The composite analyses of twenty different samples selected at random from various parts of the property, showed:
| Per cent | |
| Moisture | 40. |
| Bone phosphate | 74.98 |
| Mixed oxides, iron and aluminum | 2.49 |
These analyses were made by Prof. J. C. Wharton, of Nashville, Tenn.
The location of the property is especially favorable to transportation. A large part of it is immediately on the railroad, and all of it is easily accessible by spur track; while if desired, tramway could easily be provided for carrying the output to Tennessee, Ohio and Mississippi river points. It is a difficult matter to make a computation on the tonnage, but it has been estimated by experts at from ten to fifteen million tons. From the developments as made, and the rock exposed, a conservative calculation places 500,000 tons in sight.
It has been demonstrated that the rock can be prepared for market and loaded on cars at Parsons, Tenn., for $1.25 to $1.50 per ton, including all expenses.
Underlying Clifton and adjacent to it are inexhaustible beds of the best hydraulic limestone cement-making rock. This section also abounds in acres for the manufacture of paints and the finest of lithograph stone.
One mile from Clifton there is an immense deposit of kaolin or Chinese clay. It is a valuable constituent, largely used in the manufacture of pottery and the enameling of book paper.
Eleven miles southeast of Clifton, near the Waynesboro pike, between Eagle and Hardin Creeks, are 1,225 acres of land on which are a fine deposit of manganese. The analysis shows 39.31 per cent manganese. The veins run from five to fifteen feet on the surface.
On Factor’s Fork is a great deposit of building rock of peculiar and marvelous quality. When first mined it is so plastic that it may be easily fashioned into any desirable shape, but a few days exposure to the air hardens it into the consistency of adamant. In the same section has been found a fine quality of lithographing stone. Concerning phosphates, it may be added that within the corporate limits of Clifton may be seen a nine foot face of the Mt. Pleasant phosphate.
It has been known for many years that this section has shown evidence of the presence of both oil and gas. In his geology of Tennessee the late Professor Killebrew showed that this point shows the first indications of these constituents south of the Cincinnati uplift. Wayne County is in the direct geological line with the oil fields of Pennsylvania and Texas. At Cincinnati the oil region stopped abruptly. The next point where it was taken up was in the Beaumont fields. It is reasonable to suppose, however, that oil exists somewhere on this line nearer Cincinnati than Beaumont. It is confidently predicted by experts that oil will be found here at a depth of less than one thousand feet.