The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-02-03
SAVANNAH. Genry 81, 1890.
The Phosphate Beds of F1orida.

, Human nature, it is said. is the noblest of
oil natures; possessing reason as well as
sensation. Yet this nature if | may be
allowed the expression, appears the least
natural of all natures; reason occasionally
giving place to most unreasonable acts.
which bear the stamp of inconsistency to
sucl an extent as to seem ridiculous; and.
no mater how inconsistent with reason, we
find many men of the same mind, and this
is, perhaps, exemplitied to a great extent in
the land owner aud farmer, though, pre-
sumo, they may both come under the same
head, as tue latter generally owns the land
of which he is the occupant, while the
former owns it in larger quantities, and
they appear to have similar views
wherever we find them. and, though
keenly sensible at every point,
as they imagine, for the advancement of
their interests, they make calculations with
out judgment, or simply transact their
business by guesses, ignoring figures and,
not unfrequently, common sense; conse-
quently they are apt to take what chance
or opportunity offers for the surplus pro-
duction of their soil, which nature, in her
generous mood, has plentifully stocked with
timber and minerals-both invaluable aids
in answering the necessities of man. They
who possess the former have taken from 10
that amount to cut up the refuse Of said
stock, trim the branches, roll the same into
heaps, and burn, to prepare the ground for
cultivation. Thus, if not generously, they
foolishly give their timber away, and to
them Its value Is not worth even 81 thank
you.n
With the phosphate lands it is much the
same, the owner, ignorant of values, and
cTamped by necessity, and lured by the
Nf I,,Il hov,
names his price per acre, generally much
below its value, receives his bonus, and for
a certain number of days he grants an
option either to take or refuse the same, at
the expiration of the time to the purchaser,
who, Immediately the option is procured,
proceeds to drill the soil and dig holes in the
ground, which, in many instances he leaves
for the unwary owner to fill up again, in
jlring said land more than the value of the
option, provided it is not taken by the
Spectator, against whom he is no match, his
skill being in husbandry and not in schem-
ing nor specializing. 1t is true that cupidity
ranges to some extent in both parties; the
farmer desires to get all he can, or at least
an approximation to his values, the cap
ltallSt desires to overreach him,
of which the farmer is sensible,
and with that assurance should be ON his
guard. The late discoveries in Citrus and
lesson, and prove to them that none but a
crank will further admit of an option, as it
enables the Spectator to discover where
the richest beds are, and which at this early
stage of development he is DESTROYS to take.
while the owner is kept verdant relative
thereto, and unless he asks price in pro-
portion to its real value he becomes the
victim instead of the beneficiary of for
tune. Sometimes the option does not take
tho land q for which ic nulxy lruoter1
to the speculator, the former being left to
conjecture, as he knows the phos-
phate is there and that within three
miles of the banks on either
side of the Withlacoochee river the land is
every where more or less impregnated with
the v" luable fertilizer; he also thinks that
buyers at the D. esent are fastidlous, and
the tim will come when those lands will be
purchased with avidity, and at an advanced
price, for at sufficient depth immense
beus will b. found, which will cause the
spe ulator to wonder at his own obtuseness
in I'll case. However, the option system,
when the present ones expire, may be said
to have run its course, and so per cent will
be added to the original price of that land
on which the option was returned. This
SD, uld have been done at the first, as land
refused at option has been subsequently
sold at the first price 1t would have pre-
caused better feeling to exist between
seller and purchaser of an article which
affects both capital and self to SO great an
extent as this hidden aud much sought
treasure of the soil.
In my first letter stated that these beds
were probably the richest in the world.
Writers and men of science have since cor
roborated that statement. Nor do / feel
that shall be exaggerating in my opinion
of its abundance. Illness has prevented me
from taking the interest feel in the devel-
opment of our wonderful phosphate beds,
but health returned mas given me greater
zest for the work, and l hope to see little
more liberality on the part of the moneyed
interest, and the landed interest better
satisfied. A little less secrecy and Ii tile
mutual interest of both parties.
JOHN BRASS