The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-09-16
4 NEW PHOSPHATE FIELD.
4 Vein Being Worked in Tennessee
Which May Puzzle Scientists.

T. Is Evidently a Mineral and Not an
Animal Deposit-The Deposit Does
Not Appear to Be Very Extensive
and viii Hardly Come Into Compe-
tition With Florida Phosphate-AI-
giers Now Shipping Phosphate for
the European Market.
A gentleman who has Just returned to
Savannah from trip through Tennessee,
gave a MORNING NEWS reporter some in
tsresting information yesterday concern
ing the phosphate deposits of that sec
ton.
II may be news to great many people
in savannah to know that there is phos-
nbate in Tennessee, but such is the case.
The deposit, or vein rather, is located in
Hickman county, in Middle Ten
pessee, about eight miles from the Nash
vile, Chattanooga and st. Louis railway.
The character of the deposit is an en-
tire contradiction to the ideas generally
held regarding this substance. Instead
of being deposited il pockets, or at the
bottom of river beds. as is the case with
the phosphate of Florida and South Caro-
lima the Tennessee phosphate is in a con-
tiuuous vein, running through range of
small hills for several miles, and varying
In thickness from six to thirty-two inches.
REGULAR MINE.
The vein is found imbedded between
two stratas, the top strata being of slate
and the bottom of limestone This gives
the Tennessee phosphate every appear
snce of being mineral and not an animal
deposit, upon which theory the existence
of this material has heretofore been gen
orally explained. This will afford a nut
for the scientists to crack.
The Tennessee phosphate is dark blue
In color, shading to a grey at the top
The Florida phosphate, as is well known,
is white chiefly, with admiXtures of light
grey and yellow. Tie vein is now being
worked by three companies, which have
already put about 4, QUO tons in the market.
The grade runs from 60 to 20 per cent.
bone phosphate of lime, which makes it
available for commercial purposes in the
manufacture of fertilizers.
WILL NOT RIVAL FLORIDA.
1t does not appear likely at present, the
MORNING News informant said, that the
Tennessee phosphate will come into
serious competition with the Florida phos-
phate. The deposit does not appear to be
of sufficient extent, and the cost of min
ing will also be greater, as the vein runs
through hills which will have to be tun-
neled in order to mine it TO any extent
The Tennessee product will probably
supply nearby interior points, but will
hardly reach the coast or the European
markets.
Shipments of phosphate through this
port have been very light of late. The
market has been depressed for some time
and prices are very low, due chiefly to
the oversupply.
The European demand has been greatly
decreased by the introduction Of phos-
phate from Algiers. Large deposits of
phosphate were discovered in that coun-
try about two years ago, which are now
being developed by companies of French
and Scotch capitalists. From reports
which have been sent out the Algerian
phosphate is believed to be similar in
character to that found in Tennessee.
Its development is hindered at present by
the lack of transportation facilities, but
If these are provided as proposed and the
phosphate can be mined, cheaply, it will
interfere largely with the European de-
mand for the American product.
COMBINING THE cARGoEs.
With the present arrangements for
loading cotton at Savannah it is expected
that considera BILE business will be done in
loading combined cargoes of phosphate
and cotton for foreign shipment. A YES
sci can take practically all the cargo Of
phosphate which she can carry
amount of space left which can be
filed in with cotton on top of the phos-
phate. Cotton can usually be carried
very cheaply in this manner, as it is not
screwed in, but simply laid in in tiers
The steamship Beltisloe is now taking
1,750 tons of phosphate, and will shortly
begin taking on cotton. The cotton will
be screwed in, however, as it will be
necessary TO put in as large a load as
possible in order IN hiring the vessel down
TO her water line.