1 SALT REVENUE DEPARTMENT FOR THE OFFICIAL YEAR 1897-98.
2 matter which it held in solution. All of the salt obtained REVIEWBYSECTIONS.
3 from the Lake during the past year, was the produce of small SAMBHAR.
4 enclosures in the Gudha section east of the railway embank-
5 ment. The outturn from these was not large, as the supply
6 of brine was small.
7 The diminution in the visible supply of salt, which I have
8 remarked upon as having been apparent at the Lake during the
9 year under review, does not appear to one to bea cause for
10 anxiety. There are immense quantities of salt inadmixture with
11 the mud of the bed of the Lake, and in solution in the subter-
12 ranean brine which underlies it under pressure. I believe that
13 with a normal rainfall and the collection of a large quantity
14 of water in it, agitated by the usual strong winds, the
15 Lake will recover its capacity for producing as much salt as
16 we shall be able to manufacture.
17 The experience of the past two years has shown us the
18 very great value of our walled enclosures. But for their
19 existence, manufacture would have been practically a complete
20 failure both in 1896-97 and the year under review. Stocks
21 would have been exhausted, and trade would have been at a
22 stand-still. The soundness of the policy which has been
23 followed for many years past, in steadily carrying on the
24 construction of these extensive and productive salt factories,
25 has been amply demonstrated by events,
26 Manufacture during the past year was so restricted, for
27 the reasons which T have given, that no difficulty whatever
28 was experienced in connection with supply of labour. Com-
29 parative figures in connection with the cost of manufacturing
30 the different descriptions of salt appear below :—
31 1896-97. 1897-98.
32 Pies Pies
33 Description of salt. . per maund. per maund.
34 From walled enclosures -_ se 3°65 3°47
35 From pans on Lake edge Sea ae 5°51 514
36 From Lake bed ae its 5:00 6°83
37 Average cost we BOL 3°73
38 Mannds. Maunda.
39 Total quantity of salt produced ae 80,89,846 18,31,629
40 A characteristic of both years was that by far the greater
41 part of the salt made was the produce of our walled enclosures.
42 These works not only yield the best salt, but the cost of manu-
43 facture atethem is less than in the case of Lake edge pans and
44 spontaneous salt obtained from the bed of the Lake.
45 36. , The next statement shows the stock of salt in hand, Stock, manufacture, and
46 the quantity manufactured, and excesses discovercd on clear- = “*¥°*
47 ance of heaps, the quantity issued (sales and free deliveries),
48 and deficits found in heaps cleared, and the closing balance of
49 stock in each of the past four years :—
50 Manofacture, &c. | Issues.
51 Aes By nm 3
52 Year, a 33 d 5 = 4
53 a me | = Ag aa
54 a <3 aed > add tp
55 - Ba o iS
56 3 Sa | 3 3 4 3 | 83 - E
57 z, g2 | &3 3 A 2 | ¢3 3 3
58 (eo) oS 13) et Nn to = a Dv
59 Mds. Mads, Mds. Mds, Mads. Mas. Mds. Mas. Mds.
60 1894-95 we | 18,66,903 ; 70,835,016 1,10,214 | 90,12.133! 40,31,618 | 27,510 970,575 | 41,29,703 | 18,823,430
61 1895-96 we | 48,682,430 | 51,29,304 1,67,913 | 1,01,79,647; 37,15,774 | 23,260 1,28,660 | 88,67,694 | 63,11,953
62 1896-97 ve. | 63,11,953 | 30,89,816 1,605,514 95,67,313) 39,381,210 | 23,460 88,005 | 40,42,675 | 55,24,638
63 1897-98 ... | 55,24,638 | 18,381,629 | 1,56,526 | 78,12,793) 41,03,440 ' 16,960 1,56,632 | 42,77,032 | 32.35,761
64 ( 35 )