1 5 2 JIISEN B Y PERSE VE RANGE. 



forming works to supply the town with water, and in the first 

 Parliamentary election in the borough. As the last head 

 constable of the town, Mr. Salt discharged his duties very 

 thoroughly. In November 1848, he was elected Mayor of 

 Bradford. The speech of Mr. Alderman Forbes, in proposing 

 him for the office, gave in brief a good character sketch of the 

 future Mayor. 



•You are all, gentlemen, familiar,' he said, ' with Mr. Salt's 

 character and position. The founder of his own fortune, he 

 has raised himself to an eminence in the manufacturing 

 interest of this town surpassed by none \ and he now finds 

 himself, as a reward for his industry, intelligence, and energy, 

 at the head of a vast establishment, and affording employment 

 to some thousands of workpeople. As we all know, Mr. 

 Salt was the means of introducing a most important branch of 

 trade into this town (I mean the alpaca trade), and thus rescuing 

 that trade from comparative obscurity. Bringing to bear upon 

 it his capital and skill, he not only realized great advantage 

 for himself, but produced new fabrics in the manufactories 

 of this district, thus developing a branch of business most im- 

 portant and beneficial to the working population, I believe, 

 gentlemen, the same sagacity, practical good sense, cool 

 judgment, and vigorous energy, which have hitherto dis- 

 tinguished Mr. Salt, will be brought to bear upon the public 

 business of this borough. You need not be told of his princely 

 benefactions to our various local charities, nor of that 

 magnificent generosity which is always open to the appeal of 

 distress, and the claims of public institutions having for their 

 object the improvement of our population. With a warm 

 heart, a sound head, a knowledge of our local interests con- 

 ferred by long experience, and a 'disposition manifested on 



