1 REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE NORTHERN INDIA
2 SULTANPUR SALT Particulars of these items in a detailed form will be found
3 Finctua OPES enue 12 Appendix I. There was a falling off in the receipts of the
4 and expenditure explain. year compared with 1897-98, which will be explained in the
5 i remarks on the trade of the source, The decrease in the
6 cost of fixed establishment arose from a smaller force having ¢
7 been employed in guarding the works in consequence of a con-
8 ‘ traction of business. A further decrease under this head will
9 appear in the accounts of 1899-1900. The saving under the
10 head of contingencies was the result of a reduction in the
11 expenditure on travelling allowances and repairs to buildings.
12 Manufacture of salt, 38. The salt of the Sultanpur Salt Works is the property
13 of the manufacturers, and is sold by them to traders to the best
14 advantage. The Department merely levies excise duty and
15 a Government proprietary cess of three pies a maund,
16 and prevents the removal of any salt on which these dues °
17 have not been paid. The works are situate at the following
18 localities :—
19 . Nawmber of
20 factories licensed.
21 Mobérik pur
22 oe eee eae eee oer 7
23 Zahidpur ae es oe tee eee il
24 Sultanpur sea ave 42
25 Saidpur ... ies one ons a3) fea 2
26 Mehmudpur ais sia bse wie aes 2
27 Sadraéua ... a eet oe Pe tes 8
28 Total tos 42
29 The works of Saidpur and Mehmudpur are contiguous
30 to those of Sultinpur. Twelve of the above factories closed
31 during the year.
32 Salt is obtained by the evaporation by solar heat of well
33 brine in large masonry evaporation pans. The following are
34 comparative figures of manufacture and stocks during the past
35 two years :—
36 1897-98. 1893-99,
37 Mads, Mds.
38 Opening balance of stoek ove eae 25,284 13,676
39 Salé manafactured one a ooo 68,455 67,166
40 Total ves 93,769 80,812
41 Deduct salt sold and wastage eve tee 80,093 78,188
42 Closing stock balance eos 13,076 2,054
43 The quantity of salt manufactured during the year did not
44 differ materially from that made in 1897-98, tiough there was
45 a noticeable reduction of the quantity of salt in stock. The
46 manufacturing scason had, however, commenced ‘at the close of
47 * the year, and no difficulty is likely to be experienced in meet-
48 ing any demand that may arise. Manufacturing conditions
49 during the past year were favourable; salt was produced in
50 good condition, dust storms having been infrequent ; and, as the
51 following particulars will show, good prices were obtained by
52 manufacturers for their produce :-—
53 Quantity sold.
54 Mds.
55 Rates of sale—
56 From orfe anna to under three annas 8 maund aie aoe 7,148
57 From three annas to under four annas 8 maund Sis wae 18,106
58 From four annas to under five annas a maund ona ses 31,496
59 From five annas to under six annas @ maund oe eee 12,888
60 From six to eight annas a maund ove see one 8,550
61 7 Total ave 78,188
62 Trade: 39. The trade of these works is dependent on the Farakh-
63 Quantities of saltexcised nagar branch of the Rajputéna-Mélwa Railway, which serves
64 aia five of the six localities at which salt is manufactured. In
65 December 1897 notice was given of the intended closure of the
66 branch line, and though this notice was subsequently with-
67 drawn and a decision on the question of closure postponed
68 until June 1900, the industry has, been adversely affected.
69 ( 26 )