The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1895-11-23
MINING OF pHosPHATEs.
Whero Deposits Are Found and How
They Are Prepared.

w nero OenoSttS Arc FOUND and How
They Are Prepared.
Tho 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 havo much knowledge Of
tho large industry which has sprung up
in tho Peninsular State. 1t has PRACTICAL
ly created new city-Ocala-whic
had population of but few hundred
IL 1870, but is now II thriving business
center with modern improvements,
banking facilities and ample railway
and transportation facilities. Engineer
ing, tho leading engineering journal Of
tho world, makes the following state
ments concerning the region, which are
of considerable interest as coming from
an unbiased source: "There 10 no phos.
phato region. in tho world known today
that possesses so many advantages for
successful mining as the Florida depos-
its. The grade of material is the highest
average that is being worked anywhere.
The facilities for moving tho products
to points for distribution are good. Tho
average distance from mines to ports
for shipments is about $50 miles.
1.-The distributing stations for tho 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 arc 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 tho amount OF its
shipments. Railroad are numerous and
cheaply constructed when necessary to
extend them into new sections. Tho
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 tho reach of small in.
vestors The working days at the mines
are about $50 during the year The eli
mato is healthful, laborers readily OBJ
tanned at Il fair compensation, and
skilled operatives are ut hand who are
becoming familiar with tho business.
1.-The mining camps are generally well
regulated, and proprietors and employ
aes 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 neaI
vicinity of all tho large mining fields.
Telegraph and mail facilities are withi1
easy access OF nearly every mining camp
in the state. Florida phosphates arc
mostly shipped to European ports and
are manufactured into fertilizers in
England, ireland, Germany, France,
and quite recently shipments have been
mado to the Sandwich Islands. Foreign
agents of consumers and dealers in phos-
pilates have their Offices near tho 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 fertilizers and superphos-
plate Boston Transcript.