The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-02-06
Tho Phosphate Meeting.

meeting of the farmers of Anderson
County ut Anderson Court House on last
Monday to take into consideration the &c,
ton of the manufacturers of commercial
phosphatcs, by which they had combined
to raise the cotton option price of fertilizers,
o large crowd assembled in the Masonic
Hall at twelve o'clock, and organized by
electing Col. Thomas H. Russell President
and Col R. W. Simpson Secretary.
Hon. ". C. Brown moved that COM
mittee of one from each township be ap-
pointed to consider and report upon all res
olutions which should be brought before
the meeting.
Pending the consideration of the resolu-
tion Col. E. NJ. Rucker addressed the meet
ing and urged the importance of o comDina-
ton of the agricultural interests Of the
country to resist the encroachments of mo-
nopolists, and securs for the farmer that
consideration and protection to which he
is entitled. During his speech Col. Rucker
was frequently cheered, and at its conclu-
sion Maj. GeorgeW Maret spoke in favor
of the resolution, taking the ground tn at
the present prices Of fertilizers would be
ruinous to those who use them, and that
the meeting should do something to secure
unity of action among the farmers of this
and surrounding counties.
DR.. Browns resolution was then adopted,
and the following committee was appointed
under it,:
Brushy Greek, ;. Jameson; Garvin, John
Newton; Pendleton, W. W. Russell; Fork,
&. W. Maret; Williamson, Or. John Viii
SON; Hopewell, M. B. Williams; Centre
vile, J. Bolton Watson; Rock Mills, Joseph
Caldwell Bolton, DR.. w. C. Brown; Broad
away, L. E. Campbell; Anderson, E. M.
Fucker; Yarennes, L. E. Stevenson; Sa-
vannah, VIM. Jones; Honea Path, R. N.
Wright; Martin, James Drake; Hall, J. P.
MCGEE; Corner, DR.. J. H. Reid.
Hon. R. W. Simpson and w. w. Russell,
Esq, offered resolutions, which were read
and referred to the committee, and Colonel
Simpson spoke with earnestness upon the
subject, expressing himself in favor of re-
pealing all of the phosphate rights granted
away by the State, and entering upon and
using them upon such conditions as to pre-
vent the expectation of this valuable mine
of State wealth, which, under the present
system, was being rapidly removed from
the State st mere song. He was in favor
of the State manufacturing commercial fer
tilizers and furnishing it to the planters of
the State at the cost of manufacture. He
spoke Of the immense opposition which
would come from those now engaged in the
manufacture of phosphates to such q pro-
position, and urged the planters to make o
strong and vigorous fight for it, assuring
them that in the end they would succeed,
and reap the great advantages to be derived
from such course. He told them that
ceasing to use these phosphates for the
present season might reduce the price some,
but that the companies now engaged in the
manufacture of these phosphates have o
demand outside of the State for more than
they can supply, and therefore the only
permanent remedy for the monopoly is
State interference.
at the conclusion of his remarks, which
were frequently applauded, Col. Simpson
was, by motion, added to the committee,
which then retired into one of the rooms to
prepare the report.
During this absence, Maj. E. B. Murray,
by invitation. addressed the meeting, and
spoke of the combination of manufacturers
showing q disposition to control the prico
of fertilizers by other means than the rules
which regulate the common business Of life,
and the result of this action in the Augusta
meeting was to fix an arbitrary value on
guano when paid in cotton, and to remove
that healthful competition which is regula-
ted by supply and demand. He thought
the combinations which are entered into by
capital in the commercial centres was the
source Of much loss and hardship to pro-
duccrs generally. The reduction Of the
cash price of fertilizers and increasing the
cotton option price was of very little conse-
quence to the planter, as rine-tenths of
them buy on the cotton option plan, and
therefore could not avail themselves of
cash rates. He expressed himself as op-
posed to the State engaging in manufacture
ing as g. general rule, but said that unless
the guano companies recede from their un-
warranted exactions in this matter he would
favor the State entering into the manufac-
ture of commercial fertilizers, and by COM
petition forcing these companies to come
down.
The committee on resolutions then made
the following report, which was unani-
mously adopted, after remarks from Capt.
w. D. Evins, who spoke in favor of it,
claiming that he had advocated these views
for long time past:
Resolved, BY the citizens of Anderson
County, in mass meeting assembled, that
the recent action of the companies manu-
featuring commercial manures, ut meet
ing in Augusta, December 18th, 1878, band
ing themselves together, and in the midst
OF general SuIIerlnS, anu at Time Wnen all
kinds of agricultural products are dcprecia-
ted in price, and when the great mass of the
tillcrs of the soil find it hard to exist, they
regard rs public wrong and blow aimed
ut the best interest of this Commonwealth.
Resolved, That the monopolists who con-
spired to commit this wrong are enemies to
the farming community, and as such should
be deprived Immediately of any and ali
privileges eithor to dig, mine or manufac-
ture commercial fertilizers.
Resolved, That we appeal to farmers, and
all Others interested in the success of agri-
culture, wherever scattered over the State,
to unite in opposition to the phosphate
monopolists and all the influence they can
bring to bear, and to continue in their oppo-
sition until every vestige of a monopoly,
which seeks self aggrandizement ut the ex-
pense of the rights Of Others, is rooted out
existence.
Z Rssoited. That unless the manufacturers
pf commercial fertilizers reduce tho price to