ORIGIN OF THE HARD ROCK PHOSPHATES. 
41 
rock before the analysis by the Census Bureau is not known. 
However, soon after the analyses had been made, and as a result 
probably of these analyses, Dr. Simmons began operating a mill 
in which this rock was ground for agricultural purposes. These 
operations which were carried on during 1883 and 1884 (Mineral 
Resources for 1885), were undoubtedly the earliest attempts at 
mining and utilizing the phosphate rock of Florida. 
In 1881 Captain J. Francis LeBaron, while engaged by the 
government in making a preliminary survey for a proposed ship 
canal from the head waters of the St. Johns River to Charlotte 
Harbor, became interested in the water-worn pebbles and frag¬ 
ments of bones in the bed of Peace River. Samples of this 
material were sent to the Smithsonian Institution. Captain 
LeBaron obtained leave of absence from the Engineering Depart¬ 
ment in 1882 and 1883, with a view to interesting capital in the 
development of the phosphate. Finding many difficulties in 
developing this new industry, he subsequently accepted employ¬ 
ment in connection with the proposed Nicaragua Ship Canal. 
(Letter of May 23, 1911.) Returning in 1886, Captain LeBaron 
made further efforts to interest capital in the development of the 
phosphate but without success. 
During the early eighties, due probably to these and to other 
discoveries, interest became very active in the Florida phosphate, 
and new localities for the phosphate rock were reported in rapid 
succession. The volume on mineral industry by the United States 
Geological Survey for 1882, published in 1883, contains, page 523, 
reference to phosphatic marls occurring in Florida, in Clay, 
Alachua, Wakulla, Duval and Gadsden Counties. The volume 
for 1883 and 1884, page 793, reports that phosphate rock has been 
found in Florida, in Clay, Alachua, Duval, Gadsden and Wakulla 
Counties. In 1884 and during the early part of 1885 L. C. John¬ 
son made for the United States Geological Survey a somewhat 
careful examination of the phosphate deposits in Suwannee, 
Columbia, Alachua and Marion Counties. That the existence of 
phosphate rock in Florida was generally known at that time is 
evident from the fact that Johnson, from his own investigation 
and from samples sent to him, and from popular report as to tne 
