1 REVIEW BY SECTIONS.
2 DIDWANA.
3 Distribution
4 taxed salt,
5 of
6 fully
7 REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE NORTHERN INDIA
8 The price of Sambhar salt stood at 8 annas a maund
9 during the commencement of 1894-95, and sales at Didwana
10 for that year were to some extent abnormally stimulated in con-
11 sequence. Nornial conditions obtained during 1895-96. Owing
12 to extreme draught and great scarcity in the desert, the trade
13 of 1896-97 fell off considerably, and the sales of the year under
14 review were also influenced by adverse conditions.
15 Compared with 1896-97, the sales of duty-paid salt for the
16 past year show a decrease of 6,978 maunds, and are less than
17 those of 1895-96 by 84,901 maunds. The whole of the salt
18 of this Source is removed on pack animals, trade routes run
19 across desert country, and the trade is very sensitive to any
20 causes affecting animal carriage. During the first three months
21 of the year under review, the drought which resulted from the
22 failure of the monsoon of 1896 was very severe, and there was
23 agreat scarcity of fodder and water on trade routes. The
24 rains of 1897 were very favourable, and agricultural operations
25 were so extensive that carriage was difficult to obtain during.
26 the season of the monsoon, The trade of the Source is generally
27 most brisk immediately after the monsoon, when water and
28 fodder are available everywhere. Owing tothe very heavy
29 monsoon of 1897, there was an outbreak of severe malarious
30 fever just at this time over the country around the Source, and
31 this caused a considerable falling offintrade during a period
32 when it is usually good. When the effect of this cause had dis-
33 appeared, the year was so far advanced that the Source could
34 not recover itself, and the result was that less salt was excised
35 than during 1896-97.
36 The issue of duty-free salt to the Jodhpur Darbar amounted
37 to 40,000 maunds, compared with 31,854 maunds during 1896-97,
38 or an increase of 8,146 maunds. This salt is consumed in the
39 neighbourhood of Didwana, and as the monsoon of 1897 was
40 good, an abundant harvest was secured, and issues of salt
41 were large. The quantity sold during the past year represents
42 the full quantity which is now taken by the Darbar from this
43 Source. On all salt so delivered, the Department realizes one
44 anna a maund as sale price, and Rs. 2-6-6 a maund Raj duty, or
45 a total sum of Rs. 2-7-6 a maund. Monthly payments are
46 made to the Darbar of all collections on account of Raj duty.
47 Aq. Particulars in regard to the course of the trade of the
48 Didwana division are as follows :—
49 The bookings of full duty-paid salt cleared from the Source
50 during the past two years are shown below:—
51 1896-97. 1897-98, | Iucrease or
52 decrease.
53 To the Railway at Nawa at the Sambhar Ads. Mds. Mads.
54 Lake eee tee . 83,458 92,699 +9,241
55 To the Panjéb— —_—_—— ——s
56 Bhewani vee ans eee 1;35,436 1,19,651 —15,785
57 Hissar Gee “iva eee 1,529 869 —~1,1€0
58 Bolsamand abe ane ans 135 sce —135
59 Sirsa Sas wee aes 1,099 1,434 +335
60 Hansi oss we see on ane toe
61 Patiala ae on re 69 810 +241
62 Total, Panjab ae 1,388,268 1,21,764 —16,504
63 To Réjputéna—
64 Jaipur State .,, us vee 16,718 14,795 —1,923
65 Kishengarh State ee we 33 43 +10
66 Kotah and Bundi States ,.. oe 1,98+ 4,894 +2,910
67 bikanir State ... 6 ene 6,241 4,083 —2,158
68 —_—— ———
69 (Total, Réjputéina Oi A ee ge
70 ree ae; wa 946,702 238,278 ~—8,424
71 eines eee ae