The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1891-12-01

pick about, mining for the rich pockets and
beds most easily accessible In thinking over
the conditions surrounding the industry and
proper course to be pursued In its manage
ment, 1 have always deemed IL essential that
territory, but a personal Investigation show
cd that such q survey, to be OF any value,
Therefore il was deemed best by the Commits.
sion not to undertake 1t with the means
placed at or disposal, VIZ, siooSo: This
give us n dredge adapted to test even the
shallow streams with less than twenty feet
of water: and when 1t is remembered that
most oil the estuaries emptying into ST. Hell
ena Second and Port Royal Harbor are very
deep, and that much of the rock mined has
been raised out of water over forty feet in
depth with an overburden of sand of nom
six to twelve feet thickness, the obstacles in
the way OF n survey can be readily seen. We
found that In order for the Inspector to exer-
else any intelligent supervision of the min
ty was honestly paid, IL was absolutely neces-
sary TO provide some means OF water trans
money, sa,is,s sae.f In purchasing che ussu a small Rmrt st stea sne
launch for his use. The balance OF the appro-
priatlon is still i'm the Treasury, but owing to
Commission was forced 10 borrow enough
money to pay the SALARY, OF Inspector, Jones
loaned us by tho Carolina National Bank OF
Columbia without interest, and provision
VIII have 10 6e made for its payment. The
On the LIST of March IN accordance with the
instructions OF the Act creating the Commits
sion, we took possession OF Coosaw River and
issued license to mine therein to three com
panics. Two OF these entered the river, but
Judge Slmonton. He took advantage OF the
fact that the Phosphate commissioners Were
officers, although he knew they were State
officers. to grant the Injunction.
As the public prints have given full &C
counts OF all subsequent litigation and the
present status OF the Coosaw case, | shall not
mention II further than to say that while
there is n decrease In the revenue conse-
Qucnt upon the StOppage of the COOSaw Com
pany OF S52,63G.60. we feel that the state Is TO
be Congratulated upon the present status. as
tied States Supreme Court will sustain the
y yiew ALREADY iCyo expressed in The decision Of
mated early next year.
The price of phosphate rock continues high
saw River there will be an increase I'm the in
come OF the state from royalty more than suf-
sustained i'm maintaining the right of the
State tocontrol her own property. IL would be
wise, In my opinion, to give the Commission
the power TO impose u graduated royalty to
correspond with the prices Of rock, aud also
to permit IL to fix the royalty on rock in
streams other than Coosaw AT II less rate than
for that river. Some of the rock is of low
grade, and some of The deposits are very hard
making mining dimcult., Therefore, II fixed
table mining In many streams If concessions
are 1rGe not made to the miners: 1t would also
portion that territory among the different
persons applying for a license and require
tttVil U tiltic 'Ntl Nv "llolc ullolltu tclli-
tory. We have found, by the report of In
spector Jones, that under the management of
the Bureau OF Agriculture. Commissioner
Butler and Mr.. Roche, the different compa-
MES, notably the Coosaw, have been paying
less royalty than the law requires, by reason
of not making due allowance for the mois-
tn re expelled In drying the rock. How much
OF this. If any, can be recovered will have 10
be determined by the Courts If the Attorney
General shall deem II wise to enter suit. The
loss to the state thus discovered has amount
cd To Sl32 ,35l 81 since mining operation" were
begun, and SSG,373. 90 since the establish ment
OF the Agricultural Department I'm 1881. The
difference, Gl5 per cent, between the amount
OF moisture actually expelled and that which
the companies have allowed, amounts for
fiscal year To more than Sll 900, and rs the
present officials cannot be held responsible
for any quasi agreements or neglect ON the
part OF their predecessors, yme of this
sum Will be demanded, and il necessary, en-
forced In The Courts, while we Will IN future
require payment on the basis OF 81 10 per ton
for dried rock.
Before leaving this subject / desire 10 men.
ton the Importance or some steps being
taken TO prevent the damage now resulting
to the States interests In the Ashley, Stone
and EdiSto Rivers by the Jumping of the de-
bris OF taiiings into those streams from the
works OF the land miners. some time ago l
addressed II communication TO Capt. f. V.
Abbot, us. Engineers, at Charleston, ask
Ing for in as to the filling up of
these streams by reason Of this debris being
cmptied therein. lie replied that he had re-
ported to the authorities at Washington in re.
gard to Ashley. tver, but knew nothing Of
obstruction TO the other streams mentioned,
and In formed me that Congress, last Deem
Der, had passed an Act prohibiting the dump
Ing of such material into nnvigable streams.
phate beds from being buried so that they
cannot be protitably mined, and United
States seeks To preserve the navigability of
rivers. But for fear the Uuitcd States author
tiles may not press the matter | call IL to
your attention.