1 SALT REVENUE DEPARTMENT FOR THE OFFICIAL YEAR 1898-99,
2 The following figures show the transactions at the mines
3 during the past two years :—
4 “1897-98. 1898-99, Difference.
5 Receipts— Rs. Rs, Rs.
6 Share of British Government .., 38,948 389,599 +651
7 > Share of the Réja of Mandi ws 1,01, 264 1,02,955 +1,691
8 Total amount realized on salt sold 1,40,212 1,42,564 $2,342
9 at Re. 1-2-0 a maund. ne —_——
10 Charges—
11 Establishment a6 one 6,640 7,874 +784
12 Contingencies ae see 1,087 831 —206 ,
13 Total tse 9,677 8,205 - +528
14 Net revenue derived by British
15 Government. 4. dea 31,271 81,394 +128
16 _
17 Charges show an increase of Rs. 528. The cost of the
18 establishment was greater owing to a Superintendent of a
19 higher grade having been posted to the mines during the year ;
20 but there was a deorease of expenditure under contingencies
21 in connection with travelling allowances. —
22 36. The salt is obtained from two localities, Guma and
23 Drang, on the roads from Kangra and Mandi to the Kulu
24 Valley, and at a distance of about 20 miles from each other.
25 At both places, salt is obtained by quarrying in the beds of
26 ravines or gorges. The excavation of salt is carried on at both
27 quarries under the direction of the State officials, who are
28 responsible for the expenditure incurred. The duty of this
29 - Department is to see that the salt is sold at the rate fixed and
30 that the distribution of the trade is correctly registered.
31 Appendix V of this report shows the quantity of salt sold
32 _and the manner in which it was distributed over the areas of
33 consumption in British territory and the hill States, and
34 the following figures give the same information for the
35 ' past two years in an abstract form :—
36 1897-98. 1898-99. Difference,
37 Mds, Mads, Mads,
38 Exported to British territory on. 71,852 71,065 —287
39 Consigued to Native States see 53,280 55,650 + 2,370
40 Total we =: 24,682 1,26,715 +2,083
41 eee,
42 The decrease in the exports to British territory is ascribed
43 to the failure of the Guma quarry to meet the demand from the
44 Kangra valley, work at this quarry having been frequently
45 interrupted by landslips throughout the year. Consignments to
46 the hill States were larger, owing principally to an increase in
47 the bookings to the Mandi State, which took 39,464 maunds,
48 compared with 37,035 maunds during 1897-98. The whole
49 of the salt which issued was removed by road, on pack ani-.
50 mals and in head loads.
51 3%, The receipts and charges of the Sultdénpur Salt Works
52 during the past two years are given below :—
53 1897-98. 1898-99 Difference.
54 Receipts— Rs. Rs. Rs.
55 Duty on salt sae ies +» 2,00,074 1,95,470 —~4,604
56 Government proprietary cess ae 1,249 1,220 —~29
57 Miscellaneons revenue See ose 17 46 +29
58 Total +» 2,01,840 1,96,736 —4,604
59 Charges — ~~
60 Establishment sue ove on 15,609 15,028 —586
61 Contingencies ... tes _ 1,743 1,066 ~-677
62 Total 3s 17,352 16,089 —1,268
63 Net revenue oe we 1,838,988 1,80,647 3,341
64 See a eR,
65 MANDI MINES.
66 Fluctuations in expendi«
67 ture explained.
68 Trade :
69 Sales and issues of salt,
70 (4)
71 SULTANPUR SALT
72 WORKS.
73 Receipts and charges,