1 ‘REVIEW BY SECTIONE.
2 PACHBADRA.
3 REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE NORTHERN INDIA
4 The additions to stock comprise, (1) the quantity of salt
5 manufactured and stored during the year, and (2) excesses
6 discovered in heaps cleared by trade. The figures of the past
7 year are below those of the three previous yearly periods, and
8 _ the balance of stock in hand appears small. But it is sufficient
9 Results of clearance of
10 heaps.
11 for the needs of the Source, salt is always obtainable from the
12 pits, and fresh salt is of more value in the markets than that
13 which has been kept in store in open heaps and exposed to the
14 vicissitudes of the weather. The supply at this Source is so
15 certain that our object is to keep as small a stock as the demand
16 will allow in order to issue salt in as fresh a state as practicable.
17 The result of clearances of heaps of salt sold during the
18 year was as follows :—
19 Maunds.
20 Quantity as estimated eee ace ee eon §,18,786
21 Actual outturn via ine eee ene 5,69,515
22 Paid for at time of estimation, being 25 per cent. lessthan estifnate —4,5,029
23 Balance paid for on clearance oe oes a 1,54,486
24 Total quantity «- =—»-: "69,515
25 Quantities of salt when first manufactured are estimated by
26 cubical measurement of heaps put up, and final payments for ex-
27 cesses discovered are made as soon as these are cleared by trade.
28 In this manner the manufacturers receive payment for every
29 ' maund of salt disposed of by the Department. The following
30 figures show the sums paid to these men during the past four
31 years for Balt produced by them :—
32 Rs.
33 1894-95 see wen dew ore 81,245
34 1895-96 oor ues tee oe 44,386
35 1896-97 veo eas oe aan 44,870
36 1897-98 ose oes « 30,977
37 Payments vary with trade demands. The demand during
38 1894-95 was abnormal in consequence of the high price of Sam-
39 phar salt. The figures of the past year are lower than those
40 of 1896-97 and 1895-96, owing to a smaller quantity of salt
41 having been kept in stock. This, though it resulted in smaller
42 payments, will eventually bencfit manufacturers, as by issuing
43 salt in as fresh a state as possible, we are endeavouring to keep
44 up the trade of the Source by meeting the wishes of consumers,
45 aud every effort to this end is in the interests of manufactur-
46 ers. They receive a fixed price of one anna a mavund for the
47 salt they supply, and their profits depend entirely’ upon the
48 state of the trade.
49 The manufacture of salt at Pachbadra is not affected by
50 climatic changes in the same way as at the Sambhar Lake, but
51 a certain quantity of rain well distributed is needed for the
52 renovation of the brine springs and the dilution of the concen-
53 trated brine in the salt pits. The fall of the past year occur-
54 red as follows :—
55 Inches
56 April 1897 .. foo . Ob
57 June 5 soe ar at dee O2
58 J uly ” aes ave eee vee 7:99
59 August 4, see ese oe eee 282
60 Septeinber,, aa ‘i ae 1:87
61 October 4, ass tes a 0°35
62 Fekruary 1898 ... eee - 0°26
63 Total we =—«- 13°36
64 The heat at the beginning of the year was intense. The
65 highest temperatures in the shade recorded were 114° in April,
66 116° in May, and 122° in June 1897. Down to the 20th July
67 1897 there was practically no rain. A fall of 4°27 inches then
68 ( 54 )