The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-11-14
gust 10, 1867: No. Phosphate of line, IS 80
per cent; No. 2-Phosphate Of lime, 55.52 per

gust 10, 1867: No. 1-Phosphate Of line, 55 9:
per cent; No. 2-Phosphate Of lime, 55.52 PEI
| cent
Subsequent analysis, made in the next few
days, Of rocks, collected from the bed by my
self, showed averages varying from 81 to 67 pei
cent, which could be relied on from large
extent OF country-thus having found these
"phosphates" to be identical with the ''mar
stouesn 'snodules'' or 'sconglomerates' of the
'sFish Bed of the Charleston Basin" all the
physical characters Of which had been known
and described twenty t20) years ago; and the
nodules, Of which was informed by Professor
| Holmes, was known to contain Is to 16 per cent
of phosphate of lim,. Awaiting myself of Pro.
fessor Holmes extended information regard
ing the outlines Of the bed, which he had many
years ago mapped out, I pushed forward my
examinations and explorations with fattering
results, and in few weeks extended the limits
of the bed for beyond its previously known
boundaries.
Thus this valuable material was discovered
and located, and combining my own knowledge
OF it's chemical and economic value, and Of the
extended limits of the SINE, with the exact
and valuable geological information of Prof.
Holmes Ito whom l would accord the highe st
praise and my hearty thanks), we endeavored
in vai1, for six weeas, to induce Southern capi-
tasts to interest themselves, and to take hold
with us iii developing the new resource.
One among the many approached by us took
lively interest in our success. Mr.. James F.
Welsman, prominent always in every enter
prise promising to develope our native resour-
ces, with une1ampled confidence and liberality,
contributed the means which enabled us to lay
our plans before few enterprising and public
spirited Philadelphans, who, Immediately
grasping and fully comprehending the immense
interest thus opened up furnished the means
to carry the enterprise through to q complets
SUCCESS.
Thus was organized the Charleston, South
Clrolina, Mining and Manufacturing Company,
Prof. f. S. Holmes, President, and the writer,
Chemist and General Superintendent. The en-
terprise thus inaugurated has already brought
hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of
property into demand, and infused our citizens
with life and energy. Steamers and ships seek
the Ashley for outward freights, and South
Carolina has already become the exporter ra-
tner than the importer Of fertilizers.
Such, in brief, is the history OF this remarka-
bic discovery lrkable no more in that the
material has remained so long handled but un
known, than in Its immense future influence in
tho history of the State-remarkable that it is
moi the result Of accidental, haphazard adven-
ture, but The gratifying success OF organized
scientific research; and while the writer cannot
be insensible Of honor in having been the in
strument in discovering, in opening up and
developing this invaluable resource of his
adopted State, he feels that too much praise
and commendaton cannot be accorded to his
years OF arduous toll and heavy personal ex-
pense of time and means, with far too scanty
assistance from the State, have established for
their successors the landmarks which will
safely load them to the haven Of suceeasful en-
terprlse.
Thus, for the first timo in the history OF the
continent of America, have ''Native Bone Phos-
pilates" been discovered in available quantity;
and no supply so abundant, 80 easy of access,
and so rich in the elements Of fertility, is yet
found elsewhere in tho world. This must be
worked on large soale-private means are in
adequate-the interest is too vast: We are IN
need of capital, labor, mining and manusactur-
ing skill, enterprise, energy. Our mountains
arc full Of gold, copper, silver, lead, iron, man
ganese and sulphur; our midland belt abounds
in the puros5 kaoln, now every day applied to
some new Or novel use; also, in the best fire.
proof clays and sands for pottery, glass and
crucible manufacture. And now s discovered,
for tho first time i'll tho history OF America,
that which, for many years overlooked, is of oil
else in the State or country, most valuable to
an agricultural community.
Charleston, September 9, 1868.