The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1914-08-28
xERY OF PHOSPHATE
-ue IN FLORIDA
ssphate in Florida was first di


,4se date was July. 1889, but it was
not analysed and made known until
the latter part of August, now just
twenty-five years ago.
Colonel Adam L. Eichelberger had
discovered gypsum on his orange
grove place at Panasofkae, and Its
discovery had been taken up by the
local press of Ocaia and great deal
was said about it. 1t was predicted
that it would be a great factor in the
development of the state.
Mr.. Albertus Vogt was digging a
we'll about that time on his place near
Dunnellon and discovered substance
which he took to be gypsum, and
brought it to Banker Joh.l F. Dunn y
this city. Mr.. Dunn had the sub
stance analysed by DR.. Rene Snowden,
who then had chemical laboratory
in this city. Instead of gypsum he
pronounced it to be phosphate, a
much more valuable substance.
Samples were sent to a ST. Louis
chemical laboratory and DR.. Snow
denis. analysis was confirmed. A
foot note was added to the analysis,
which read like the following: 'If
found in quantities this substance is
more valuable than gold"
Then Mr.. Dunn began to get busy.
OF course the discovery was kept
as secretly as possible as opt
wanted to be obtained Il. lands AMI
a greater part of our population were
in ignorance of what was going on,
About six months after it's dis
covery DIR. Snowden was interviewed
by this paper ami tie following is the
result of that interview. The inte:'
view was printed January 10th, 1850
The reporter said
Finding Dr. Snowden in his labara-
tory we asked him to give us che
general history of the phosphate dis
covery:
well" he began. sometime in July
of last year Colonel Adam l.. Eichel.
berger brought to my laboratory a
chalky looking substance that he
wished me to anylize. If you remem-
Der, it was about that time that there
was a considerable furore beng
made about the gypsum discovery
that Mr.. Eichelberger had made on
his land near Panasoffkee Lake and
as the Colonel was blowing around
a good deal about the millions there
was in it, others began to search
around for gypsum too. 1t was in
search of gypsum, then. no doubt, tuat
Mr.. Albertus Vogt picked up some of
the stuff near Dunnellon and brought
Il to Mr.. Dunn. Mr.. Dunn handed it
to Mr.. Eichelberger. and as just said,
Mr.. Eichelberger brought It 20 me.
WELL" the doctor proceeded, 81 an
analysed it. and instead of it being
gypsum, behold! it was phosphate.
That, sir, set the ball to rolling. anu
it has been rolling ever since"
What else ab"ut it, doctor?"
well, sir, | advised Mr. Dunn IL
take an option on the land, and he did
so at once. Mr.. Dunn sent me to the
point from whence came the sample
for the purpose of examining further.
This was about July 10th, and l have
been at work there more or less ever
since" 80"
what kind of work."
"Encompassing the land around
Dunnellon as far as my experimental
test authorized the options and pur
chases."
What was the nature of your test
doctor?"
Il took my laboratory out there and
prepared myself for making a thor
ough test, and having obtained sur
face samples from lands upon which
we could get an option, subjected
these to the ordinary test known t.
the chemist. OF these samples
found the phosphate parts ranged
from 60 to S1h per cent, the other
ingredients being for the most par
calcareous, or lime and flint
ITO what extent did your expert
ments warrant you in supposing the
phosphate lands existed?"
II think l would be safe in saying
the. width of the phosphate area in
that part of the state wonld range
from six to eight miles by from thirty
to forty miles in length, emo. acing
portions of both Citrus and Marion
counties"
Have you any idea as to the depth
of the phosphate bed out there?"
Eyes, sir; a shaft was sunk by the
Dunnellon Company on some of its
land, and the phosphate matter was
found to be fifteen feet below the