Florida, South Carolina and Canadian Phosphates, etc

Front matter

Advertisement. The 'Phosphate Fields of Florida, A PAMPHLET BY C. C. HOYER MILLAR. Published January, 1891, BY EDEN FISHER & CO., LOMBARD STREET, LONDON OPINIONS OF THE PRESS. Financial Critic. — " Under the above title Mr. C. C. Hoyer Millar gives a well compiled account of his recent travels and explorations in Florida, which should be most interesting reading to those interested in phosphates." Agricultural Gazette. — " The pamphlet gives an account of Mr. Millar's recent travels and explorations in Florida, and has all the merits of first-hand information on a topic of growing importance." Financial Times. — " The author of this pamphlet describes the immense phosphate fields that were discovered in South Florida by Mr. Le Baron a few years back. Comparing these with the deposits of Northern France, Belgium and Germany, Mr. Millar arrives at the conclusion that the Florida fields are unrivalled both in extent and value, although they vary more than any others in thickness and quality."

Capitalist. — " Mr. C. C. Hoyer Millar has visited the district of the Peace River in South Florida, and Marion County, and made explorations over Polk and De Soto Counties. . . . and proceeds to Advertisement. describe the character of the deposits, the methods of raising the same. the yield per acre and the cost. . . . and discusses the application of capital in this direction. Mr. Millar's pamphlet is full of information." Financial News. — "From a pamphlet on the subject by Mr. C. C. Hoyer Millar ... it seems unquestionable that this portion of the United States is very rich in phosphates, but, as in every other kind of business, success depends upon the price paid for the property and in the cost involved in getting the product to market." Financial World. — "Mr. Hoyer Millar's brochure is a valuable contribution to the very limited stock of knowledge possessed by the majority of Englishmen on the subject of the Florida Phosphate Fields.

Not many are aware that comparatively recently Americans went mad over ' phosphates,' and that a ' boom ' set in with regard to Florida, only paralleled by the gold boom of California. Naturally the thing was over done, and while there are the makings of a most lucrative industry in the phosphate fields, many lost their money in wild speculation. Worthless estates were bought at fabulous prices, and sold afterwards for next to nothing, and the reaction, of course, damaged the prospects of legitimate enterprise incalculably. To the geologist the State of Florida is intensely interesting, and Mr. Hoyer Millar deals with the origin and cause of the vast deposits of phosphate of lime which exist in certain parts of the estate in a very intelligent manner. But that which is of the greatest moment is the commercial value of the deposits, and the facility for working them.

Preface

. A LTHOUGH there is an abundance of literature upon the subject of the geological formation and chemical analysis of the various phosphates which have hitherto been discovered, yet it appears to me that the practical, though possibly sordid, side of the question has been rather neglected. Since, however, the phosphate mining industry is being carried on with the primary intention and hope of obtaining satisfactory returns from a pecuniary rather than a scientific point of view, I have ventured to give in the following pages an account, from a practical standpoint, of my personal investigations during the past few years in the phosphate fields of Florida, South Carolina and Canada. This book is therefore addressed to those who are commercially interested in phosphates, and should it be the means of giving them fuller information than they would be likely to gather elsewhere, then my efforts will be amply rewarded.

C. C. HOYER MILLAR. i, Fenchurch Avenue, London, E.C. February 2%th, 1892. INDEX Chapter I.— INTRODUCTORY. Page Introduction .. .. .. .. .. .. .. u Importance of Phosphoric Acid .. .. .. .. 14 Sources of Supply of Phosphoric Acid .. .. .. 15 The Phosphate Mining Industry ' .. 16 Classification of Mineral Phosphates .. .. .. 21 Chapter II.— FLORIDA PHOSPHATES. Their Discovery .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 23 Description of Florida .. .. .. .. .. 26 The Pebble Deposits .. .. .. .. .. .. 28 Description of the Phosphate Pebbles .. .. .. 32 Analysis of the Land Pebbles .. .. .. .. 35 River Pebbles 36 Formation of the Various Pebble Deposits . . . . 37 PEACE RIVER PHOSPHATE MINING 39 Names of Companies in Operation on Peace River . . 47 Alafia River Phosphate Mining .. .. .. .. 49 Manatee, Myakka and Caloosahatchie Rivers.. .. 50 Black River Phosphate 50 Shipments of River Phosphate .. .. .. .. 51 Price of River Lands .. .. .. .. .. .. 51 Duty on River Phosphate Mining .. .. .. .. 52 Cost of Mining River Pebble and Comparison of the Phosphate Industries of the Florida Rivers and the South Carolina Rivers .. .. .. 58 LAND PEBBLE MINING 59 Area Available for Successful Land Pebble Mining 68 Cost of Production of Land Pebble Phosphate . . 69 List of Land Pebble Companies .. .. .. .. 69 The Future of the Pebble Mining Industry .. .. 70 THE ROCK DEPOSITS 72 Description of the Rock Phosphate Index.

