The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-09-27
THE PEBBLE PHOSPHATE.
A Different Article From the HARD
Rock Phosphate.

Rock Phosphate.
BARLOW, FLA, Sept. 25.-Editor Norm
ing NeI0s: Having carefully read every
thing you have recently published, regard
ing the Florida phosphate situation, we
have arrived at the conclusion that you are
not aware of the false position in which the
pebble region" Of Florida has been placed
by such articles.
The various headlines and statements ap-
pearing in your issues of Sept. 20 and 81,
are entirely misleading to the reader I'M
acquainted with the facts.
''LAND" PHOSPHATE MIGHT MEAN PEBBLE"
The writers of the articles referred TO are
in error when they speak of land phos~
pilates" as in contradistinction to 'pebble.
In this section of the state we have immense
beds Of 'landa phosphate which is identical
with river pebble, except that II necessarily
differs in color, and runs somewhat higher
in bone phosphate.
We have nothing to say with reference to
the ''hard rock" reigion-an that you have
said with regard to "land companies" etc.
may apply to that section-but there must
be discrimination between "land phos-
pilates, as the products of the upper and
lower portions of the phosphate region OF
this state vary as greatly as do the Cana
dian and Carolina stufs.
PEBBLE MINES ALRIGHT.
Not a single mine, either ''land" or
''river," in Polk, De Soto or Hillsboro, the
pebble counties. has ever closed down, ex-
cept for few days on account of the ex-
cessive rains; nor Is likely that any of them
will ever have any occasion for doing So
Pebble phosphate is stiff in price and
buyers are eager to make contracts for long
time at present prices. There has been
more than a dollar per ton advance in peb-
BILE during the summer. This should not be
forgotten while there Is so much being said
about hard rock" depreciating.
THE CHARLESTON TELEGRAM.
The sender of the telegram dated at
Charleston, s. c., published in your issue OF
Sept. %. either misquoted the prominent
owner of Peace river property" or else said
''owner" was in careless error in speaking
of land" companies in general, while he
evidently meant "hard rock" companies
only.
Why should this telegram state that
many of Charleston's capitalists have been
engaged In mining their possessions, con-
filming their operations principally &c
Peace river" when, with one exception,
there is not company mining in this re-
gion with Charleston capital in its
The Gulf company, Charleston men, will
soon be ready for operations. and one Of the
companies-the Barlow Phosphate CON-
pany-is largely made UP of Charleston
capital, but these do not make the state
ment less erroneous.
OWNERS ALL HAPPY.
Summing all up, we state without fear Of
contradiction, that every company in opera
tion from the head waters of Peace river tc
it's mouth, is in a healthy financial con-
dition, and making money. We will also
add that every "land company" owning
valuable pebble deposit in the same terri,
tory is on firm and happy basis, having
paid cash for their land in nearly every in.
stance.
Further, we would like to state that not 6
single cargo of our pebble, land or river
could be bought to-daY-not even by com
bining the surplus Of every company in
operation.
Not single shipment Of pebble. TO oul
knowledge, has ever been rejected.
We simply call your attention to thesC
things in order that the NEWS, which hal
always been conservative paper and
special friend to South Florida, and favor
lite with our people, may not do our section
an injury without intending it.
J. H. TATUM & Co.