The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-08-24
THE PHOSPHATE COMING
SAVANNAH TIE SHIPPING PORT
FOR TIE FORT WHITE SECTION.

The Savannah, Florida and Western
Preparing to Handle the Product o
the Alachua County Mines-Tht
kapid Development Of the Phosphat:
Mining Industry-New Fields Con
tinualy Opening and Immense
Capital Being Utilized in Their De
velopm ent-Savannah' Benefit from
the Industry.
J. NJ. Lang Of J. n. Lang Sc Co. has been
down among phosphate mines Of Alachua
county, Florida He gives an interesting
account Of the extensive development of
the phosphate industry in that section.
Phosphate mining, he says, has become the
leading industry of Alnchua county. An
immense amount of capital has been invested
there within the last few months and new
companies are constantly being formed to
develop the phosphate lands.
There are half dozen strong companies
| now in the field aud a dozen smaller ones.
The Savannah Guano Company is now
mining phosphate at High Springs, as are
also Il. F. Dutson & Co, of Gainesville, r.
j. Camp q Bro. and the High Springs
hNsPhhto 1JiDpAnJ u OoOAoOhNAlAo. Az
Fort White the Jacksonville and
Santa Fe Hard Rock Phosphate
| Company, the Ichtucknee Phosphate
| Company, the Sovysmith Company, II. f.
| De Colts and E. B. Bailey are at work
| Other companies are scattered through the
county along tho lines Of the Savannah
! Florida and Western railway and the Flor
ida Central and PeniIsular railroad.
Where not situated directly on the line of
tba 81 To
| built spurs to connect with the main line.
COMING TO SAVANNAH.
A large quantity of phosphate has been
| mined and is now awaiting shipment.
From along the Savannah Florida and
Western the rock is shipped into Savannah,
this beng the most convenient and the
cheapest point to reach Along the line of
the Florida Central and Peninsular, however,
the rock is shipped to Fernandina for the
same reason Shipments are being made
right along to consumers in Savannah and
the interior and for export. About 10, 900
tons have already been exported from Sa-
vannah, several shipments having been
made besides the three principal cargoes that
have been shipped from this port.
A British steamer is expected to arrive
here shortly for q cargo which is now here
awaiting shipment. 1t is expected that the
shipments during the next six months will
be considerably larger than during the last
six months, orders having already been re-
ceived here for several thousand tons Of
rock.
The phosphate mining industry in Florida
has assumed proportions not looked for six
months ago, with prospects Of still greater
increase during the next few months.
MILLIONS IN IT.
Some Of the new companies are capitalized
at I'll OD0 mn nd eavaroI hav mt in
100000 to 100000. Over 1000 men are
now employed in the industry in Alachua
county alone. Land formerly Of little
value is bringing from 1926 to 500 an acre
| and over, and much of it is being held at q
still higher price,
A large portion of the phosphate country
Of Florida is looking to Savannah as ship
ping port. Cheap, convenient and easy
facilities for shipping are desired. The
phosphate from all along the line of the
Savannah, Florida aad Western railway
will naturally come to Savannah if given
| proper facilities. The Savannah, Florida
and Western Is making preparations to
| give ample service here, and a track for the
| handling OF the phosphate cars is now being
| pat in 20 the wharf. The sheds below the
| Savannah GuanB Company's works are be-
| ing utilized as phosphate sheds. Mr.. Plant
| has promised that as soon as the
| business warrantSit. an elevator for load
| ing the phosphate will be erected here, with
| sufficient sheds to store a large quantity of
| rock.
A survey has been made from Fort
White, on the branch from Dupont to Pa
latka, to a point on the line TO Tampa, q
distance Of about eighty miles, to tap the
| DunnelIon phosphate beds and make their
te. ritory, which aboundS in phosphate, trib-
utarv to Savannah and the Plant system.
| There is prospect fer an Immense bust
ness for Savannah in the new Florida indus
try, both in manufacturing and exporting,
and every encouragement possible will be
afforded it.