The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1906-01-26
PEBBLE PHOSPHATE.
Review ct the Existing Conditions
and Future Outlook in the Flor
ida Land Pebble Industry.

In viewing the conditions of the
Florida land pebble market, we find,
that during the last quarter of 1905,
there has been a marked advance in
the prices obtained for the product,
and with the close of the year the de-
mand is constant and steady, sales
being readily made at figures decided
ly better than have been obtained DUR
ing the past eighteen months.
The outlook for 1905, from the min
ers' standpoint is certainly very en-
couraging, the demand of rock being
active, with every indication that
! this condition will continue with a con-
sequent in prices.
The opening of the year will find the
most of the producers with practi-
cally no stock on hand, and in cases
where there is an apparent accumula-
ton in storage this is only due to the
fact that during the past few months
the railroad has been very slow in
moving rock to interior points on ac-
count of inadequate car supply, and
shippers have been unable to supply
their customers with the regular
monthly allowance set aside for the
business.
a careful review of the conditions
existing. both in the field of consump-
ton and in the field of production, will
reveal the following facts, on which it
is safe to base an oponion as to the
future outlook.
The demand of this class of phos-
phate is undoubtedly increasing; sales
are now constantly being made to con-
sumers who have heretofore used only
Tennessee rock, and have always
looked to that field for their supply of
crude material Tennessee domestic
rock is now largely being consumed by
factories located near the base of sup
ments to more distant points, and
making it necessary for consumers in
certain portions of the cotton states,
who have always relied on this as
their base of supply, to turn to Flor
ida pebble to supply their wants.
Where the use of Florida pebble is
once established, it is safe to say that
it will always hold it's own, it's super
iOrity for the manufacture of super
phosphatcs is unquestionable, and the
manufacturer who has once used it
will continue to do so as long as it
can be obtained at fairly reasonable
figure.
There is no reason to predict any
decrease in the consumption of the
phosphates in the territory which has
for the past few years been supplied
entirely with the Florida product. In
fact the indications, if anything, point
to an increase, due to the more pros
porous condition of the farmers and
more modern methods of conducting
farming operations.
The export business will undoubted-
ly continue on a par with what has
heretofore existed. AS the quality OF
the rock for the export trade is limit
ed. The producers of this grade of
material have found no difficulty in
placing their entire outputs at pro-
fltabla prices.
In the field of production there is
no indication Of an immediate in
crease over the output of last year.
In fact some Of the largest producers
VIII unquestionably fall short Of their
estimated tonnage. In certain instan-
ces the deposits recently opened have
not come up to the expectations, and
it Will take considerable time 10 open
up new pits and bring the output up
to the basis on which sales were made
for the coming year. Mines which
the past year will be working on con-
siderabIy reduced outputs in 1905;
both on account of heavy overburden
and physical conditions which will
tend to make mining difficult and
slow
At present there is no construction
or development work in progress
which will in any way materially in
crease the output during 1906; there
are rumors of new plants shortly go
ing up. and even should these rumors
prove true these plants could hardly
be placerd on producing basis before
the close of 1906.
With these facts in hand it is safe
to predict that the present prevailing
prices will undoubtedly hold their own
and with the constant demand for
producers who have not already plac-
ed their entire output for 1906 and ear
~ 1907 deliveries, viii unquestionably
obtain even better prices for their