702 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



Production and Shipment of Phosphate Rock, 1900. 



Thus, there was a falling oft' of about 12 per cent, in production 

 and of 14 per cent, in shipments. The decrease in shipments was 

 confined almost wholly to the foreign trade, which fell off 24.6 per 

 cent., while domestic shipments decreased only 3.8 per cent. The 

 falling off of the foreign shipements did not occur until the season 

 was somewhat advanced; earlier shipment® were brisk; the later 

 decrease was due to a slackening demand with continued high rates 

 of ocean freight. 



Florida phosphate: High grade rock exports fell off 22.8 per cent., 

 as compared with those of 1S99; pebble phosphate exports, 37 per 

 cent. On the other hand, the cost of production increased in all im- 

 portant items. The price of high grade rock (77 to 80 per cent, 

 bone phosphate), f. o. b. Fernandina, January, 1900, was $9.50 to 

 $10.00, weakening in the following months to $7.50 to $8.50 and 

 closing in October at $7.50 to $8.00. The outside prices in 1899 

 were $8.50 to $11.00, showing a decrease of at least $1 per ton dur- 

 ing 1900. Land pebbles (08 to 73 per cent, bone phosphate), held 

 at $4.35 per long ton f. o. b. Fernandina. 



The export trade in Peace River rock or pebble phosphate fell off 

 heavily, but domestic trade was regular, prices f. o. b. Fernandina for 

 58 to 63 per cent, bone phosphate grade, were: In January, 1900, 

 $4.50; March, |3 to $4; April, $3 to $3.50, which prices held to the 

 end of the year, as the product was under contract. During 1899, 

 the rock sold as high as .$4.50 per ton. During January of the pres- 

 ent year, prices fell for hard rock from $7.50-$8.00 to $6.50-$7.00; 

 for land pebble from $4.35 to $3.85-$4.00; for Peace River pebble 

 from $3.00-$3.50 to $2.50-$2.75, and held at those prices up to 

 March 1st. 



Tennessee phosphates: Demand wae good, but less active than 

 in 1899, prices were more satisfactory because of an understanding 

 between operators. Export rock sold during the year at $2.85 to 



