Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1892-04-12
IDAHO
souri, cARoLINNs pnoseAAres
Mines in the Region OF the Ashley River.
Mining, washing and DRIVING

Mines in the Region OF the Ashley River
Mining, washing and Drying.
The whole coast region seems to hay,
once been the bed Of shallow inland sea
and over compact bed of mari some
forty or more feet in depth there lies de
post of phosphate OF Line from eighteen
70 thirty-six inches thick. This Is just be.
low the recent soil aud sand. 1t Is reached
BY stripping the surface till at a depth OF
fifteen to twenty inches the deposit Is
found. The phosphate is In the form OF
nodular concrctions, from the size of one q
head down 10 coarse gravel, about go per
cent. Of 1t being sand and marshy humrs.
This is loaded on TO tramway cars and
hauled on an inclined road TO the top OF
the washing house. From the cars it is
dumped into long troughs--fnvcrted pyra-
mids---at the bottom Of which are large re-
volving shafts armed with steel teeth,
which serve to brenls the large Jumps into
smaller ones and return the whole into
lower troughs, In which revolye other
shafts armed with paddles, spirally
arranged, to carry the phosphate forward
and deliver IL on TO screen inclined ut an
angle of forty-iive degrees. from which il
falls to the floor. During all this time it
Is trcatcd with sprays Of water, and the
dirt and sand are borne Off IN contrary
direction by suitable reverse slant In the
troughs.
The damp but clean phosphate rock is
then shovcled into burrows and wheeled
into the upper part OF large brick kilns
about G0xlO0 feet and twenty five feet
high, The Kiln Ii first prepared by
spreading on the bottom layer OF washed
phosphate pebbles, two feet thick. In
this are laid iron fucs TO give air, and
over these n pile OF fire wood tsoutl. ern
pine two feet thick, and then on this the
phosphate rock Is tumblcd from the bar
rows above until it reaches ten TO twelve
feet thick, about 400 tons to kin. The
mass then being ignitcd from the fues,
burns slowly, and when consumed the
moisture OF the pile is driven of, and the
rock Is ready for shipment and sale to the
FERTILIZER establishments, which, by pro.
cesscs peculiar TO each, treat IL with sui
phuric acid 10 free or 10 make more solu-
bic the pbosphori acid II contains. It Is
then ready for use by the planter.
The two establishments operated by
this company produce 1875 900 tons Of tho |
rock annually, The profit Is somewhere
about 10 per cent. on the capital invested.
The limit OF production IL only bounded |
by the demand The prices range from |
" per ton 10 now ebout IA PEE: ton. An
alysis OF the washed rock shows: Dirt,
! TO rcr cent. silica, In form of coarse |
white sand, IL to 10 per cent lime, al |
per cent; phosphoric iscid, ~ to 10 per
cent. The color Of this curious deposit Is
from u cream yellow to course brown
orange, forming irregular concretions. Its |
source Is evidently from the marine ami
nal life, which IN former geological ages
abounacd In this then shallow sea. The
fossilized vertebra and teeth of fish and
some animals abound in IT, | gathered
triangular teeth Of sharks measuring four
inchea on each side, Indicating monsters
of that period that must have been whale.
like in size. These teeth ar. as perfect as
when shed, highly polished with razor
like, sharp edges finely serrated
Tho discovery and development OF these
riches occurred soon after the war, aud
afforded the impoverished people source
OF income aud wealth that proved to be |
more valuable than gold mines. Negro |
laborcrs are employed entirely, and are |
found OF late years tractable, industrious, |
and work to the entire aatisfa ton OF their |
employees when treated Justly and with |
There are seven large |
mines IN this region, the output OF which |
goes largely to Europe, Other deposits |
are under water and arr dredged for, but |
otherwise are treated as are those of the |
dry diggings Charleston Is o. Cor. De- |
troit Free Press.