SALT MINING IN GALICIA (1867 – 1900)

Abstract

The purpose of the article is a generalized study of rock and table salt mining in Galicia during the Austro-Hungarian period. To achieve this goal, general historical approaches to statistical interpretation of events and phenomena, mathematical methods of modelling have been used. The Research Methodology is based on the principles of historicism, objectivity, the use of historical comparative, historical systemic, analytical synthetic, biographical, statistical methods, as well as the methods of personalization and source studies, the archival analysis of documents. The scientific novelty consists in a complex analysis of salt mining in some administrative territorial formations of Austria. The Conclusions. The development of salt deposits in Galicia along the north-eastern edge of the Carpathians had continued since the Middle Ages, but reached its prosperity during the Austro-Hungarian Empire. During the second half of the XIXth century the main producers of salt were the saltworks in Bolekhiv, Bochnia, Wieliczka, Deliatyn, Dolyna, Drohobych, Kosiv, Lacko, Lanchyn, Stebnyk and Kachytsia. In 1868 – 1880 the saltworks of Galicia, with the exception of Wieliczka (36 – 63 thousand tons) and Bochnia (15 – 20 thousand tons), produced an average of 4 – 7,5 thousand tons of salt per year. During the last quarter of the XIXth century 9 – 13 kg of salt was produced per 1 inhabitant, which was twice more than the natural needs of a human being for his consumption. About 50,000 tons of salt were used per year in Galicia. In addition, less than 23 thousand tons were used for livestock. The saltworks in Wieliczka and Bochnia were the largest salt producers. Wieliczka produced more salt than all other saltworks in Galicia (maximum in 1872 – more than 75,8 thousand tons). At the beginning of the 1870-ies there was the maximum of salt production, except for Lacko and Stebnyk, where there was a gradual increase in production during 25 years. During the years of 1868 – 1892, the saltworks of Galicia produced the following amount of salt (tons) per year: Bolekhiv – 5877; Bohnia – 14521; Wieliczka – 42697; Deliatyn – 4047; Dolyna – 4934; Drohobych – 4834; Kalush – 3832; Kosiv – 4329; Lacko – 6240; Lanchyn – 4032; Stebnyk – 6734. Two saltworks in Western Galicia (Bochnia, Wieliczka) produced 57% of all Galician salt production during 25 years, while nine saltworks in Eastern Galicia produced only 43%. The introduction of a salt monopoly in Austria-Hungary reduced its value and revenues to the Galician budget. If in 1832 salt exports brought in revenue of 1,4 million zol., during the 1890-ies – only 0,1 million zol. more. In 1892 the value of Galician salt was: rock salt – 4,5 million, table salt – 4 million zol. rynskykh. During the period of 1868 – 1892, almost 3 million tons of salt were produced in Galicia with a total value of 2,4 million zol. rynskykh. The average price was 0,8 zol. per 1 kg of a ready-made product. The share of Galicia in the salt industry of Austria-Hungary was 44% by volume and 43,5% – by value of products. The fact is striking, first of all, that the total monetary price of all salt products had been significantly underestimated since 1872, when its monetary price of all salt products amounted to more than 12 million zol. rynskykh, while in 1892 – it did not reach even 8 million. This price was caused by the Austro-Hungarian agreement of June 7, 1868, when the sale price of salt was lowered by 0,5 zol. rynskykh per 1 ton. In total, during 1868 – 1892 Galicia produced 2,997 million tons of salt (annually – 1,2 million tons) of all varieties worth 237 million zol. rynskykh or 9,5 million per year. Expenditures for the same period amounted to 22,6 or annually – 1 million zol. rynskykh. In general, the salt industry of Galicia was highly profitable – the income amounted to more than 210 million zol. rynskykh (8,5 million zlotys. rynskykh – per year).