The Gazetteers Department

Dr. Balkrishna in his survey in 1926 recorded 29 establishments of manufacturers and sellers of aerated water. A total of 31 employees were engaged in them. In 1947, there were 58 shops of this kind in the city and a total of 121 persons were engaged in them. Of these, 29 were in C ward, 10 each in B and E wards, 8 in D ward and one in A ward.

There were in all 171 cold drink houses and soda-water factories at the time of our survey. Of these, 46 were in E ward, 70 in C ward, 21 in B ward, 20 in A ward, and 14 in D ward. The total employment in them was 250 persons of whom 210 were paid employees. Six shops of different sizes were taken in the sample. Manufacturing of aerated water was the principal occupation in them. These concerns enjoyed a brisk season in summer months from February to June. Most of them were small in size except a few which were having up-to-date and modern equipment and comfortable rooms and furniture. Four establishments in the sample were of bigger and medium size. The capital investment in them varied from Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 5,000, while in the small units, it varied from Rs. 400 to Rs. 600.

The equipment of these shops consisted of tables, chairs, cupboards, soda-fountains, bottles, glasses etc. The cost of equipment in each shop varied from Rs. 300 to Rs. 3,000. The biggest units were having better and more elegant furniture and were manufacturing a larger variety of drinks. The small units contained equipment worth Rs. 300.

Raw materials consisted of milk, sugar, salt, ice, saw-dust, essences and preservatives. Ordinarily raw materials were purchased locally except essences and preservatives, which were purchased from Bombay and other centres.

All the establishments in the sample except one, were managed by the proprietors with the help of their family members and paid servants. Two establishments had four servants each, one had one servant and the remaining two had six and two each. One was exclusively managed by the proprietor with the help of family members. The payment of a waiter who served dishes, varied between Rs. 25 and Rs. 35. A person who attended to soda-fountain was paid between Rs. 40 and Rs. 45 per month. The products of these concerns consisted of aerated waters of all kinds such as soda, lemon, orange, etc., and ice-cream. All the shops in the sample prepared and sold cold drinks and served ice-creams.

Annual net income of small units varied between Rs. 1,000 and Rs. 1,200 and of bigger units between Rs. 2,500 and Rs. 3,000. A glass of soda or lemon was sold at annas two and a half ice-cream plate at annas three.

The business was profitable in four out of six units. The remaining two had income just enough and to maintain the establishments. Ice-cream plates and aerated waters were served only in shops. Many a time the bigger establishments executed orders for ice-cream by marriage parties.

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