The Abingdon Virginian. [volume] (Abingdon [Va.]) 1849-1883, 1862-12-05
Terms of Advertising.
BY THE GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA.
APROCLArf AEION.

BY THE GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA.
PROCL4krfAEION.
Tha General Assembly, at its late extra SEES
sion, called for the purpose, by me, appropriat-
ed a 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-
veyarces which fell into his hands, and the trans
portation Of our own armies to and from that
section of the State, had SO eFectually occupied
Or destroyed all the wagons and teams, that they
coud not be procured there, AID the country
had been so thoroughly devastated, that it was
Necessary co send, with the wagons procured
elsewhere, sll the produce requisite for the sup
port of the teams goihg and returning. Every
effort was made promptly to procure the trans
portation but the distance and the difficulties to
be encountered rendered rapid movements inn
practicable. The consequence has been that, be-
fore the train of Wagons which had been organ
ized and were On their way tliither could reach
their destination; tie enemy, III superior force,
again appeared at tie Kanawlfa Salines, and our
army has beer compelled to fall back, and but
an Insignificant amount of salt las been Obtained
by individuals and meme under the orders given.
Having made these arrangements, issued a
proclamation takrg possession OF all the salt
then ON hand, or that might be made, at the
Salt Works in SMITH and Washington counties.
I Immediately set out IL person for Saltvile,
- tho
wants of the peo3le When I arrived found
that the contracts thet existing wish the Con-
federate States, With sister Southern States, and
with cosinty and corporation Courts in this
Commonwealth, We're Of such character, that
this abrogation would resT1t in interminable con-
iicts and difficulties, in breaches Of faith and in
incalcuabte distress IfoInd, too, that instead of
purchasing for money, Che necessary supplies.
the fuel, transportation, labor and machinery fol-
these immense works. q System hgd prevailed for
years to barter them for salt, tht written orders
were given for salt, fer the amount bartered,
and that these orders Lad become the subject Of
speculation and extorticn. That this necessarily
absorbed a very large amount OF the salt manu-
featured, and that the proprietors were forced to
furnish the salt necessary to meet these orders,
Or have their works stopped for the want of sup
plies All these circumstances rendered it i'm
Of the Works and work them on State account =
It 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 that could
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 Saltville, q branch of the Virginia
and Tennessee railroad, at the price OF W oo35
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
yember. at the rate of 900 bushels per day, and
As. 600 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-
listing contracts made with the government of
the Confederate States, or with any separate
State Of the Confederate States, or with any
comfy or corporation court of this State, and as
large supplies are being furnished under these
contracts, there will not be so great competi-
ton in the market, and our people need not
submit to the extortion OF spectators; and es-
necialy. as sixty Of the counties and corpora
t;ons Of the State will, under their contracts,
Obtain upwards of 100000 bushels in addition
to the amount purchased,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, 4 have
6xed the sum Of three dollars per bushel, as
the prise 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