Letter and memorandum by George Henry Maxwell Batten, Commissioner of Inland Customs,concerning the abolition of the customs line between Rajputana [Rājasthān] and the Central Indian States. [‎5v] (10/16)

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from their transit duties. On these sub
jects confidential reports could be ob
tained through the Political Agents. As
before observed, the connection between
Sambhar and Agra and Dehli by Railway-
will probably much reduce the value of
all other salt works in Raj putana and
Gwalior, and of the revenue derived from
them. The Railway will also reduce the
transit duties of the States through which
it passes. When these effects have been
accomplished, we shall be in a favorable
position to make overtures to the States
in which salt works exist or might be
started. Without their co-operation, we
cannot remove the Customs Line, except
with great danger to our salt revenue.
With their assistance it is possible that
this might be done. At the principal salt
sources, such as Pachbhadra, Didwana,
Bhartpur and Dig, it would be necessary
to surround each work with a cordon, and
to allow no salt to pass out without the
payment of duty. I do not advocate any
other interference with the manufacture.
The manufacture of salt in other places
should either be entirely prohibited, or
be restricted to the quantity necessary
for purely local consumption, so that it
should not assume the proportions of a
trade to any distance.
The amount to be paid annually to
each of the Native States concerned
would have to be determined, partly with
reference to the population in them
consuming the duty-paid salt, and
partly with reference to the amount of
transit duties which they would be
asked to give up. No duty of any kind,
except the Imperial duty, should be per
mitted to be levied on salt. I may here
remark that since our assumption of the
Sambhar Lake, the Jaipur Darbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family). , besides
receiving a large rent from us, has put a
duty of one rupee per maund on all salt
consumed in that State, being thus doub
ly compensated for the loss of the Lake.