Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1862-12-04
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.

here great deal sad and most OF said honestly no
doubt about restraining extortion and speculation in
the neceasaries Of life, and especially in SALT Salt seems
to be the stalking horse the avourte hobby of all those
who go for regulating prices by law.
In ordinary times bushel of sack salt is estimated
to De enough to- cue thousand pounds Of meat
Making all reasonable allowance for tie difference in
weight and other respects between sack salt and Sound
SALT hushel Of the latter will cure between Blk and
seven hundred pounds at cost of three cents mound
with salt at $40 bushel and between four and FIVE
cents pound With salt ut $50 bnshel That salt
could be largely economieed have DO doubt--we
know it. We have seen it tried it will thus appear
that although salt is high-v bigh-too high, its
high price cannot account for ALL or even for any con
siderable proportion Of the rise 10 the price of bacos
But the attempt to reduce the price of salt must re-
suit in failure. while the supply of that article Is IN
adequate TO tho demsndwhiIe the volume Of cur
rency far exceeds healthy standard end is constantly
incr1 Easing, and above ALL while the works erected for
salt production exposed TO the attacks of the
As the thing stands now. salt making ia lottery.
Money may be made aud made rapidly; hut on the
other band the whole investment may be swept of be-
fore any return a realized by the parties engaged who
have the chances of aud of peace both against them
The enemy may she'll their works The enemy may at
tack Wilmington and capture it. Where then would
be the saltworksH Oron the other hand peace may be
somehow brought about aid salt be poured in at prices
which would render competition ridiculous.
We are oherng no plea for the extravagant prices
asked for salt, but giving reasons why VIC think
any attempt at artificial restriction of prices must
failure, and We are pointing to of the elements
at work to bring about such ailure-to wit :-Inade
quate supply; Inflated currency, and finally the inse
cure and constantly exposed position of tbs works on
the seacoast II the feeling Of insecurity was renewed
1t would go far towards removing another of the
Tor the high price of satWe mean the inadequate sup
ply. Although many have taken all the risks of the
salt business, and have gone into it, and have made
money, yet very many have been kept out of it by
consideration of the risks involved.
But high price or lov price, salt is necessity ant
whether the people of North Carolina are to have sal
at eny price, depends upon whether the Cape Fea
and the adjacent sounds and seacoast can be successful
defended With certainty of protection, the regio
thus referred to make salt enough not only for th
State, but much more to spare. Let it be seize
and those who have found fault already, will indeed
have double reason for being afflicted,
The great interests nvoved-we do not mean u1erel
even principally the interest of the salmaker bu
the great interests of the satconsumers the interests
the State and the Confederate States all cali for prt
lection to the Cape Fear River, the town of Whining
ton and the adjacent Sounds now by far the creates
salt'producing region along our Atlantic coast.
We give the enemy no information when we SAL thi
for assured that they know all about it. We
not invite attack for that believe to be deter mine
on. We ask for fair chance of defending tbs plae
t 1chon attacked.