Gainesville daily sun. (Gainesville, Fla.) 190?-1938, 1905-07-15
PHOSPHATE PRODUCTION.

A"e yee' AeNF Wbr prosperous one
for the producers Of phosphate rock In
the United States" says Dr Edmund
Otis Hovey Of the Quilted states Geo
logical Survey in rsgurt recently
published on the production " phos-
phste rock in 1894 More rock was
mined than ever before, aud better
prices were obtained than nave been
reported since 1898 Many farmers
report production and sales during
1904, but the bulk Of The business WAS
carried on by \ comparatively small
number OF large producers Con.ot.
dalton seems 10 be the order Of the
day.
The total quantity OF phosphate rock
marketed from the mines during 1874
amounted to l,S74,42S long tons. val.
ued At S8,s73,625, an increase in guam.
tity over the output OF 1903 Of 292. $50
long tons aud 81 .554 33l in value. The
total quantity of phosphate rock re-
ported as mined during 1904 was
1891 ,l69 long tons. as compared with
l,GlS 100 long tons in 1908. A stock OF
1874 long tons 10 reported as having
been on hand January /. 1906 On the
other hand, the sale Of 6,245 long tons
of the quantity Of phosphate rock on
hand January L. 1904, il reported.
The State OF Florida continues 10 be
the largest producer OF phosphate rock
in the United States, its output form
ing more than one-hAlf the total pro.
duction of the country. A comparison
OF the production by varieties in this
State during 1902 and 1903 shows that
there has been an increase OF about
% per cent in the output OF hard rock,
an increase OF about is per cent in that
OF land pebble, and An increase Of
more than 80 per cent in that Of river
pebble. TIE total marketed produc.
ton OF Florida phosphate was ], or, 1851
long tons, valued 1t So ga 800, as COM
pared with So, 3S6 long tons, valued ~
81 9S8 SPA, in 1903, which shows 40 aV.
erage increase m value per ton at the
mines from $3,47 in 1873 TO 90 20 In
1904 The reports also show that
12.041 long tons OF hard rock were
mined bat not marketed, and that
81 ,5ll long tons OF the stock carried
over from previous years were market.
ed In 1904. Hence the total quantity
mined was ,0ss,0s7 long tons.
In South Carolina the diminution in |
production which has been shown by |
The reports for the last five years has
a slight check There was an |
increase OF II per cent in the produc.
ton OF land rock, which more than |
made good the continued decline ia |
river rock, The total production OF
south Carolina phosphate rock in 1904 |
was 270, sos long tons valued at $751;
BIZ. 90 compared with $3.50 long tons
valued at t7S3 1903 in 1903, distributed |
BE- follows: Land rock, 25S,6O6 long |
tons, valued At ts30.ll7, as compared |
with 233, $40 long tons valued St S72l,-
BOB in 1903; river rock 1900 long tons
valued at t3l, 200 in 1904. as compared
with 5000 long tons valued at S62 800
IN 1903
Tennessee showed in 1914 the largest
marketed output since the beginning |
1f the industry eleven years ago. The
prod ction Of the State for
1904 WAS b3O,57l long tons valued ct
b ,O37 81, ~ compared with 40, b8O
ong tone valued at 81 ,b4S. 587 in 1903.
The increase in average value At the
mines was 1896 a long ton In 1903 to
b "a a long ton in 1904,
Pennsylvania 10 the only other State
hat reported q production Of phos'
phate during 1901 IL reported bat To-
ong tons valued az 500.
The imports OF fertilizers during the
rear had y total value OF 81 1924 .ls9
These included 81, l27 long tons Of GU
mo valued At 49,. 702 and 1884 ,467 long
ions Of crude phosphates and other
substances used for iertiliring purposes
md valued at $50. 49,.