The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1902-02-06
The Fertilizer Bill.

The bill introduced by Senator S. g.
Mayfield in the senate, to establish one
or more fertilizer plants to be owned and
operated by the State, is of such general
interest that we publish it in full:
Sec. 1. That from and after the pas
sage of this act the directors Of the State
penitentiary shall forthwith erect, equip
and maintain one or more fertilizer plants
and suitable warehouses within this State
for the manufacture and sale of COM
mercial fertilizers.
Sec. 2. That said plant or plants shall
be located at such points as may be deem
ed most advantageous to the interests of
the State and shall be operated in whole
or in part by convict labor, and to this
end the said board of directors are here
by authorized to sell all the state farms
save and except the Lexin gton farm for
cash to the highest bidder and shall eX-
ecute title thereto in the name of the State
to the purchasers.
Sec. 3. That said board of directors
shall have the right and are hereby en-
powered to borrow money, mine phos-
phate rock, manufacture ard sell the same
to the citizens of this State on such terms
as many be deemed advisable; to acquire
phosphate beds and to buy and sell
or exchange fertilizing materials, and such
other business as may be necessary for
the successful carrying out the provisions
of this act.
Sec. 4. That the said board of direc-
tors are hereby authorized to employ one
head bookeeper at salary Of 81 800; two
assistant bookkeepers at salary each OF
81 200; business manager with salary
of $2,500; chemist at a salary of 81 600,
and such other help as may be necessary.
Sec. 5. That the fertilizers SO manu-
featured, may be sold in lots from one
tenth of ton to five hundred tons, put up
in barrels, boxes, bags, or in bulk; and the
directors are hereby authorized to issue
to the purchaser certificate which shall
correctly show the quality of such goods
and the percentages of available am
monia, phosphoric acid, and potash and
the sources from which the said ingredi-
ents are obtained.
Sec. 6. That said fertilizers may be
sold for cash or guaranteed note, salts
factory to the said board of directors or
their agents; that the debt so created
shall be prior lien to all other liens on the
crop or crops grown, by the purchaser,
and shall be demanded, held and taken
to be, debt due to the State of South
Carolina and as such no homestead eX-
emption can be claimed on either real or
personal property; that the profit arising
from the sales after repaying the loans
hereinafter provided for above be dis
tributed in the counties of this State when
the profit was made and applicable to the
current expenses of the county.
Sec. z. That for the purposes of this
act the sum of 100000 shall be appro-
priated snd made available and the said
board of directors may draw their order
therefor as needed on the comptroller
general, who shall issue proper warrant
therefor for the sums not to exceed said
sum of 100000 on the State treasurer
who shall pay the said warrants for said
sum.
Sec. 8. That said board of directors
are further authorized to borrow of the
sinking fund commission an amount not
to exceed $4OO,0W and from the dispens-
ary State school fund the sum of $500, 600,
said sums to be repaid out of the profits
arising from the sale of fertilizers and the
entireplant franchise eandproduct ishereby
hypothecated and pledged for the repay
ment of the funds borrowed first from the
sinking fund, and then to the State school
fund.
Sec. 9. That the public carriers be and
are hereby required to transport and de-
liver all lots of freight over their lines to
consignor which have or has certificate
issued by the board of directors thereon.
Sec. 10. That all acts or parts of acts
inconsistent with this act be and the same
are hereby repealed.