1G4 COGGIN BROWN : MINES & MINERAL RESOURCES OF YUNNAN. 



To give some idea of the great extent to which this manufac- 

 ture has grown I add the following numerical data. Whilst I 

 have made every endeavour in my power to obtain correct figures, 

 I cannot in any way guarantee them. They were given me 

 entirely by the head officials, or their clerks, of the Salt Revenue 

 Department in each place. (H. B, M. Consul-General in Yunnan 

 Fu informed me that the mandarin in charge of the salt reve- 

 nues of the whole province has the same rank as a territorial 

 ' Tao-tai," which shows the importance attached by the Chinese 

 to the salt industry). 



Locality. 



Lan-ching 

 Hei-ching 

 Hou -chins 



Estimated output per 



annum. 



('allies. 



960,000 



7,200,000 



12,000,000 



Total 



Tons. 



671 



4,285 

 7,143 



201, GOO 11,999 



(piculs) (appro.v.) 



Value in 

 rupees. 



Rs. 



88,975 



7,90,244 

 13,17,073 



21,90,292 



Note.— The value is calculated on the retail spot price per 100 catties and on 

 the assumption that 100 catties^ 133* lbs. avoirdupois 

 41 taols=Rs. 100 (1908 exchange value). 

 Fractions of one ton are not included. 



As salt is a monopoly of the Chinese Government, and also a 

 source of revenue in the Indian Empire, questions are raised, in 

 any discussion with regard to its trans-frontier carriage, which 

 cannot be dealt with by a geologist. The supply of salt for Yunnan 

 itself with its large population, appears to be in no danger of 

 exceeding the demand. One of the most serious expenses of the 

 industry is the cost of transportation, from the manufacturing 

 centres to the areas of distribution, which is at present carried on 

 by coolie or by pack mules. The introduction of railways into 

 the province will considerably reduce this expenditure. 



There is a splendid opportunity for the introduction of European 

 machinery into the salt wells and mines. Small pumps of no 

 great cost working at the wells would effect great economy, whilst 