VIII Pagf.. Chapter II.— FLORIDA PHOSPHATES— (Continued) ROCK MINING 7s Analysis of Rock Phosphate . . . . . • • • ■ • 88 Analysis of Cargo from Dunnellon District .. 89 „ ,, of Rock Phosphate .. .. .. 90 Cost of Production of Rock Phosphate 91 GRAVEL ROCK MINING 93 Analysis of Gravel Rock . . . . . . . . . . 96 Influence of Florida Phosphates on the Market . . 98 Market Price of Florida High-Grade Rock in 1891 .. 106 Shipments of Hard Rock Phosphate 107 The Labour Question in Florida . . . . . . . . 109 Florida Phosphate Mining as an Investment .. .. no Origin of Florida Phosphates .. .. .. .. 115 Fertiliser Manufacturing in Florida .. .. .. 118 Effects of the Phosphate Industry on Florida .. 119 Chapter III.— SOUTH CAROLINA PHOSPHATES. The Marl Beds .. .. .. .. .. .. 123 Discovery of the Phosphate Rocks .. .. .. 125 Commencement of Mining Operations and First Shipments .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 130 Description of the Phosphate Rocks or Nodules . . 132 Analysis .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 134 Origin of the Phosphate Rocks .. .. .. .. 136 Location and Extent of the Deposits . . . . . . 143 Land Phosphate : Description of Stratum and Yield per Acre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146 METHOD OF RAISING AND PREPARING THE LAND PHOSPHATE 148 Progress of the Land Rock Mining Industry . . . . 151 Cost of Production of Land Rock .. .. .. .. 154 Prices obtained for Land Rock . . . . . . . . 154 Quantities of Land Rock still Available . . . . 156 RIVER PHOSPHATE MINING i56 Cost of Mining River Rcck .. .. .. .. ..

Index. IX Page Chapter III.— SOUTH CAROLINA PHOSPHATES— (Continued). Prices Obtained for River Rock .. .. .. .. 171 Shipping Facilities for Loading River Rock .. .. 171 Quantities Raised of Land and River Phosphate . . 172 The South Carolina Fertiliser Manufacturing Industry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173 Profits of the South Carolina Phosphate Industry . . 176 Future of the South Carolina Phosphate Industry.. 177 Chapter IV.— CANADIAN PHOSPHATES. Geological Formation .. .. .. .. .. .. 179 Description of the Mining Operations .. .. .. 1S4 Analysis of Canadian Apatite .. .. .. .. 199 Preparation of the Ore .. .. .. .. .. 201 Transport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205 List of Companies Operating in 1891 .. .. .. 208 Cost of Production . . . . . . . . . . . . 208 Shipments of Canadian Phosphate .. .. .. .. 212 Prices of Phosphate Lands .. .. .. .. .. 212 Present Position and Future of the Canadian Phosphate Industry 215 Appendix.— ANALYSIS OF VARIOUS PHOSPHATES.

English Phosphates .. .. .. 219 Spanish Phosphates .. .. •■ 219 Algerian Phosphates . . . . . . . . . . . . 220 French Phosphates 220 Somme (Frenchj Phosphates 221 Belgian Phosphates .. 221 German Phosphates and Norwegian Apatite . . . . 222 West Indian Islands 222 Guano .. .. ■• ■•

Introduction

. The tissues of every kind of vegetation are composed of a number of elements derived from the air, from water and from the soil. Those elements, therefore, of which the earth is deprived by agriculture, and which are not replaced by the action of air and water, have to be restored artificially if the life-supporting powers of the soil are to be kept in operation. Chief among these elements are nitrogen, potassium and phos phorus, the last-named being the most indispensable for the development of all plant and vegetable life. Phosphorus is one of the most universally distributed of all elements ; it is found in every kind of animal and vegetable matter, as well as in most sedimentary and eruptive rocks, and existed previously to the dawn of life. Introductory. 12 The necessity of re-stimulating an exhausted soil was discovered in very ancient times, but it is only during the present century that any real knowledge of cause and effect was acquired.

