The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1894-12-21

Tne Associated Phosphate Companies
An Important Movement Among

tno mlutIo
The recent organization of the phos-
phate miners doing business In the
hard rock region will, 1t is believed,
result in much good to themselves, to
the industry and to the state of FIori-
da. Their organization is not intend
ed to be combine, but an ASSOCIATION
of miners having for a common pur-
pose the protection of their business
and realizing on their product such
prices as will give to them fair bust
ness margin of profit. At the same
time they are not seeking to place
such a price on phosphate rock as will
be injurious to the sale of the product
Of their mines.
The association is one of defense.
not ofFense. Several times have there
been efforts to bring the miners in the
hard rock region together, but each
time the efforts has not been success
ful. Each miner was endeavoring to
work out the problem of success for
himself, and the legitimate outcome
has been cut-throat proceeding which
has been disastrous to ALL It's nota-
bic fact that the miners Of Florida
have not gotten the market value of
their rock, and IN many instances
have not even received its cost price.
The manufacturer has paid pretty
full price for the product when it has
reached his place of business, but the
middleman, who has neither planned
for the industry or borne the heat and
burden of production, has p3ckesei
the profit with a brigandage almost
italian Ia its character. But the mid
dleman is not altogether responsible or
to blame. Treasure trove is generally
regarded as free booty. without moral
obliquity. To Illustrate: Seventy-fve
per cent. hard rock phosphate has beer
selling at the mines for "a per ton fiat.
The same product, when it reaches the
bins of the European manufacturer,
costs him So to $3.50 per ton. The
middleman has not made brokerage,
but has become merchant and made
something like so per cent. on his pur-
chase, and this has been accomplished
in the majority Of instances, without
the leopard of capital, without even
the outlay of serious expense, without
delay-almost, as it were, by the turn
of the card. IL is this profit that the
miner is deprived of, which neither
.enriches the manufacturer or ensures
to the benefit of that most vitality in
terested party, the consumer, that the
present association is endeavoring to
save and give to those most needing
and most deserving.
The organization is known as the
Associated Phosphate Companies, and
according to its first bylaw only
miners can be member. The officers
are Edward Holder, president of the
Hartshorn Phosphate company, presi-
dent; w. S. Trimble, president of the
Standard Phosphate company, vice
president; J. NJ. Graham, president of
the First National Bank of Gaines
vile, Fla, and president of the Alach-
ua Phosphate company, treasurer, and
David S. Woodrow, secretary. Mr.. j.
II. Jones, of the Netherlands Phos-
phafe company, has been chosen Eu-
ropean agent, and he will have head
quarters in Londoneand Amsterdam.
Through him the entire product of the
mines of the Associated Companies
will be sold. The needs of the market
will be closely watched, and the
amount offered governed by the de-
mand. Mining will be controlled and
a cessasion ordered, If necessary. Ar
rangements have been made by which
ample capital is contributed for adj
vances to miners, so as to enable them
when necessary, to hold their rock.
The proceeds of all rock sold will be
prorated among the associa ed miners
according to amount contributed and
the unitage. The Netherlands compa-
ny, whose financial backing is very
strong, will be the financial agent of
the association for advancing money
on rock mined and held. Messrs. Ed
ward Holder, ]. M. Graham and J. *.
jackson will be a board of arbitration
in matters Of dispute. Each member
Is pledged to loyalty to the organiza-
ton by very strong contract, which
can be legally enforced against him.
The tonnage now pledged and promised
Is between 10000 and 100000 tons,
which leaves under the best estimates
of the output for 1895 about $4,000
floating. Acting with the association
is the Dunnellon company, and the
Gle de Phosphate de France is also ex-
pected to cooperate. In this way it is
expected that the profit to the pro-
Queer viii be increased $l.5O to y per
ton. without any radical change in
the price of rock to the manufacturer,
speculation in the product will be es-
sentlally stopped, and the miners VIII
no longer be compelled to give their
rock away. This movements the out
come OF the constantly narrowing
margin from various causes In the
price OF rock, until profitable produc-
flon has been rendered almost impos'
elhle. An officer of the Associated
Companies has compiled list of the
now working companies, which shows
that 16, 900 tons per month have beer
cut Off by the very causes above emu
merated, which would be monthly adj
ding to wealth of the miner, the car
rler and the world.
This information is from the pes
sources, and may be relied on. II tn'
association succeeds in comprising 10