SALT. 



191 



salt is obtained for the glass works. In 1891, 20,0iX) pomls of it were obtained. Formerly, 

 glauber's salt was also extracted from the Torzhiransk lake in the Baikal mountains, near the 

 Olkhonsk steppe d u m a, or seat of the local Tunguz administration. 



The total yield of salt in Siberia both by natural evaporation and from salt works 

 does not exceed, even under the best circumstances, two to three million ponds per annum, a 

 quantity which it is obvious cannot meet the wants of the whole population of Siberia pos- 

 sessing as it does a considerable quantity of cattle. 



The production of salt for the last ten years from the different governments was as follows. 



From the enumeration of the territories in which salt is obtained, it is evident that 

 immense areas of Siberia are almost destitute of their own salt and consequently must be 

 satisfied with the imported article. Such for example are Semirechensk, Akmolinsk, the 

 Littoral, Amour and other territories. Some of these regions possessing more or less conven- 

 ient communications easily get over this difficulty, but others are frequently placed in 

 an extremely embarrassing situation. For the avoidance of such a state of things the Govern- 

 ment "has long since recognized the necessity of taking upon itself the care of furnishing the 

 population with salt, mainly that of Eastern Siberia and Amouria, as least favourably situated 

 in reference to the supply of the mineral. With this view the Government has, in various 

 places of the territory mentioned, depots of salt and stores in which the necessary supplies 

 are always ready and given out at a very moderate price. Supplies collected by the Govern- 

 ment authorities are then distributed in different directions as required. Independently of 

 this and with the same view of better providing the people with salt, the Government rec- 

 ognized the possibility of allowing the Kirghiz of the Ural, Turgai, Akmolinsk and Seniipa- 

 latinsk territories the free use of salt from the Crown lakes of the Kirghiz steppe. Moreover to 

 the Siberian Cossack levies are issued 5,<X)0 ponds of salt per annum from the Crown, free 

 from any payment. This is taken straight from the Borovy lakes, the cost of carriage of 

 the salt from these lakes to Semipalatinsk and Ust-Kamenogorsk being covered by a grant 



