The Abingdon Virginian. [volume] (Abingdon [Va.]) 1849-1883, 1863-11-06
From the Lynchburg Virginian.
The Salt Works.

In a former notice of the management of
the Salt Works under Superintendent Clark
son and the Board of Public Works, we pro-
missed, in future article, to notice the cost of
the salt manufactured on State account.
The Board of Public Works say that "the
estimated cost of manufacturing this salt is
$500 per bushel" but they give no figures.
We propose, in part, to supply that omission.
It has been already stated that the prodac-
ton of salt from all sources, under the new
management. is 4S, 1913 bushels monthly, at
cost to the State of S96,7S6 Let it be re-
membered, however, that 44,l00 bushels of
the salt which is thus computed at $500 per
bushel, is received in the shape of rent from
the sub-lessees, and costs the State nothing,
not even for bagging and delivering on the
cars. 1t would appear then that the 1908
bushels delivered by the Superintendent is
properly chargeable with the gross amount,
which would make that salt cost S22.3l4 per
bushel-just $2.3l4 more than the extortion-
ers wiio after paying the State 100 bushels
rent monthly, for each kettle, can we'll afford
TO sell at and get rich on their profits. 1t is
barely possible, though no statement to that
effect is made, that the Board of Public Works
NAV assess the rent paid by the State upon
the salt; but even this, upon any reasonable
estimate of the capacity Of the furnaces leas-
ed, would, we are informed by persons famil-
lar with all the operations of the works and
their capacity, fall short of fifty cents to the
bushel. Indeed, considering the merely no.
minal rent paid by the State for the ten fur
naees, and the rent received from the SUBJ
lessees, it is believed that if the production of
salt from the two furnaces actually worked
by the State was what it should be, the real
cost to the people for their salt would not be
more than the rent paid by the State to Stu
art. Buchanan & Co. 1t would be more salts
factory to the people of Virginia if the Board
of Public Works, instead of giving in round
numbers the cost of the salt per bushel, would
show how. with ordinary good management,
the price of salt could reach $500 per bushel.
It appearing to- be the policy OF the Super
intendent to diminish rather than to increase
the production of salt, it is very obvious that
if the works Immediately under his control
are not made to yield more than the fourth of
their capacity, the cost of production must be
relatively larger.
We have no doubt that the concern OF II.
W. Clarkson & Co., (who have an agent IN
this city for the sale Of their salt, and receiv-
ed from one House, few days since, an IN
stallment of $4,000 for salt, ply their works
more efficiently. Let any one examine the
books Of the Virginia aud Tennessee Rail
Road Company at this place. to see what
quantities Of salt Clarkson & Co. can find
transportation for, and see how the depot
groans beneath the load Of pricate salt that
has been sent to this place at $50 per bushel,
and he may then comprehend, family at least,
the cause of the delinquency which keeps our
people from realizing the supplies to which
they are entitled on State account. The
brother OF this frm is Superintendent of the
Salt Works; he is moreover, Superintendent