The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1869-12-23
The Phosphate Beds of Navigable Streams

The following bill has been introduced
into the Legislature of this State, and
there is cvory probability that it will pass
with slight amendments. 1t is one OF the
hugcst monopolics over attempted in this
State, and will be worth an everlasting
fortune to the corporators. The amend
ments likely to be inserted are requir,
ing forty cents per ton to be paid to
the State and adding the names OF proml-
nent Radicals, 80 as to lessen the expense
of getting the bill through at this session.
We invite attention to the bill;
A bill to grant to certain persons there
in named the exclusive right to dig and
mine in the bods of the navigablc streams
and waters of the State, for phosphate
rocks and phosphate deposits.
Be it enacted, &C., That the State OF
South Carolina does hereby give and
grant unto the following named persons,
to wit: George W. Williams, James 81.
Taylor, Joseph R. Robertson, Edwin
Platt, James Bridge, Jr, William Birnie,
Edward Willis, Alexander r. Chisolm,
w. L. Bradley, and Charles G. Coe, and
such other persons as they may associate
with them, the exclusive right to dig,
mine. and remove from the beds of the
navigable streams and waters within the
Jurisdiction of the State Of South Carroll
ma. the phosphate rock and phosphate de-
post: Provided, That the persons named,
and their associates, shall not in any way
interfere with the free navigation of the
navigable streams and waters of the State,
or tho private rights of any citizen or
citizens residing upon the banks of the
said navigable rivers and waters OF the
State.
SEC. 2. That this gift and grant is made
upon the express condition that said gran
tees shall pay to the State of South Caro-.
lima the sum of twenty cents per ton tor
every ton of phosphate rock or phosphate
deposit dug, mined, or removed from tho
said navigable rivers and waters of the
State.
A correspondent of the Columbia Pho
mic uncarths the sohcmc in the following
concise and satisfactory manner. His
facts and figures ought to make the Leg
islature reflect, if this body was disposed
to engage in any such serious occupation: ::
The phosphate bed of South Carolina is
known to extend from the Wando River
to the Savannah. Its value depends up
on its proximity to the surface, and tho
facility with which it can be conveyed to
navigable waters, and thence to the mar
kets OF the world. Throughout the sec,
tion of the State between the Wando and
the Savannah, the channels of the inter-
yening rivers cut through the phosphate
bed, and the phosphate, washed of its
earthly incumbranco, lies at the bottom
of their channels, and can bo lifted boy
dredges and scows in q condition ready
for the market, and worth, at least, loo
per cent. more than in localities where IL
is overlaid by from two to four foet OF
earth and whore it has to go through the
manipulation of washing machines and
transportation to the banks Of river.
It is worth, therefore, on board of the
scow. ut least, from six. to eight dollars
per ton, for which this billproposes to pay
The State twonty cents per ton. The
grant above proposes that the favored in
diyiduals named shall have the exclusive
right to tako the phosphates from the
beds of all tho navigabe streams and wa
ters, es,bracing the bays and inlets along