Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1883-07-05
Hidden for Centur es Under South
Carolina River.

A letter from Charleston, S. c., saws:
SThe chief source of wealth now to the
residents of Charleston and its vicinity
are the inexhaustible phosphate de-
posts, which are schattered near and
far. Having heard such wonderful &C
counts Of the magnitude of this new
industry and being invited by large
operator in phospnates to visit several
mining districts near the city, [ sailed
from Chisholm's wharf through Wappo
Cut, and out into Stone River, dis
lance of fifteen milcs. The phosphate
wealth beneath the waters of this river
Is said to be imitless, the numerous
| companies, employing hundreds of
men and curiously constructed mach
ines, together with tugs. flag boats, lit
ters, dredgers, ate, drive an industry,
the profits of which are refilling rapidly
ar d surely the depleted Golfers of the
State and injecting new life into her
business arteries. Having reached the
scene of labor, was amazed at what I
saw. Nothing is more wonderful than
the modes here EN- ployed in divesting
the wa ers of their hidden treasures.
A large fiat, upon which are fastened
comp licated machines of ungainly look
and titanicpower, is anchored in the
middle of the deep, black stream.
Huge lifters, pendant from rafters
above, move their ponderous and
| capacious jaws this way and then that.
The heavy iron grappels of the mach
inc go down like living claws and
emerge from the water with its NAM
moth petrifi6d bones of extinct animals.
Jaw bones almost as large as plow-
shares were brought up. saw a sue
ton tube descend and in few minutes
return with its freight of stone and
teeth. Some of these teeth,
I was informed, arc those
of the shark, but they are twenty
times larger than the molars of any
known species of fish now to be found
anywhere. Some of these bones are
as black as polish ed ebony. In mass
of bones and teeth are imbeded many
curious specimens of fish skeletons,
the physiological structure presenting
many remarkable points. In clot of
crude phosphate and mud, which was
discharged near my feet, | saw some.
thing shiny. Picking it up, it proved
to be q gold coin of the reign of King
George. A subsequent haul brought
up about forty of these old coins, which
are retained as valuable relics. [ shall
not attempt to describe all saw while
watching the process. AS fast as these
rocks and petrifcations of fishes and
animals were emptied from the tubes
on the fats, they we're conveyed to the
factories where the grinding
converted them into fertilizers. Much
of this rock is shipped IN its crude state
to France, England and Germany, and
some goes to Australia, but the bulk is
ground here and shipped abroad.
At this season the demand for the
rock is great, and all the companies are
working their full force. The price of
phosphates is subject to sharp fuctua-
tions, but the State always gets her
royalty of 81 so per ton for all the
crude rock mined. This produces no
inconsiderable income to the State, and
the revenue thus raised is applied to
the Educational Fund. Some idea Of
the vastness of this industry may be
had when I state that one of the CON-
panies, and by no means the most ex-
tensive, takes out an average of $50
tons s. day. Those mines of wealth,
more profitable than those of Colorado
have been mercifully concealed for
ages in the bowels of the earth, to be
providentially discovered just when
the impoverished people most need
help.