The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-12-17

social and political Reorganization a dlscov-
cry should have been made which promises
to prove q source Of Incslculable wealth and
advantage not only to the State, but also to
the entire South, and wen to foreign coun-
tries. In the phosphate beds which extend
through the State, almost from one end to the
other, there are found In almost inexhaustible
quantities the finest and richest fertilizlHg de-
posits In the world. These deposits are
specially adapted to the dry and arid lands of
the State, and convert them from sterillty
into verdure and beauty. The discovery of
these phosphates comes In good time to cor
rect the wretehed system Of agriculture which
render periodic movements of the population
to more fertile soils q matter of necessity.
The fertilizers are also specially adapted to
the renovation of the exhausted cotton lands
of the South, and In this respect alone they
will exercise q marked and decisive influence
on the future cultivation OF this staple.
or course the development of this source
of wealth requires time and capital. But the
work of preparing and utilizing the phosphate
beds progresses. at q rapid rate, and already
constitutes an important branch OF industry.
A number of fertilizer factories have been
located 10 the vicinity of Charleston, and they
are all employed to their full capacity. The
phosphates OIL South Carolina have already
U0COul0 OIL lupOl l0ub lOoGulC u COmuCICc,
and of the exports from the port Of Charleston
the largest proportion goes to Great Britain.
Canada also takes o considerable quantity.
The Northern States seem to take very little.
But the trade is rapidly extending throughout
the South, and will increase. Still further In
proportion to the development Of the railroad
system of that section. 1t Is found, other
things being equal, that the crop natures at
least two weeks earlier BY the use Of these
fertilizers than would otherwise be tho case;
that the chances OF injury by the various vIcis.
sltudes OF caterpillar and weather are very
much diminished, and that the yield Ia In
creased not less than twenty per cent. With
these advantages the South Carolina phos-
pilates must soou come Into general use In the
South. Planters now poBsess more means
than ever before to purchase the means for
nothing pays bett,- o more surely than
money Invested IL .-Iern.
Some time ago the Legislature OF South
Carolina established an inBpeotorshlp OF fer
tllizers, and the various deposits are now sub
jected to chemical analysis and are duly
stamped previous to being placed on the mar
ket. This appointment met with considerable
opposition on the part Of some OF the phos-
plate companies, but the majority appear to
It. The exact percentage Ia given of the varl-
GUS salts and other elements which constitute
q perfect fertilizer, ard the mercantile value
of the product ceases to be q matter Of oonjec-
ture or doubt to planters and farmers, who
can thus obtain the kinds that are best adapt
ed to their lands. Heretofore, In the North
ern States, at least, the use or fertilizers has
been diminished by frauds In the quality of
the article. 1t ID too much The practice to re.
duce the proportion of the costly elements In
fertilizers without any corresponding reduce
tlon In prices, and farmers pay out large sumo
for articles which turn out to be almost worth
less. 30 tar as the inspector OF fertilizers In
South Carolina may succeed In preventing
frauds of this kind so far Will he contribute TO
the increase aud general use OF she phos-
pilates. 1t is not his office to certify to the
general excellence OF the various fertilizers,
but only to determine the precise quality or
proportion of the Ingredients of which 1t is
composed. The substance OF all commercial
fertilizers consists Of four elements, and the
proportion In which these are combined by
the manufacturer constitute their value to
or soil.
The business of phosphate digging Ia South
Carolina is rapidly Increasing. and no other
species of mining seems TO afford more GER
tain returns on Investments. The present
tendency of mining Ia towards the laying Of
extensive works and the purchase of large
quantities OF reserved territory. But there Is
obilk uA OhlOaolp0 buphhSup WV oAS1
miners. One company mined fifteen thousand
tons during the last year, and the productions
from river deposits alone amounted to forty
thousand tons during the last twelve months.
It Is expected that the entire product Of the
State will be increased not less than forty per
cent. during the next year.
At present South Carolina enjoys q pracli-
cal commercial monopoly of the natural phos-
phate deposits Of the world. During the
last year strata of phosphates have been dis
covered In Siberia, Austria and France. But
they are all beyond the reach Ut immediate
development, and are net favorably situated
for the transportation OF the products to q
market. In all these respects the South Caro-
lima rock deposits enjoy immense advantages.
They can be reached, decomposed and ma
nlpulated with economy and facility, and the
products can be easily and cheaply dlstrlbu-
ted either by railroad or water transportation.
Alt that Ia required to develop this business
into vast proportions is capital, and this de-
fcIency Is not likely to continue long, In
view of the returns which have been real
lied from the investments that have been al
ready made.