By the Governor oj" Virginia.
A PROCLAMATION.
The General Assembly, at its late extra session, called
Jor the purpose, by me, appropriated a half million of
dollars for the purchase of salt for the citizens of this
Commonwealth.
Immediately upon the passage of the act I ordered
she Quartermaster of the Mate forces to procure trans¬
ports ion, in the shortest possible time, for hauling from
the Kanawha Salines, all the salt.which his means of
transportation would enable him to accomplish, and I
caused him to be furnished with ample funds for the
purpose. The inroads of the enemy into the Kanawha
valley and the destruction of all conveyances which
fell into hi3 hands, and the transportation of our own
armies to and from that section of the State, had so
effectually occupied or destroyed all the wagons and
teams, that they could not be procured there, and the
country had been so thoroughly devastated, that it
was necersary to send, with the wagons procured else¬
where, all the produce requisite for the support of the
teams going and returning. Every effort was made
.promptly to procure the transportatron, but the
distance and the difficulties to be encountered
rendered rapid movements impracticable. The
consequence has been that, before the train of
wagons which had been organized and were
an their way thither could reach them destina¬
tion the enemy, in superior force, again appeared at
the Kanawha Salines, and our army has been compell¬
ed to fall back, and but an insignificant amount of
salt has been obtained by individuals and none under
the orders given.
Having made these arrangements, I issued a procla¬
mation taking possession of all the salt then on hand,
or that might be made, at the Salt Works in Smyth and
Washington countit s. I immediately set out in person
lor Saltville, hoping to obtain there a supply to meet
khe wants of the people. When I arrived I found that
the contracts then existing with the Confederate State,
with sister Southern States, and with county and cor¬
poration Courts in this Commonwealth, were of such
a character, that this abrogation would result in in¬
terminable conflicts and difficulties, in breaches of
Jaith and in incalculable distress. I found, too, that in¬
stead of purchasing foi money, the necessary supplies,
the fuel, transportation, labor and machinery for these
immense works, a system had prevailed for years to
barter them for salt, that written orders were given
for salt, for the amount bartered, and that these orders
had become the subject of speculation and extortion.
That this necessarily absorbed a very large amount of
the salt manufactured, and that the proprietors were
forced to furnish the salt necessary to meet these or¬
ders, or have their works stopped for the want of sup¬
plies. All these circumstances rendered it improper
and unacvisable for me to take possession of the
Works and work them on State account. It was im¬
possible to put up new works in time to meet the im¬
mediate wants of the State, my only alternative, there-
lore, was to purchase all the salt over and above ex*
isting contrants that, could be manufactured within
any reasonab.e time. After considerable difficulty, I
made a contract wi h responsible parties to furnish the
State with 150,000 bushels of salt, that being the full
aapacity of manufacture by tee existing works, after
supplying existing con'racls The salt is to be furnished
jja bags or barrels and delivered on the cars, at Salt¬
ville, a branch of the Virginia and Tenuessee railroad,
at the price of $2 33% per bushel.
It was my earnest desire to obtain the largest quan¬
tities at the earliest periods. But I found this imprac¬
ticable. 'I he contract requires the parties to furnish
the quantity contracted for as follows : 15,000 bushels
in the month of November, at the rate of 600 bushels
per day. and 45,000 bushels in each of the months of
December, January and February, at the rate of 1800
bushels per day.
As it was specially stipulated in the contract made,
that the delivery of the salt contracted for, to the
State, should not interfeie with existing contracts
made with the government of the Confederate States,
ar with any separate State of the Confederate States,
ar with any county or corporation court of this State,
and as large supplies are being furnished under these
ton tracts, there will not be so great a -competition in
khe market, and our people need not submit to the ex¬
tortion of speculators; and especially, as sixty of the
jounties and coiporations of the State will, under their
contracts, obtain upwards of 300,000 bushes in addi-
iition to the amount purchased by me it is hoped
that that amount, though not as great as could have
been desired, will mitigate in some measure the urgent
vants of the people.
To coverall costs and charges incident to purchase,
transportation and distribution. I ha ve fixed the sum
sf three dollars per bushel, as the price to he paid by
ill lecipients of salt, under the law, being at the rate of
six cents per pound. And I do hereby proclaim, ac¬
cording to law, that the sale of any salt obtained un¬
der the State contract and distributed by authority of
this proclamation at a higher price than af the rate of
six cent& per pound under any pretext whatever is a
misdemeanor, and the sale of each pound thereof, at
a higher price, is declared by law to be a separate of¬
fence and the person convicted thereof is liable to a
fine of not less than one hundred nor more than two
thousand dollars.
To carry out the provisions of the law, the regula¬
tions hereto appe"ded have been prescribed by me, and
any violation thereof is also declared by the law to be
;a misdemeanor, to be punished by a like fine.
, j Given under my hand, at Richmond, and
Jl. s. > under the Seal of the Commonwealth, this
i5tJi day of November, 1862, and in the 87th
rear of the Commonwealth.
