The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-01-13

are hauling this product at practi-
cally one-half cent IA ton per mtie.
Expecting to recommend To this
General Assemb'S the manufacture Of
ground limestone for the benefit OF
our citizens. l have made some In
uuiries In reference to the cost or
plants for this purpose. and find
crushers OF many kinds and prices. bun
only call attention to two: One, No.
9. MILL capacity twenty tons to the
hour. with 115 horsepower. Ideal en-
CINE and 100 horsepower boiler com
pIete and Installed. being the machine
cry now In use at the Southern Illinois
penitentiary. and costing Ss.s21,00.
This machinery II run by twenty four
men. including sixteen men loading an
average OF 140 tons per day. The re-
pairs cost about $4,000 per year, and
the depreciation 10 estimated ut five
per centum per year. This crushcr
VIII probably require a dryer for oya-
ter shells. which contain from ten to
fifteen per cent, OF moisture.
The other machine Of which l have
description Will only require about
ITO horsepower engine and boiler
to do the game work as the one
first named. will operate without a
dryer. and with nil the machinery
required to crush the rock and shells
aud convey the product to the cars.
Will cost about Ave thousand dol
lars.
have secured information In re-
gard to several limestone properties
and quarrtes and deposits OF oyster
shells. which can be secured by the
State at reasona BILE cost. but do not
think 1t wise to mention them spe-
cially In fhfa puaszapa Thinking ug
do that lime In the shape OF caustic
lime or limestone must be used as
used as the basis OF this Improvement
most OF the land In the State de-
ticlent In vegetable matter. and GER
tafnly IL the Ciovers and alfalfa are
TO be protitably grown, and believing
that the use of lime and limestone
will greatly rebound to the prosperity
OF our people. bring about increased
values and by increased assessment
soon pay back To the State the
amount expended. l recommend the
establishment OF at least two crush
ing plants; one for limestone and tho
other for oyster Shells to be sold
to all Of our citizens for their own
use, at price which will include
interest on the investment. reasona BILE
price for convict labor employed.
cost of rock or shells. cost OF upkeep
=sgad Of depreciation.
As very many of our citizens likely
to use lime from the stone or shells
VIII be unable to pay anything but
a small price for the crushed pro-
duct until the improvement, of their
land Will Justify the use of caustfc
lime and fertilizers and knowing that
the freight on lime in whatever shape
II might be used ia Il very consider
able part OF the cost. l asked the
presidents Of ail OF the railroads IN
sh4, S{Rts y, ssaGs WEE ,&As X stsasfss3sts'
on the first OF September last. to dis
cuss the freight rates on cautic lime
and ground limestone. The confer
ence WAS attended. by the presidents
or representatives of thirteen rail-
roads, one manufacturer of burnt
lime, two representatives OF the
f'ar,nerr institute. one or the United
States department OF agriculture. one
of the Southern Planter, two MEM
bers Of the State Corporation Conn
mission and the superintendent or
public instruction. The rate Dues
ton VAS discussed and the repre-
sentatives Of the railroads had con-
ference amongst themselves, and
without saying anything about caus-
tic lime stated that while they could
not give the rate OF one-half a cent
a tone per mile, for which I asked,
they would do 20 approximately. In
creasing The rate for shorter dis
tances, and appointed committee
u prepare schedule OF rates. on
ground Limestone. l am not informed
Of any action on the part Of this COM
mtttee. but have been furnished with
the rates which will be put into ef-
feet on January IL. 1912. by the Nor
folk and Western Railway Company
on ground limestone. carload lots.
twenty tons minimum. In Central