History shows that the excrement of birds was in use among the Romans, and that in the 12th century the Arabians and Peruvians used the guanos of their respective countries for fertilising purposes. The waste clippings of bone and ivory from the button and knife factories of Sheffield (England) were utilised as a manure by the neighbouring farmers about the middle of last century, and this was probably the first occasion when any non-nitrogenous phosphatic material was thus employed. Towards the end ofthe century greensand was used in considerable quantities in the counties of Essex and Kent, and in the early part ofthe present century bones were so greatly in demand for application to the soil in a crushed form, that large imports were made from foreign countries in addition to the home collections.

About this same period the marl beds of New Jersey, U.S.A., were beginning to be exploited, and their contents used for enriching the agricultural lands of that State. In France spent animal charcoal (bone black) began to be used as a manure in 1822, and the results were so satisfactory that its employment for agricultural purposes soon made rapid strides. Introductory. 13 All this time the real cause of the stimulating effect of these various materials seems to have remained unknown, although the results were thoroughly recognised and appreciated. It was apparently the French agricultural scientists who were the first to attribute to the phosphoric acid contained in the spent animal charcoal the beneficial effects resulting from the application of this material to the soil, and suggestions were made that the phosphates, discovered by Monsieur Berthier and others about the year 1820, should be mixed with the animal charcoal and crushed bones, and in 1841 a patent was taken out for the application of phosphates for agricultural purposes.

In the year 1 840 Dr. Justus von Liebig, of Germany, who based his experiments on the researches of his predecessors, suggested the addition of sulphuric acid to crushed bones in order to render soluble the phosphate they contained. The phosphate of lime in bones had hitherto been considered useless owing to its being insoluble, and the fertilising element was thought to be in the gelatine matter ; in fact it was not until the Duke of Richmond proved by his experiments in the year 1843, that bones deprived of their grease and gelatinous matter were equally as efficacious as fresh bones, that the phosphoric acid was recognised as being the valuable fertilising element. Meanwhile Mr. J. B. Lawes (now Sir J. B. Lawes) put Dr. Liebig's suggestions into practical effect, and began the manufacture of artificial manures at Deptford, London, by Introductory. 14 mixing sulphuric acid with the crushed bones.

Soon afterwards (1845) Professor Henslow recommended Cambridge coprolites* (the analysis of which had been published by Monsieur Berthier, about the year 1820) as being a material rich enough in phosphate of lime to be a suitable substitute for bones, and the various bone-crushing factories were quickly converted into chemical fertiliser and superphosphate manufactories. IMPORTANCE OF PHOSPHORIC ACID. In order to show the great importance of phosphoric acid in relation to agriculture it may be mentioned that one year's crop in France — according to Monsieur Grandeau's recent estimation — removes from the soil about 300,000 tons of phosphoric acid, of which about one-half only is restored in the shape of stable manure. In like manner it is estimated that the crop of wheat, maize, oats, barley, rye, buckwheat, hay and straw in the United States means an annual loss to the soil of nearly one and a-half million tons of phosphoric acid.

Further it has been shown that for every cow kept on pasture lands throughout the summer, there are carried off not less than 50 pounds of phosphate of lime in the shape of veal, cheese and butter. •Note. — Professor Henslow named these . nodules "coprolites," thinking that they were of coprolitic origin, like the nodules found in the Lias formation. He soon discovered his error, but the name (which is most misleading, since real coprolites are of very rare occurrence) has never been altered. Introductory. 15 These few instances are sufficiently striking to show the enormous annual loss of phosphoric acid that is going on in all agricultural districts, and to prove the necessity for restoring to the soil what is being thus carried off. SOURCES OF SUPPLY OF PHOSPHORIC ACID. By a curious coincidence the discoveries of Dr. Liebig were published in the same year that the first few barrels of Peruvian guano were imported into England.

