Mining Of Phosphates

The Florida phosphate deposita are of great importance, yet their existence was discovered so recently and their extent is stil] so tinceríain that few persons nofc engaged in the sulü of fertiliziiig materials have mcch knowledge of the large iudustry whicb has sprung up in the Peninsular State. It has practically created a new city - Ocala - which had a popnlation of bnt a few hundred in 1870, but is now a thriving business center with modern nnprovements, banking facilities and ampie railway and transportation facilities. Engineering, the leading engineering journal of the world, makns the following statements concerning the región, which are of considerable interest as coming from an unbiased source: "There is no phosphate región in the wcrld known today that possesses so many advantpges for successful mining as the Floriaa deposits. The grade of material is the highest average that is beingworked anywhere. The facilities for moving the producís to points for distribution are good. The average distance froni mines to ports for shipments is about 150 miles. "The distributing stations for the hard rock district are Port Tampa, Fernandina, Bruuswick and Savaunah, the largest tounage being moved from Fernandina, where storage bins are located aud loading facilities are good. Port Tampa, the terminus of the Plant system of railroads, is constantly adding facilities for prompt handling of cargoes of phosphate and at present very nearly equals Fernandina in the amount of its shipments. Railroad are numerous and cheaply constructed when necessary to extend them into new sections. The machinery needed to mine and prepare the material is simple and inexpensive compared with that generally used in other mining operations, and the cost of a plant with sufficient land to work upon is within the reach of small investors. The working days at the mines are about 280 during the year. The climate is healthful, laboréis readily obtained at a fair corupensation, and ski lied operatives are at hand who are becoming familiar with the business. "The mining camps are generally veell regulated, and proprietors and employees can reside at the mines with safety and with little inconvenience, as supplies of all kinds can be readily obtained at the towns located in the near vicinity of all the large mining fields. Telegraph and mail facilities are withiu easy access of nearly every mining camp in the state. Florida phosphates are mostly shipped to European ports and are manufactured into fertilizers in England, Ireland, Germany, France, and qnite recently shipments have been made to the Sandwich Islands. Foreign agents of consumers and dealers in phosphates have their offices near the center I of production, and contracts for delivery and prices are commonly fixed at points of shipment, the material being sold at a price per unit of its contenta of phosphate of lime. The Florida phosphates are all used in the manufacture of commercial fertilizers and phate. "-