The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-01-28

per share. While, however, there has been an
enormous loss OF capital to the company, there
community in being able to procure an article at
eleven dollars per ton equally good with one for
which they had been paying twenty-five dollars
per ton, or more that double as much. Equally
favorable and interesting accounts, no doubt,
might be furnished from the Wando Manufac-
turing Company, South Carolina Phosphate Com
Dany and others, but we have not been
favored with opportunities OF obtaining them.
THE COMMITTEE "oN PHosPHATEs."
There has been referred to your committee
phate deposits from the navlgaoe streams and
waters OF the State OF South Carolina which, to
them, appears TO combine more OF the essen.
tial requisites for q general law on the subject
than any other which has been brought to their
attention; and they, therefore. with some ad1i-
tlons, and notifications, recommend It to the
favorable consideration OF the Senate. 1t Will be
perceived that it asks for no monopoly, or cXclu-
sive privileges, rtr corporations or individuals,
but places all upon an equal footing; that 1t as
serts the prerogative OF the State, and the rights
oflabor, and affords encouragement to the manu-.
racturer and capitalist. 1t asserts the right OF
all citizens, upon complying with the terms and
conditions imposed by the State, to mine and
remove tile phosphates, upon which 1t imposes
royalty of two dollars per ton for the @ 6eneit a., M OF
the whole people OF the State. While the
right of the State to impose the royalty cannot be
controversial there may be diversity of opinion
as to Its amount. The committee were controll-
cd, in fixing 1t at the amount specified, from the
fact that parties and associations, now engaged
In mining and removing phosphates, pay to the
owners Of the land In which they are situated one
dollar per ton for the privilege OF taking them
away. They are generally covered with earth,
frequently to the depth OF two or three feet, the
removal OF which, and of the shrubbcry, trees,
&C., by which they are encountered, ana the SUD-
sequent washing and transportation to the land
ing OF the ploSphateS. from most OF which those
Engaged In removing the river phosphates would
be exempt In tile opinion OF the committee, add
at least another dollar to the charges, making
them fully equivalent to the royalty imposed by
the State. Tile ease and facility OF procuring the
phosphates from the river beds, especially during
the earlier operations, should also be taken into
consideration, and II experience demonstrates
the amount to be excessive. 1t can be readily
modified at the next session.
RETURNS TO THE STATE.
The bill also provides for the Incorporation Of
companies for tile purchase and sale OF the phos-
phates from those engaged IN mining anu col
iecting them, and who, upon giving proper secu-
rlty, may be licensed and designated as state de-
positorles and authorized to give receipts 10 the
miners and collectors OF phosphates for the sum
OF two dollars per ton royalty. These recelpts
must be forwarded monthly to the Auditor OF
State, who shall proceed at once 10 collect theln
simplify the process OF collecting, and render un-
necessary multitude OF inspectors, collectors,
&c. and by its checks afford wholesome SAFE
guard against abuses. Provision Is also
commissioners, consisting of his Excellen.
cy the Governor, the Secretary OF State,
and the Attorney-General, to frame
code OF rules for the details OF these regu0tions
which shall be printed and appended to the ll-
ccnse issued by the Secretary OF State. The bill
also provides that upon every ton OF agricultural
fertilizers Of q certain specific grade, manuiac-
tured In South Carolina, there Shall be allowed
drawback OF one dollar for every ton OF phos'
plate rock, or phosphate material employed In
its composition, upon satisfactory proof that tile
royalty has been paid upon said phospllates.
This will afford judiciOus and ncediul cncour-
agement and Stimulus for manufacturing this val
liable material ut home, which will attract large
amounts of capita, from distance Tor that pur-
pose, instead Of sending 1t abroad IN ITS raw
State to give employment 10 labor anu capital Ill
other sections, anu TO enrich oLncr locahlles III
stead OF our own.
SOUTH CARoLINA'S FOLLY.
