The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-01-08
Consolidated Aug. 2. 1881.


stockhoIder in the company, has res
igned, and his resignation has been
accepted The plant is laid up per-
manentTy, and no one but caretaker
is at the extensive works hitherto SO
active and thore is no pros
pect of an early resumption Of
work by this company.
The other companies are mining,
but with reduced force. The Coosaw
Company, tn largest of them all,
have laid up two Of :beir dredges,
three tug boats, and suspended
their handpickiug department The
other companies have reduced their
working force to minimum.
Reasons for the depressed condi.
ton of trade are not hard to 6pd IN
the first place. the depressed condi-
tion of agriculture both in this coun
try and in Europe has limited to a
very great extent the demand for
crude phosphate rock as basis for
the manufacture of fertilizers But
more potent cause. perhaps. is to be
found in the opening of new mines,
which have come into fierce compe-
tition with Carolina phosphate rock.
The competition of Algerian phos-
plate is a most disturbing element
and is creating much uneasiness
amongst the American miners.
Tennessee phosphates continue to
be actively worked, and the produc-
ton IS steadily increasing This
rock needs no washing or drying, as
is the case with Carolina rock. Its
analysis is perfectly satisfactory, and
it is used largely by the interior
points. companies situated in upper
Georgia, Tennessee and other points,
who obtain from it thoroughly salts
factory results. 1t fills the place of
the South Carolina rock perfectly,
and is very formidable competitor
The total shipments of phosphate
from Florida for the year 1895 aggre-
gated 515,S78 tons Florida contin.
ues to increase her production
Whilst a great many of the COM
panies there have ceased operations.
still enough have been left to keep up
very large production.
FRENCH PHosPHATEs.
Within the last few weeks new
discovery of phosphate beds in the
Somme district of France has been
made 1t is in a powdery form. and
has the further advantage that the
bed of phosphate lies nearer to the
English Channel, and therefore the
freight expenses to the shipping port
will be much lower than from the
other beds 1t may therefore be ex-
pected that Somme phosphate will
become stronger competitor in the
phosphate market tnan it has been
for the last few years
Large deposits have been discov-
cred in Venezuela, and shipments
have already been made from those
mines, which, when tested, show
that they are all high grade
Under these conditions | deem it
my duty to urge upon the board and
the Legislature the question of a re-
duction in royalty charged by the
State. One of the largest and most
substantial companies has absolutely
suspended work because it is impos.
sible to continue. The other COM
panies are going on very much re-
duced scale of operations, and it is
simply question of time when they
too will have to suspend unless there
is an Improvement in the phosphate
market. The State then will be de-
prived of all its royalty. and not only
that, but the industry will receive
such black eye that it will be very
hard to revive it again.
Under these circumstances | do
not hesitate to express the opinion
that the interest of the State will be
best subserved by reducing the roy
atty to % cents ton until such time
as the market shall improve and
higher royalty could be paid At
present it is impossible to predict
how long the companies now mining
will be able to continue their opera
ton. 1t would be the wise policy
on the part of the State to make this
reduction and enable them to con-
tinue.
1t is a matter Of great regret that
no brighter report can be made than
that which has been submitted, but
the facts must be started as they are,
and these are the facts. The de-
pressed condition of the nhosnbata