The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-14

rock, so long as tho price of said
phosphate rock, frce on board to tho
SAID miners at their several mines
shall be three dollars per ton or un.
dor; but in case there shall be any
increase in such prico over and above
three dollars per ton, then and in
every such case, there shall be paid
to tho State an additional ROYALTY
por ton equal to one-half of such in
creased price over and above three
dollars per ton, free on board. Pro.
vldod, that all phosphate rock dug.
mined and unshipped on hand on
the first day Of April, A. d. 1897,
shall first be accounted for at tho
royalty fixed by the act of the Cen
eral Assembly, entitled AN Act Ro-
lating to the Phosphate Industry of
the State approved December 22nd,
A. ID. 1893. Provided, further, that
all companies shall pay into tho
State Treasury the royalty upon all
shipments made prior to tho first
day of April, A. d. 1897"
Soon after tho adoption Of tbis
resolution citizens of Beaufort filed
with the Board of Phosphate Com.
mssloncra petition praying that
| tia royalty on rock already mined be-
also reduced to twenty-five cents Dor
ton. On tho first of January, 1897,
tho phosphate miners had on hand
about $4,000 tons Of rock which was
subject to royalty, and on the first of
April, 1897, about 10000 tons.
After duo consideration, tho petition
referred to was refused. The board
hold that tho royalty of fifty cents
pcr ton fixed by the Act of 1893,
should be puid on all rock on hand
on the first day of April, 1897.
Tho board took tho Wow that the
phosphate minors wore bound, by
the contract contained in the Act Of
1913, to pay the royalty fixed by tho
said Act, until it was changed by
authority Of tho General Assembly.
They further hold that they had no
authority, nor did they deem it right,
to make the minors present of $l2,-
GOO then duo tho State.
Tho Farmers Mining Company
failed in October, 1897, beng in
dehtod to tho State to tho amount Of
SlO,3S4 for royalty on rock. This
amount has not yot boon collected
Tho mattor has boon referred to tho
Attorney Genoral and he is using
proper efforts to collect tho money
duo tho State.
Tho royalty now paid the State by
the miners IS only twonty -fivo cents
per ton, and L believe that rather
than mako groater concessions it
would be better if mining operations
on the States rights be discontinued.
1t seems nnwlse and unhusinessliko
on tho part of the State to sacrifice
these valuable deposits, while prices
arc so low and business is 80 dc.
pressed. On account Of the great
quantity mined tho pr CO Of rock is
now below the cost of production.
The supply of rock is exhaustiblc,
and IN few years the demand will
probably be Crater than tho supply;
then we may rosumo mining at IA
profit both to tho miners and to tho
State.
The appropriation of $1,000 for
the salary and expenses Of the Phos
phape Inspector is too much to pay,
considering the small return to tho
State from this source. recon-
mend that tho Office of Phosphate
Inspector be abolished and that tho
Comptroller General be charged with
tho collection of revenue from phos-
phate mining.
Public PRINTING.
During the year the Office OF Pub
lie Printer having been declared va
cant, tho committee provided for by
law, consisting Of tho Governor and
tho chairman Of the committees on
printing Of your Honorable Bodies,
met and elected Mr.. Charles B. CAL
70 Public Printer. This committee
thought the State might have boon
saved several thousand dollars had
the Act provided for, or permitted,
competitive bids. rho price to be
paid for the work is fixed in tho Act
and the committee found itself com.
pelIod, under tho provisions of tho
law, to mako tho appointment.
recommend that tho Act be repealed
and that a committee from zach OF
your Honorable Bodies be selected to
let tho contract for public printing
at competitive prices. futhor re-
commend that tho Act fix the maxi.
mum price to be paid for the work
so az not to exceed tho price now be,
ing paid under the present law.
r DIRECT TAX.
There arc IS, l30.70 in the State
Treasury to tho credit Of tho direct
tax fund, which under an Act ap.
proved 2Ith December, 1901 , is avail
ablo for public purposes. l recon-
mend that you pass joint resolution
authorizing the State Treasurer TO