1 SALT REVENUE DEPARTMENT FOR THE OFFICIAL YEAR 1898-99,
2 As the figures of salt excised show, the decrease in the INTERNAL BRANCH.
3 quantities of salt and sitta destroyed does not indicate any
4 extended demand for saltpetre salt. In the Panjab, there is
5 practically no demand for such salt; it sells in the North-
6 Western Provinces, Oudh and in Lower Bengal, but there is
7 e not much demand for it; and it is only in Behdr that it is
8 readily disposed of. The salt revenue is not affected in any
9 way by the destruction of saltpetre salt, either in its pure or
10 its impure state. The option is given to refiners of excising
11 or destroying their salt, and the method they adopt for dispos-
12 ing of it depends upon prices and trade demand. Ali that the
13 Department requires is that saltpetre salt shall not enter into
14 consumption except after payment of duty.
15 In the Panjab and the western districts of the North- tmpure salé passed out of
16 Western Provinces, sitta is passed out of refineries on payment —Fesineries on payment of
17 ofa fee of eight annasamaund. Issues during the past two
18 ‘years were as follows :--
19 >
20 1897-98. "1898-99. Difference,
21 Mas. Mas. Mds,
22 The Panjab Si si 6,055 6,589 £584
23 North-Western Provinces sen 2,492 4,340 ++ 1,848
24 Total ae 8,547 10,929 " 42,882
25 Bitta is used somewhat extensively for salting hides and
26 goat skins, and coarse beef for export to Burma is also cured
27 with it. The increase in the quantity which issued from
28 refineries was owing, partly toa return to prosperity of the
29 country after the famine, and partly to a more extended use of
30 the article.
31 47. A refund of the excise duty is conceded tothe North- rgyunps of purty
32 West Soap Company at Meerut, on salt used for the manufacture ON ao USED FOR
33 of soap; and also to the firm of Messrs. Schroder, Smidt & Co., Inpusyarel sae
34 on salt utilized by them for salting hides and skins in their fac-
35 tories at Cawnpore and Dinapore for export to Europe and ‘
36 America.
37 The following statement gives particulars in regard to the Refunds to the North-
38 West Soap Company at
39 North-West Soap Company’s factory at Meerut for the past — yrearat,
40 two years:—
41 Salt consumed in the manufacture of soap. Refund of duty.
42 Quantity -
43 Eos, eee Htre| Total [Quantity] Closing onentity| Amonnt
44 duced | Opening reali te k | of salt | bala
45 ba stock | of 84 lance | of salt. | of duty.
46 of sult. aon of salt. | utilized. | of salt.
47 Pe named Heesmeamemerenanedl Reraaaeennamndl Etemcnnemmantt (adtenteneemmnetel
48 mere ot ee
49 > Mds. s.|Mds. s-|Mds. s/Mds, s..Mds. s.JMde. 2|Mda. 8.) Rs, a p.
50 1897-98 ... {12,616 8 ‘136 204 | 754 37 [891 174 | 838 82 | 62 253} 838 214) 2,096 5 6
51 1898-99 ... | 10,329 20 | 52 254 | 820 4 |872 294 | 685 94] 187 20 | 732 214) 1,831 6 6
52 The quantity of soap produced during the year was some-
53 what less than in 1897-98. The quantity of salt used for each
54 maund of soap produced was two seers 10°33 chittaks, as com-
55 pared with two seers 10°50 chittaks during 1897-98, The
56 quantity of salt required for manufacture varies with the
57 quality of the soap required, hard soaps needing more salt than
58 the softer varieties. The factory was frequently inspected by
59 officers of the Department during the year and the rules were
60 strictly complied with by the Company. ~
61 ( 3 )