Saoner
This article has been extracted from THE IMPERIAL GAZETTEER OF INDIA , 1908. OXFORD, AT THE CLARENDON PRESS. |
Note: National, provincial and district boundaries have changed considerably since 1908. Typically, old states, ‘divisions’ and districts have been broken into smaller units, and many tahsils upgraded to districts. Some units have since been renamed. Therefore, this article is being posted mainly for its historical value.
Saoner
Town in the District and tahsil of Nagpur, Central Pro- vinces, situated in 21 23' N. and 78 55 / E., 23 miles north-west of Nagpur city on the Chhindwara road. The town is built on both sides of the Kolar river, the people on the northern bank consisting of Marathas, and those on the southern of Lodhis, Kirars, and other immigrants from Northern India. The present name is a corruption of the old one of Saraswatpur or ' the city of Saraswati,' the goddess of wisdom. Population (1901), 5,281. The town contains an old temple constructed of large blocks of stone without mortar, and the ruins of a fort ascribed to the Gaol is. Saoner was constituted a muni- cipality in 1867. The municipal receipts during the decade ending 1901 averaged Rs. 2,800. In 1903-4 the income was Rs. 5,000, derived mainly from a house tax, market dues, and rents of land.
The town is an important cotton mart, and possesses three ginning factories containing 108 cotton-gins, two of which are combined with cotton-presses. The aggregate capital of these factories is about 4j lakhs, and two of them have been opened since 1900. The Saoner ginning factory, started in 1883, was the first in the District. A hand-dyeing industry is also carried on, in connexion with which al (Morinda dtrifolia] was formerly cultivated round the town. A few trees are still left. A large weekly cattle market is held, and there are an English middle school and branch schools. A dispensary is main- tained by the mission of the Scottish Free Church.
