The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-11-25
OUR PHOSPHATES.
THE STORY OF THE GROWTH OF IN
IMPORTANT INDUSTRY.
The Larger Phosphate Companies anu
What they are Doing.

l
| River frst attracted the attention OF scientific
men, and subsequent Investigation showed that
! these rocks were to be fonnd ut numerous points
along the coast, between the Santec and Comba-
hee Rivers. These curosIties, as they were then
thought, were sought afer and investigated prln-
cipally by geoogists prosecuting their researches,
and for many years they were regarded merely as
an addti onal field in which men OF science could
push forward their inquiries into the age and for-
nation of our mother earth. This investigation,
| few wears back resulted in the discovery Of the
fertIlizing properties OF these deposits, and what
| had hitherto been deemed but curious and unique
geological! strata, suddenly became the source Of
great and growing local industry and trade.
The fertlizing qualities OF the phosphates, at first
stron gly doubted, and only established after the
most rigid tests aud strictest analysis, has given
q new value to some Of our wornout lands, and
ope ned vast and lucrative field to capital and
energy.
The first cargo OF phoshates was shipped TO
Baltl more on the l4th of April, 1868, by the Wan
do COMPANY of Charleston, followed four days
later by much larger one from the Charleston
Mining and Manufacturing Company. stncethat
time, throughout the whole region Where tnese
deposits lie, spacious buildings, extensive WORKS.
powerful machinery long wharves and branches
from. adjoining railroads have sprung up as II by
enchantment; and prominent among the causes
which have contributed to our recuperatlon from
the effects of the war, and our subsequent pros
perity, has been the Development Of Our phos-
pnate resources. The vast amount Of valuable de-
poslts, lying few feet beneath the surface along
the Great Carolina Mari Bea," have drawn over
ak millions OF capital and ctowds OF energeuc
men from oil parts Of the North, and attracted
the attention Of Sauans in all quarters OF the
globe. The average thickness OF the strata OF de.
posits Is from fifteen to eighteen inches, and with
an average of but fifteen inches, six hundred
tons from an acre can be calculated upon as q
very moderate yield. There are several diggings
now turning out from eight hundred to one thou
sand tons to the acre, and when 1t Is considered
that the crude phosphate brings from Sc 20 81 In
the market, the value OF the discovery will be
readily understood.
Numerous companies and joint-stock assoctl-
tions with large capital have been formed, and
are still forming, for the devel0 9ment OF this new
source OF wealth. Plantations in this vicinity,
which lust after the war were Knocked down
RAPIDLY risen in public esteem, and now command
high prices. BY means Of fertilizers, composed OF
amIxture Of these phosphates and other materials,
lands worn out by continual replanting have
been renewed In energy and strength, aud the
loss of animals and labor, occaSloned by the late
war, has been in o manner made good. The
amount OF such manure5 Sold here and shipped
from this port during the past year reaches a
wonderful figure. During the last month, alone,
one company had over twenty vessels plying be-
tween this port and Philadelphia loaded with
phosphates. Their bencacent effect upon soils OF
all kinds and crops Of every description is now
beyond cavIl, and the steadily Increasing demand
for them shows how well their value Is arprecla.
ted by the planter.
The efforts now in progress to develop the
phosphate beds are worthy OF the magnitude Of
the discovery. The following companies are pro.
mnent In the WORK:
TIE CHARLESTON SOUTH CAROLINA MINING AND
MANUFACTURING COMPANY.
This company was organized In 1867, and was
the pioneer In developing the extent and value OF
the phosphates. Their olllcc Is ut No. i32 Walnut
street, Philadelphia, IN which city the president,
Mr. Jesse F. Smith, and most OF the officers, re.
side. Professor F. S. Holmes, the first president
Of the company, after his resignation, was elect
ed and is now director OF the company.
The company has purchased and owns 10000
acres OF the best quality phosphate lands, and
has mining lease for over 1900 acres. 1t
paid out during the past year s150.oOo for build
ings, wharves, machinery, &C., besides max
Ing two dividends TO the stockholders, and has
made sales at $1,000 per acre OF land purchased at
about $40 per acre. The analysis OF the crude
phosphate rock from the diggings OF this COM
pany, as made by G. A. Licbig, Esq, one OF the
first chemists Of the age, shows that 1t contains
e721s o. the bune phosphate OF line, which Is the
most valuable component in the rock The capl-
tai or the company is SS0o,O0o, to DC Increased,
desirable, to one million.
PANY.
This company was first organized by John r.
Dukes, the president From Information re-
ceived during the war, the rock on Ashley hiver
was analyZed in 1867 Dy DR.. ST. ]. Rayenel, then
the chemist OF the company. and the high per-
centage OF phosphate 1t contains ascertained.
The complny's mines are Oh the Ashley River,
from which they dug the first cargo OF rock that
was sent from Charleston, AMI they have beeu
the pioneers In the manufacture Of this rock into
a fertilizer They have minel large amounts OF
rock some or which has been sold TO other COM
panies aud the remainder manipulated In this
city into fertilizer which has given areputation
to these deposits, and contributed no little to
create prevailing speculative excitement on the
subject OF phosphates. The capital OF the com
pany Is $780, 900. superintendent, T. u. Dotterer.
TUE ETIwAN sULPHURIC ACID AND sUPERPHos-
rHATE COMPANY.
This company was organized In the year 1868
for the purpose OF manufacturing at home the
highest grade of fertilizers from the native bone
phosphates 1t has erected extensive chambers
for making sulphurlc acid, which is the proper
chemical solvent OF the bone phosphates, and Is
now manufactures the acid on q larger scale
than Is done in any other part OF the Unlted
States. The whole Of the actd manufactured is
used in reducing the crude rock to soluble sGpe:-
phosphate. The extensive works OF the company
occupy the old ship yard on Town Greek, about
three miles above the city, and they have se-
cure dock and deep navigation up to it for the
largest vessels. There Is also q railroad from the
works to the South Carolina Railroad and other
points. The grindiag works are also on the
largest scale aud enable them TO oner for sale at
very low figures the phosphates Simply ground to
powder. The capital Of the company is 100000,
and the otiiers are: C. G. Meaminger, president;
Mr.. Caspar Ch.solnl, Superintendent; DR.. n. A.