Sunday, June 23, 2013

September 26, 1862---"Salt . . . salt."



SEPTEMBER 26, 1862:      

Salt was a crucial staple for preserving meats and other purposes, and was in increasingly short supply throughout the South. In the wake of the destruction of a major Florida saltworks near St. Josephs by Union forces, the Richmond Daily Dispatch publishes the following article:



“Salt — salt.




The city of Richmond…appropriated $12,000 for the purchase of salt, to be distributed among the citizens according to an arranged plan. The advertisement of Messrs. Harvey & Sports, agents in this day at issue, will apprise those who are interested that they are ready to begin operation. Every human being in the city is entitled to take one pound of salt for one month on paying five cents the pound therefore. Every head of a family can buy one pound at the same price for each member thereof. This will prove a great relief to our citizens, who are in the hands of the most merciless extortioners that ever lived since Jerusalem was besieged by Sennacherib, twenty six centuries ago. We trust in heaven they may meet with such retribution as they deserve, which is that their salt may be left upon their hands without a purchaser. Of course the store of Sports & Harvey will soon be crowded.”

No comments:

Post a Comment