10 BULLETIN 18, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
much lower that they can be delivered in Charleston, S. C, at a 
price but little above that of the local product. Finely ground 
South Carolina phosphate has been tried a number of times on the 
soils of South Carolina and Georgia. But little success has been 
reported, although the increasing use of this form of phosphatic 
fertilizer in the Middle West indicates the desirability of further 
investigation. 
EXTENT OF OPERATIONS. 
The South Carolina phosphates (Land and River Rock) have been 
extensively mined in a number of localities — on both sides of the 
Ashley River, on the banks of the Stono River and in the stream 
itself, south of the Ashepoo River on Chisolrns and Willimans Islands, 
and in the Coosaw and Beaufort Rivers. 
The most productive area of Land Rock has been what is known 
as the Ashley River Beds, which lie on both sides of tne Ashley River, 
extending more or less uniformly over an area of about 200 square 
miles. Most of the River Rock marketed in past years was dredged 
from the Coosaw River, but mining operations there have been dis- 
continued, owing to the depletion of the richer beds of phosphate 
and to the inability of the mining company to pay the royalty required 
by the State. 
PRESENT CONDITION OF THE INDUSTRY. 
The present condition of the phosphate industry in South Carolina 
is not good. The increased cost of mining, together with the low 
price of the product, has forced the small operator either to abandon 
his plant or to sell to the larger companies. 
There are at present only two concerns engaged in mining South 
Carolina phosphate, and these are operating a total, of four washer 
plants. The largest of these washers is at Lambs, on the Ashley 
River. Two smaller ones are located on the Stono River, about 9 
miles west of Charleston, and the fourth is at Chisolrns Island, Beau- 
fort County. The total output of rock hi 1911 was, according to the 
United States Geological Survey. 169,156 tons. 
FUTURE OF THE INDUSTRY. 
Those interested in phosphate mining are rather discouraged at the 
outlook in South Carolina. 
There is little indication of any immediate rise in the price of rock. 
and the cost of preparing the phosphate for the market leaves such 
a narrow margin of profit that mining is only made commercially 
practicable by the use of up-to-date machinery capable of handling 
large quantities of material. Adverse weather or labor conditions 
decrease the margin of profit. 
