1 SALT REVENUE DEPARTMENT FOR THE OFFICIAL YEAR 1899-1900,
2 Charges— 18£8 99. 1899-1900. Differences,
3 Estab lishment ‘es a 1,832,292 1,36,826 4,535
4 Contingencies Bh ce avs 87,191 33,059 —4,132
5 Total 169,482 ~—>—-1, 69,885 +403
6 ° Net revenue 18,056 21,474 +3,418
7 The decrease in excise duty on salt occurred entirely in
8 Behar and Calcutta, and was due largely to the continued de-
9 cline of the saltpetre industry in Calcutta. In the North-
10 Western Provinces the receipts from this source were larger
11 than in 1898-99 by Rs. 2,630. The realizations from license
12 fees show a small increase ; and there was a large increase in
13 the quantity of sééa (impure saltpetre salt) removed from bond
14 on payment of fees, The total revenue was better than that
15 of 1898-99 by Rs. 3,821, but nearly the whole of this increase
16 was: covered by an increase in the charges.
17 The cost of the establishment was greater owing to officers
18 of higher grades having’been posted to the Branch and to the
19 payment of exchange compensation allowances. The decrease
20 in expenditure under contingencies is distributed over a number
21 of minor heads.
22 The cost of the Branch is excessive. In the Lower Divi-
23 sion the charges exceeded the receipts by Rs. 4,201,"and in pur«
24 suance of the policy inaugurated by Mr. Carey in 1890 further
25 reductions have been made in the establishment employed, both
26 superior and inferior. The reduction of one Superintendent and
27 of seven Inspectors formerly employed in the Internal Branch
28 has already received the sanction of the Government of India,
29 and proposals for reduction of the subordinate establishment
30 are now being submitted.
31 53. The number of licenses issued for the manufacture of
32 saline substances and the fees realized during the past two
33 years were as follows :—
34 Saltpetre Crude . _
35 refineries. saltpetre. Khari. Sajji.
36 Bi ehh ach alia
37 arg (ele ;8is]2| 3
38 a ~ w om a = 4, os
39 ’ a i a ef ee |
40 Panjab (1898-99 32] 1,600} 1,129) 2,259) «4. us be acs
41 anya 71899-1900... 34) 1,700) 1,881) 2.572| “te a ai
42 North- Western ¢ 1898-99. 117] 5,812] 5,677) 11,339f 408] 3,664) 816! 1,682
43 Provinces}
44 and Oudh 1899-1900... 109] 5,450} 6,196] 12,858} 475) 4,295} 897} 1,794
45 Province of (1898-99 a, 330)165 00] 30,191! 7,544] 7,157| 1,780) 551, 138
46 Behar in
47 Bengal. (1899-1900... 801] 15,050] 32,244! 8,061] 7,325) 1,831 3 1
48 City of acs es aes 14 7OO| os ae ay ee vies iae
49 cutta, 1899-1900... 32! 600]... see a ar “ es
50 Total (1898-99, 493 | 24,612136.997 }21,142) 7,565} 5,453} 1,367] 1,770
51 iy 01899-1900... 456 | 22,800] 39,771| 22,991] 7,800} 6,126] 9C0} 1,795
52 Increase veal! oe wee 2,774} 1,849] 235} 673) ... 25
53 ‘ Decrease 87; 1,812) ... ste see Ss 467
54 Net Increase ... aes eon eos aes “as ive es, ase
55 Thirty-seven of the smaller refineries closed, but there was
56 an increase of 2,774 in the number of crude saltpetre works.
57 The prices of saltpetre during the year, especially during the
58 latter part of it, were a little higher than they were in 1898-99,
59 aud the increase in the number of crude works was doubtless
60 due to this cause. :
61 There was an increase in the number of licenses issued
62 for the manufacture of khari (impure sulphate of soda); and
63 ( 3l )
64 INTERNAL BRANCH,
65 Fluctuations in revenue
66 and exrenditure ex-
67 plained.
68 Issue of licenses.
69 Rassi. Total.
70 §
71 _
72 g 5 2
73 oa A
74 one tes 1,161; 3,859
75 eee icy 1,365) 4,272
76 321 642] 7,339) 23,089
77 239} 478} 7,916] 21,875
78 sé vee | 38,229) 25,071
79 : vas | 39,873 24,043
80 aaa aes 14 FVo
81 one sas 13 fU0
82 321 642! 46,743) 53,619
83 239 478} 49,166] 54,190
84 on see 3,009] 2,547
85 82 164 586! 1,976
86 2,423 571
87 Saltpetre works.
88 Khari works,