The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-06-23
PHOSPHATE ROCK PLANT.
Commissioner Watson Announces sue
cess Of EfrOrts--TO lie Near Char
lesion.

ment of great Importance to the
farmers of the State has been made.
1t is to the effect that arrangements
had been completed for the erection
of large plant of $4,000 tons an
nual capacity. to put out high grade
South Carolina ground phosphate
rock. The plant is to be located near
Lambs on the Ashley river, near
Charleston, in the heart of the valu-
able South Carolina phosphate beds.
The establishment of the plant Is
the outcome of efforts that Commits
sioner Watson. of the State Depart
ment of Agriculture, has been max
ing for some months to get the
Charleston Mining and Manufacturlns
company. the contractors, with the
state for phospho- mari, to put in a
plant and make 1t possible for the
farmers of South Carolina to &c,
ground rock without being compelled
to purchase it in Florida or i'm Ten
nessee. The South Carolina rock is
regarded as the best i'm existence 70,
agricultural purposes. but it has beer
many years since any opportunity has
been given the farmers of the State
to secure 1t in ground form. 1t will
be available at considerably cheaper
delivered price than tho Tennessee o;
Florida rock.
Mr.. j. +. McGrath, of Richmond
Va, vice president of the Charles
ton Mining and Manufacturing Com.
pany. spent Saturday forenoon il
conference with Commissioner Wat.
son, and after the conference MIR
Watson said:
Ever since / succeeded in getting
this company to mine that admirable
product known as phospo-
which. under the law. this depart
ment Is furnishing the farmers q.
cheaply as possible, l have been en-.
deavoring to get the company to sup
plement it's SIS, 900 investment in tina,
plant by putting in n modern grinding
and pulverizing plant i'm its adjoinint
phosphate beds and give to our pco
pie this valuable South Carolina rock
Recently, the undertaking was deter.
mined upon, and the engineers have
completed the plans for n $4,000
plant. The materials and machinery
are now being assembled. and it is cx
pccted to have the development sur-
flclently advanced for October deliv-
cries.
'The product viii be sold under con
tract with this department, through
the department. and owing to short
railway hauls will be available to
farmers considerably cheaper than
the product from either the Tenncs-
sec or Florida mines.
South Carolina ground rock. while
slightly lower in bone phosphate OF
lime, is for direct application Gun
treated or raw. to the soil in q class
all to itself and is not to be con-
sidered with tho Tennessee brown rocl,
sold in this State. South Carolina rock
is a marl-limo formation, and con
tains 13 per cent of carbonates free
and unassociated with phosphoriC
acid. while the Tennessee brown rocl
does not, due to it's basic formation
contain any appreciably free carbo-
mates. The Florida ground rock con.
tains about per cent free carbOnates
but due to formation is not as sOluabl,
In soil as the South Carolina rock
The South Carolina rock contains -
to 2S 1-2 per cent phosphoric acid, g.
to 33 pcr cent carbonate of lime, as
sociated with phosphoric acid. and /;
10 Ii per cent of carbonate not asso-
cRtcd with phosphoric acid. All OF
the carbonates. as in phospho-marl
are, due to their character, quickly
soluble and active. thus releasing tho
phoSphoric acid to- tho action of sol
acids for conversion into plant food
Just as soon rs possible an
houncement will be made by the de-
partment as to delivered prices thai
VIII prevail. Under the contract tho
entire product of the plant will bc
handled by the State. upon the same
plans as is phospho-marl."