The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1896-03-25
Ne Lead the World.

Governor Evans yesterday returned
from Florida, where, in company with
Phosphate Inspector Jones, he has been
visiting and inspecting tho phosphate
mines for several days past. He In
enthusiastic in his praise Of the South
Carolina mines and factories in compare
son with those of the tsLand of Flowers"
Their object in visiting the mines Of
Florida was TO compare the workings
with those in this State and secure ideas
regarding mines and mining. Governor
Evans IN conversation with 8 representa-
tive OF the State yesterday said that he
had visited all the mines of any impor-
lance between Tampa and Palm Beach,
and that he had been convinced that the
South Carolina rock was not only far
superior to that mined in FLORIDA but
that it was decidedly easier to place It
aboard ships and send il to foreign lands,
as in this State It is taken from the rivers
near the seaport towns and conveniently
loaded, while in Florida 1t was necessary
In many instances to first load the rock
at the. mines and ship it by rail TO cities
where it could be placed aboard ships.
He said that the Florida rock was taken
from deep beds Of sand with great diff
Guilty and was Of an inferior grade end
not TO be compared with the South Caro-.
lima rock. The only grade that was at
sll worthy of g comparison is known as
he sspebble' rock, and it is dug from
the sand and then washed at 8 great Ok
pense. Alter the freight on q shipment
was paid, very little profit, if any at all,
could be made. He said that the phos-
phate miners in Florida were very blue
over the small quantity that the lands
produced and the business depression in
he State and country was working hard
ships with many The fertilizer factories
in Florida were few in numberand could
cot compete with thosein this State.
Governor Evans said that the shallow
water on the bars of the several Florida
ports prevented phosphate ships from
taking aboard any large quantities Of
rock and transporting them to foreign
countries, while in South Carolina the
largest ships in the world could load at
Port ROYAL and Beaufort and proceed to
sea without difficulty. The mines in
this State ara near the ports and the rock
can be loaded with convenience and small
expense. The extra expense of freights
was taken away and he saw no reason
why the South Carolina miners and q
ufacturers should feel hopeless of q pros
porous year, as the business depression
would soon wear away and prosperity
shine once more.
Governor Evans said that the only
phosphate rock in tho world that could
compare fsvorsbly with the South Caro-
lima product was that mined in Algeria.
Africa, and even there the phosphate had
to be shipped by rail TO. Algerian ports
for transportation to foreign markets.
The phosphate royalties were about the
same.
Governor Evans seems to DO very well
satisfied with his impressions Of Florida
and her mines and strongly convinced that
South Carolina leads the world in tho in
:dustry. He would say nothing Of the po-
litical situation in the State, az his ab-
sence had rendered him somewhat unac-
yquainted with the various nov here
Columbia State, March %