When was it published?

December 17, 1861 in Newbern Weekly Progress

Domestic News December 17, 1861

Newbern Weekly Progress

Q: What keywords are associated?

Salt Shortage, Newbern, Price Speculation, Salt Production, Coastal Establishments

New Bern, Craven County, North Carolina

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What is this article about?

Newbern residents protest merchants' refusal to sell small amounts of scarce, expensive salt, risking starvation for the poor unable to buy $25 sacks, but coastal salt production is ramping up to provide abundance at $1/bushel within a month.

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OCR Quality

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Full Text

SALT FOR TABLE USE.—There is some salt in Newbern, of course there is, and some that is in the hands of merchants. Now this being so we want to know why it is that persons entirely out cannot be accommodated with a half gallon, gallon or more at a time, when they have the money to pay for it. Are poor people to starve because each family is not able to pay $25 for a sack of salt? Heaven forbid. The public have a right to demand that tradesmen who have any to sell retail it out in quantities to suit and if it be not done that public will move in the matter.

Thank heaven however the reign of the salt speculating beast is nearly over, for we learn that several establishments are operating on the coast, and we have heard of two that are turning out 30 bushels each per day. In less than a month an abundance of salt may be had here at one dollar a bushel.

What sub-type of article is it?

Economic

What keywords are associated?

Salt Shortage Newbern Price Speculation Salt Production Coastal Establishments

Where did it happen?

Newbern

Domestic News Details

Primary Location

Newbern

Outcome

several establishments operating on the coast producing salt, with two turning out 30 bushels each per day; abundance expected in less than a month at one dollar a bushel.

Event Details

Complaint about salt availability in Newbern where merchants hold salt but refuse to sell in small quantities like half gallon or gallon despite payment; poor people cannot afford $25 sack; public demands retail in suitable quantities or will act; salt speculating nearly over due to new production.