1 SAMBHAR LAKE.
2 Lake edge pans,
3 Spontaneous salt,
4 Cost of manufacture,
5 REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE NORTHERN INDIA
6 manufacturing operations was, however, satisfactory, though
7 the salt obtained was not as goodas in favourable years, as it
8 was somewhat small in grain. The best salt'is obtained at the
9 Lake from a depth of about 12 inches of brine at saturation
10 point; but during the past year a much greater depth was
11 taken into the pans of the walled enclosures, owing to the
12 necessity for securing as much brine as possible before the
13 shallow sheet of it in the Lake evaporated. The salt, though
14 not first class in quality, is all saleable and is better than
15 that manufactured during 1897-98, when conditions were still
16 more unfavourable.
17 Lake edge pans.—In all, 2,392 of these were worked for
18 the production of salt, and in the circumstances the quantity
19 produced was satisfactory. The best pan salt is obtained
20 ’ when brine from the Lake is used. During the past year this
21 could not be done to any great extent, as the Lake dried up
22 more rapidly than usual, and subterranean brine from shallow
23 wells dug in the Lake shore was utilized largely. In con-
24 sequence of this, the salt obtained was small in grain, but it
25 was white and saleable. A large proportion of it had, in fact,
26 been disposed of by the close of the year.
27 Spontaneous Salt-—The quantity of this description of
28 salt collected was larger than in 1897-98, but it was small com-
29 pared to the outturn of a favourable year. The level of the
30 Lake being exceptionally low, but small quantities of brine
31 were available in the parts of the Lake bed, whence spontane-
32 ous salt can be economically gathered. The outturn was
33 satisfactory under the circumstances, and the salt, though not
34 equal in quality to the produce of a favourable year, is all
35 - saleable. The smallness of the outturn of spontaneous salt in-
36 dicates the difficulties under which manufacture was carried on
37 during the year, as nearly 64 lakhs of maunds of such salt were
38 gathered during 1895-96 and morethan 64 lakhs in 1894-95,
39 During 1897-98 the expenditure in connection with manu-
40 facture amounted to Rs. 1,04,858, and .the incidence of this
41 sum on the quantity of salt produced, 18,31,629 maunds, was
42 10°99 pies a maund. Butinthat year a sum of Rs, 51,695
43 was expended on original works, namely the construction of
44 a new walled enclosure with railway sidings at Nawa, and the
45 deepening and remodelling of one of the enclosures at Sim-
46 bhar. Excluding this item, the sum expended on the produc-
47 tion and storage of salt, up-keep of works, &c., was Rs. 53,163,
48 and the incidence on the outturn of salt of the year was 5°57
49 pies a maund. The total expenditure of the year under report
50 was Rs. 1,839,149, and the incidence of this sum on the quan-
51 tity of salt produced, 53,17,712 maunds, amounts to 5°02 pies
52 amaund. But during this year also Rs. 8,493 were expend-
53 ed on the completion of the walled enclosure at Nawa and
54 the pitching of the sides of the pans of the enclosures at Sdmbhar
55 with stone. Deducting this sum, the balance expended on the
56 production of salt gives an incidence of 4°72 pies a maund.
57 _ Taking expenditure on collection and storage only, the follow-
58 ing figures show the cost of the different descriptions of salt
59 produced during the past two years :—
60 1897-98. 1898-99.
61 Pies per maund. Pies per mannd.
62 Salt of walled enclosures tos too 3 47 3°43
63 Salt of Lake edge pans.., a ae 514 5-49
64 Spontaneous salt “ aoa | 683 . , 897
65 Including cost of maintenance and repair and the inferest on
66 the capital expended on the construction of the works, the cost
67 of salt obtained from the walled enclosures during the past
68 year was 5‘71 pies 2 maund.
69 {8 )