1 SALT REVENUE DEPARTMENT FOR THE OFFICIAL YEAR 1896-97,
2 This running account now extends over twenty-seven years, REVIEW BYSECTIONS,
3 At the close of 1896-97 the net credit balance amounted SAMBHAR.
4 to Rs. 48,55,557 compared with Rs. 44,82,621 in 1895-96,
5 or an increase of Rs. 3,72,936. Besides this, the stock
6 of salt in hand at the close of the year amounted to maunds
7 55,24,638. Deducting the quantity of maunds 17,25,000,
8 which would have to be delivered to the Durbars if the
9 Sambhar Lake were given up, a balance remains of maunds
10 37,99, 638, worth nearly nine and a half Jakhs of rupees at the
11 present selling price of 4 annas a maund.
12 43. The following statement shows the gross realiza- DIDWANA.
13 tions, the fixed and contingent charges, and the net revenue of Receipts, charges and net
14 the Didwana Salt Source for the past four years :— ee
15 Grose realizations. . : : | Charges.
16 Year. Excise ; r 7 Net
17 Sale { Miscel- j . . Contin-
18 i on price. | laneous: Total. Fixed. gent. Total, | revenve,
19 Rs, Rs. Rs. Rs. Rs, Rs. Rs. Rs.
20 1898-94 | 11,43,727 | 31,306 224 { 11,75,257 | 17,957 | 18,571 | 36,528 | 11,838,729
21 1894-95 | 8,69,283 | 24,445 154 } 8,983,882 | 17,564 | 29,318 | 46,882 | 847,000
22 1895-96 {| 8,08,260 | 22,792 216 | 8,31,268 | 18,123 | 36,401 | 54,524} 7,76,744
23 1896-97 | 6,13,453- | 17,327 107 {| 6,30,887 | 21,665 | 22,368 | 44,033 | 5,86,854
24 The revenue under the head of excise duty shows a falling pocoase in receipts ex-
25 off of Rs. 1,94,807 during the past year, Rs. 6,13,453 having been plained.
26 realized in comparison with Rs. 8,08,260 during 1895-96. The
27 reason for the decrease was the drought and scarcity which
28 prevailed, not only within the areas of consumption of Didwana
29 salt, but also over the arid country in which the salt source is
30 situate, carriage being difficult to obtain for want of water and
31 fodder. I will enter into particulars on this subject in the next
32 paragraph. The revenue of 1894-95 was somewhat larger
33 than usual owing tothe price of Sambhar salt having stood
34 at eight annas a maund during the opening months of the year.
35 The figures of 1893-94 were quite abnormal. The price of
36 Sambhar salt was raised from 2? annas to 5} annas with
37 effect from the 7th July 1893, and again to 8 annasa maund
38 from the 7th of September 1893 to the close of the official
39 year. These prices stimulated sales at Didwana to an abnor-
40 mal extent.
41 There is a decrease of Rs. 5,465 under sale price during the
42 past year, the realizations amounting to Rs. 17,327 compared
43 with Rs, 22,792 in 1895-96. This falling off is of course due
44 to the smaller sales of salt which were effected. ‘There is
45 also a decrease of Rs, 109 under the head of miscellaneous
46 revenue during the year under report. There are no through
47 traffic collections in the division, and miscellaneous receipts
48 comprise petty items such as fines and sale proceeds of
49 unserviceable and confiscated articles.
50 Under charges, the expenditure during the past year tnereaseinfixed, and de-
51 amounted to Rs. 44,033 compared with Rs. 54,524 during crease tee veoneasent
52 1895-96, a decrease of Rs. 10,491. pa ale a
53 In fixed expenditure there was an increase of Rs. 3,542.
54 This difference may be explained as follows :—
55 There was an increase, (1) of Rs. 600 on account of an
56 annual increment having been drawn by the Assistant Com-
57 missioner ; (2) of Rs. 2,900 owing to a Superintendent having
58 been posted to the Salt Source in room of an Assistant Superin-
59 tendent, and (3) of Rs. 495 in connection with compensation
60 eo)