The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-06-21
THE PHOSPHATE INDUSTRY.
Largely Increased Shipments EX-
peCted During This Season.

the Present Seasoh-Where the Phos-
phate Belt Lies-Savannah Does Not
Get Lions Share of the Business,
But a Heavy Increase in Shipments
Expected This Year.
The outlook for mining and shipments
of phosphate rock this season which OPEN
ed with June, as shown by Investigations
recently made in Florida, is one Of the
most flattering that has been seen in the
history of the industry. The shipments
during the coming season promise 70 be
larger by one-half than those of last year,
and it is said that the increase in the pro
duct will have little or no effect on the
price.
Retrospectively, last season from June,
1892, to June, 1893 was an exceedingly
good one, and none of the phosphate men
complain of it. The shipments of high
grade phosphate from Florida last season
amounted to 100000 tons, and of river and
land pebble about 600 tons.
OF this amount a very small
quantity, or about 10000 tons
only was shipped through Savannah, and
of this amount about four thousand
tons, were used in domestic con-
sumption. The largest quaint
ties of the high grade rock were shipped
through E'ernandina, Port Tampa and
Brunswick Fernandina drawing the lar
gest shipments Most of the river and
land pebble phosphate went through
Punta Gorda. The high grade
rock went in larger quantities
TO Germany, but the United King
dom, Holland, Italy and Southern France
are also large importing countries.
THIS YEARS OUTLOOK.
From careful inquiry throughout the
State of Florida and especially at the
phosphate centers, which are but few
miles inland from the western coast, the
estimate for the next twelve months in
case all the companies which arc now at
work continue their operations is that
there viii be mined and shipped 275, 900
tons of high grade phosphate rock, which
is rs, 900 tons in excess of last years ship
ments. The yield of river and land peb-
BILE phosphate rock together is expected
to increase to between 10000 and 200, 600
tons.
1t is estimated that the supply of phos-
phate rock in Florida is practically mex
haustible so far as the needs of the pres
ent generation are concerned. There is
apparently enough in the beds already
discovered to keep the present forces at
work for thirty or forty years at the
lowest estimate. The large pits along
the phosphate belt which have been ex-
cavated and which have been
worked, some only one year
and others two, now show face of solid
rock 90 per cent. of which is pure phos-
phate rock and in some instances more.
THE PHOSPHATE REGION.
The Florida phosphate belt begins in
the central part of northern Florida, its
head being practically at Lauraville in
Suwanee county and extends in a south
westerly direction.
The belt proper is about twenty to
thirty miles and extends from Lauraville
down to Pasco county, its western limit
being from twenty to thirty miles from
the western coast of the state. This is
the region where the high grade rock is
found.
The first beds in the state were found
near Donnellon, and this is where the first
phosphate company was organized. 1t
was known as the Donnellon Phosphate
Co, and is still in operation. This point is
about the center Of the belt Later larger
and richer beds were found in the south
ern part of Suwannee county
several miles from Lake City
junction, where the rich beds of
e. B. Bailey are located. North of
these beds are found those of the French.
Phosphate Company which are among
tllG ldiECHb III bnb SIdlG. 1neTH are sew
eral large companies owned entirely in
Savannah which are located in the midst
of the belt, some of them being in the
richest section Among them is the we'll
known Marion Phosphate Company.
The Marion, Dunnellon and Bailey
Phosphate Companies are among the
largest in the state, each one owning
10000 to 10000 acres of rich phosphate
land. There are about forty
companies altogether now operating in
this belt.
The land pebble phosphate comes from
the vicinity of Lakeland and Barlow, in
Polk and Hillsboro counties, in the south
ern portion of the state. There are about
twelve companies at work in this section.
The river pebble rock also comes from
the southern part of the state, most of it
being taken from Peace river. The Ar
cadia Phosphate Company, owned In Sa-
yannah, and the Peace River Compan of
New York, operate in this section.
IMPROVED FACILITIES FOR SAVANNAH.
Steps are now being taken by which it
is hoped Savannah's shipments will be
more than double this season what they
were last.
The Plant System is making an extern
sion of its lines through the phosphate
belt from point on it's connections in
Suwanee county to FIT. Hook on the
~ tAN NfIAtAdA anu 1EGulu6Uld III U06
southern part of the belt The opening
up Of this territory by the building of
this new road will, it is expected, direct
larger shipments to Savannah, especially
from the northern part of the phosphate
belt, as the shippers have facilities here
by water that they cannot obtain from
the Florida ports.
The majority of the shipments from the
southern portion of the belt would of
course go to Port Tampa as that is right
near by, but the dealers here
think that when this territory is
opened up by this projected
railroad portion of which has already
been built, it will direct very much
larger shipments to and through Savan-
nah. The rates to Savannah by the Sa-
Vannah, Florida and Western are as good
now as they are to any of the ports in
Florida, and the phosphate men here say
that no efforts is now being made
to handicap the industry so
far as Savannah is con
cerned. There is no reason, they say.
TO complain at the handling of the bust
ness by the Savannah, Florida and West
ern during the past year. The prices for
phosphate have been very fair during the
past twelve months, and there is no prob
ability OF decline so far as can be seen.
Caution to Customers.
Nothing of original or s11parfor ynarit ,,,,.