The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1895-02-08
AMONG THE PHOSPHATE MINES
THE ANNUAL TOUR OF INsPEC,
TION.

|
look For the Future--GovcrnoI
Evans Takes Occasion to Speak o.
Charleston's Fnture.
The State Phosphate Commission
has made the annual tour of inspec
tion among the mines In the phosphate
territory, aud Governor Evans has
talked in an interesting way with the
reporters about the trip, which lasted
more than q week. He was delighted
with Port Royals prospects as port,
and incidentally took occassion to speak
politically OF Charleston's future. He
said. tzzS
"Well, we had great trip. We
and found all the works in operation.
There is great complaint that there
are no sales of fertilizers. We found
all the dredgcs at work and plenty of
negroes digging.
We went from there to Beaufort,
where we were most cOurteously recciv-
ed by Col Averill, who took us in
charge. The citizens of Beaufort ex-
tended to us the courtcsics Of the town
and the phosphate magazines were
kind and considcratc in every sense of
the word. They furnished us with
every means for inspecting the terri
tory and accompanied us. 1t was
gratifying to notice the active opera
tion in Coosaw river of all the drcdges,
which few months ago were capsized
and in many instances submerged in
the river. The drcdgcs have been
fully repaired, being as good ak new,
and now are mining rock as if nothing
had happened. Signs of the cyclone
will remain on the shore however
Many OF the warehouses which were
blown down have not yet been re-
placed. | understand that the Co0saw
company is to move to the old chemical
works near Beaufort.
1.-The rock seems to be OF Us good
quality as ever. Some seems to he
mixed with sandstone. And on the
whole we have nothing TO fear rs to
tHe continued demand for Carolina
rock. Our rock has advantages over
any phosphate rock ever discovered.
- as to the shipments, ut all the
wharvcs we found trcmedous steam
crs loading with rock and nearly all
the companies have orders ahead. In
fact the largest vessels ever brought
In those waters are now there load
ing. The com mpanies are getting aver
age prices for the rock. Judging by
the improvements going on and the
am satisfied that the gloom cast over
It's by the cyclone will soon be dispell-
ed. The Coosaw company will soon
he all right, and their works will soon
be upon Il grandcr scale than they were
before.
We went from COosaw t) the
Brotherhood companys plant. We
found this in equally rs fine condition
and an air OF prosperity about the
.whol e. place.
We~then p.:6Seeded 20 the Port
Royal naval station, and it is indeed
gratifying to the State authorities to
witness the erection Of the tremendous
dry dock and buildings, which | am
>urC will add as much as any other
enterprise To make Port Royal the
busiest port on the Atlantic coast. We
are indebted to Commandant Rockwell
and to the officers AMI ladies of the
station, for a most charming en-
tertainmcnt. One can hardly realize
how it is possible to bottle up for so
long Il time so magnificent IL port as
Port Royal. IT is as beautiful us Char
lesion harbor, with the additional ad-
vantag1s of deep water on the bar.
eve then proceeded to Port Royal
to accept the hospitality of Capt.
Daniels of the steamship Jamaican
The captain is as genial and jolly a
BritOn as ever touched American
waters. He gave us some startling
statistics tending TO show the great
advantages Of Port Royal harbor, and,
while Port Royal two years ago was
never heard Of abroad, the captain
who now shows ignorance argues him
self unknown. The steamship Jamai-
can is one of the largcs vessels of this
company, and she could scarcely put
her nose in Charleston harbor. She
draws twcnty-cight feet Of water
The warehouses ut Port Royal we
found filled with freight ready for
export, and three tremendous ships
along the wharvcs loading with cotton,
lum Der, grain and provisions. This
has been accomplished through the
untiring efforts Of Col. Avcriil. Of the
Port Royal and Augusta Railroad, and
! the State owes him debt Of gratitude
for the cirorts he is making in her in
| tcrscts.
! Port Royal is destined to become
! the New York of the South. Grain.
wheat and corn Of the West must ma.
tural ly turn in this channel for export.
One scarcely realizes the grand rcsour-
ccs of our State and possibilities of our
| ports until he has made Il survey
Of this territory. The progress and de-
vClOpmcpt OF the up country is gradu-
ally forcing itself to the scashorc, and
with the infusion Of Il little new blood
into this people. who arc growing fat
and sleek upon their antiquity, will
soon make it the hive of industry that
it should have been long ago.
1--WE returned to Charleston and in
spcctcd the bills Of fading and ac.
counts Of sales Of the different phOs.
phatc companies. 1t is rather per.
picking to-arI i've at II simple method OF
asccrtaining the States royalty and
the price of rock mined, but am sat.
isiicd Inspector Jones thoroughly pro
tccts the State. The officers Of the
companies were courteous and allowed
us "a thorough inspection Of their books
and accounts. | feel assured that the
State will receive $780, 600 royalty dur
ing the fiscal year. This will give Us
tI5.OOO fOr the sinking fund and S25, ,OOt
to be used for the ordinary expenses o
the State government. OF course thi:
is speculative, but is given me by tho
phosphate men from the statements o
the average shipments now being
made by them, and estimated To be
made.
I'VE attended the meeting of the
State Board Of Health, and it was ;
pleasure to sec the deep interest mani