The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-01-11
DIGGING FORPHOSPHATE
THE RUSH OF INVESTORS TO
FLORIDA'S FERTILIZER FIELDS.

/ The Phosphate Craze a Rival Of the
California Gold Craze in the 4Os.
Baldwin & Co.'S Purchase OF e IS, 600
Acre Tract-How q Savannah Pros
pecting Party Went Grabbing" for
Phosphate, but Didn't Get L.
Since the California gold craze in the 40s
there has been nothing to equal the phos-
phate craze in Florida. A gentleman who
has been making a tour of the state, and
wisely withholds his name, as he expects to
visit it again, says that everybody is talk
ing phosphate down there The people 60
TO bed thinking about it, dream about it,
and wake up in the morning and go phos-
plate hunting. Every one who finds a rock
on his place rushes off to have it analysed.
1t IS said that while there are large and
valuable phosphate districts in Florida,
there are also many localities where the
phosphate is neither rich enough in quality
nor is it found in sufficient quantity to pay
for working it, yet the people ask fabulous
prices for their lands Oh the idea that they
are underlaid with phosphate, whether they
are or not. Some very rich lands have
developed, but they are now pretty well
taken up by fertilizer men.
BALDWIN & co.'s PURCHASE.
The Baldwin Fertilizer Company of this
city has bought %, 900 acre tract, and the
MORNING NEWS, in an interview last month
with Nh. W. 2. Frost, fertilizer chemist
detailed other purchases of the most val
liable phosphate lands on the Withacoochee
and IN the vicinity Of Charlotte Harbor-
IN fact the visit of Mr.. Frost to Florida is
believed to have been made in the interest
so -.
OF which the large block of phosphate land
was purchased by it.
Inc story IS told OF two Savannah pros
pectors among phosphate fields in the
penlnsular state that they found a most
desirable locality, and all it wanted to make
IL a bonanza was phosphate, and plenty of
It, The prospectoTs, who are said to be the
president and secretary of a towboat com
| pany In this City, searched vigorously on
the surface Of the land they had in view of
purchase. and dug deep down to find it.
| GRABBING FOR PHOSPHATE.
| AS last resort the eager one, who may
be designated Capt. P, said to his secre-
tary that he did not propose to stop at that,
so every stream of water they came to the
captain waded in and grabbed" for phos-
phate on the bottom. The prospecting did
not reveal the presence OF phosphate, ana
the option, it is said, was not taken.
| w ALIe phosphate uOoS not OF course I'M
derlie the greater portion of the pc linsula,
its presence in some localities in what may
be called inexhaustible deposits is beyond
question A phosphate deposit underlying
thousands Of acres, and known to be in solid
mass for depth of sixteen feet, and much
deeper lying near the surface where it can be
economically operated, and near water ways
TO the gull, and railways to the interior, it
is predicted will make The phosphate indus
try of Florida hardly second to the orange
industry of the state.
EFFECT OF THE DISCOVERIES.
| These discoveries of phosphate will not
alone interest the owners of the properties
among the agriculturists of the south, as it
Is claimed that such large bodies of phos-
phate mean heavier production Of fer
uizers, and, lying near the avenues of
| dlstrlbution to the southern cotton fields.
toe product will be cheapened in price, and
the planting lands of the south may always
be kept up to the highest standard Of
fertility at moderate cost, enriching alike
the manufacturer and the planter, making
the waste places bloom and blossom as the
rose, and cotton whiten on a thousand hills
now barren and untitled