The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-12-04
THE BONE BUSINESS.
FIRST ANNUAL REPORT or THE IN
SPECTOR OF PHOSPHATES,

81 ~N
;. SPECTOR OF PHOSPHATES.
An O~bstreperous Mining ComPany-Th
Results Already Accomplished an,
the Prospect for The Future.
The following ls the report made to Cover
nor Scott by the Inspector of phosphates TO
the past year:
CHARLESTON, s. c., December 3.
To His Erceltency Gouernor Il. K. Scott:
Within a few DAYS afier my appointment t
the position of State inspector of phosphates
I received the hearty cooperation OF manu-
cial fertilizers, but ouly the partial support O
the phosphate companies engaged In rive
mining under license from the State. Tn,
Marine and River Phosphate Mining aut
Manufacturing Company, In q written com
munication from their president, Mr.. D. T
Corbin, refused to acknowledge the right o
the Legislature to pass laws supervisory O
their mining operations. The officers OF thl
company, acting under instructions, denied
me the exercise of authority delegated by tn,
Legislature for the protection OF the mos
valuable interests rf the State. As the Stall
auditor was the proper legal officer 10 enforc'
the provisions of their charter and sus
tain me Ia the performance of my duties
Ireqnested his cooperation aud approval. At.
ter some delay he took cfhclal cognizance OF ny
written and verbal communications, though ir
an unsatisfactory manner, for while laudlne
nv zeal he prevented lts exercise by declaring
that he would be content II l would report tc
him the returns of the Marine ahd River Phos
phate Mining and manufacturing Company, az
made at the customhonses OF Charleston and
Beaufort. Ia spite of this Indifference, I used
every effort TO carry out the spirit OF the law
until the action of the officers of The company
became 30 hostile that 1t was Impossible to
obtain reliable Information without an appeal
to those who can enforce a due respect Tor law.
I would mention, by the way, that The collec-
tor of the port of Charleston refused to allow
me to Inspect the returns In bis Office made
bv the said company. But'in due course, the
office of State auditor expired by the
act of Legislature, and Its dulles de-
I was empowered aud requested by
him to make q thorough investigation oil the
affairs of the different companies, and 10 act
| as in nv Judgment would beat tend 10 pro.
tect the Interests of the State; and I was also
| required to make such suggestions as might
effect that object. HIS communication
reached me but q short time since, when to
unlred the acquiescence OF the Marine and
| River Phosphate Mining and Manufacturing
| Company To have enabled mi 10 make this
| report as thoroughly as possible. lily demand
of Mr.. Tomllnson, the treasurer Of the COM
pany, was met with the request for time TO
consider and take legal advice. A day was
appointed Tor the declaration of hts course,
which has passed without my receiving any
communication from him on The subject. This
disregard OF the application of the Inspector.
the demand of the comptroller-seneral, and
the will of THE LeglSlalure-this violation OF
their charter-I lay before your Excellency
without comment.
Quite different was the course of the Coo
saw Company. Every facility was given Tor
Wessrs. James Adger d Co.. and / am pleased
% stata that the immense expenditures which
they have Incurred will greatly benefit The
State. They nave erected extensive works
which are q model OF convenience and excel
lpnce. Their dredging Is Systematically con-
Quoted, thus saving the property OF the Slate
from waste, and every precauL.on mas Deen
taken In the preparation of The rock to estab-
lish It's reputation and enhance It's value.
they have mined but little over fifteen thous-
and tons, OF which about len thousand Is on
hand. The scarcity oil shipping has prevent.
ed The export OF their entire production. /
am informed that they contemplate a very
large trade the coming year. The character
OF Sf,s sso ana lSaq n nasnc sa sc ed. In TILL! bis. enter .sssi
Tor the extensive development of their de-
The Marine aud River Phosphate Mining
and Manufacturing Company have also added
considerably 10 tneir miniug capacity, and
should have doubled the production they re-
port, which Is but little over $1,000 tons.
The Oak Point Mining Company have made
no returns whatever, as they rely upon the
Marine and River Phosphate Mining aud Man
ufacturlng Company for protection from the
requirements oil the State, aud In all my COM
munIcations with them / have been referred
to Mr.. Corbin.
The total production from the river denosila
during the last year has been less than 10000
tons, Us far as / have been able 10 ascertain.
This Is much to BIZ regretted. Our phosphate
beds should contribute more largely to the
OF The State, and the rivers should
be alive with this Industry. l wonid suggest
that the Legislature give every facility to those
who seek TO embark their capital In this
mining enterprise.
The business oil the phosphate companies
who milne In the land has been excellent, and
the price of rock has materially advanced, the
demand for crude material being active, both
for export and home consumption. The
tendency In mining Is toward the laying OF ex-
tensIvs works, and the purchase Of large
bodies of reserved territory. Small miners
make heavy outlay In the beginning, based
upon but a limited supply Of stratum, which
at once adds q heavy percentage to the cost
of production. Some IF them nave been IN.
successful, and doubts have prevailed with
capitalists concerning The security of invest.
ment In phosphate digging. But know OF
no other species OF miuing where returns are
so easily calculated.
In the last year four extensive deposits OF
phosphate material have been discoverer.
Iu Siberia q stratum, as YET only snpernclally
described, ls said TO extend over hundreds OF
SQUARE miles oil territory. 10 the Austrian
EmpIre another bed has been declared avail
able, and oil excellent quality; and qnile re.
we nave information Or two more dis.
In France. There Is, however, moth
inc to fear from competition of these deposits
with South Carolina rock. They are beyond
the reach of present Developments, or not as
sI,uated. From all parts we now
hear favorable reports of the facility with
which our rock can BIZ decomposed and mani
INFLATED, and I may safely say there is little
chance of supplanling our material. ALI that
we need Is mining capital, and onr phosphate
Will rise Into great importance.
Though there has been an effort made to
imnede the action of the inspector In tna exc
cmtIon OF his dulles by those who expected 10
derive advantage from The obstacles thrown
In h,s way. yet 1t Is with satisfaction he must
the reception he has had ut the
hands of those engaged In the manufacture OF
the crude material iuto commercial fertilizers.
They have seen the wisdom of the oct creating
The luepectorship, and have acknowledged the
sccrulng from an accurate exhibit
before the people of the chemical comDosl-
lion or their nroduct BY q Chemist not In their