The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-05-04
GOOD PROFITS IN FERTILIZERS:
ONE MILLION DOLLARS INVESTED
IN THEIR MANUFACTURE HERE.


The Annual Output 100000 Tons.
FOur Factories with a Capital of
100000 Besides the Material on
Hand-FrOm November L 10 March
/ !, $50 Hands EmpIoyed-The Week
~ Wages Paid S3,OOO-NearIy 500
People Dependent on the Industry
for support.
For the last ten years Savannah has
| manufactured fertilizers to a very con-
| siderable extent. and during that period
the average returns on investments in
manufacturing plants have largely ex-
ceeded bank rates Of interest.
Savannah handles in round numbers
/ 10000 tons OF fertilizers annually Fully
one-half is manufactured in Savannah
out of the crude material. Il has
three well equipped and extensive fer
ulizer manufacturing plants. Each has
its own sulphuric acid chamber, its own
mills to grind the kiln dried phosphate
rock, and all have their own immense
warehouses, where the raw material is
chemically treated. manipulated and
stored until shipped
The four manufactures here are Conner,
HUI Co.. the Commercial Guano Co., the
q
Gibbs Co.
Two companies own manufacturing
plants on Beaufort Island S. C. One is
in operation and its output figures largely
in Savannah commerce. The other has
not been operated for several years, prob
ably because manufacturing in Savannah
is more profitable. as the firm has also
extensive works here.
The total apnotfnt of "a NJ y,atar{a1 ,,oed
ed here and in Port Royal, together with
raw materials for factories at inland
points passing through Savannah and
the value of the finished fertilizers will
probably amount to $4,000 annually or
about per cent. of Savannah's total com
merce.
The finely ground phosphate rock is first
treated with crude chamber sulphuric
acid. 1t is thus converted partly into sui
phate OF lime and partly into the soluble
superphosphate of lime. This product is
commercially known as acid phosphate.
The grinding of the crude phosphate rock
as well as the manufacture of sulphupie
acld and the treatment of the ground rock
with sulphuric acid. is carried on the year
round, as the acid phosphate produced
requires several months before the pro-
cess or perfect combination has taken
place, and until it Is sufficiently free of
moisture to become fit for manipulation
into commercial fertilizers.
these plants aggregates about $500 900.
The number of hands employed
steadily is large as the sulphuric acid
chambers must be operated without in
PERMISSION day and night week days and
Sundays, while the grinding and treat
ment with acid are steadily carried on
number of hands thus steadily employed
in these works averages SeVenty-fiVe men,
ten of which are skilled mechanics. The
weeks wages amount to about 5000.
During three or four months every
year these manufacturers of acid phos-
pilates become strictly speaking manipu-
lators of commercial fertilizers. as pot
ash, ammonia and other ingredients in
varied forms are added to the acid phos-
pilates so as to produce complete ma
nure one establishment Is entirely con-
fined to manipulating fertilizers.
The four concerns employ from about
Nov. to March $50 hands The week
~ wages paid during this period are about
5000. - The total amount paid out in
wages by fertilizer manufacturers every
people partly or wholly dependent on
work from fertilizer factories is about
425. If members of the families depend
ent on employees for a support are added
the number will exceed 1850.
The capital invested in these plants
aggregates, as stated, 100000 but to this
amount should be added the value of the
stock of the material. in process of
manufacturing or stored until manipula-
ton begins M November. Thus, at least
100000 is invested in the business stead
lily and at times much more.
Savannah 1as many advantages to Of
fer for just such enterprises. Its proxim-
ity to the South Carolina low grade rock
and its economical inland water trans
portatiOn on one hand while its equal
good railroad connection with the high
grade Florida phosphate rock mines on the
other hand. READERS the choice of markets
and the choice of any combination of the
two practicable and profitable.
The immense fleet of vessels coming to
Savannah for export cargoes is always
ready to bring. N lieu of ballast, inward
cargoes at nominal rates barely exceed
ing the steVedorefs charges of loading and
unloading. Thus birthstone or sulphur
iron pyrites, ka.init, salt and chemical
products, usually imported, can all be laid
down in Savannah as cheap If not cheap
er. than a any point on the Atlantic coast
The fact that a large proportion of the
fertilizers sold within Savannah's COM
mercial territory are manufactured else
where seems to indicate that there is ann
pie room for a number of such establish
ments. There is ample room on the river
front. where railroad and river facilities
can be obtained.
1t is quite probable that the CONSUMPTION
of commercial fertilizers will increase in
the future, as it has in the past, as the
more diversified farming becomes the
greater the demand for artificial manure
will be.
The depression so general in all branches
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