The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1897-02-26
MT. PLEASANT.
Richer Than a Gold Nine is the
Phosphate Find.
An IneXhaustabIe supply of the Richest
Phosphate Ever FOund.-Thirty
Car Loads Shipped Daily.

EDITOR HERALD:-
MT. PLEASANT, Feb. 22.-In our
communication last week we in
cidentally mentioned the deposit of
phosphate that was discovered here
last fall. Those unacquainted with
the character of the deposit and its
relation to agriculture, have but lit
tie idea of the Importance of the
discovery. When we remember shat
this phosphate of lime is the base Of
nearly all commercial fertilizers,
and their most important con-
stituent, and is largely used on the
grain fields of the North and West
and the cotton fields of the South,
without which no grain can be
made, and still more extensively
used in Europe, where large yields
are required off of small area of
land; when we remember all this,
then a faint conception may be
formed of the wonderful advantages
that will follow this discovery. If
properly managed we believe far
more benefit will be derived-and to
a greater number--than if a gold
or silver mine were here. Itis prac-
tically ineXhaustible in amount, and
as to quality and grade, the very
fact that nearly all other mines
have been closed since this was
opened, is sufficient guarantee that
it is of the best; and besides, the
facility with which it is mined, and
it being so accessible to railroad, is
a very large factor in its favor.
! Only from one to three or four feet
I.g,f npN h,,G 20 hn q,
vein of phosphate about the same
thickness is uncovered that is easily
dug out with an ordinary pick. A
common labOrer without any min
ing experience can mine from two
to four tons of rock day. A num-
Der of companies are engaged in
mining and shipping, and some are
making extensive preparations to
more eXpeditiously handle it, while
several crushers and mills are
already in operation, preparing it
for fertilizer companies, while others
still ship the dried rock as it comes
from the mines. From % to 30 cars
are being shipped daily from this
depot. All of this gives employ
ment to hundreds of laborers at good
wages.
At first the rock was dried by the
slow process of putting it in small
heaps and waiting for the sun and
air to evaporate the moisture in it
and it was thought it could not be
handled during the winter; but now
kilns are made with wood under
them and fired and dried by arti-
fetal heat, and this gives a market
for great quantity of wood from
the ineXhaustible forest in the hill
lands near here. The rock is very
soft and porous and this heat
evapOrates about One-fOur.h of it's
weight, and instead of injuring its
quality. as some feared, it destroys
some Objectionable ingredients and
adds to its value.
Considerable impetus is given the
business, and unusual interest mani
tested by the presence this week Of
a number of foreign prospectors rep
resenting large capital, accom-
panied by their civil engineerers,
chemists, etc, and the streets are
full of rumOrs of big deals; but only
those on the inside cap eel whether
anything is Undertaking. or not, and
they won't talk. We expect, how
ever, to report some colossal deals
soon.
w. Fraser, London, England; p.
Jounar, Paris, France; M. G. Richie,
f. B. Jehaut and NJ. Mahen, Ocola,
Fla, are among the prospectOrs this
week.
7. X. Wilson, Chillicothe, O., and
Martin Harmon, Washington, rep
resenting fertilizer companies, were
here last week.
H. B. Ladd, proprietor of the
Ward Hotel, has just made new and
important additions to the excellent
ly conducted hostelry, made nece5sa-
ry by large increasing travel here.
Among other Improvements, he has
arranged a sample room for the con-
venlence of the commercial tourist.
s. p. Goats, representing the Chat
tanooga Steel & Iron Roofing Co.,
was registered at the Ward Hotel
last week.
Miss Pearl Tariss, of Columbia, is
visiting the Misses Jennings this
week.
Cecil Brownlow leaves this week
for Cincinnati and the East to add
to the already large stock of dry
goods of this excellent firm.
Miss Irene Irvine is visiting Tela-
tives in st. Louis.
G. d. Harder is in the South in the
interest of the phosphate firm Of
Hardy & AydOlet.
Miss Lula Johnson has moved her
stock of millinery and dry goods
from the store adjoining the hotel to
the corner formerly occupied by
Howard & Estes.
Tom Alexander, our livery man
has Just returned from the South
with a car of mules. He reports the
mule market pretty dull, and money
scarce.
Johns Long has returned from a
trip North, in the interest of I. c.
Meadors & Co. .....
Miss Maggie Barrett, of Lewis.
burg, is visiting the pleasant home
of Mr.. John Weaver.
Capt. G. NJ. V. Kinzer and excel.
lent wife were here this week to see
their daughter, Miss Annie, who i:
attending Hay Long Seminary
The Capt. thinks it probable he will
t move here, as he thinks this is des-
/ tined to dispute with some Other
. towns the honor of being the
! ATHENS of the SOuth.'