The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1904-08-25
OUR MINERAL RESOURCES
Paper to be Read Before American
Mining Congress.

| Jnuer the direction OF the state Ge-
partment of agriculture, commerce and
immigration, State Geologist Earl Sloan
has prepared paper on the mineral
resources of South Carolina as viewed
from a commercial standpoint-that is
their adaptability to commercial ssu-
age.
This paper will be read before the
American Mining congress at Portland,
Oregon. in October 1t is classified into
three heads as follows:
| !. Metals-Gold, copper, tin, iron,
nickel The location and names of own
ers of all deposits are given together
with the character.
2. Non-metals - Monazite, kaolin,
Fuller's earth, pottcr's clay, pyrites,
granite, marble, limestones, etc.
3. Agricultural adjuncts-Marls adapt
eG to the manufacture of Portland ce-
ment and fertilizers.
No phosphate is dealt with because
it is considered that about all the cap
ital that can be invested in that idus-
try is now here end is being used.
Mr.. Sloan's paper is included in the
whole report which bears the signature
of Commissioner Watson The introduc-
tion reads:
ITO the American Mining Congress:
"At the request of your secretary. I
was recently named by the governor
vt the State to undertake through this
department of the State government,
the preparation Of paper dealing
with the mineral resources of the State,
viewed from the standpoint Of their
value commercially. No attention,
therefore, has been given to various
mineral resources that are not Of suf1i-
cent commercial value to warrant sue
cessful development. This State has
been for many years without that class
Of information about her varied min
eral resources that would prove Of val
ue to the investor. These properties
have simply been lying idle awaiting
intelligent direction and sufficient capi-
tai to develop them. When this depart
ment was established five months ago
at once determined to secure this in
formation and present it to investors
in such form as to command attention
and give them facts they wished to
know. A hasty study of the mining
statistics of the State showed an utter
lack of development, there being only
3S mines, quarries and wells operated
in the State employing only 1854 wage
earners, and showing only 1884 ,134 as
the value of the produce placed upon
the market, of which in 1908 S1O2,57S
was in gold and s145 in silver, not
withstanding the State possesses min
ing properties that should produce
many times that amount.
81 soon found that portion OF the
South Carolina gold production was
being credited to neighboring States.
knowing the value Of many OF the
undeveloped mineral properties in the
State, | had already determined to
carefully prepare just such paper as
you requested in your secretary,s let
ter of May 4 to the governor. Conse-
ouently have endeavored to give you
information, prepared with greater
care than was originally intended, and
at once invoked the aid of our very
competent State geologist, who has
furnished me over his signature the
resume of our mineral resources incor-
porated in this paper.
AS to the properties incorporated IN
the treaties of the geologist | Will say
that it is the business OF this depart
ment to push their development as far>
as possible. The department Will en-
deayor to show inquiring investors over
the properties, offering, with his con-
sent. the further aid Of the State geol-
ogist when his services are needed.
The department will also endeaVor 10
secure such properties as may Dc
wanted at the lowest possible prices
and upon the best terms for investors,
when the proposition is coupled with
the assurance of the purchaser that ne
intends to Immediately develop the
property, and there is an absence OF
a purpose to make the TRANSACTION
marely for speculative purposes.
Among the properties now listed win
the department is the May copper
mine referred to below.
Having had considerable exper-
ience with development matters l 40
not hesitate to say that l feel that
there is a fine opportunity for those
who undertake the development OF the
excellent mineral resources OF South
Carolina, particularly in view of the
fact that the field is practically a
virgin one and unexplored almost,
and in view of the further fact that
these properties are SO well located
as to railroad and water transporta..
ton, being almost in the suburbs OF
the eastern markets and seaports.
An extract from Mr.. Sloan's paper
dealing with iron follows:
Numerous deposits OF iron are IN
this State, occurring in formations