JOHN LETCHER.
iy the Governor,
Geo. W. Munford,
Secretary of the Common wealth.
RULES AND EGULAKTrONS for the SALE AND DIS¬
TRIBUTION OF SALT by the GOVERNOR.
1. The counties and corporations which cannot be
j applied by reason of the presence of the public ene¬
my, or which are subject to their power, are excluded
irom the computation.
2. Counties and corporations for which 'he distribu¬
tion may be doubtful, are included. If the distribu-
fi-n can take place, they will obtain their proportion.
If not, there will be a surplus on hand subject to fu¬
ture partition.
3 Counties and corporations are thrown into their
Congressional districts ; a State agent for each dis¬
trict is herein appointed, and a depot named for the
district. Each county and corporation named will be
required to appoint a county or corporation agent, and
furnish him with the amount necessary to pay for the
salt to which the county or corporation is entitled.—
Such agent will receive the salt from the State agent,
give him a receipt and pay him the amount and distri¬
bute the salt due to individuals as the counties may
.provide.
4. John J. Moorman has bee* appointed the State
Agent, at Saltville. He will receive the salt from the
manufacturers, and ship it to the depots established,
as fast as it is delivered to him. He' will give notice
to the State agents in the Congressional districts when
the salt is shipped. The county agents will ascertain
from them when it will be deliverable.
5. The salt not being delivered to the State at once,
Ikut by instalments, it became necessary to decide
which district should be first supplied. This has been
decided by lot. The lot was cast with the following
result, and the districts will be entitled to their supply
as.hereinafter named. 7 he counties and corporations
in each district will be entitled to their quotas, in the
order in which they aie named in the act of Assembly
creating the Congressional districts. The quantity, is
placed opposire tbe name of the county.
The Thud district,as.,ascertained by lot,is entitled to be
first supplied. It will receive in the month of No¬
vember, 12.077 bushels, deliverable at the rate of 600
bushels per day, in the followrng order; City of Rich¬
mond, 6,077;Henrico ,3,161^Hanovcr, 2,303; Charles City,
749, and New Kent, 787 bushels. I'lace of deposit
City of Richmond. State agents, Spotts & Harvey. ,
The Seventh district is entitled to 14,124 bushels, of
which it will receive 2 923 bushels in November, at
the rate of 600 bushels per day," after the preceding
district has been supplied, and the residue being 11,201
bushels, iu the month of December, at the rate of
1,800 bushels per day, excluding Sundays, until sup¬
plied. The counties will be supplied in the following
order. AlDemarle, 3 559; Campbell, 2578; Lynchburg,
916; Amberst. 1.913, Nelson, 1.740; Flueanna, 1,384;
Bu -.hingham, 2,034. Place of deposit, City of Lynch¬
burg. State agents, McDaniel & irby.
The Tenth district is entitled to 8,646 bushels, of
which it will receive in December, at the rate of
1,800 bushels per day, Sundays excluded, after the
Seventh district has been supplied. The counties will
be supplied in the following order; Frederick 1625,
Winchester, 587; Berkeley, 1,674 ; Clarke, 955 ; Jeff jr-
son, 1 948; Shenandoah, 1,857. Place of deposit, Staun¬
ton ; State agents, Burke & Co.
The Second district is entitled to 4,757 bushels, which
it will receive in December, at the rate of 1800 bush¬
els per day, Sundays excluded, after tiie Tenth district
has been supplied. The counties will be furnished iu
the following order; Southampton, 1,727; Sussex, 1,360;
Surry, 816; Greensville, 848. Place of deposit, Pe¬
tersburg. Mate agent, Louis Lunsford.
The Thirteenth district is entitled to 13,159 bushels,
which it will receive in December, at the rate of 1800
bushels per day, Sundays excluded, after the Sec >nd
district has been supplied. The counties will be fur¬
nished in the following order: Wythe. 1,646; Smythe,
1,197: Grayson, 1,103; Washington. 2259; Scott, 1,614;
Lee, 1,475; Wise, 60 i ; Buchanan, 372; McDowell, 205;
Tazewell, 1 326; Biand, ; Russell, 1.361 bushels. .
The county of Bland being a new county, and no sta¬
tistics to show its population, it will be entitled to re¬
ceive its quota as a pait of the counties of Wythe,
Tazewell and Giles, from which it was taken. The
county courts of these counties will ascertain its pro¬
portion, and deduct the amouit from each county, to
be assigned to Bland. Place of deposit, Saltville;
State agent, John J. Moorman.
The Fifth district is entitled to 14,524 bushels, 7.243
bushels of which it will receive in December, at the
rate of 1800 bushels per day, Sundays exc uded, after
the Thirteenth district is supplied, and the residue, bung
7,281 busliels,in the month of January,at the same rate
per day, excluding Sundays. The counties will be fur¬
nished in the following order: Prince Edward, 1 584;
Brunswick, 1.980; Meekleuburg, 2 687; Lunenburg,
1 603; Charlotte, 1934; Halifax, 3 548; Appomattox,
1 188 bushels. Place of deposit Buikeville; State
agent, Giles A. Miller.
