The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-04-22
BIG PHOSPHATE SHIPMENTS.
THE SHIPMENTS THROUGH sAVAN-
NAB THIS YEAR MAY DOUBLE
THOSE OF LAST.

The Shipments for Export From Sa-
vannah More Than Three Times rs
Much From January 10 Date as
They Were for the First Four
Months of Last Year-HOst of the
Rock From the High Springs Dis
trict-Other ships Coming 10 Take
Phosphate Abroad Savannah
Looking Up as n Port of Shipment
for Phosphate Rock.
Savannah is reaching considerable i'm
portance as a port for phosphate ship
ments. and in spite of the fact that the
mines in some sections OF Florida seem
TO find it Improbable to continue opera
uons. the shipments for export through
here this year. are so far more than
treble what they were for the same
months Of 1894
Most Of the phosphate rock shipped
through this port comes from the High
Springs district as it is known, located
between Fit. White and Archer, on the
line Of the High Springs division or other
lines of the Plant system. This is the
upcountry rock which is got out of
the mines, very little Of the pebble or
river rock being brought to or through
this port.
To show what a remarkable impetus
has been given the movement of phos-
phate rock for export this year, 10 is
only necessary to give the figures. From
Jan. l. 1894, to May l, of the same year,
6,es3 tons of phosphate rock were shipped
to Savannah, most of which was for
export, very little of it being for local
uses. From Jan. l, 1895. to April 10, of
this year, which is as far as the stats
tics have been made. the shipment, of
phosphate rock TO Savannah for export
and for local use has been 2, 951 TONS
or three and one-half times as much as
was shipped in the first four months
of last year. Very little of this is shipped
for local uses, most of it being sent
abroad.
There are now three phosphate ships
at the wharves of the Savannah Florida
and Western to carry the rock to for
eign ports. Two of these have been load
ed and another Is now taking on its cargo.
These three ships will carry away be-
tween 1000 and 5000 tons of the rock
to European ports. Already this year a.
600 tons of phosphate rock have been
shipped from this port, cargoes being
carried to Versailles, Genoa, Cete, Ham
burg, Bremen, Stettin, and Barcelona.
Most of these cargoes were taken in ships
which came here for phosphate alone.
A great many ships, however, which
phate rock, though many receivers Of
phosphate on the other side, for certain
reasons, object TO having the two car
goes carried on the same ship.
While 1900 tons of phosphate has been
received at this port for shipment up to
date. 1t is very likely that by May 1 the
shipments will reach four times as much
as they were for the same length of time
last year. There will be a ship here on
April "a to carry about 1900 tons, and an
other May to take about 200 tons: but
all of the phosphate which is to be taken
on these ships has not yet been brought
to Savanna.
export to foreign ports run up to about
$1,000 tons. Very little rock comes to Sa-
vannah for local use. The years receipts
at this port, however, for export and
otherwise, at the present rate will be
more than double what they were last
year, or considerably more than 100000
tons The present outlook is that the
shipments will keep up at their present
rate for some time to come The phos-
phate men all along the lines of the Plant
system and especially in the High Springs
district. say that they are making good
profits out of the business, and see no
reason why they should cut off their out
put TO any extent whatever. Some of the
Florida mines have ceased operations.
These include the Donnellon mines and
others, which belong to one association
or company, and the belief is that they
have ceased working for speculative rea-
sons.
All the mines along the lines of the Plant
oSStNlh are III OptIdAlCIl, anu lne output
promises to be much larger in every way
this year than 1t was last. Very little of
the pebble rock, which is mined in the
rivers and streams of the southern part
of the state is shipped here or through
this port, as most of ii goes through Port
Tampa The average receipts here for
this year, however, have been from 1000
TO 1000 tons a month, and the present in
dications bid fair to keep 1t up to that
amount, or more. The heaviest shipments
come later in the year, and there seems
to be little question that this port will
handle this year twice as much of the
rock as IL did last year All of this is en-
couraging for Savannah. 1t brings ships
here and makes work for her laborers,
and is of such general benefit that il will
undoubtedly be encouraged.
THE FIRST PEA SHIPMENTS.