1 INTERNAL BRANCH.
2 Crude saltpetre works.
3 Khari works.
4 .
5 Sajji works.
6 REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE NORTHERN INDIA *'
7 Crude Saltpetre.—The number of licenses issued for the
8 manufacture of crude saltpetre in the different provinces was
9 as follows :—
10 1897-88, 1898-{9,
11 No. No.
12 The Panjab oe 1,129 1,129
13 North-Western Provinces and Oudh 6,394 5,677
14 Behar rn sue ove 31,829 80,191
15 Total
16 1
17 Decrease ... Sas te eae 2,371
18 The past year was an unfavourable one for crude saltpetre
19 manufacture, more so than the above figures indicate. The
20 drought of 1896-97 impoverished nitrous soil very greatly ; the
21 monsoon of 1897-98 was not a favourable one ; and the rainfall
22 of the year under report occurred in such a manner, that the
23 degree of moisture required to produce the full activity of
24 nitrous ferments was not maintained. The poverty of the
25 nitrous soil restricted production, and the slack demand and low
26 prices which obtained offered no incentive for the erection of
27 a large number of works.
28 Khéri.—This is an impure form of sulphate of soda, used
29 ptincipally for curing hides. The numbers of licenses issued
30 in the different areas of production during the year, and in
31 1897-98, are given below :—
32 1897-98, 1898-99.
33 No. No.
34 North-Western Provinces and Oudh ee 808 408
35 Behar age bes ove des ee —4,108 4,157
36 Total 4,416 7,565
37 Increase bes tee e eee tee 3,149
38 In the North-Western Provinces. and Oudh khéri is pro-
39 duced by the lixiviation of sulphate of soda efflorescence and the
40 evaporation by solar heat of the brine so obtained in large pans
41 constructed of masonry. There was an increase in the number
42 of licenses taken out during the year owing to the small pro-
43 duction of 1897-98. Clusters of factories worked in the Etah,
44 Farukhabad, Mainpuri, Hardoi, Budaun, and Unao districts, and
45 the outturn of the year was estimated at 42,836 maunds, com-
46 pared: with 37,859 maunds during 1897-98. Sulphate of soda
47 produced in Behdr.is commercially termed ‘ Patna khari,” and
48 the principal centre of production is in the districts of the Patna
49 Revenue Division lying to the north of the Ganges. In the case
50 of Patna khéri, evaporation is effected by artificial heat in iron
51 boilers and earthen vessels; and the sodic sulphate obtained
52 is in great esteem for curing hides throughout Bengal and
53 Northern India. The increase in the number of licenses issued
54 for’ its manufacture was owing to the conditions of production
55 having been favourable during the year, the demand for the
56 substance always being large. :
57 Sajji.—This is an impure form of carbonate of soda, pro-
58 duced by the partial solution of efflorescence rich in sodic car-
59 bonate and by its subsequent concentration by artificial heat.
60 The product is of a greyish colour, with a soapy feel, and about
61 the consistency of soap. It is largely used in Lower Bengal for
62 washing clothes and other purposes. Manufacture is carried
63 on in the eastern districts of the North-Western Provinces and
64 in Behdér. The substance is so easily produced that the mar-
65 kets in which it is in demand are liable to become over-
66 stocked, and this frequently occurs. For this reason the issue
67 of licenses fluctuates considerably. In 1894-95 1,244 licenses
68 were issued, the manufacture then gradually declined, and a
69 revival occurred during the past year.
70 ( 32 )