The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1879-03-14

EDITOR UNION TIMES The Ncps and Courier,
in q late issue, gives tho public same interest
ing facts and figures with reference to the phos-
phat, Companies to which the Union Times adds
little piquant sauce. There is in the Editorial
dcliverances of this Brood Street Magnate rath-
err too strong flavor of dogmatism on subjects
in general-a sort of 'you know nothing about
it, style-which it is quite proper that news
paper like the Union Times which does know "a
thing or two," should politely decline to tolerate
Now and then, indeed, we find in that organ
of the Ne,cs and Couriers opinion a true word.
Here is one To quote from mcmory,-"lt is
absurd to talk about laying an embargo upon
the expectation Of phosphates." 1t seems that
the Spar;anburg County farmers advocated this
measure, and that the Spartan cried Amen!
1t certainly is not by any such unjustihable
and impractcable proceedings that the question
now disturbing the peace of the agricultural
mind can be satisfactorily settled.
The proprctors of the phosphate wealth of the
:Siate hove inae1teofe -;sLt to do what they
will with their own, and the only question for
the farmer to consider is that which Immediate
ly concerns themselves. Can any legitimate ac-
tion be taken by them without Infringing on
the rights Of others, by which such reduction
in the price of Commercial fertilizers may be
secured US, according to their view of the matter
the agricultural interests Of the State impcra,
lively demands?
There arc certain questions we have plain
right to ask For example: At what price per
ton is phosphate rock placed on shipboard to
Europe? 50? Placed in the European
markets, what price does this phosphate rock
command? 50? Using this phosphate rock
rs basis. what price is asked by the European
Manufacturers of n high grade fertiizer?-
$22? These questions arc very suggestive.
The conviction in the minds of the farmers
that n Commercial fertilizer of high grade could
be furnished them at a price certainly not ex-
cecding S25 ton, is very profound, and no
contemptuous hi2gs at the farmers ignorance
and inability to judge correctly on this fcrtil-
zer question, by such newspapers as the News
and Comrier succeed in vne ota in weakening this
cnovicion.
Again, if Charters, purchased from an utterly
unprincirled Radical Legislature and endorsed
by n blind Democratic Legislature, have en-
trenched themselves beyond possibility of over
throw the farmers want to know it, and propose
to institute n very careful search into the matter.
Why not? If n Government of fraud and foul
play committed garilg crime against justice
AMI equity, and an honest Government, weakly
blind to its obligations confirmed that criminal
action, is it not now and alway permissible un-
der such conInetare ~ M Of Affairs 'E ns,iHie
be- and possibly may be, q way out of this for
milablc dilemma.
y friend of the writer's, an eminent physician
and Chemist and q gentleman, also, of extended
practical experience in mining operations, j.
of opinion, and prepared at any moment to sub
stantiarc it, that the pure phosphate rock pre-
pared 10y pulverization for agricultural purposes
could bc put on the market at n price considcra-
bly, less than half that now demanded for
the Commercial Acid rhOsphatcsay $40 n ton
and shat it would be greatly more to the
farmers interest, were he to leave the highly
pcrfumcd and watercd article at $50 and 500
ton severely alone, purchasing only the unadul-
tcratcd phosphatcs and supplying himself the
necessary Anmoniacal element
Such considerations rs these and many others
of q similar character have been forced to the
front by the late attempt the part of the
Phosphate Companies to place the last straw
on the camel backs.
There is also n rumor ailoat-not the writer
trust to be justified by iacts-that in the appoint
mcnt Of Commissioners to examine into this
whole phosphate question, due care has not been
manifested to secure men thoroughly competent
for the work and in manner likely to hc BIZ |
ascd, consciously or unconsciousy, in favor Of
the Chartered Companies.
However this may be, it is evident that the |
time has come when the cat0ns between the |
agricultural interests of the State and the phos-
phate wealth of the State demand serious con-
sidcration.
A. the old established price of Commercial |
fertilizers the intelligent farmer well knows |
that his dividends from Investment i'm them have |
been microscopically small IIo LnoAvs too
thanks to the NcIcS aad CoWricr-that the divi- |
dcnds from the miaing and manipulation of
phosphatcs arc every encouraging to the Stock
holders"
He is only modcstly asking why is this so p
lie thinks he has right to q straight forward
and categorical answer, and, Mr.. Editor Of the |