The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-11-19

eral countries is reported with a close
approximation to accuracy, it is i'm
possible to tell how much is otherwise
consumed. While 1t is asy for a fam
lily to keep a record Of all the salt it
uses directly, a considerable quantity
to the family.
Thus 1t will happen that two FAM
lilies having an equal number of men,
bers will consume a very unequal
quantity Of salt. In the United States
there were produced somewhat more
than 1000, 900 short tons. This would
allow more than 80 pounds to each in
dividual, an amount that seems hardly
credible. 1t is, however, so cheap that
a great deal is wasted: Large guam
titles are also used in the arts in vari-
ous forms.
In Europe the quantity Of salt APP
%portioned to each individual. outside of
Russia. Is reckoned at 80 pounds. But
the various countries differ greatly in
this respect. rather less than 10 pounds
being assigned to Spain, % pounds to
England. and 40 to Germany. Where
the price is high and the people poor
it is sparingly used; where it is cheap
and the standard Of living relatively
high a great deal is wasted.
The salt monopoly was perhaps the
most oppressive form of taxation de-
vised by government. 1t was levied
on the assumption that 1t is indispen-
sable and that the subject must have
a certain amount of it and will buy it
without regard to cost. This method
Of collecting revenue prevailed in al
most all the countries of Europe until
far along in the modern era, its OBJ
ject being to collect the largest amount
of revenue without regard to the fin
ancial ability of the consumer.
Not only was the manufacture of
the article a government monopoly. 1t
also appointed inspectors. whose busi-
ness it was to see that every subject
purchased an amount arbitrarily ap-
portioned, and hat he did not sell any
persons who lived on the seashore.
where they could provide themselves
with salt without expense. were for
hidden to do SO. and the coast was pa
trolled to prevent them from obtaining
the brine.
This monopoly was abolished in
France. at least on paper, in 1890; in
Prussia in 1916: in SaXony. a country
that produces but little salt. not until
in some countries a sort of embargo
or revenue tax on the manufacture OF
the article, and salt works are guard
ed like the distilleries of the United
States. In Austria all salt wells and
mines are the property Of the govern
ment. England has levied no tax on
salt since 1925; Belgium only since
1871.
Some countries still raise consider
able revenue from salt. if their situa-
ton is such that its manufacture cam
not be carried on cheaply. The sta
tistics of the Italian government for
1898 report that the largest item
in the budget was derived from the
revenue of the salt monopoly. Since
then the price has been much reduc-
ed, yet only last year the government
collected $4,000 900 from this item.
Common salt costs in Italy 4 cents a
pound at present. This is a very high
price in a country where the laborer
works ten or twelve hours a day for 10
cents. in some districts even for 10
cents. So precious was salt that if
you offered the children of the very
poor their choice between a handful
Of sweetmeats and salt they always
chose the later.