Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-11-30
PHOSPHATE MINING.
South Carolina's Marvellous Natural Pro-
duct-A Recently Developed Industry.
TSporfai CnrracponSapea

/ New YORK Nov. 19.-Within seven years
the annual value of South Cardinals mineral
resources has increased from 81, 81 $50 to
! 5000 OPS, and Of this about s. per cent. is
phosphate rock. Visitors to the New Orleans
Exposition in 1854 and 1895 will remember a
pyramid formed entirely of this curious de-
post. 1t may now be seen at the spacious
hall of the state department of agriculture in
Columbia, s. c., where it towers from base
twenty feet square to the height of thirty
feet Long known TO biologists, it was not
until 1867 that the commercial Importance of
South Carolina phosphates was recog-
nized, yet more than 100000 tons
of the rock have been mined and shipped
since the peculiar industry was established.
A dozen land and twenty river mining COM
panies, now actively working, have a, 0Oo,-
coo invested. During the three years, 1865,
1869 and 1870, only 90 900 tons were raised,
90 per cent. Of which was land mining In
1880 125, 600 tons were produced from the
land mines and upwards Of CO, 600 tons Of
river rock. Last year the total output was
f33, 900 tons. almost equally divided between
the two varieties. Most Of the river rock Is
sold in Europe,
Il is officially stated that notwithstanding
the comparatively low price of phosphate
rock, during 1887, the value OF this product
alone was more than three times as great as
the aggregate value Of precious metals IN
earthed in the entire south in the same
period.
This remarkable deposit is found In beds
on the South Carolina lowlands running par
ailel to the Atlantic seaboard and from eight
70 fifty miles distant from the coast IL Is
also roughly massed with fossil bones and
teeth in creeks and rivers The nodgies have
developed. on analysis. from IS 10 c. per
cent Of tricalcic phosphate and from TO II
per cent Of carbonate Of lime, with various
minor constituents. These pbosphates form
the basis Of superior artificial fertilizers
largely consumed throughout the United
States and in foreign countries The chem
ical working reduces the rock 10 powder Of c
most fzsid.oJ1s nature. In the manufactures
the men who are employed 20 pack this dust
into bags are compelled TO wear handkcr-
chiefs bound across their mouths and nostrilk
South Cardinals phosphate MINIS are 10
Gated IN Beaufort, Collision arg; Berkeley
counties What Is known a. the Cop<aw
Mining company Ia tbs ozly river dredging
phosphate syndicate tina. has eIclozsve righ.A
There has recently b9en much talk II
pools and ''trusts- among tia river
companies. mainly with q view 70 pro |
tect ths price Of rock. The principal op~rs !
tors II Besrfort county. besides ths Coon.
syndicste, are the Oak Point Mining oo-n- 4
pany and the Sea Island Chemical company 4
Next January tbs Por. Royal Mining com
pauy win bcCin rock dredging.
TIE CooTer and Ashley river raarls are
colpo~ed u minute sheiA. and tbe.r grsoo-
lar tsxt-ve Ia frcqrentiy 30 compact Tia; ths
dark gray mass 10 csisabie for b1ild1ng ma
t1iAi Fragments broken from The irrcg
ular surfaces Of thee rsaris, rocrtet b. |
ware action, have become converted i1.o t5e
noiuls that ere % rich Ia phosphate o. l-sSs-
TIE rack which 10 now e1ssoEvesy mined f.
South Carolina u always to1od o--riytns |
The mari Mach darEer In ccaos saan TIE
LAID deposit. And pAjpsssy ha<s0. tie
xs.er rock IL forrs1 ss q dredging Gepsh If
asseen 70 tzs-ty fes. ~ tie bottom II creeks
srt rivers sass are feeders % Fors RoTal
aarnc~ o. s.. Essena so7aA Lard rock Is
Usually mined .: . 1epes u evs 70 sesen fe<s
.-u- tie caxfhs ssr.sSa II varsn grady