The morning news., 1899-11-16
FERTILIZERS WILL COST MORE
HEAVY ADVANCES IN PHOsPHATEs
AND OTHER MATERIALS.

All Materials and Supplies Enter
Manager John w. Huger, of At
Ianta, Discusses the Virginia-C Car
Olina-ChemicaI COmpnny-Is Not n
Trust, He Says, But n Large Con-
cern Which Has Bought Out Many
other Companies.
The farmers of the south will pay more
for their fertilizers this year than they
did fast year or have paid for several
years. There are two reasons for this. one
is that about 80 per cent. of the fertilizer
factories in this section have been bought
by one concern which has unlimited capl-
tai behind it. The other is that there has
been very heavy advance within the last
year Of everything entering into the man.
ufacture Of fertilizers, including not only
all classes of materials used, but in ma
chinery and min supplies generally re-
quired by the factories in their operations
These advances are wen known and have
necessarily caused an increase in the cost
Of fertilizers. Whether the cost to the con-
sumer viii be increased beyond the nat
ural increase, due TO the higher price of
materials, as a result of the formation of
the Virglnia-Carolina Chemical Company
remains to be seen.
MIR. John w. Huger, formerly vice pres
ident and general manager of the CONNER
cial Guano Company, but now manager for
the southeastern division of the Virginia.
Carolina Chemical Company, with
headquarters at Atlanta, was in the
city yesterday. Mr.. Huger was seen by a
Morning News reporter, and asked to give
some account of the organization and ex-
tent of the Vrginia-Carolina Chemical
Company, and also as to the prospective
increase in the cost of fertilizers, as the
result OF The various influences alluded
to.
The Vlrginia-Carolina Chemical Com
pany was formed three years ago
by the amalgamation of a few factories
in Virginia" said Mr.. Huger. "They saw
the severe competition there was between
the companies in the Carolinas and Geor-
gia, where the companies, on account of
this competition, were making nothing
hence they thought it to their interest to
amalgamate their interests in the Vlr-
ginias and North Carolina to preserve
legitimate profit in the business. From
time to time this company has bought up
other companies, until now 1t
mas become corporation with capt.
tai of $24,0O0,00O, being managed under sub
divisions. The two Virginias being in one
division, the Carolinas in another and
Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi
and Tennessee in another. This latter
division will be controlled and managed by
Mr.. John w. Huger, with headquarters
al Atlanta, Ga, having branch offices in
the principal cities in his division"
Mr.. Huger stated that he looked for
very material advance in the price of fer
tilizers for the season of 1S99-19O0 ranging
from $1.5O to $3.50 per ton over last sea-
sons prices. This is caused by the sharp
advance during the last six months of ali
crude materials used in the manufacture
of fertilizers Phosphate rock, which en-
ters largely into the manufacture of fer
tiliZers being the source of phosphoric
acid, one of the plant foods, has advanced
over 100 per cent. This is caused by the
large European demand. During the month
of August alone over 1900 tons were ex-
ported and sales can be made in Europe
of this article at from 81 to SO per ton,
f. o. b. United States ports.
"Pyrites and birthstone, from which sui
phur Is extracted and used in the manu.
fecture of sulphuric acid to treat the
phosphate rock with, has advanced over
90 per cent. All ammoniacal material.
seed
meal, the source from which ammonia ia
obtained, has advanced several dollars per
ton. Cotton seed meal which is a large
tactor as source of ammonia, averaging
about S. per ton higher this year than
last.
with these heavy advances In fertilizer
material 1t will be impossible to furnish
the consumers with fertilizers at previous
prices. Many of the companies which have
sold out to the Virginia Carolina Chemical
company have not earned per cent on
their investments for the last seyera,
years. The object of the Virginfa-Caro.
ma chemical Company is not to advance
prices beyond the cost of manufacturing
and legitimate profit; by having such :
large company it's aim is to reduce tbn
cost of manufacturing by reducing ex-
pehses 10 a minimum, and as they buv
thelr material in large lots they necessar-
lily get them cheaper than individual
companies could do enabling them to sell
cheaper 1t is a mistaken idea to think
lHat thls company is a trust. 1t is one
soma company, owning in toto the entire
plants Of the various other companies
they have purchased"
There are now two large fertilizer com
pahles, each of which practically donoi-
mates the fertilizer business in its own
neld. The American Agricultural Chem
lcal company having capital of $4,000
owns practically all of the fertilizer facto-
ries north of the Potomac river
The Nirginia-Carolina Chemical Comma
ny began 10 branch out in this sectio,
about three years ago when it acquired
first the Berkeley Chemical Company of
charleston. The acquisition of the Ash
ley and the StOno companies folloUal
Then the Wando the Atlantic Phospbate
Company weres acquired and more
recently the Standard. the Imperial ana
the Edisto All of these names are well
known in the history of the phosphate
business in South Carolina. The Virginia
Carolina Company began its work in Geor-
sla about two years ago when It acquired
the extensive works of the Southern Fer
lllzer company at Savannah Atlanta.
Rome and Cordele. This was followed bI,
the purchase of the Albany Fertilizer Com
pany, the Americus Guano Compan1, tba
Atlanta Guano Company the Social CircIa
Guano Company, and the Macon Phos-
phate Works. Its most recent purchases in
this section have been those Of the Baldwin
Fertilizer Company of Savannah. with lie
plant at Port Royal, and the ConmercjoI