TJie Phosphates of America. 141 



we attribute them, as we have already suggested, to the faulty 

 methods of sampling at either or both ends, and to the lack of a 

 uniform method by which all chemists should agree to work? The 

 first four factors perhaps require to be counted with, but there 

 is no doubt in our minds that the two last are the real causes 

 of the trouble, and we have long endeavored to bring about an 

 agreement that would go far in causing them to diminish or dis- 

 appear. If chemists were not human, or if they were entirely 

 superior to petty prejudices, an entente cordiale might not be very 

 difficult. Unfortunately, however, every individual is prone to 

 regard his own work as irreproachable, and from that very fact to 

 look upon any outside suggestions of modification as presumptuous 

 and unnecessary. In a former chapter we pointed out the advi- 

 sability of chemists coming together and arriving at a definite 

 understanding, but if all hope of this is to be finally abandoned as 

 impracticable, there is still one way open by which to establish 

 and enforce a method that shall alone be used in the settlement 

 of phosphate aifairs. The mine-owners must act in unison and 

 fix their own basis for sampling, analyzing and valuation. 



There is no reason why the interests of the manufacturer 

 should differ from those of the producer. If phosphate of lime in 

 the required form be worth a certain price per unit, why should a 

 door be left open to chicanery when the time comes to pay for it ? 

 Why should there be any material difference between the shippers' 

 and the buyers' samples, if both are faithfully taken according to 

 prescribed rules and with a proper regard for the true interests of 

 each party to the contract ? 



Whatever method of analysis be chosen, it must be accom- 

 panied by complete details of laboratory manipulation. The observ- 

 ance of these details should be insisted upon, and must be com- 

 municated to all the various chemical and industrial societies in 

 order that they may be expeditiously and officially brought before 

 analytical chemists all over the world. All contracts between 

 miners and manufacturers should contain a special clause specify- 

 ing that 



"The phosphate sold under this contract shall be paid for at 



the rate of per unit and per ton of phosphate of lime, and 



shall not contain more than a maximum of per cent, of iron 



and alumina, calculated as oxides, on the dry basis. Every unit of 

 these oxides, singly or combined, in excess of the maximum, shall 

 be deemed to neutralize two units of the phosphate of lime, and 



