The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1898-01-15
OSPHATE MINES.
A Newly-Developed Industry OF
Much Importance.
Destined to Become a Source of Great
Profit to American Agriculturists
Some Valuable Infor-
nation

/ We find in a special report of the
commissioner of labor the latest stats
tics relating to the phosphate industry
of the United States. The report, says
the New York Sun, not only shows the
actual output of our phosphate mines
but estimates the period during which
the industry may be expected TO con
tinue.
| Carroll ID. Wright. the commissions,
OF labor, points ont in his introduction
that the value of the discovery of phos-
| pilates, from an agricultural view
| point, cannot be overrated. Previously
to 1s41 the principal commercial fertil-
izer had been bone dust, but, in the
| year named. guano was introduced from
the Chincha islands of Peru and, ow.
ing to the greater solubility of this
commodity, the demand forit rapidly
increased. As time went on. however,
the inadequate and rapidly decreasing
supply of guano and bone dust led to
the active: development OF, the phos.
phate industry in South Carolina in
1867 and in Florida some stwentyione
years later. In 1891 the last year for
which statistics are complete, the
quantity of phosphate produced in the
United States was 757, l33 tons, murh
the larger portion-of which came from
South Carolina, where at present the
mines arc most vigorously worked.
The next largest producer of the fer
tilizer is France, which, in the year
named, was credited with 400, ,0a0 tons,
after which should be placed Belgium
TH..
world in 1891. outside of the United
States, was $50, 900 tons.
The home consumption of the fertil-
izer takes place chiefly in the southern,
eastern and western states 1t is con-
spicuously in demand for the cotton
crop of the south, for the fruit and
vegetable crops of the east and for the
grain crops of the west. AS regards
the situation of the principal deposits
We learn that. there are in South Car
olina twcnty-three land mines and
seven river mines; that there is one
land mine in North Carolina, while
there are no fewer. than eighty-eight
land mines and eighteen river mines in
Florida. The number of acres con-
troiled for. mining purposes in Florida
is 11o,S il. North Carolina, $500, and
in South Carolina 60, 100, or a total of
s52.1S8' acres. The. total capital in
vested fin'pfant il Flori.la is 81, 14O, $50.
and in land Eli, ,345, ,O57; in North! Caro-
lima the plant is-rcpresented by $4,000
and the land by 100000; in South Car
olina the plant is worth S2.563, 200 and |
the land S3,92o.Olo. . The total average |
number of employees engaged in the |
of phoSphates is 9,175. but |
this does not incfasIe all the labor in
one mine or the skilled labor in two |
mines, the facts in relation to which
are not reported. The total amount of
money expended for labor was S3,473,7
i15, and the average earnings of. a
miner amounted to Sa7o per annum.
We are assured that great pains
has been taken by the department
II labor to collect trustworthy in
'ormation as to the gathohnts of ,phosa1
,hates which may reasonably, be .ex-
,ected to be delivered hereafter from
he mines. The iqd8ftfty In Sight in |
south Carolina is computed ati;14 ,00O,-
100 tons; in this state, the industry; at
he present rate of production, will ex.
onu oFei 1"eHtTiciSH1 years 1roIn
s91. The quantity of phosphate visible +
n North Carolina, Georgia and other.
tates is put down at 1000, 900 tons,
While Florida is credited with the i.
normous quantity Of 133. .056,11 tons.
aiken together these estimates show a |
otal of 14s, ,o5G,416 tons of phosphate
n sight, and enable us to measure the
uture opportunities for the employ.
lent of labor in this industry. .is /.