104 The Phosphates of America. 



From these figures it will appear that the average may be 

 safely taken at forty-six per cent, of sulphur, and of this amount, a 

 varied experience has demonstrated that at least six per cent, are 

 generally unavailable and should therefore be regarded as loss. 



The prices of raw material given in the following table are in- 

 tended to cover all costs of delivery to works in readily accessible 

 shipping ports, and are based, not upon the high values now pre- 

 vailing for brimstone and communicated to it by speculation, but 

 upon the average prices which have prevailed during the past five 

 years. 



In the pyrites estimate, considerable additions have been made 

 to the items of nitre and labor, and it has been considered wise in 

 both cases to write off the whole value represented by the works 

 in ten years, experience of this system in practice having proved 

 highly satisfactory. 



Despite sundry drawbacks the balance of advantage is un- 

 equivocally shown to be on the side of the pyrites, even when 

 utilized at centres so far distant from the sources of production as 

 to entail a very heavy freight. 



TABLE OF COMPARISON SHOWING THE ACTUAL COST OF PRODUCING ONE 

 TON OF 52 BEAUME SULPHURIC ACID FROM BRIMSTONE AND PYRITES 

 IN ACCESSIBLE SHIPPING PORTS. 



Brimstone (short tons). 



1 ton of brimstone (98 per cent. S.) thirds, at $21 $21.00 



50 Ibs. of nitrate of soda, at 2- cents per Ib 1 .25 



500 Ibs. coals, at, say, $4 per ton 1 .00 



Workmen's wages 2 . 25 



Superintendence and management 2 . 00 



General jobbing repairs 50 



Interest on capital of $75,000 at 10 % per year, the works be- 

 ing calculated to produce 20 tons daily and to last for 



ten years 4.60 



Total ., . $32.60 



Product equals 4^ tons of 52 B. Cost per ton $7 . 65 



Pyrites (short tons). 



2| tons of iron pyrites at 46 per cent, sulphur, at 12 cents 



per unit and per ton $13.80 



60 Ibs. nitrate of soda, at 2 cents per Ib 1 .50 



500 Ibs. of coals, at, say, $4 per ton 1 .00 



Workmen's wages 3.00 



