(No. 3.)

Rules and Regulations, made by the Superintendent and Inspector. At a Meeting of the Superintendent of the Onondaga Salt Springs and the Inspector of Salt in the County of Onondaga, held at the Superintendent's Office in the Village of Salina, on the first day of August, 1831, the following rules and regulations were made: 1st. As quicklime is considered most useful and effectual in the preparation of the salt water in the cisterns, for the purpose of making salt by boiling, therefore, ordered that it be used in the following manner and proportions: Not less than six, nor more than twelve quarts of good quicklime, to be well mixed with four thousand gallons of water in the cistern, by sifting it over the surface or otherwise; and in that proportion for a greater or less quantity: That a sufficient time be allowed after the admixture of the lime, for precipitation to take place, and for the water to become transparent before it is drawn into the kettle to be boiled. And it is further ordained, that every person engaged in the manufacture of salt by boiling, who neglects to comply with the foregoing rule or regulation, either by the use of lime in a greater or less proportion, or by drawing the water from the cistern into the kettle to be manufactured before it has become transparent, pay a fine or pe nalty of five dollars for each offence.

2d. That the cistern or reservoir for each block of kettles shall be cleaned as often as once a month, while the block or manufactory is in operation. And it is further ordained, that each manufacturer or boiler who shall neglect to comply with this regulation, shall forfeit and pay the sum of ten dollars.

3d. That the conduits leading the water from the cistern to the kettles, shall be inserted so as to receive the water at least four inches above the bottom of the cistern. And it is further ordained, that each manufacturer who shall neglect to comply with this regulation, shall forfeit and pay the sum of fifty cents for each day his manufactory is in operation, without complying with this regulation.

4th. That a good bittern pan shall be placed in each kettle, as soon as the kettle is filled with water for boiling, and to be drawn as often as necessary to extract from the pickle the sediment depositing therein; which process shall be continued until the salt deposits to prevent it. And be it further ordained, that each manufacturer or boiler who neglects to comply with this regulation, shall forfeit and pay the sum of twenty-five cents for each offence. 5th. Each manufacturer shall furnish at least four good baskets to every five kettles in operation, into which baskets the salt shall be drawn, and there remain in the usual way or manner over the kettle, until well drained before it is discharged into the salt bin, and there to remain as discharged from the basket, until the Inspector or one of his deputies shall have an opportunity to see it before

the same is broken to pieces, in their daily examination of the manufactory. And be it further ordained, that each manufacturer or boiler who does not comply with this regulation, shall forfeit and pay the sum of two dollars.

6th. That the salt bin shall be kept clean, clear from dirt or filth; and that no salt but such as is first quality salt, be put therein, or mixed with good salt. And it is further ordained, that each manufacturer or boiler in any manufactory who shall knowingly offend against this regulation, shall forfeit and pay the sum of two dollars for each offence.

7th. All salt manufacturers, their boilers and packers, are required and ordered to be careful, and be sure to prevent bad salt being put into barrels for inspection. And it is further ordained, that each person wilfully or knowingly offending against this regulation, shall forfeit and pay two dollars.

8th. The habit of wetting salt in the bin, barrel or otherwise, and the discharging of wet salt into the bin, is hereby expressly forbidden. And it is further ordained, that each person who shall hereafter offend by wetting the salt as aforesaid, or by discharging wet salt into the bin, shall forfeit and pay ten dollars.

9th. Each salt manufacturer and every boiler of salt, whenever they cool down the manufactory to peck out the kettles, the pickle then remaining in the kettles, it is hereby ordered, shall be thrown away; and each person who neglects to comply with this order, shall forfeit and pay two dollars.

NEHEMIAH H. EARLL,

Superintendent of the Onondaga Salt Springs.

MATTHEW V. VLECK,

Inspector of Salt in the County of Onondaga.

IN ASSEMBLY,

January 15, 1834.

REPORT

Of the committee on so much of the Governor's message as relates to the reduction of duties on salt, and the petition of sundry inhabitants of Onondaga.

Mr. Strong, from the committee to whom was referred so much of the Governor's message as relates to the reduction of the duties on salt, and also the petition of sundry inhabitants of the county of Onondaga, praying for the reduction of duties on salt manufactured in this State,

REPORTED:

That they have had the subject under consideration, and that it appears a matter of great importance to your committee, that the duties on domestic salt be reduced to the lowest rate of which the Constitution will admit. There can be no question as to the policy of this State in providing sufficient security for salt manufactured therein, against exclusion from any market to which it is practicable to carry it, either within or beyond the confines of this State. The act of April 15th, 1817, establishing the tax or duty on domestic salt at 12 cents on the bushel of fifty six pounds was, doubtless passed under a confident expectation, that the tariff was permanently established, and that the same amount of duties on foreign salt would continue as was at that time exacted; but a partial reduction of the duties on that article has had the effect of excluding Onondaga or western salt entirely from New-York, and almost wholly from the Hudson river, as well as from many other places where it has formerly found a market, and can only be restored by reducing the duties so as to enable the manufacturer to [Assem. No. 23.]

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furnish salt in those places without loss. It will be found on examination, that salt manufactured in Onondaga and Montezuma, although an article in common use, pays a higher rate of duty than any other article in common use, either foreign or domestic; the mean value of fine salt per bushel, at the works, subject to duties, being only about twelve and a half cents per bushel, and often sold at ten cents, and while that amount of property is created wholly by the labor of the manufacturer, is subject to twelve and an half cents duty. Your committee would offer as an additional reason for so reducing the duties, that the Canal Board in anticipation of such reduction, have already reduced the canal tolls on foreign salt twofifths or forty per cent, with a view to accommodate the dealer in that article, and unless a reduction of duties take place on our home manufactory, domestic salt will remain unprotected. It is believed by many whose opinions are entitled to confidence, that the additional quantity of salt which will be manufactured in consequence of such reduction, will produce to the State a revenue equal to that received by the present rate of duties, with the advantages of a large increase of canal tolls, and of furnishing employment to a larger number of laboring men in the manufacturing of salt, making of barrels, and furnishing materials for the same, and thus its effects be felt through all classes of business men. And as a still further reason, your committee are of opinion, that it is a measure called for by the people of this State, that the duties not only be reduced, but that they be brought down to the lowest constitutional amount,

Your committee are unanimously of opinion, that the suggestions of his Excellency the Governor, in his message to the Legislature, are correct, and that the prayer of the petitioners should be granted, and have accordingly prepared a bill, and directed their chairman to ask leave to introduce the same.