The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1871-03-02

now rnE PEOPLE ARE ROBBED BY IT.
A correspondent Of the Ne.v York
Times presents this subject 50 plainly
TO the public, as to bring il within the
comprehension Of everyone. Phe cor
respondent says -
Salt Is an article which all must use. II isa
necessary Of life almost as much as air and
water. rs found as mineral in many parts
of the inhabited world. The great bulk Of the
supply Of salt Is, however, derived from two
other sources, viz: Solar evaporation Of the
water OF the ocean and solar evaporation and
boiling the water from saline springs. Sea-
water salt Is made in vast quantities atvarions
points In warm climates, where labor Is cheap.
AT most OF tho salt ports large stocks are
generally On hand, which are piled In immense
heaps in tho open air, the only protection from
the infrcquent rains being the ernst on the out
side Of the pile made by burning large quanti-
ties Of light brentwood on them. Thus Il will
be seen that cheap labor is the principal part
nf the cost OF salt at the places alluded to-
Vessels frequently visit these places and pur-
chase cargoes Of the very best salt as low as
four cents per bashei OF about seventy polnds'
weight. Turks Island salt sells at the Islands
Is about the highest ever paid for common salt,
in foreign countries, to be brought to the United
States. Saline springs are found In many parts
oil the world, and are quite nuperous in the
United States. Previous to the war foreign
salt was admitted free Of duty, or at very low
rate, and AZ that time domestic salt was made
al the West, and sold as low Is twelve cents
per bushei. This price paid fair profit TO the
manufacturer, and at this price 1t can be made
and sold to-day Ayast business is done in the
manufacture Of salt In the neighborhood OF
liverpool, England. Some idea of the impor-
lance Of this trade may be had by considering
the fact that daring the year 1870 over oil, 900
tons, Of I, zf0 pounds each, were exported from
Liverpool and minor ports on the River Mersey.
Salt Is sold at the works in Cheshire at about
four cents per bushel, and brought TO Liverpool
and delivered on board ship at cost of abJu,
six cents per bashel. The manufacturer Il
obliged TO incur large expense for land, build
ings, steam machinery, coal, labor, 2c., vet the
business is profitable, Us 10 proved BY the fact
that Il has been continued at about this price
Tor salt for many years, and the product grad
uaily increased. Having explained thus much
70 your readers, some may inquire, why Is II
that we are now compelled to pay forty or fifty
cents Der bushel for salt The answer Is, solely
on account OF the existence OF a salt monopoly.
Through the influence Of the " Onondaga Sail
Company" Of Syracuse, N. Y, the duty on
salt Is and has been for some years eighteen
cents per hundred pounds when imported in
bulk, twenty-four cents when 10 sacks. This
duty amounts 10 about two hundred per cent.
on the foreign cost The freight and other ex-
penses amount to about one hundred and sew
enty-iire per cent. additional. So appears
that the salt monopoly is protected by duty,
freight, Ac., TO the extent OF three hundred and
scventy-tve per cent on the foreign east oil
this article, which we maintain they can pro.
duce as cheap rs it can be made abroad, the
difference in cost OF labor alone excepted. Ia
proof Of this il is only necessary 10 state that
the salt monopoly have secured by legislation
entire control OF all the salt manufactured in
New York State, with the exception of q few
hundred bushels year made at Montezuma
and pay the State the merely nominal sum o
one cent per bushei for sinking wells, supply
Ing machinery, labor, &C., and delivering IL
the brine which they use. They have hedged
themselves in with United States and Stat,
Legislation and grown immensely rich. The,
sell their salt at different prices in differe1
markets for the purpose Of crushing out al
competition and controlling the bust ness. The,
ship salt 10 Canada and sell IL there at yer,
much below the prices which they compel New
York State and the Western trade to pay. Tn,
New England fishermen are permitted by nc
OF Congress TO use foreign salt free Of duty
yet this salt monopoly ship large quantitie
East for the purpose Of supplying this trade
Their profits are so enormous that they cal
and do sell at any price which they may thinl
necessary to discourage competition iron
other native manufactures or foreign mporta
tion. For this reason other native salt-n aker
are anxious to bring about repeal of the duty
10 fact this salt monopoly stands alone withou
advocates, except il may be the eliques q
Washington whs are banded together fcr Ior
rolling purposes. The entire revenue frou
salt has been as follows