The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1899-06-02
CARRIERS CREEK PHOSPHATE.

III IL Jue uuJy Vi III newspapers
and the never failing policy of the
HERALD, to keep up with the pro-
cession;" and as the procession. YVES
moving towards the phosphate fields
in the Carriers Creek neighborhood
this week, HERALD representative
fell into line. And as the HERALD
has no secrets from its readers, we
are to tell what we saw and heard,
and perhaps draw some conclusions
therefrom.
The most famous farm in that sec
tion Is the Satterfield farm. This Is
the place Of something over 200 acres
bought by Mr.. Gus Satterfield very
few years ago for sum equalling
only about one fourth of what he
sold it for two weeks ago to Messrs.
Carpenter & Wilson; that is, $685.
600. Tt was beautiful farm and at
tractive to the eye even before any
phosphate was thought of, but "the
rock" is what made 1t famous; and
it sure has 1t.
The owners have opened six or
eight holes over the sixty or eighty
acres of phosphate land, and wher-
ever they have stuck the pick there
they found the rock In large quanti-
ties, which by analysis shows test
of over 800 of bone phosphate. But
perhaps the most interesting hole of
any was dug by nature. 1t is a small
sink hole; about as large in circum-
ference as large mans body, and
goes slanting into the ground about
IL or Is feet; and the walls of this
hole and its bottom, are Of solid
phosphate. This hole is at the lower
part of a sloping hill, containing per-
ihaps 30 acres; on the top of this hill,
and on the further side, they have
dug holes, finding the same showing
indicating that the whole hill, to the
depth of 20 or 30 feet, is one rich bed
of phosphate. If it is, figure awhil e
on the number of tons it will con-
tain; then multiply these tons by
two, and you will have some idea OF
how mich its owners are.
This is the only farm in that
neighborhood whose rock has been
tested and the test made known to
the public. But right on the oppo.
site side of the pike is Mr.. T. ID
Simmons farm of $50 acres, and he
has in quantity as rich find as the
other. The quality OF his rock has
not been determined yet, though
some of it has the appearance of be-
ing as good as anybody's rock. H,
is having it tested for himself, anC
he thinks others are also; and it il
stands the test Tom Simmons is {
rich man; and no man in that neigh
borhood has more friends to rejoic,
with him than he. His rock, o
rather the field in which he ha
most of it, is not much like the Sat
terfield rock. 1t is lighter in colo
and harder in texture; and he ha
worlds of it. He has one rock, takel
from the surface in one solid piece
that will weigh half a ton at least
Adjoining the Satterfield farm i
the Ben S. Gary place; and Will
no test has been made public, it i
generally understood that Mr.. Gar
has "the stuff" Mr.. Gary hasn't a
much of it as either Mr.. Simmons o
Mr.. Satterfield; not more than
acres, If SO much; but he has enoug
TO make man mighty comfortable
He is in every sense good man,
Ben Gary, and the HERALD as on
of his friends, rejoices with him owe
his streak of good luck.
These are the three best know
and most talked of phosphate farm
in that section, is why we mentio
them; but the HERALD believe
there are others. Much talk ha
been INDUCED in about the Carter
Greek phosphate all being to
sandy. We don't believe this to /
true. 1t may be the honest opinio
of some, while others may be tall
ing to effect the market. There al
too many farms there with goo
surface indications, not for some c
them to turn out we'll. 1t would b
a strange freak of nature to scatt,
it so literally on top of the grounC
and bury it on three farms Onl,
That Is not a reasonable suppositioI
It would be more reasonable to SUI
pose that the same surface indies
tions, in the same belt of countr
and same character of soil, woul
show comparatively the same b.
meath the surface. Therefore we az
wise those who have any signs
phosphate, to prospect their groun
and have their rock tested. The
will then know what they have
sell, and have better idea what
ask for il. Why take any man
opinion or word for the quality
value Of your own property, whe