The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-12-10

pyrltes, which arc 1eun0 ln unlmlteu quuutt-
ties in Georgia, North Carolina and this State.
The sulphuric acid being now made, so to
sneak. We turn to the eastern section OF the
building, which contains
THE sUPRRpHosPaATE WORKS.
Prominent in the division which, with its
machinery, has been under the special charge
of Captain Horace A. Pratt, is the steam en-
CINE. 1t is eighty horse power, of the most
improved pattern, and has one Of the largest
fly wheels ever brought into the State. This
engine gives power to the crushers and pulver-
izers.
When The phosphate rock reaches the wharf,
it is rnn up TO the works on tramway. 1t is
then in lumps some as small as beans, and
others having the appearance OF Brobdignagian
Irish potatoes afflicted with q cutaneous erup-
ton. Tho Jumps, called by scientific mon no
dulles, are hauled up in an elevator to the
hopper Of the pounding machine, which looks
something like an oyergrown coffee mill. When
the Jumps leave the crushing machine they
are no larger than crushed sugar, and they are
carried by elevators to the pulverizlng ma
chimes, of which there are two, so arranged
that they together pulverze as much rs their
big brother crushes. When what were phos-
phate rocks leave the pulyerizing machines
they are in the form OF fine powder or -four.
This powder is then mixed with the acid made
in the adjoining division, and is afterwards
slowed away in binns i'll readiness for
market.
One instance will show to what perfection
the machinery has been brought. From the
time that the rocks leave the tramway at the
door of the works until they reach the LraIl-
way again Us marketable superphosphates,
thev are not touched b. hand The carrying
to and fro, the crushing, the pulverizing, the
mixing and the returning to the entl lance, is oil
done by machinery.
Large platform scales which have been erect
ed on tho line of the tramway midway between
the building and the wharf will facilitate the
weighing aad shipment of the article. Having
now described the works and the processes OF
manufacture thsre carried on, we will, in con-
clusion, speak briefly Of
THE POSITION AND PROSPECTS OF THE COMPANY.
If thorough organization, practical skill In
management, and every facility which natural
position and improved machinery can give, are
any guarantees of good fortune, there is
bright prospect before the sulphuric Acid and
Superphosphate Company Of South Carolina.
The works, as We have seen, aro in an adm-
rable position. There is every convenience for
the re e,eption and storage of the raw material
and the manufactured article. If tue phos-
phate is to be sent by water, the ship lies
within two hundred feet Of tho door OF the
works; if it is to be Forwarded by rail, it is
! stored in the cars of the Northeastern Rail-
road or South Carolina Railroad, which will
run right up to the works. Tho piles OF the
wharf are protected by zinc plates, and the
creek ha, fifteen feet Of water at low tide at the
head OF the wharf.
The coMpany will bo able, in about fort
night, to commence operations formally, and
expect in tie course of twelve months to man
ufncture about twelve hundred tons Of acid
and prepare for market three thousand tons OF
suporphosphato. When it becomes necessary,
the works can be readily increased IN size, so
as to admit OF much larger production.
The manufacture OF fertilizers from phos-
phatic eartbs is already an important branch
Of industry, amounting in England to about
200 900 tons, and in his country to 10000 tons
yearly. And il a cheap and reliable article can
lie pro luced, as we believe it can, it will be
hard to fix q limit to the probable consump-
ton. DR.. Pratt expects to turn out highly
soluble fertilizer, which shall be capable OF
giving tho largest return possible in proper
ton to the quantity used. This cannot fail to
find ready and profitable market.
We hail the construction OF the works OF the
Sulphuric Acid and Superphosphate Company
as another proof that our people are realizing
the Importance of increasing their manufactur-
ing power, and that they feel at last that no
people can grow rich BY agriculture alone. The
new company, as the pioneer enterprise oil the
kind in this State and. rs we hope, the fore
runner CT many other similar factories, has
our heartiegt wishes for its prosperity and SIC
rcss