Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-12-09
WEST VIRGINIA AND FREE SALT.

WEST VIRGINIA. AND FREE SALT.
The fact Of the resumption Of the
Kanawha ssls works is not the only evil
denee that West Virginia salt panufac,
tUrers do not fear free salt, but, rather,
welcome it. We have in addition the
testimony OF Mr.. WILLIAM A. HAZARD,
OF FRANCIS d. MoULToN & Co., who
gives evidence that the placing Of salt
on the free list will not injure to the
extent Of an iota the American salt in
dustry, but will benefit it and
also the industries that use it.
This is particularly true of West Vir-
ginia's salt industries, whose product is
OF peculiar quality and useful, partic-
ularly for packing purposes, but also for
table use. The effect Of the salttariff has
been simply to increase the expenses Of
these industries while it has retarded
the production of salt in America by
giving the New York and Michigan
trust a monopoly that has almost
killed the Industry in West Virginia
since the institution Of the tariff. Mr..
HAZARD says;
"As regards the result Of the abolition
Of the duty upon American salt l would
say that the manufacturers will not be af-
tected az all, inasmuch as IL is we'll
known fact that American salt has been
selling for long time at a price much less
than the foreign salt can be sold AT, even
with the duty removed.
The American manufacturers have only
been in competition among themselves,
and the low prices az which they have sold
their products shows that they have not
considered the competition Of the foreign
salt In their calculations.
And this competition with the trust
has been almost the ruination of West
Virgiuia's salt works, which were num-
erous and prosperous before it began.
Mr. HAZARD continues:
The ordinary salt which is so largely in
use, known as common fine, or "Oarreln
salt, is and has been for some time past
selling 40 less than s. per ton of 2,OOO
pounds IN bulk, at the works in Western
New York The duty on this grade Of salt
the difference between the price Of this
grade OF salt and the duty alone IS less
than 40 cents per ton. Comment is I'M
necessary.
"The English factory filed salt, such as
is used By packers bakers, etc, cannot be
brought 10 New York at less than Sl.lO
per sack Of pa pounds. The correspond
ing grade of American salt can be delivered
In New York in car lots at 20 cents per
sack.
West Virginia salt, by the way, which
is peculiarly suitable for this purpose,
can be LAID down in New York for
even less cost than that. Mr.. HAZARD
ADDS:
''Now, if the present duty az cents per
100 pounds on salt in packages say q cents
for 22t pouuds) were removed, 1t would
make the cost of English salt laid down IN
this market, So cents, as against 20 cents,
present selling price Of domestic.
There will De- however, q duty on the
sacking when salt is imported in bags,
which will add a little TO the above figure,
aud make the price of salt delivered IN
New York somewhat more IN favor Of the
domestic article.
This" he concludes, "is merely an
example Of what would be the result Of
the removal of the present tariff as
affecting the American salt industries.
There is not salt.prOducing district
in this country that is not protected by
its geographical situation from any
com petition OF the iuoPorteu aIN'ela- ns
the freigbts from seaboard to inland
points are always against the foreign
salt.
So the result Of the abolition Of the
tariff would not be detrimental to
American salt-producihg industries,
while it would enable those who must
have tie foreign article at any cost to
get it at less price than they have
been compelled to pay for it.