra ver-
3 SULTANPUR SALT nacular clerk, and (3) to the payment of compensation for
4 WORKS. dearness of food-grain to subordinates to whom it was due.
5 Contingencies show a decrease of Rs. 65, due to lesser expendi-
6 ture on repairs to buildings at the works.
7 The net revenue of the works shows a progressive increase
8 year by year, from Rs. 1,46,908 in 1893-94, to Rs. 2,62,146
9 during the past year, a difference of Rs. 1,15,238, equal to
10 nearly 44 per cent.
11 Beate Uenltncein es 27. Statistics of stocks, manufacture and sales at the
12 Sultanpur salt works during the past four years will be found
13 in the following statement: —
14 Stock at the Manvufac- Soock in
15 commence- ' * Sold during | hand at the
16 Year, ment of the tured during the year. close of the
17 . the year. na
18 — EE (1 (ae) (PT CES 7
19 Mds Mds, Mds Mds
20 1893-94 ... ne ass 2,427 65,082 (@)66,972 537
21 1894-95 1. ons ee 537 1 00,485 94,614 6,408
22 1895-96 se ii oes 6,408 1,19,392 1,08,133 17,607
23 1896-97 ,,, eee: ini 17,667 1,19,494 1,11,877 25,284
24 The quantity of salt produced during the past year was only
25 maunds 102 in excess of the outturn of 1895-96; but the stock,
26 balance rose from maunds 17,667 to maunds 25,284. This
27 balance is not a large one. There is never any danger of a
28 failure of manufacturing operations at these works owing to
29 , climatic conditions, and the owners of factories therefore endea-
30 vour to keep pace with the demand and avoid the accumulation
31 of large stocks. Fresh salt is always in better demand and of
32 more value in the market than salt which has been stored.
33 During the past year 48 factories worked as compared
34 with 54 in 1895-96. The working factories were situate in
35 six clusters—at Mubarikpur, Zahidpur, Sultdnpur, Saidpur,
36 Mehmudpur and Sadrana. The owners of the six factories.
37 which remained closed could not obtain funds with which to
38 carry on work, much of the local capital being invested in the
39 grain trade. The factories which worked were, however, quite
40 capable to producing as much salt as the trade required, and the
41 supply was at all times fully equal to the desta
42 During the past year maunds 1,11,877 of salt were excised
43 compared with maunds 1,08,133 in 1895-96, or an increase of
44 maunds 3,744. The statement shows that there has been
45 steady progress in sales year by year since 1893-94, the figures
46 of that year being exceeded by those of the year under report
47 by maunds 44,905, or more than 40 per cent. The Hakimi cess
48 on the produce of these works was reduced on the 7th January
49 1896 from varying rates (one anna and nine pies to six pies a
50 maund) to one uniform charge of three pies a maund on all
51 salt excised. This change was expected to have full effect
52 during the past year, and on their part the manufacturers endea-
53 voured to improve the positioa by reducing their prices. No
54 considerable increase in sales occurred, but the result has been
55 so far satisfactory that the trade of the works more than held
56 its own, though there was severe scarcity, and prices of food
57 grain were very high in the areas within which Sultanpuri salt
58 is consumed.
59 The Sultanpur salt works are situate in a sandy and poor
60 country which not infrequently suffers from a deficiency in the
61 rainfall. The works afford employment to a large number of
62 (a) Includes wastage maunds 504,
63 ( 22 )