Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-08-17
Resources and Material Progress of
the South Atlantic Cotton States.

On Friday, the last day of the Bank
ers' Convention at Niagara Falls, the
following paper was submitted by DIR.
Andrew Simonds, of South Carolina:
Mr.. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN
OF THE CONVENTION: This paper is in
tended to call attention to the rapid pro-
gress which is developing in the South
Atlantic Cotton States, as illustrated
more especially in South Carolina, in in
dustries outside of agriculture, which,
previous to 1870, was almost entirely re
lied upon for the support of our people.
The war probably left no State, as a
whole, in so deplorable and PROSTATE a
condition as South Carolina. But the
discovery in 1867, or rather the practical
application of the discovery, by Prof. F.
S. Holmes, distinguished naturalist
and scientist, of the phosphate deposits
under the land, and under the waters OF
the seacoast of South Carolina, was the
CLEAN of hope to an almost hopeless
people.
The first shipments of crude rock were
made in 1867-six tons to domestic ports,
which has increased year after year, the
shipments to both foreign and domestic
ports reaching in 1881 near 300, 900 tons
crude rock, marketed by both
the land and water companies. OF
the former there are about q
dozen companies in successful opera.
ton. The phosphate modular stratum
varies in thickness from three to four
inches to three feet, which latter is very
rare, the average being eight to twelve
iuches, and when of greater depth is
usually only local accumulation. The
yield Of clean dry rock per acre varies,
say from 300 to 1900 tons, averaging
about 800 tons to the acre. There has
been wide range in price, say from $4
to So a ton, at which latter figure the
rock is now taken as fast as ready for
shipment, and some of the companies are
said to have their entire products en-.
gagged for twelve months ahead. The
analysis of the rock shows about 60 per
cent. phosphate of lime.
There are six marine phosphate COM
panies, besides about a dozen parties
working under individual rights. There
are now thirteen manufactures of these
fertilizers in the city of Charleston, and
new works are being erected every year.
The shipments of manufactured fer
tilizers in 1867 by railroads and steamers
amounted to about $4,000 tons, all of
which were manufactured elsewhere,
while the shipments in 1881 were 100, 900
tons. nine -tenths of which were manipu.
lated by the Charleston factories from
the crude rock mined within few miles
of their works.
And the distribution Of these fertiliz-
ers through the South Atlantic Cotton
belt is telling wonderfully on the in
creased production of cotton on the old
and worn lands of these States as com.
pared with the rich alluvial soils of the
West. While the production of cotton
has nearly doubled in the last decade,
the increase far outstripping the increase
of population, the greatest specific in
crease being in the Atlantic cotton
States, which have first felt the influence
of the phosphates, where the product
per acre has almost reached that of Mis-
sisSppi and Texas. And, as time rolls
on, the natural fertility Of the soil Of
the Western Cotton States will be more
and more exhausted, while the Atlantic
States, under the increased use of fer
tilizers, and consequently better tillage,
will probably become the largest pro-
ducer of the staple per acre.
In 1880 there were in South Carolina
alone about 1900 looms and about
SO, 900 spindles, as against 700 looms and
33, 900 spindles in 1870, and it is only
now, in 1881, that the people are really
turning their attention to this branch of
industry, there being now quite num-
Der of new factories building and pro-
jected.
Whenever factory has been erected
and the manufacture of cotton goods
has been undertaken with improved ma
chinery under the direction of expert
enced operatives, it has paid the owners
handsomely and given fresh impulse to
industrial activity generally. Southern
spinners have some decided advan-
tages over their Northern competitors.
They get the material from OF very near
the producer, and, therefore, at lower
cost. The cotton is cleansed, and, there
fore, there is less waste. The operatives
live more cheaplY than in the North
and are satisfied, therefore, with less
wages. The hours of labor are longer;
and, lastly, part of the products can be
sold directly from the mill, and, there
fore, at saving in the cost of transpor-
tation. But the most gratifying feature
connected with the establishment of fac
tories in the South is that the great bulk
of the capital invested has been furnished
by the Southern people.
Southern capitalists are putting their
shoulders to the wheel, diversified IN
dustries are taking the place Of the ex-
elusive cultivation Of cotton, and South
ern money and Southern muscle are
moving in new directions.