The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1906-02-09
PHoSPHATEs
We. .her in Florida FaVorabIe-Priees
Good-Demand for High Grade
Unprecedented.

Mr.. f. o. Hovey, who - a contribu-
tor to the annual volume Of the United |
states Geological Survey on the min
eral resources Of the country, is auth
GRITTY for several interesting state
ments concerning the phosphate in
dustry during 1905. In all of the three
States where phosphate rock is min
ed the production was greater in 1905
than in 1904. The increase was more
marked in Florida and Tennessee than
in South Carolina.
During the winter and spring of
1905 the weather in Florida was un-
usually favorable for mining phos-
phate rock. The rainfall was less than
il had been for years and the water
level was lower than it had been
since 1899. Owing to these conditions
the production of high grade phos-
phate rock during the winter mad
spring months was unprecedented.
Heavy rains during the summer and
the high waters that prevailed after
ward made mining difficult, and the
production of the second half of the
year was consequently below the av-
erage for those months. So phenom-
email, however, was the output Of the
first half of the year that the estimat-
ed total production from the mines
is greater for 1905 than for 1904. The
demand for high grade rock at adj
vanced prices has increased, and the
sales of the year have therefore been
greater than usual. Probably not less
than half OF the increased shipments
were made at the expense of stock
carried over from 1904, with the re-
suit that the stock now on hand in
Florida and ready for shipment is re-
duced to the lowest point reached in
six years.
Prices during 1905 have been good.
and on account of the rapidly -increas-
ing European demand they promise to
be even better in 1906. Buyers are al
ready making contracts for 1907, and
some are venturing to look as far
ahead as 1908. The scarcity and in
creased cost of labor combine with
the greater cost of mining to check
the response that otherwise might
be made to the greater demand and
higher prices. The prices obtained
for high-grade phosphate rock during
1905 have averaged from 25 to so
cents a ton more than in 1904.
The valuable deposits of high grade
phosphate rock are in the hands of
comparatively few people. These hold
erS constitute strong companies which
are acting more and more in harmony
with one another, and may be expect
ed not to produce more rock than is
needed for the actual requirements of
their trade. The increase expected
in 1906 from independent miners who
may open new properties will prob
ably not be large enough to affect the
general situation, since the demand is
increasing so much more rapidly than
the supply.
The producers of phosphate rock in
Tennessee have shared in the general
prosperity of the industry. The guam
tity OF phosphate rock mined and sold
in 1905 surpassed the production for
1904, the year which up to that time
had carried the honors for production.
The marketed production for 1904 was
530,571 long tons. but that for 1905
probably exceeded 100000 long tons.
The average price obtained for crude
rock has been higher than before, and
the outlook for Tennessee phosphate
is good
Little change was noted in the sit
uation of phosphate-rick mining in
South Carolina during the last year.
The production in 1905 showed
slight increase over that of 1904
Manufacturers Record.