PRODUCTION IN THE UNITED STATES 43 



delivered. Summed up, Europe imported from the countries 

 named a total of 1,780,000 tons valued at approximately $10,375,- 

 683, of which $5,105,650, or over 50 per cent., represented cost of 

 freight. 



The domestic trade, which takes little over half the production, 

 showed some improvement in 1904, and prices ranged from $6.50 

 to $7.50 per ton for high-grade rock, f. o. b. Florida ports ; $3.75 

 to $4 for Florida land pebble ; $4 to $4.25 for Tennessee export 

 rock, f. o. b. Mount Pleasant, and $2.95 to $4 for 'the various 

 domestic grades ; $2.75 to $3.50 for South Carolina rock, f . o. b. 

 Ashley River. 



The industry in Florida is gradually coming under control of a 

 few large miners, and the affiliation of important concerns has 

 greatly lessened competition in the export trade. It is proposed 

 tc erect superphosphate plants, to utilize the large stocks of 70 

 to 77 per cent, rock in Florida. In Tennessee new capital has 

 'been invested in mining, and in South Carolina, because of the 

 decadence of the river industry, work will be begun on the 

 marsh lands on Morgan, Coosaw and Buzzard islands. 



Undoubtedly the most gratifying feature of the phosphate in- 

 dustry to-day is the gradual elimination of speculative buying, and 

 the introduction of economic management, which promises better 

 profits for the future. 



46. Later Statistics. The latest tabulated statistics relating 

 to the phosphate industry in the United States are those found 

 in the reports of the Geological Survey. The following tables 

 taken from those documents show the rate of growth and the 

 magnitude of the industry. 



47. Production in the United States. The following table gives 

 the production of phosphate rock in the United States in 1905 

 and 1906, inclusive, based on the marketed product, classified by 

 kinds or grades : 23 



n Geological Survey, Mineral Resources of the United States, 1906 : 

 1080. 



