The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-03-24
GREAT oaEEoHHz's WEALTH.
The Oemler Oyster Company in Pos.
session Of Portion of It.

The Oemler Oyster Company In Pos
session Of Portion of It.
The announcement in yesterdays MORN
ING News that the Oemler Oyster Com
pany had discovered phosphate in the Ogee-
chee river and had secured a license from
the state to mine phosphate. created con-
siderable interest IN the city.
Col w. w. Gordon. vice president; Mr..
F. D. Blood worth, secretary and treasurer,
and Dr.. Oemler, manager Of the oyster
company, were seen in regard to the
character and extent Of their find. They
said that few days ago, while some OF the
employees Of the company were dredging for
oysters in the Great Ogeechse river, about
opposite Big Buzxard Hammock, they
brought up pieces Of bone. shell and rock,
which they at ouce recognized as of phos-
phate nature They found various similar
indications over q considerable extent of the
river bed.
Specimens OF the find were brought 10
Savannah and given In charge of Mr.. Blood
worth, who had an analysis made by Chem
ist FinneY. The specimen assayed about 60
per cent. Of bone phosphate, which Is about
the usual grade Of river phosphate.
Whether the deposit exists In any quantity
Is not known, but IL was determined 10 APP
ply for q license at once, LEST some more en-
terprising party should make application in
advance and secure the advantage Of the
discovery. The license was received by
Secretary Bloodworth yesterday. It gives
the Oemler Oyster Company the righs to
mine phosphate In the bed Of the stream for
five miles in any direction, and also to mine
upon any lands belonging to the state with
In the same radius.
The location OF the discovery, as described
in yesterdays MORNING NEWS, Ia in the
bed OF the Great 0geechee river, on the d.
vidtng line between Chatham and Bryan
counties, about LOO feet from Buzzard's
hammock and nearly opposite the mouth
OF the Florida passage into Bear river.
The phosphate can be easily transported TO
Savannah by water.
The officers of the company are conduct
ing themselves very modestly for prospect
i've millionaires. Col. Gordon had the
tooth OF an ancient megatherium upon his
desk as a paper weight. A diminutive oys-
ter was fastened to the top OF It. Col. Cor
don said It was very thoughtful on the part of
the megatheriums who once disported Them
selves in these waters together with their
friends. the ichthyossuri, TO shed their teeth
In the Ogeechee river where they would
be so convenient for the Oemler Oyster
Company's young oysters to fasten them
selves upon them.
There will be no immediate development
OF the phosphate deposits. The oyster sea.
son Is drawing to close and the Oemler
company has several large contracts on
hand to I'LL. At the close OF the oyster sea-
son the dredge boats will be taken into the
Ogeechee river and the river bed will be
dredged for phosphate. A thorough search
will be made, and IL there Is any phosphate
in the Ogeechee the company will take ad-
vantage of it. With ready market and
cheap transportation there will be fortune
IN IL II the phosphate is found in any
quantity.
There's millions in it," said Col. Gordon,
IL the phosphate is there"
That phosphate deposits exist in all
the rivers along this coast has been
known for years, and they have
been investigated by experts. the
opinions formed from these Investigations,
it is said, we're to the effect that the deposits
were not in sufficient quantities to pa for
the development Of the industry in COM
petition with the richer deposits in South
Carolina The phosphate la " passed by the
legislature was with view to secure what
ever deposits that might be discovered in
the beds of the rivers of the state, and the
oyster business has been very closely allied
to the phosphate Investigations.
Phosphatic bones have been found in the
creeks around Isle OF Hope and ThuuderboIt
sufficient in size and weight to be used as
boat anchors It is hoped that the deposits
down Ia the Great Ogeechee are such as will
warrant being developed, as, with that in
dustry added TO the many other means by
which Savannah is being built up and
Chatham county developed, the prosperity
OF the people will be increased and popula-
tim a6dad ko