140 



The Phosphates of America. 



reputable chemists. Two of these were in New York and two in 

 London, and the following were the results of their work: 



These figures were, of course, unsatisfactory in themselves, but 

 they made it clear that the greatest error had been made, in the 

 first instance, by the shippers' chemist, and it was consequently 

 arranged that the cargo should be paid for on the averages of the 

 three English chemists, which were : 



Phosphate of lime , 77 per cent. 



Oxides of iron and alumina 5 " 



The original invoices had been made out by the shippers on the 

 basis of their own analysis at the price of $19.25 per ton, but the 

 final settlement stood thus : 



Oxides of iron and alumina found by analysis 5 per cent. 



" " " allowed by contract 3 



" " " to be paid for by sellers . 2 " 



1 : 1,13 : : 2 : 2.26 phosphoric anhydride. 



The factor for converting phosphoric anhydride (P 2 O 5 ) into 

 phosphate of lime is 2.18 consequently 2.26 X 2.18 = 4.92 phos- 

 phate of lime. 



SETTLEMENT OF INVOICE. 



Phosphate of lime found by analysis 77 per cent. 



Deduct the equivalent of two per cent, iron and 



alumina as above. . 4.92 " 



Total phosphate to be paid for at 25 c. per unit. . . 72.08 " 

 Value of the phosphate per ton, $18. 



The difference between the amount of the original invoice and 

 that of the settlement was therefore $1250. 



How are we to account for these divergencies ? Must they be put 

 down to carelessness, incapacity, inexperience, bad faith, or must 



