The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1902-09-26
OUR PHOSPHATE BEDS.
Tho Comniseionor Gives Facts ana
Figures About the business.

The board of phosphate commissions
ers mot In Beaufort Oh Wednesday for
tho purpose of the annual inspection
OF the phosphate territory. GOV. Nc
Sweeney, as chairman, and Coils. ID. III,
Tompkins and J. II. Manning, mem
bers OF the phosphate board, and Col.
Z. j. Cunningham, phosphate inspec-
tor, werc In the party Col. U. X.
Gunter, representing the attorney
general, was also present. aR
The report Of Col. Cunningham for
the eight months ending August 81
showed that there were on hand 33,-
1876 tons Of rock as against 81, $3.50 tons
for the came period last wear: that the
State had received in royalty for the
eight months S19,340.6O as against
sl8,4l8.13 for the Same period OF
1901.
The business Is not as large as for
merly In as much as the Coosaw COM
pany, one Of the largest, has with
drawn and ls disposlng Of It's property.
The main reason for this withdrawal
is that the business did not warrant
tho payment Of the largo salaries
which they were able to pay when
phosphate rock was much higher than
at present. This company is closing
out its plant at a great reduction.
The companies now ut work are the
Central, the Beaufort and the Empire.
They seem to be doing a good business
and are entirely satisfied with results
and have no idea OF abandoning work.
There Is an effort on foot, 1t is said
to take up work in the same fold re-
Gently abandoned by the Coosaw COM
pany, showing that the deposits Of
phosphate rock arc not nearly cxhaus.
ted.
The phosphate commission will ask
State geologist Sloan to visit the phos-
phate beds Of the State and request
him after an investigation to submit
q report to the governor which may
by the governor be submitted to the
legislature, as to the true condition of
the State phosphate interests. The
rock is just as good as 1t ever was and
results show that the industry is in a
healthy condition and apparently the
supply is almost inexhaustible. It Is
the desire Of the commission that the
Inspector shall confer with the State
geologist as to this industry and ascer-
tain as far as practicable something
more definite as to the States inter
ests and the extent and quality OF the
phosphate deposits in the State.
This industry Is direct income to
the State and costs the State only the
salary Of the inspector and the actual
expenses Of the annual inspection.
There arc at present only the Beau
fort and the Central at actual work,
though the Empire Is still in business,
and so tho Stono The Coosaw com
pany has on hand, unsold, about 500
tons OF rock. 81
After the inspection Of the mines a
stop was made at the naval station.
Besides the commission mentioned
above there were in tile party Hon.
Jesse It. CAN'T, Col. Elbert II. Anll,
Col. w. @. Mauldin, Mr.. Miles p. Nc
Sweeney, Capt. A. w. Anderson and
Mr.. %. Williams Of the Charleston and
Western Carolina railroad.
This was the first annual inspection
by the commission since the death OF
Col. s. w. Vance, who was the In.
spector last year He was very popu-
lar among the PEOPLE Of Beaufort, and
many times were his visits pleasantly
referred to by tho people. He had
many friends there, as elsewhere, who
miss him. Tho trip was q pleasant
one. Tho officer in charge of the ma.
val station fired the governors salute
OF Ia guns as tho party left the sta
tion on the return trip. The State.