1 (3)
2 SULTANPUR
3 SALT WORKS.
4 Sales and issues of salt.
5 Appendix II.
6 Distribution of trade.
7 Appendix VI.
8 Manufacture of salt.
9 Appendix V.
10 NORTH-WEST
11 FRONTIFR PROV-
12 NCE:
13 KOHAT MINES.
14 Sales of salt.
15 Appendix I.
16 .
17 « REPORT ON THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE NORTHERN iNDIA
18 without allowances, to hold charge of the quarries, I said
19 that it was quite possible that the more economical arrange-
20 ment would prove to be the more efficient. one. Inspectors
21 with charge allowances were appointed to hold charge in
22 July 1901, and the registered sales in 1901-02 were larger than
23 they have been for nine years.
24 It is probable, however, that in future the reduction of the
25 duty on ¢zs-Indus rock salt will enable this salt to push back
26 Mandi salt in all markets which are within reasonable distance
27 of the railway, as the reduction in the cost of Mandi salt is not
28 proportionate to the reduction in the cost of the superior
29 article. Mandi methods of administration also are not calcu-
30 lated to develop the trade, All head load men visiting the
31 quarries are required to do aday’s work there without pay-
32 ment. Attempts therefore are made to prevent Jocal salt
33 traders from buying salt and retailing it in villages from which
34 head load men would be likely to come. The effect (if any)
35 of the reduction of the duty will appear in the next two or
36 three years.
37 58. There was a further decline in the trade of the Sul-
38 tanpur Salt Works. Maunds 59,352 of salt were sold com-
39 pared with maunds 64,989 in 1901-02, and the falling off in
40 the trade amounted to maunds 5,636. Sales were affected
41 adversely by the Imperial Darbar at Delhi, as carriage for
42 the removal of salt by road was difficult to obtain, and the
43 booking of goods over the railway line vzé Delhi, the only
44 outlet for the rail-borne traffie of these works, was temporarily
45 suspended. The works, however, appear tobe doomed. The
46 issues amounted to maunds 58,702 against maunds 65,520 in
47 the previous year, a decrease of maunds 6,818, The. uncleared
48 balance ‘at the end of the year was maunds 1,052 compared
49 with maunds 402 at the end of igot-o2, :
50 59. The falling off in the quantity of salt issued for con-
51 sumption occurred principally in the local trade with the part
52 of the Punjab in which the works are situate. The trade by
53 rail with the United Provinces was fairly well maintained.
54 60, Thirty-five factories were worked during the year,
55 and maunds 64,022 of salt were added to stock compared
56 with maunds 64,105 in 1901-02 There ‘was a balance of
57 maunds 7,344 in stock, and this was sufficient as manufacture
58 was proceeding when the year closed. The season was a good
59 one for manufacture and the produce was of fair average
60 quality. Remunerative prices were obtained by the manufac-
61 turers for their salt. Maunds 15,459 were sold at varying rates
62 from six annas and upwards a maund, maunds 15,430 at from
63 five annas to under six annas, maunds 23,670 from four annas
64 to under five annas, maunds 4,594 at three annas to under
65 four annas, and only 200 maunds at less than three annas.
66 61. Duty was realised on maunds 3,74,644 of Kohat
67 salt compared with maunds 4,26,023 in the previous year,
68 and the decrease amounts to.maunds 51,379. The falling
69 off in the trade of the year may be ascribed to stocks of salt
70 in the Peshawar District having been drawn upon, to scarcity
71 of fodder and water on the trade routes, and possibly to
72 some of the camels used forthe carriage of salt having been
73 drawn away to the Imperial Darbar at Delhi. It is also pos-
74 sible that during the latter part of the year the traders may,
75 have had an idea that the duty was likely to be reduced and -
76 restricted their transactions accordingly. From enquiries
77 made in Peshawar and its neighbourhood it appears that the
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