The Abingdon Virginian. [volume] (Abingdon [Va.]) 1849-1883, 1862-11-21
BY THE GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA.
A PROCLAMATION.

iHo NeNeIaA assembly, at Its late extra SeS-
sion, called for the purpose, by me, appropriate
ed half million of dollars for the purchase of
salt for the citizens Of this Commonwealth.
Immediately upon the passage Of the act
ordered the Quartermaster of the State forces to
procure transportation, in the shortest possible
time, for hauling from the Kanawha Salines,
all the salt which his means of transportation
would enable him to accomplish, and [ caused
him to be furnished with ample funds for the
purpose. The inroads of the enemy into the
Kanawha Valley and the destruction Of all con-
veyances which fell into his hands, and the trans
portatlon OF our own armies to and from that
section of the State, had so effectually occupied
or destroyed all the wagons and teams, that they
could not be procured there, and the country
had been so thoroughly devastated, that it was
necessary to send, with the wagons procured
elsewhere, all the produce requisite for the sup
port Of the teams going and returning. Every
effort was made promptly to procure the trans
portation, but the distance and the dlficuties to
be encountered rendered rapid movements i'm
practicable The consequence has been that be-
fore the train of wagons which had been organ
lied and were on their way thither could reach
their destination, the enemy, in superior force,
again appeared at the Kanawha Salines, and our
army has been compelled to fall back, and but
an Insignificant amount of salt has been obtained
by individuals and none under the orders given.
Having made these arrangements, issued d
proclamation taking possession of all the salt
then on hand, or that might be made, at the
Salt Works in Smyth and Washington counties.
/ Immediately set out in person for Saltville,
hoping to obtain there a supply to meet the
wants of the people. When 1 arrived [ found
that the contracts then existing with the Con-
federate States, with sister Southern States, and
with county and corporation Courts in this
Commonwealth, were Of such character, that
this abrogation would result in interminable con-
ficts and difficulties, in breaches of faith and in
incacuable distress. found, too, that instead of
purchasing for money, the necessary supplies,
the fuel, transportation; labor and machinery for
these immense works, a system had prevailed for
years to barter them for salt; thatwritten orders
were given for salt, for the amount bartered,
and that these orders had become the subject of
speculation and extortion. That this necessarily
absorbed very large amount of the salt manu-
factured and that the proprietors we're forced to
furnish the salt necessary to meet these orders,
or have their works stopped for the want Of sup
plies. ALI these circumstances rendered it inn
proper and unadvisabe for me to take possession
of the Works and work them on State account
1t was Impossible to put UP new works in time to
meet the immediate wants of the State, my only
alternative, therefore, was to purchase all the
salt over and above existing contracts hatcould
be manufactured within any reasonable time
After considerable difficulty, made contract
with responsible parties to furnish the State with
10000 bushels of salt, that being the full capa
city of manufacture by the existing works, af-
ter supplying existing contracts The salt is to
be furnished in bags or barrels and delivered on
the cars, at Saltyille, a branch of the Virginia
and Tennessee railroad, at the price of 81 3333
per bushel.
It was my earnest desire to obtain the largest
quantities at the earliest periods. But found
this impracticable. The Contract requires the
parties to furnish the quantity contracted for as
follows: $4,000 bushels in the month of No
vember, at the rate of 500 bushels per day, and
As, 0GO bushels in each Of the months of Decem-
Der, January and February, at the rate Of 1900
bushels per day.
AS it was specially stipulated in the contract
made, that the delivery Of the salt contracted
for. to the State, should not interfere with ex-
isting contracts made with the government of
the Confederate States, or with any separate
State of the Confederate States, or with any
county or corporation court of this State, and as
large supplies are being furnished under these
contracts, there viii not be SO great COMPETE
ton in the market, and our people need not
submit to the extortion OF spectators; and es-
peciaIly. as sixty of she counties and corpora
tions Of the State will, under their contract
obtain upwards of 800, 600 bushels in addition
to the amount purehased..by me, it is hoped that
that amount, though not as great as could have
been desired, will mitigate in some measure the
urgent wants of the people.
To cover all costs and charges incident to
purchase, transportation and distribution, have
fixed the sum Of three dollars per bushel, as
the price to be paid by all recipients of salt un-
der the law, being at the rate of six cents per-
pound And do hereby proclaim, according
to law, that the sale Of any salt obtained under
the State contract and distributed by authority
of this proclamation at a higher price than at
the rate of six cents per pound under any pre-
text whatever is misdemeanor, and the sale of
each pound thereof at higher price, is declar-
/ ed by law to be separate offence and the per-
son convicted thereof is liable to a fine of not
less than one hundred nor more than two thou
sand dollars.
To carry out the provisions of the law, the !
regulations hereto appended have been prescrlb-
ed by me, and any violation thereof is also de-
clared by the law to be a misdemeanor, to be
punished by like fine
Given under my hand at Rich
LIS. mond, and under the seal of the Com
l--J monwealth, this 18th day of Novem-
Der, 1862, and in the 87th year Of the Common
wealth.
JOHN LETCHER.
By the Governor,
Gro. W. MuNFoRD,
Secretary of the Commonwealth.
RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR TIE SALE DIS
TRIBUTIoN OF SALT BY THE GOVERNOR.