Gainesville daily sun. (Gainesville, Fla.) 190?-1938, 1906-01-31

T.. O. HOvey. who 10 q "oDtribn'O' TO
the annual volume II the United
States Geological Surrey on the nm
eral resources OF the country, 10 al.
thority for several interesting s'ate.
men,. concerning the phosphate in.
dustry during 1875. In all II the three
states where phosphate rock 10 mined
the production was greater in 1878 than
in len4. The increase VA more mark
I'd 10 Florida and Tennessee than in
South Carolina.
During the winter and spring ~ - 3
the weather IN Florida was unusually
favorable for mining phosphate rocA
The rainfall was less shan ~ had h-"n
for vears and the water level wA' low
~ than il had been since 1850. OSlrg
a. these conditions th" production II
high grade phosphate rock during the
apr ng and winter months was unpr@c-
-d-n,ed. Heavy 'aIns turinR the
summer and the high waters that pre-
vailed sft-rwsrd made mining difficult
and the prediction Ut the second half
the average for those months. - phS-
nIm-nsl, however. vas TIE output OF
the h'st half ~ the year that the esti.
mated total prod uctiOn from 'he mines
Ia greater for 1875 than for 1914. The
demand for high grad rock a, al
vanced prices hiss increased and the
sales Of the year have therefore been
greater than usual. Probably not less
than half Of the increased shipments
yer. made at the expense Of stock ear
ried over from 1904, with the result
that the .to"k nov on hand in Florida
and resdy FOR shipmrG. is reduced to
the lowest point reached Ia six years.
Prices during 1875 have been good,
and on accOun, Of the rapidly incrras-
ing European demand they promise to
be even better in 1873 Buyers are al
ready rnsking contracts for 1901 and
some are v~nSuring 90 look as far
ahead ~ 1875. The scarcity and in
creased tO-I Uf iAhos rOinbin. with
the greater cost Of mining 90 chesk the
response that otherwise miGht be- made
tn the greater demani and higher
prices. The prices obtained for high
grade phosphate rock during 1873
have averaged from % TO 81 cents
:oS more than .n 1874.
The valuable deposits OF hish-grAd-
phosphate rock are in the hands OF
comparatively few people. These
holders constitute strong companies
which are acting more aud more in
harmony with one another. aud may
be- expected not to- produce more rock
than 10 needed for the actual require
ments OF their trade The increase
expected in 1915 from independent
miners who may open new proper,I.s
will probably not be large enough To
sfect the general situation, since the
demand 10 increasing so much more
rapidly than th" supply
The producers Of phosphate rock in
Tennessee have shared in the general
prosperity Of the industry. The qran.
tIty Of phosphst. rock mined ami cold
in 1905 surpassed the production for
1894. IN. year which up thar time had
carried the honors for prod Iction.
The marketed production for 1874 VA
530,57l long tons. hut that for 10 y
probably exceeded $4,000 long tons.
The average price obtained for crude
rock has been higher than before, and
the outlook for tennessee phosphat. il
good.
Little change was noticed in the stu.
alton Of phosphate rock mining in
south Carolina during the .,.t year.
The prod action in 1913 showed slight
iIcEease over Ihat Of 1874