The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1896-01-08
A Great Industry Ruined.


don. Though two years have passed and
the miners have repaired their plants,
the business hiss not improved and In
spector Jones says the depression has
about reached the climax. Mining oper-
tions have been carried on by eight com.
papies during the past year, the total
amount mined being 174, ,400.25 tons, from
which the State derived royalty OF
$87, ,657.20.
In his report Inspector Jones says:
The outlook of the business Is gloomy in
the extreme. Prices have sunk to
figure never before reached. and the
greatest discouragement prevails both IN
South Carolina and Florida. 1t ls I'M
possible to get In Europe now even as
high as ak pence unit; the prices vary
from pence to 50 pence So with the
most favorable rates Of freight, the mining
companies are unable to net more than
So Der ton for their rock. This does not
enable them to live. The strictest econo-
my is being practiced, wages are being
reduced, saving devices are being adopt
ed. and the cost of mining has been re-
duced to minimum. But even with
this, unless there is an improvement In
the market, tho phosphate companies
must stop.
regret to report that one sterling COM
pany, representing large amount or
English capital, has suspended operations
indefinitely. All hands have been dis
charged. Its efficient president, Mr.:
Brotherhood. (the largest individual
stockholder in the company has resign
The plant Is laid up permanently, and no
one but care-taker Is at the extensive
works hitherto so bunily employed.
There Is no prospect Of an early resump-
ton of work by this company. In fact,
whether It ehall resume or not is abso-
lutely Indefinite and undetermined. The
reason for this stoppage is. because the
company, although exercising every pos
sible economy, could not get for It's rock
what It cost to mine and put 1t on the
market at ths present prices. This
means to the State the loss Of the entire
royalty heretofore earned by this large
and active company. 1t Is an object les
son showing more pertinently than any
words can express the terribly depressed
condition of the phosphate industry.
The other companies are mining, but
with reduced force. The Coosaw Com,
psny, the largest Of them all, have laid
up two of their dredges, three tug boats,
and suspended their hand. picking depart
ment. The other companies have reduced
their working force to minimum.
AS to the reasons for the depressed
condition of trade, the Inspector Gays:
Thess are hard to find. In the first
place. the depressed condition of agricul-
lure both in this country and in Europe
has limited to a very great extent the
demand for cr,ids phosphate rock as q
basis for the manufacture of fertilizers.
But q more potent cause, perhaps, 1s to
be found In the opening Of new mines,
which have come into fierce competition
with Carolina phosphate rock.
After speaking Of the competition Of
Algerian phosphates the report continues:
Speaking Of Tennessee phosphates,
these deposits continue to be actively
worked, and the production is steadily
Increasing. The rock needs no washing
or drying, as is the case with the Carolina
rock. 1tS analysis is perfectly satisfac-
tory, and 1t Is used largely by the interior
points, companies situated In upper
Georgia, Tennessee and other points, who
obtain from it thoroughly satisfactory
results. It fills the place of the South
Carolina rock perfectly, and is avery
formidable competitor.
The total shipments Of phosphate from
Florida for the year 1895 aggregated 5l5,-
S78 tons. Florida continues to increase
her production. Whilst great many Of
the companies there have ceased opera
tions, still enough have been left to keep
upa very large production. AS is we'll
known there are three kinds of rock min
ed in Florida.
!. First, the river rock, which comes
largely from Peace river, and which re-
sembles in analysis and general charac-
ter, very largely, the Carolina rock.
Second, the land pebble rock, which is
mined from the land, consisting Of
small phosphate pebble, and which Is
also similar to the land rock In South
Carolina.
Third, the high grade rock, which runs
up to 20 or 80 per cent. Of phosphate Of
lime; This lies in pockets and Is quar-
ried out and shipped with hardly any
other preparation, except that of being
roasted or burned. The shipments from
Florida are largely on the increase. Many
Of the companies there are like the COM
investment which they have to utilize In
come way, and they are satisfied If they
can get in dollar for every dollar they
put out, and so work on, hoping for bet
ter times.
Within the last lew weeks new dis.
oovery Of phosphate beds in the Somme
district Of France has been made. The
locality where this rock has been discov-
cred has besn bought by strong French
firm for thu amount stated to be one
million Of francs. The q1ality Of this
phosphate is reported to be from so to 20
per cent. phosphate lime, otherwise simi-
lar to the well known Somme phosphate.
It is in powdery form, and has the fur
ither advantage that the bed Of phosphate
lies nearer to the English channel, and
therefore the freight ex penses to the ship
ping port will be much lower than from
the other beds. It may therefore be ex-
jpected that Somme phosphate will be-
come stronger competitor in the phos-
phate market than 1t has been for the
last few years.
Large deposits have been discovered in
sVenezuela and shipments have already
been made from those mines, which,
when tested, show that they are all high
grade. How far this will be extended 1t
is now impossible to say, but it adds one
more to the list of newly discovered
pEosphates with which our rock has to
compete
Under the circumstances, deem it my
duty to urge upon the board and the
Legislature the question Of a reduction in
royalty charged by the State. One Of the
largest and most substantial companies
has absolutely suspended work because
1t is impossible to continue. The other
companies are going on on very much
reduced scale Of operations. and 1t Is sim
ply question Of time when they too will
have to suspend unless there is an i'm
provement in the phosphate market.
The State then will be deprived of all its
royalty, and not only that, but the indus
try will receive such black eye that it
will be very hard To revive it again.
Under these circumstances I do not
hesitate to express the opinion that the
interest Of the State will be best subserv-
ed by reducing the royalty 70 o cents
ton until such time as the market shall
improve and higher royalty could be
paid. At present II is impossible to PRE-
dict how long the com mpanies now mining
will be able to continue their operation.
It would be the wise policy un the pars OF
the State to make this reduction and ena-
ble them to continue.
- There are two little chaps at the City
Hospital, from Wulterboro County, who
have had more than their share of Christ
mas celebration with gunpowder, They
are private patients and for that reason
their napoes are withheld. One of them
is Is years of age and the other IL. On
Christmas Day they went into the woods
with supply Of powder to have solne
fun. To- day their faces are swathed in
bandages and 1t will be q mercy from