New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-26
FLORIDA AND CANADIAN PHOsPHATEs.
THE FORMER IN no DANGER FROM THE CoMPE
Triton OF THE LATTER.

THE FORMER IN 40 DANGER FROM THE CoMPE
Triton OF THE LATTER.
TO the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: There appeared in The Tribune OF November
10 a dispatch headed "A Competitor for Florida
Phosphate" from Charleston, 5. C., saying: "A
sensation created here to-day by the pubhcauoN
Of q dispatch from Ottawa announcing rise OF .. q
ton on Canadian phosphate rock, and intimatng that
this rise signifies the collapse Of the Florida phosphate
boom. Charleston people have invested large
amount Of capital in Florida phosphate enterprises
and these men do not credit the statement They
say that meeting of Florida phosphate owners VII
be held at Ocaa on November 10, at which time II
Is probable that a syndicate will be formed 10 rcsu
late the output and the price, Many OF the smaller com
papies i'm Florida have ceased operation altogether
Wilde the number Of workmen has been decreased 10
some Of the large mineS.'
Canadian apatite IS crystalline phosphate OF
lime which occurs sometimes in small pockets, bnt
Is generally disseminated through gang OF serpentne
rock. II has been mined for many years and sold In
the English market. The largest output in any one
year from Canadian mines did not exceed 10000 tons
q mere drop in the bucket when We consider that
the annual demand reaches the enormous amount
of 600 900 tons. This phosphate Is very expensive
to mine 1t has to be hand picked in order to avoid
a preponderance OF the worthless gangrock. 1t car
only be used In the form Of acid supephosphate
The last phosphate price received from London
rising In value 1t has fallen so low as to preclude thu
possibility of its being mined and handled at profit
The meeting Of phosphate mneowners at Ocala refers
only to the hard rock phosphate mining interest. The
price OF the hard rock phosphate has fallen In Europe
on account Of shipments thereto that were not prop
erly cleaned and free from adhering sand and clay
The percentage of phosphate OF lime In this rocl
phosphate runs very hgh and there can be no question
that when properly prepared it will find ready sale
I'm the market at a remunerative price,
The pebble phosphate OF Florida consists OF land
pebble and river pebble. The mode of mining and
cleaning the river pebble is the slime as that pursued
on the streams in South Carolina 1t carries seven pei
cent more bone phosphate than the South Carolina
is rs readily treated by the superphosphate manu-
facturers as the Carolina pebble, and has never ye
failed to find ready market equal to the output II
costs from 81 81 80 per ton to mine, cean dry and
put on the cars while the South Carolina phosphate
costs SO so per ton to prepare for shipment. The
can be cleaned and placed the ready for ship
ment at a cost not exceed ~ 80 per ton. 1t con
tains from 20 TO &c per cent of bone phosphate Of
lime and is inst easily and economically treated by
the manufacturers OF superph0sphates, as the river
nebble either In Florida south Carolina.
There has been constant effort on the part OF the
phosphate OF south Carolina TO dcrde and
misrepresent the phosphates Of Florida The fact Is
FLORIDA phos phatc both land and river pebble, car
be mined so cheapy and the grade Is so superior tina
IN can be placed the market and sold at profit fo
price that would shut up every other phosphate mine
In the world. . .oo, M "a oSoii'