This new fertiliser, which contained nitrogen in addition to phosphate, became at •once so popular with the farmers that in the year 1845 the imports amounted to 283,000 tons, and by the year 1861 no less than 3,200,000 tons had been imported into the United Kingdom. The success of this guano resulted in the discovery of other guano deposits in the Pacific, on the east coast of South America, in the West Indies, in South Africa and in the Arabian Gulf. Of these only the Ichaboe, Patagonian and Falkland guanos were nitrogenous, the other deposits being purely phosphatic. Of the many guano deposits discovered nearly all have been exhausted, and at the present date the supply of this material is but small. Bones, bone ash and bone meal continue to be a source of supply of phosphoric acid, but the quantities available form but a small proportion of the amount of phosphoric acid required annually.

Introductory . 16 The use of mineral phosphates* on the other hand has shown an enormous expansion since the early days when its manufacture was first begun, and deposits have been worked from time to time in the following countries : — Norway, Russia, Germany, England, Belgium, France, Spain, Algeria, Canada, United States (South Carolina and Florida), and many of the West Indian Islands, and also in Mexico and Brazil. In addition to the above a fresh source of supply of phos phoric acid in the shape of ground basic slag was introduced into the European market about six years ago, and this material has given such satisfactory results that the annual consumption exceeds six hundred thousand tons. These are the most important sources whence phosphoric acid is obtained, but there are also various waste and other products which supply smaller quantities.

THE PHOSPHATE MINING INDUSTRY. Although Cambridge coprolites began to be worked as early as the year 1845, and used for the manufacture of chemical fertilisers, yet it was not till about the year 1870 that the phosphate mining industry began to assume any regularity or importance. •Note.— The term "mineral phosphates " is used in the commercial sense, as contrasted with organic phosphates, such as bones, bone ash and soluble guanos. Introductory. 17 This was doubtless owing to the immense supplies of guanos which were shipped in large quantities up to the year 1870,* soon after which date the best deposits became exhausted. In the meantime the supplies of Cambridge coprolites had been supplemented by the working of similar beds in Suffolk and Bedfordshire. In France the phosphates at Grandpre, in the Ardennes, began to be exploited in 1856, and applied to the soil in a ground state.

Further discoveries were made at Quercy, in the department of Lot, in 1865, followed by the working in 1870 of the deposits of Lot-et-Garonne, Tarn-et-Garonne and Aveyron, known commercially as Bordeaux phosphates. A few years later the Boulogne coprolite deposits began to be exploited and shipments made to the United Kingdom. In Spain, phosphate mining commenced on a small scale at Logrosan, in the province of Estramadura, about the year 1853, followed by mining near Caceres in 1860, where an output averaging 10,000 tons per annum was made up to 1875 from one mine alone. In Norway, phosphates were discovered at Krageroe in 1854, and mining carried on for five years, during which time 13,000 tons were extracted and shipped. The Oedegarden deposits were not worked until after 1874. •Note. — 10,000,000 tons had been exported from the Chincha Islands alone Introductory. 18 In Germany, the Nassau phosphate deposits were dis covered in 1864 ; mining was at once commenced, and the phosphate exported, and also manufactured locally.

Owing to the competition from other countries in recent years, and the high percentage of iron and alumina contained in these Lahn phosphates, their export ceased some years ago, and the whole production is now manufactured locally. From 20,000 to 30,000 tons are raised annually. Phosphate deposits had also been opened in these years on some of the West Indian Islands, the most important sources being Navassa and Sombrero* Islands, from which places considerable quantities were shipped both to the United States and the United Kingdom. In 1867 the South Carolina deposits began to be worked, and in four years' time the annual production of land and river rock had reached 65,000 tons. The next ten years showed a great advance in the production of phosphates. Belgium entered the arena in 1873 with phosphates from the neighbourhood of Mons, and France began to supply larger quantities, 20,000 tons per annum being exported from the Bordeaux district alone.

In 1875 the Ardennes and Meuse productions reached the figures of 2^,000 and 41,000 tons respectively. In 1877, France produced a total quantity of 115,000 tons. •Note.— The island of Sombrero has been worked for over 30 years, and has produced a total quantity of 500,000 tons of uniformly high-grade phosphate. Introductory. 19 In the West Indies the Islands of Curacao and Aruba were now supplementing the output of high-testing phosphates, and the shipments from these sources in 1880 amounted to over 10,000 tons. Spain was now producing and exporting larger quantities, 33,000 tons being shipped to the United Kingdom in 1874, 11,000 tons in 1879 and 23,000 tons in 1880. The world's production of phosphates in 1880 appears to have been about as follows : — Tons. England (Cambridge, Bedford and Suffolk coprolites) 30,000 France (Ardennes, Meuse, Lot, Tarn-et-Garonne, Aveyron, Boulogne, &c.) .. .. .. .. 125,000 Belgium (Mons District! . . . . . . . . . . 15,000 Spain (Estramadura) . . . . . . . . . . 40,000 Germany (Lahn District) . . . . . . . . . . 25,000 Norway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5,000 Canada . . . . . . ..''.. . . . . . . 7,5°o South Carolina (Land Rock) .. .. .. .. 125,000 Do.

