The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-05-28
From the Macon Telegraph

Since the time when (more than year ago)
the discoyerypf these extraordinary deposits
was announced to the public, We have felt q
strong curiosity to hear, more about them. u
mine Of wealth has been opened 10 the Caro-
linians in tkevery hour Of their necessity; and
then, too, q fertilizer OF extraordinary value is
suddenly disclosed to the planters Of the South,
which, at reasonable cost, may increase the
productive capacity Of our lands to . point that
and difficulty attending the process OF culttva-
tion. Both these considerations are too inn
portant to fail Of awakening profound inter-
est among intelligent readers. -r.-.>5z
Our friend and neighbor, Mr. 8. L Gustin,
having within few hours returned from q
personal observation OF these deposits, the facts
below are cleaned from M 9 conversation with
him. 49, So - -
The deposits in question are in the tide-Hater
bottoms OF the Ashley, Cooper and Stono Rivers,
and We should not be strprised Il they underlie
| q large p6rf5cm Of the coastsnd sea island re-
gions ofEqnth Carolina. faknowo certainly
That 81 ssss s. sgsss ss saIassnss Ilss S1
and extent sfs daily dayeloped.s
In the regions explored, fhey frequently crop
ont OF the Asurfhce and sxes commonly found in
strata .Eom one TO Two or more feetin thick
ness, dipping; from there tfaoe toBight or more
feet below it-generslly the deposit is from
one to two. feet. Below this depositis cold
bed OF mari.
Now what are these phosphate deposits
They are simply collection and conglomerater
OF bones in various scondi itions-.some perfect
in shape as when thsy fulfilled their original
functions in the living animal and others
solidified in stony masses, softer, however,
than gypsum, and still retaining in the mass
Qike what is called padding stone) more or
less the forms and outlines OF the inneAer-
ih1f, ~ y,
posed.
These bones are of all sorts-mown end un-
Mown@iand and marine. They not only disclose
all the osseous formations OF the sea monsters
Of the present day, but those also OF the sau-
rians, and al the other monsters Of an antedi-
hyian or preadamitic age, which modern SCI
ence and research have brought to light. And,
curiously enough, human bones have been
found IN the vast deposit, as well as imple-
ments Of stone and pottery similar to those in
use among the so-called sboriginees. We have
examined some interesting specimens Of the
animal bones alluded to. ,,tzats
Having spoken of the extent and character
Of these great deposits, We come now to their
value as q fertilizer, and here, fortunately, We
can speak fom an actual analysis by the
State Geelogist of Massachusetts very
scientific man. He found, in one hundred
parts Of this bone-phosph.:..te1, reduced to
powderi
Moisture and organic matter. ..."..,......... 80
Bone-phosphate Of lime. ol60
sulphate OF me....................'... ...'. 90
Sand, &c., insciubie in acids 1880
10000
Thus it will be seen that in one hundred
parts, according to this Analysis, all but lS:4o
are the best fertiGzing substance known for
the permanent improvement Of land, and the
whole has q smaller proportion Of useless mat
ter than any fertilizer yet produced. The pro
portion Of phosphate in fresh bones is but lit
tie over Fifty per cent, while this is set down
at 6L60. sample Of the bone flour from
which this analysis was made, was shown to
the writetg It is Of salmon color, as fine as
wheat -four, q ID we wish all our planters had
500 tons 1t, apiece.
Here, then, is an almost unlimited quantity
of this pure bone-phosphate- immense depo-
sits Of it within stones throw of navigation
to be e3cayated with far greater ease than any
mineral coalin the country-so softened by
time as to be reduced to- -four with half the
trouble and expense Of fresh bones-a great
deal better, as shown by analysis surrounded
by cheap fuel, with unlimited resources of the
same on TIE water courses-were there ever
such extraordinary conditions for the produc-
ton Of an invaluable fertilizer at low price !?
Was there ever q discovery made fraught with
| greater promise? twill build up Charleston,
and it will prove Of almost incalculsble benefit
| to the whole particularly to the Allan
| tic States. In improving the results Of our
| agriculture, it will impart new elasticity and
| vigor to every interest and occupation-so that
all viii be the richer for this grand and ex-
ceedingly curious discovery.