The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-06-23

PC Phosphate Of Lime in the No
Warrington. June 16.-F. B. Van
Prn. OF the United states Geological
|rvsy. has lust issued an important
port on the phosphate industry OF
~ United states. There is a ce),si-
erable amount Of interesting matter
cntained In II relative to the indus
ry around Charleston.
The occurrence OF phosphate rock
, the Uunitsd states has very i'm
Portant bearing upon the agricultural
nousksy. since certain classes of plant
re canpot exist without the presence
q Dhosphric acid In the soil. Grow
ne crcps depIete the soil OF Its phos-
heric acid. and II no steps are taken
p restore this substance the soil must
vsntuaily become reproductive.
florida south Carolina and Tsnnes-
- have for several years been the
naln soqrces OF phosphate In the Uni
"a states.
Pevebopn.ent OF the Phosphate In
dustry.
According to letter from DIR. w.
Racjn. OF Baltimore,
The manufacture OF chemical ferti-
Pees In the United states began about
80. In thai year DIR. p. s. chappell
"a DR.. william Davidson. of Balti-
pre-. made some fertilizer In an ex-
riznental way. About the same time
o. Mapes was experimenting. Lat
Dr. Berg utilized the speat bone
ck derived from the sugar refiner-
ami made quite quantity OF dis
Ned boneblack" (supcrphospharc.
1854 DR.. p. 8. Chappell com
need Che manufacture of fertilizers.
Cd b. NJ. Rhodes. both of Balti-
Ps<. In 1859 Mr.. John Kottlcwcli.
ognising the fact that Peruvian
pne (then kecoming quite popular
containing at that time IS to "a
cent. ammonia) was too stimulat-
and deficisnt In plant food (phos-
kt<s.) concelved The Idea Of mani
atiug the Mexican guano. contain
no ammonia. but SO to 80 per cent
(oons) phosphate of lime. and call
~ preparation "Kettlewsll's man.
latsd guano-'
Uthlle "a 1859 tho sales Of Peruvian
ono had increased to b00oe tons,
y of'Msxican guano to some 10000
~ there was not at that date 10000
- - arsincial fertilixers manSfac-
rod On the entire country. Bsltl-
pro was not only the pioneer, but
principal market for fertilizers
tn some time after the civil war
Phosphate mining began, In the
jted States In lass I'm south Caro-
= The existence OF the rock had
IN known since 1897. but the pos
ilittes Of its commercial use were
recognized until 1859. According
otto A. Moses:
IN 1850 Prof. shepard and Col. L.
Hatch suggested utilization Of
Dsphatic marls In the manufacture
commercial fertilizers and started
ac;ory at or near Charleston. which
.. however. soon abandoned- Re-
Inns OF their compost heap were
liked BY ne.ghboring farmers with
pd effect long after the war.
AZ tho close Of the war DIR. n. A.
att. formerly connected with the
re bureau of the Confederacy. visit
Charleston with the object OF start
sulphuric acid chambers. about
is time Dr. ST. Julian Ravenei.
Charleston. who had mined mari
tensively at stoney's Landing. on
boper River. for the manufacture OF
msnfs. noticed the nodules. analy-
Ia some OF them. and found them to
tntain much phosphate OF lime. He
ecame engaged soon after In the
manufacture OF commercial fertilizers
rom foreign phosphate rocks Then
Followed the discovery Tin August,
1ss5) which has been OF such vital
to agriculture and the
prosperity OF south Carolina. Pratt
and Holmes. Charleston Mining Co..
Ravenel and Dukes. (wando Co..
then located territory. The value OF
the deposits become known: other
available beds were discovered. and
many persons and considerable CAPT
tai were soon employed in developing
the new industry by mining the crude
rock and exporting or manufacturing
a on the spot into superphosphates
Later on. the heds of many navigable