New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1895-12-25
MINING OF PHosPHATEs.
Where. Deposits Arc Found and How
:.> ~@.-. They Arc Prepared. =.


/. They Arc Prepared. =. a. +
The Florida phosphate deposits are Of
great Importance, yet their existence
was discovered SO recently and their
extent is still SO uncertain that few per-
sons not engaged in the sale of fertiliz-
ing materials have much knowledge of
! the large industry which has sprung up
in the Peninsular State. It has practical:
" created new city-Ocala-
had a population Of but few hundred
in 1870, but is now thriving business
senter with modern improvements,
banking facilities and ample railway
and transportation facilities. Engineer
ing, the leading engineering journal of
the world, makes the following state
ments concerning the region, which are
Of considerable interest as coming from
an unbiased source: 'tThere is no phos.
phate region in the world known today
that possesses so many advantages for
successful mining as the Florida depos-
it's. The grade of material is the highest
average that is being worked anywhere.
The facilities for moving the products
to points for distribution are good. The
average distance from mines to ports
for shipments is about 100 miles.
''The distributing stations for the hard
rock district are Port Tampa, Fernan-
dina, Brunswick and Savannah, the
largest tonnage being moved from Fer
nandina, where storage bins are located
and loading facilities are good. Port
Tampa, the terminus of the Plant sys-
tenn Of railroads, is constantly adding
facilities for prompt handling of cargoes
Of phosphate and at present very nearly
equals Fernandina in the amount of it's
shipments. Railroad are numerous and
cheaply constructed when necessary to
extend them into new sections The
machinery needed to mine and prepare
the material is simple and inexpensive
compared with that generally used in
other mining operations, and the cost
Of plant with sufficient land to work
upon is within the reach of small in
vestors. The working days at the mines
are about $50 during the year. The eli
mate is healthful, laborers readily OBJ
tanned at fair compensation, and
skilled operatives are at hand who are
becoming familiar with the business.
"The mining camps are generally we'll
regulated, and proprietors and employ
ees can reside at the mines with safety
and with little Inconvenience, as sup
plies Of all kinds can be readily obtain
ed at the towns located in the near
vicinity of all the large mining fields.
Telegraph and mail facilities are within
easy access Of nearly every mining camp
in the state. Florida phosphates are
mostly shipped to European ports and
are manufactured into fertilizers in
England, ireland, Germany. France,
and quite recently shipments have been
made to the Sandwich Islands. Foreign
agents of consumers and dealers in phos-
pilates have their Offices near the center
Of production, and contracts for deliv.
cry and prices are commonly fixed at
points Of shipment, the material being
sold at price per unit Of its contents
Of phosphate of lime. The Florida phos-
pilates are all used in the manufacture
Of commercial ferti lizers and superphos.
phate. '-Boston Transcript.