The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-01-13
A Waning Industry.
Phosphate Royalty Gradually
Decreases.
A Falling Off of Over $4,000
From Last Year.

The Phosphate Commission met Mon
day, to consider this most important
industry to the State. Phosphate ln.
spector Jones made his annual report
aud the out look for the business is got
at all reassuring. Gradually the
amount Of royalty has been decreasing
aud the Legislature will have to give
the subject its earnest thought. if the
Industry is to again be placed oo its
feet.
The members present were Gov Ev-
aus. Mr.. j D. Montgomery, and Sen
a.or Williams of Horny After hear
ing the report Of Inspector Jones and
the petition Of the phosphate companies
For a reduction in the royalty. the board
adjourned without taking any action,
leaving the question to the Legislature.
Inspector Jones. in his repor:. says
the following companies have been CO.
gagged in mining: Coosaw. Farmers
Mining Company. Beaufort Phosphate
Company. W. Y. Fcipp, and James
Reid.
The total amount mined during the
year ending August 81, 1895, was
12S.708 tons. decrease of 1909
fous, as compared with 1895, and &c.
767 tons. as compared with 1898.
There we're shipped during the year
Isl ,602 tons ; 174 400 in 1865, 249,-
33S in 1898, and 236. 149 10 1890,
showing steady but cootiu aous de-
crease The royalty paid the State
this year was $60,853 76,~ against
S87, ,2000.13 10 1896, a decrease Of
S26,346 81
There weut to foreign ports 1882
tons. and to coastwise ports 1857
Coosaw shipped 37,421 tons; Far
mers', a, ,051 (; Beaufort Company, 30,-
O4l. the remainder being shipped by
other firms.
10 commenting on the situation. the
inspector says:
From the foregoiugit will be seen
that there has been very great fall off
both as regards the amount of rock
mioed aud amount of royalty paid. And
while it appears that the amount Of rock
shipped equals very nearly that Of the
amount mined during the year, the
profits. if any. to the companies, have
not been equal to the year before, for
Che reason that the price has not aver
aged quite as much, while freights have
to scme extent advanced.
The inspector refers to the statement
10 the last message Of Gov. Evans. 10
which be states that from January l..
1895 to January l. 1896, the amount
of rock mined was 2l9,240 tons. as
agaius. 152, ,286 for the year ending
October, 1892 Mr.. Jones says be is
at loss to account for the Governor S
figures, and gives detailed statement
showing that the aueuot was only
164,479. Besides. be holds that it is
not fair to make comparison with
1892, as that was the year Of :he Coo
saw litigation Mr.. Jones. in the
course of his figures, shows that Instead
of furnishing the bulk of phosphate
rock imported by European manufac-
'urers. as was the case few years ago,
the mines of Algeria and Florida alone
supply about six times as much as that
furnished by South Carolina, to say
nothing of that furnished by other
mines.
From certified statements maze by
the Farmers Mining Company and the
Carolina Company, the price realized
per ton fer rock, after paying the roy
atty. IS 10 the first instance s. 40 to
S2.72 per ton, aud 10 the secon4 S1.62
to 50 90. out of this is to be paid cost
of keeping plant 10 repair, cos, of min.
iog. washing, towing, drying. etc.
The Carolina Company has gooe out
of business. because, Xah the utmost
eoouoDy, the company dld not make
money. This fact inspector, 10
his last report, to pd reduc-
ton Of the roy '' per ton.