The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-01-23

obtained on this point only from those
interested in making the extent of the
deposit appear rs great as possible
Then, again, the financial difficulties ef-
fecting the State at the time, together
with the known poverty of the people,
made it absolutely necessary to lessen
the burdens of taxation by every means
possible, and rs the taxpayers received
considerable sid from this source it was
thought best to continue the system then
in force until at least a better conception
was had of the subject. The objections
to this system were many, and were all
we'll understood, but there was but this
plan and one other proposed, and no
time was had to mature better one, so
it was determined to organize or charter
as many companies as desired it that the
monopoly business might be broken up,
and each and every charter so granted
was made repealable at the will of the
Legislature, going to show the necessity
there was felt TO exist to adopt new
and entirely better system so soon as
that system could be mapped out.
The one other plan proposed and the
plan adopted by the last Legislature, was
proposed first in the interest of those
living upon the sea coast, and was not
calculated to obviate a single objection
met with in the other plan, but instead
contained insuperable objections of its
own. From recent investigations it is
proven that the extent of this deposit
has been greatly exaggerated. We need
every bit of it at home to manure our
own worn out lands. but as it is, it is be-
ing fast transported beyond the borders
of our own State, and while monopolist
and consumers in other countries are be-
ing made rich with its use, our own peo-
pie are practically denied the use of it,
and, if this rapid transportation contin-
ues, We will soon awaken to the fact that
our great mine of wealth has been ex-
hausted and is gone, and all the great
anticipations arising therefrom have
gone with it. South Carolina, like the
other Southern States, has for long
time felt the burden of being hewers of
| wood and drawers Of water for our more
enterprising and active brothers across
the border, and in the management of
our phosphate interest we are simply e1-
employing the common custom of allow
ing others to come in and reap the benc-
fits of wealth which could be made to
materially advance the interest of every
individual in the State. We never have
been, and may be never will, be able to
fix price upon the products of our labor.
Whatever spectators say we must take
for our cotton we have to take, but these
phosphates are one thing we can control.
We can prevent this expectation, and
can manufacture them, so to speak, at
home. Then, in the name OF common
sense, let us do it.
In the adoption of plan to perma-
nently and proftably dispose of this de-
posit, the first concern should be to see
that none of it is transported beyond the
borders of the State, and that every
ounce that is dug goes to manure our
own worn out lands, that the productions
of our soil be increased to the greatest
extent possible. Now, the present plan
in operation is absolutely at variance to
these ideas, in that it has for its prime
object the mining of as great an amount
as possible This objection alone to the
present plan is sufficient to convince
every one that the plan is not in the per-
manent interest Of the State but besides
this great objection there are others
equally as great, for is it not under the
operations of this plan that the monopo-
lists are able to band together and de-
mand price for their manure entirely
disproportionate to the benefits derived
from their use! 1t may be well, how
ever, that this last plan was adopted, for
the subject is new one to our people,
and we have no experience as precedents
to guide us in disposing oft. After
trial, if it does not work as well as ex-
pected, it will only serve TO bring all to
a common opinion, and all will see the
Importance of radical change in the
whole system. Believing that that time
is at hand, and that all are even now
ready for change, rendered absolutely
necessary by the recent action Of the mo-
nopolists, Ihave thoughtfully matured the
outlines of plan which 1 think will OBJ
viate all the difficulties hitherto met
with and which will accomplish all the
objects desired.
The plan in short Is as follows: Re-
peal all existing charters to companies,
and, by legislative enactment, give to all
the right to dig, but upon the expressed
condition that all rock so dug or mined
shall be sold To the State alone and at
stipulated price, and punish by heavy
penalties any one violating this condi-
ton. Then with the convicts in the
penitentiary let the State manufacture
this rock into manure, and by so doing
the State'could obtain profitable employ
ment for those who are now an expense,
and the profits thus obtained would save
to begin with the expense of maintaining
that institution, which is annually be-
tween thirty and forty thousand dollars.
Then to save what the State now receives
4. Gt |,