The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-05-08


You will observe appended to the
analysis OF the various foreign phosphates
on the table TO which your attention has
been called from time to time this ever
ing, some results obtained on the rock
from different localities in this State. II
We confinc our attention exclusive to tlie
grade of the superphosphates manu-
factured from this suite of samples ex-
amined in this laboratory, you will note
the following average:
sUpERPHOspHATEs MANUFACTURED.
Contain Of Soluble
From: Phosphoric Acid
Cambridge Coprolites. es...........IO per cent.
Bordeaux Phosphate. ................ s to Is
German Phosphate. 6 to 10
Spanish Phosphate. 8 to 20
Navassa Phosphate. ........l1i
2cutL Iarollna....:..,.. :.....10 to l53
Rio Grande Bonc-Ash............:...1 IA
While have not hesitated TO employ
this criterion rs the basis of our practical
survey this evening, it would be certainly
amiss to ignore another mode of COM
parison which possesses a like interest
and profit. You are aware that consid-
cradle use is made of phosphate rock
simply ground to fine powder, and ap-
ton with potash salts, burnt mari, stable
manure or other fertiizing materials.
Without entering upon discussion of
the merits of this procedure, l would
call your attention to tie following table.
which gives the average results of long
series OF examinations as to the soIubili-
ty o. the different ground phosphates in
Il solvent which is supposed TO approx
mate in its effec: TO the action of the
waters occurring in soils.
Amount of phosphoric acid dissolved
on treatment of the finely ground phos-
pilates from the following localities, with
an nniform quantity Of neutral citrate of
ammonia solution. lspec. grav. 1.O9:l
Cambridge coprolites........... 0.s5 per cent.
French coprolites.........O O.63 to I.77
Bordeaux phosphate 335
German phosp!:a.c................ 2.1G 10 2.iO
NeXillones guano.. AGO
haZa Island ..."................15.S 5.S3
Rio Grande bOne-ash. 4.0S
South Carolina phosphate rock o.: to $50
While it must be admitted that this
method of investigation as to the COM
parative assimilability of the various
phosphates leaves much to be desired,
yet there is considerable value to be
attached to the results, conducted as
they were in an uniform manner. At
tention is called to the fact that the
South Caroline phosphates are, on the
average, as readily attacked as the Mex
illones guano and the Rio Grande bone
ash, and much more 30 than the French
and German phosphates, which have
been used for g long time and. as
is claimed by some successfully-in the
simple pulverized condition rs means
of supplying the requisite phosphate
pabulum to plants.
The lateness of the hour precludes
anything more than a brief summary
of the commercial situation. Assuming
that of the two hundred thousand tons Of
phosphate rock now raised from the va
Tious South Carolina mines, one-third is
consumed at home, and twO-thirds are
exported, chiefly to England, we see at
once how seriously the price of our com
modify must be affected by any new or
increased competition in the English
market
At this moment the stagnation and
anxiety in commercial operations on the
other side of the Atlantic have up1ues-
tionably depressed the price of phos-
pilates in general. 1t is to be expected
that q reaction must come some time. and
that the demand will once more become
active. When that day shall, happily,
have arrived, will there be room for a
yet larger consumption of South Caroli-
ma rock2 My remarks this evening have
been designed to put you in position to
answer this important question.
The old beds-on whic.; the English
market relied-have either failed entirely
or show evidence of early exhaustion.
with the exception of the Spanish, more
especially that Of Logrosan, which looms
up like spectre. Is there any proba-
6ility of the discovery of new deposit I?
!p-answer to this question, it must be
remarked that the great variety of occur
renee, form end color, which ,nark phos-
phatic substances, are favorable to their
having been overlooked or neglected
even in regions where considerable at
tentiOn has been bestowed on the develop
ment Of mineral wealth.
For the sake of the State, of the com
munity, of us all who are here assembled,
K is 70 sis hoped that with an increasing
demand for phosphates, no other bed may
be discovered or give unexpected in
crease OF yield, 80 that we may reap a
long and rich harvest from our Bonanza.
f''' COMMERCIAL PHosPHATEs.
The following is the comparative
statement referred to by Professor Shep-
ard in his lecture:
A-Percentage of phosphoric acid in
the natural phosphate.
! 5s:i;aso III p:iospnoric acid in
the sqperphosphates made from them.
d - LDeal.t,es. e n, po, a; b.