The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-02-27
THE SALT QUESTION.

This question, we observe, is again under
hammer In the Legislature A joint COM
mittee Of both Houses, to whom was re-
ferrsd aundry allegations of the State Super.
intendent and suggestions of the Board of
Public Works, and who were instructed to
ascertain the causes Of the obstructions 10
furnishing supply of salt to the people,
have, after protrscted investigation, sub
mitted report. In this report the COM
mittee state:
The whole evidence conclusiveiy shows that the
lessons have repeatedly failed 10 deliver brine u
the State furnaces, according 70 the terms of their
contract Of fease whereby said furnaces could not
be wurked up 10 their fiiil boiling capacity, and
Were In fact often ssbtown out, entirs;y Tor the
want Of q supply or SAT- water The committee
clearly Of opinion that there IL legal liability
resting ton Stuart, buchanan 4 Co. to make good
to the state the loss resulting from this failure on
their part TO comply with their contract The
tenor Of the evidence estimates the loss from this
source at from fifteen thousand 10 twenty thousand
bushels of salt.
The Superintendent, in his communication to
the Board OF Supervisors, of date September T.
1863, complains that the lessons delivered portion
Of the leased furnaces in very bad order the aues
Of some of the furnaces requiring extensive re-
pairs, almost, or quite equivalent to rebuilding
them These allegations fluffy sustained by
the evidence, and the loss accruing thefefr0M at
one Of the furnaces, estimated by one Of the wit
masses nj 'sfrom four hundred to Ave hundred bush
els OF salt per day for ten or twelve days." when
the state first took possession. Your committee
would be derelict of their duty, if they failed, in
this inaI report, TO bear their emphatic and un-
qualified testimony IL the zeal, energy, intelIi
gence, and skill In the whole complicated business,
and no less the integrity and fidelity to his trust
which has marked, In conspicuous manner, the
administration of John N. ClarksHn, the State Su
perntendent of Salt.
R,,fv ,honf fto ASc IIc tt,x
disiressful aud amcst alarming condition of our
people throughout the year 1867 and the first half
OF 1868; the absolute suffering Of msn and beast
for want of salt; the repeated failures to Oh
tain il from the owners of the Salt Works, under
county contracts and contracts by the Governor
and now, on the Qfter hand, lind that the people
and the markets are so fully supplied with sound
mcrchanab able article that pite deprecated eur
rency and fabulous prices for all ohsr articles of
human consumption. salt alone 10 quoted in the
price lists s'dnl and flat' and "cheap." they will
find In this the highest vindication of their Iegis
laive policy, and proof that they have been f0rtu
nate i'll their selection of agents to carry out that
policy.
The Committee it seems made sundry eff.
forts to make satisfactory arrangements with
the proprietors ofthe salt works for con,inu-
ing the State operations in making salt after
the expiration Of the present lease, on the
Sth of June next, but they say the proprie.
tors SO fettered their proposals with terms
andstipulations as virtually, in the judgment
of the committee, to render the whole
scheme nugatory. The report then proceeds
with the following recommendations
That the State shall immed ateIy impress the six
furnaces known the ''Chares Scott y Co.'S
works." and stall, prior to the 9Th day OF June next,
impress nine OF the ten furnaces of Stuart, Bu-
chsnan & Co., now leased by the State /: also the
"ireston" well, and SO much salt water from the
King and Finley wells as shall be ample to supply
the said fifteen fun2ees Likewise, that the sup-
eriDtendcnt have authority, under the supervisor
OF the board OF supervisors, to impress standing
wood for operating said furnaces.
Your committee deem it unnec ecess8ry to 60 into
any argument to justify the Commonwealth In as
sertng her right Of eminent domain in time Of
war In and 10 her only available salt wells. A
portion of your committee favored the condemna-
ton of this entire salt property the public use
State and Confederate. But the committee pre-
fer u cGnfine themselves 10 so much only as shall
be ample insure full supply ofthis indispensa-
bic necessary OF life TO our own people and 10 the
armies ofthe Confederacy, aud should any suTpius
he left over, then to furnish that surplus 10 our
sister Confederate States.