The First district is entitled to 10,644 bushels, which
it will receive in January, at the r te of 1 800 bushels
per day, Sundays excluded, after the Fifth district has
been supplied. The counties will be furnished in the
following order; Middlesex, 583 King William, 1,149;
Gloucester, 1,464; Matthews, 948; Lancaster, 689;
Westmoreland. 1.107; Richmond, 916; Essex, 1.400; King
and Queen, 1,381, and Northumberland, 1,007 bushels.
Place of deposit, city of Richmond; State agents,
Spotts & Harvey.
The Eight district is entitled to 13 767 bushels, which
it-will receive in January, at the rate of 1,800 bushels
per day,Sundays excluded,after the First district is sup¬
plied. ' The counties will be furnished in the following
order : Spotsylvania, 1,477; Fredericksburg, 672; Lou¬
isa. 2.233; Orange, 1,431; Madison, 1,183; Culpaper,
1,613; Caroline, 2,469 ; King George, 874; Stafford,!.143;
Greene, 672 i'lace of deposit, Gordonsville; State
agent, Addison T. Gooch.
"The Eleventh district is entitled to 12,460 bushels,
which it will receive in January, at the rate of 1,800
bushels ner day, Sundays excluded, after the Eighth
district has been supplied. I he counties will b -fur¬
nished in the following order: Augusta, 3,187; St urn-
ton, 521; Rockingham, 3.130; Rockbridge,'2,306; Pen¬
dleton, 820; Highland, 576, Bath, 491; Pocahontas, 529;
Alleghany, 900. Place of deposit, Staunton; State
agents, Burke & Co.
The Ninth district is entitled to 3,123 bushels, of
which it will receive in January 848 bushels, a> tire
rate of 1,890 bushels per day, and 2275 bushels in
February. The counties will be furnished in the fol¬
lowing .order : Rappahannock, 1,183; Warren, 856;
Page, 1,084 bushels. Place of deposit, Gordonsville;
State agent, Addison T. Gooch.
The Sixth district is eniitled to 13 787 bushels in
February, at the rate of 1,800 bushels per day, Sun¬
days excluded, after the Ninth district has been fur¬
nished. The counties will be supplied in the following
order: Pittsylvani a, 3,322; Danville, 486 ; Patrick,
1,251 ; Henry, 1,619; Franklin, 2 687 ; Bedford, 3,351;
Carroll, 1,071. Place of deposit, Bedford and Carroll,
at Liberty. The other counties at Danville. State
agents, ai Liberty. William Graves ; at Danville, Wil¬
liam T. Clark.
The Twelfth district is entitled to 12,434 bushris, in
February, at the rate of 1800 bushels per day, Sundays
excluded, after the Sixth district has been supplied.—
The counties will he furnished in the following order:
Botetourt. 1,539; Roanoke, 1,076; Montgomery, 1,419;
Floyd, 1,101; Pulaski, 724; Giles, 920; Craig, 455; Mer¬
cer, 911; Monroe, 1,438; Greenbrier, 1.633; Raleigh, 450;
Fayette, 748. Places of deposit for Botetourt, Roanoke,
and Craig—Salem; thereat of the counties at Dublin
Depot. State agents at Dubiin Depot, E. S. Johnston;
at Salem, Joshua R. C. Brown.
The Fourteenth district is entitled to 2,307 bushels,
in February, at the rate of 1,800 bushels per day, Sun¬
days excluded, after the Twelfth district is supplied.—
The counties will he furnished in the following or¬
der: Logan, 661; Boone, 647; Nicholas, 618; Wyoming,
381. Place of deposit for Nicholas, at Dublin Depot;
the rest of the counties at Saltville. State agents at
Dublin Depot, E. S. Johnston; at Saltville, John J.
Moorman.
The Fourth .district is entitled to 14.197 bushels, in
February, at the rate of 1,800 bushels per day, Sun¬
days excluded, after the Fourteenth district has been
supplied. ri he counties will be furnished in the fol¬
lowing orcer: Petersburg, 2,442; Dinwiddie, 1594;
Chesterfield,2,542; Powhatan, 1,122; Amelia, 1,437; Not¬
toway, 1,181/ Cumberland, 1,331; Goochland, 1,424;
Prince George, 1,124. Place of deposit at Petersburg.
State agent, Lewis Lunsford. »
This distribution divides the 150,000 bushels pre¬
cisely.
Nov 17—c3t.
in^TEe Staunton Spectator, Rockingham Register,
Fincastle Express, Abingdon Virginian, Lynchburg
Virginian and Republican, Fredericksburg Recorder
and News, and Petersburg Express, will please copy
three times each and return their accounts to the Exe¬
cutive Department.