South Carolina has too long afforded an EXAM
pie OF the folly OF furnishing the Worlu WIN ner
valuable raw materials TO be repurchaSeu again
at greatly enhanced cost IN their manulacturea
condition, and the present favorable opportunity
of correcting and reforming this policy should be
eagerly embraced. With the great advantage OF
having the principal ingredient at our own doors,
our manufactures will be enabled to hold ont IN
ducements to the agriculturists OF every CLINE,
ami their ships VIII resort to our seap0rts for sup
plies, bringing with them more or less Of the pro.
ducts Of their own countries, greatly stimulating
free trade, building up our foreign commerce,
and giving additional employment to capital and
labor. Your committee have before them bill
to incorporate the South Carolina Chemical ana
Mining Company, and to license and authorize
the same to dig and mine in certain navigable
rivers In this State under certain restrictions and
conditions.
WHAT Mr.. PRATT HAS DONE.
At the head OF this company is Mr.. Nathaniel
Pratt TO Whose arduouS zeal and scientific Know
ledge the State and the world are so materially
indebted for the discovery OF the agricultural
of, r,11,n nfn
sl, works for chemical purposes aud products,
as well as appropriate and appertalnlng to oil the
uses Of the farm, plantation, manulactOry, ana
indeed to most Of the useful arts. They propose
TO make acids, paints and oils, dyes, mordants,
chemicals, salts and fcrtlliZing agents works
which will cost much money anu labor 10 estaD-
sl, and great skill to manage and Keep In opera
tion but when erected will bring 10 the doors not
only OF the agriculturists but the mechanic and
artisan, those things that Nre Indispensable for
their operations, but which they are obliged now
to procure elsewhere. The committee nave al
ready indicated their views In reference to the
value of such establishments as are herein indcat-
ed, and OF the policy Of encouraging them by eve
ry legitimate means. Mr.. Pratt and his coadju-
tors ask for no exclusive privileges or monopolies,
but are willing that all shall obtain the same prl-
vileges. on the like conditions. With some amend
ments that they have incorporated with the bill,
they cordially recommend its passage.
SLAP AT THE "coDrIERs'
In conclusion, your committee woulll express
their regret that this important question hal not
been entrusted to abIer hands. They are fcclnSy
convinced OF the difficulties surrounding an at
tempt TO frame satisfactory law for the regnla-
ton Of a sub ject at once nOvei ana com plicatcu,
upOn which there are no lights Of experience, or
codes OF procedure 10 Initiate 0r to copy. They
are conscious of their deficiency in the legal acu-
men anil learned lore which adorn and illuminate
some Of the brighter lights of our legislative halls,
but which too frequently prove light without
heat, "tlat leads TO Dewilder AMI dnzZles TO
bllnd." But your committee have directed their
efforts TO an honest and sincere determination to
discharge their duty US servants OF the people; 10
guard their rights and protect their interests,
rather than to confer illtmttable wealth and inter
minablc privileges upon favored few. at the en-
pense of the toiling many, and thus building up
an olll6us monopoly that will be able by It's power
and influence over the many thousands whom 1t
will control to contest the power OF the State
with Its government. and even to effect political
revolution, thus pervertlng what was Intended by
q gracious Providence rs O muniticent blessing
into an lrreleemable curse. The best that your
committee can hope for Is that they may have
made some suggestions, Which, In more shtllul
hands, may approximate to a proper system, OF
which experience will detect the errors and Sug-
gesr the remedies.
TIE GENERAL LICENSE BILL.
The same committee offered several amend
ments to Hoyt's bill, which provided for system
Of general licenses, and recommended that it be
passcd. The amendments arc:
That associations Of persons With sufficient cap.
ital may be Incorporated for tle purpose OF tlig-
ging, mining and removing phosphates and phOs-
phatic materials from the rivers and navigable
streams of the State, for the purchase and sale
thereof, and for manufacturing tile same; and
such association upon giving proper security,
NAV he appointed and designated as regularly
Ia ,pcifnr rin