(XVI.)

OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE ONONDAGA SALT SPRINGS,
SYRACUSE, October 6, 1869.

Hon. Wм. F. ALLEN,

Comptroller of the State of New York:

SIR-The thirteenth section of chapter 346, of the Laws of 1859, provides that, "The Superintendent shall, at the expiration of each fiscal year ending on the 30th day of September, or within ten days thereafter, make a report to the Comptroller, stating the quantity of salt inspected during the previous year, the amount of revenues accruing thereon, and from other sources; the expenditures, and the amount · which, in his judgment, will be necessary for the support of the salt springs for the ensuing year."

In obedience to this provision of the law, I have to report: That the quantity of salt inspected the last fiscal year was (8,534,661) eight millions five hundred and thirty-four thousand six hundred and sixty-one bushels.

The amount of revenue accruing thereon was

The amount from rents and penalties....

Total receipts.....

The expenditures made by the Superintendent were.

Leaving surplus revenue

$85,346 61 185 00

$85,531 61

46,311 59

$39,220 02

The amount drawn from the treasury by the Superintendent during the fiscal year was $50,000.

In addition to this amount there was in the hands of the Superintendent at the beginning of the last fiscal year, the sum of $1,051.07, remaining from moneys unexpended and drawn from the treasury; and there is now unexpended and in the hands of the Superintendent the sum of $4,739.48, applicable to the payment of expenses for the fiscal year now just commenced.

The books in the Comptroller's office show only the expenditures up to the month of September; the vouchers for expenditures for that month, which amount to $4,901.80, will not be sent to that office until the first day of November, when the regular settlement for two months, September and October, will be made as provided by law.

The following is an estimate, in detail, of the amount of money which it will be necessary to expend for the support of the salt springs for the fiscal year commencing October 1, 1870.

The foregoing estimate, it will be observed, is made for the expenses of the fiscal year, commencing October 1, 1870, which lacks but a few days of one year from this time. For this reason it is not practicable to state the various items of expense with certainty; but experience has shown that the ordinary expenses, in these times of high prices, will average $50,000 a year.

The great increase in the production of salt here, which, for the last twenty years, has about doubled the amount, and the still increasing market imperatively demands the sinking of more salt wells to supply the water to make the salt, which the manufacturers are very anxious to make, and for which they have the works now constructed.

I am confident that if the State would supply the water as it is wanted, the manufacturers would, in a few years, put into the market 12,000,000 of bushels of salt per annum. But to do this not only more wells, but more machinery to pump, and more conduits to distribute the water is necessary. The law provides, section 10, chapter 346 of the Laws of 1859, that "The superintendent shall, from time to time, provide such additional wells, pumps, reservoirs, aqueducts and machinery as he shall determine to be needful and proper for supplying the manufacturers of salt with brine in the largest quantity and of the best quality; and shall keep the same and all other works and property belonging to the State under his charge in complete repair.”

To carry out the intent and imperative command of this law, the time has come when more wells must be sunk, and more machinery provided, but it cannot be done without the expenditure of more money than has heretofore been appropriated. Last year, in my report to the Comptroller, I fully set forth these facts, and in my annual report to the Legisiature I called attention to the great advantages to the treasury of the State which are derived by increasing the canal revenues from the transportation of salt. The Comptroller having seen the effects in increasing the revenues of the State by increasing the supply of water, expressed his opinion of the necessity of more wells and machinery, and advised the appropriation of $60,000 for the fiscal year now just commenced; and the Comptroller and the Governor, as provided by the section of the law before referred to, gave the Superintendent of the salt springs the necessary written authority to incur extra expenditures, in the expectation that the Legislature would appropriate the necessary amount. This expectation was not realized, for only $50,000 was appropriated. Of course I have not made contracts, knowing I should not have the money to pay. I now add to my former statements in regard to this matter, that in my opinion, the expenditure of the sum of $10,000 a year for a few years to come, extra and beyond the mere keeping in order the existing means of furnishing salt water, would so increase the production of salt that the revenues of this office would repay the State at once.

An increase in the production of one million of bushels adds to the revenue $10,000. Judging from the past and my knowledge of the salt business, I am confident that the production of the fiscal year just passed would have been at least a million of

bushels more than it has been, could the manufacturers have been supplied with salt water of the best quality during the whole manufacturing season.

I have no reason to doubt that there is much more salt water, of the best quality, yet to be found by sinking wells, and that the best interests of the State and of the manufacturers demands that the best water and in the largest supply that exists on the salt reservation, should be made available at the earliest day that is practicable by a judicious expenditure of money.

Respectfully submitted.

GEORGE GEDDES,

Superintendent of the Onondaga Salt Springs.

(XVII. )

COST OF STATIONERY

Delivered at the Public Offices, &c., for the fiscal year ending September 30th, 1869, viz. :

11 50

2.00

37 43

Commissioners of Public Charities..

Clerk of the Court of Appeals and judges of the Court..

Comptroller's office......

Department of Public Instruction

Executive Department

Electoral College.....

Inspector-General's office..

Secretary of State's office.

State Engineer and Surveyor's office..

Treasurer's office..

1,252 77

255 40

244 60

468 28

31 38

16 00

998 58

275 17

110 22

$4,434 73

(XVIII.)