(River Rock) . . . . . . . . 62,000 Curavao, Aruba, and Sombrero Islands . . . . . . 10,000 Other West Indian Islands, Navassa, &c. . . . . 25,000 Other Countries . . . . . . . . . . . . 30,000 500,000 In the next ten years the sources of supply altered very considerably. Spain, which in the years 1882 and 1883 shipped a quantity of 100,000 tons to the United Kingdom alone, has now practically ceased to export. In France the old sources of supply for export have been replaced by the newer fields in the Somme and other northern departments. Introductory. 20 Belgium has assumed an important place in the market, about 1 50,000 tons per annum being raised in the neighbourhood of Mons, while fresh deposits of large extent have recently been discovered and worked near Liege. The South Carolina deposits have been developed to an enormous extent, consequent on the expansion of the chemical fertiliser manufacturing industry in the United States, and a new field has begun to be exploited in Florida.

In 1890 the production of phosphates had reached the following figures : — Tons. England (Coprolites) . . . . . . . . about 20,000 France (Somme Deposits) .. .. .. .. ,, 170,000 Do. (Other Deposits) .. .. .. .. ,, 200,000 Belgium (Mons District) .. .. .. .. ,, 150,000 Do. (Liege District) .. .. .. .. ,, 50,000 Germany .. .. .. ,, 30,000 Norway .. .. .. ,, 10,000 Canada , 26,000 South Carolina (Land Deposits) .. .. .. ,, 300,000 Do. (River Deposits) . . . . . . ,, 237,000 Florida 40,000 West Indian Islands.. .. .. .. .. ,, 50,000 Other Sources .. .. .. .. .. ,, 20,000 1,303,000 This rapid development is most remarkable, and clearly shows a great future for the phosphate mining industry. Agriculture and the demand for phosphoric acid areindissolubly connected, and with the gradual though certain exhaustion of the earth's soil there must be an ever increasing demand for phosphoric acid to be replaced therein.

It has been stated on good Introductory. 21 authority that the United States are only using one quarter of the quantity of fertilisers which should be employed to keep pace with the annual extraction of the fertilising elements from the soil. In Europe the manufacture and use of fertilisers in countries, which a few years ago were content to do without them, is making rapid strides. In fact the recognition ofthe importance of phosphoric acid is apparent on all sides. It seems safe therefore to assert that the phosphate mining industry is still in its infancy, and that its future growth and development are an absolute certainty. CLASSIFICATION OF MINERAL PHOSPHATES. No exact geological classification of the various deposits of phosphate has yet been made owing to the great difficulty of deciding definitely to which formation certain deposits really belong, for not only does the phosphate itself assume a great variety of forms, but the sundry varieties also blend into one another in a most perplexing manner.

The ordinary classification is a non-geological one, and divides phosphates into mineral phosphates, whose origin cannot be traced to animal life, and rock phosphates (more or less mineralised) of organic origin. Introductory. 22 The only pure mineral phosphates are the apatite deposits of Norway and Canada, and the apatites of Spain found in limited quantities at Jumilla, Zarza la Mayor and Ceclavin. All these phosphates are crystalline in form. The deposits of Nassau (Germany), Lot-et-Garonne, Tarn et-Garonne and Aveyron (south-west of France), Logrosan and Caceres (Spain) are usually placed under the division of mineral phosphates, arid termed "phosphorite," an arbitrary name which has no practical significance. There is much dispute as to the origin of these phosphates, but most of the scientists attribute to them an organic origin.

The term " rock phosphates " covers the rest of the field, and includes in its different varieties phosphatic limestones, coprolites, nodular phosphates, concretionary, arenaceous or sheet rock phosphates and bone beds. Having thus described the manner in which the phosphate mining industry came into existence, and given a rough outline of its development, we will now proceed to a fuller account of the phosphate deposits of Florida, South Carolina and Canada.

Chapter II. Florida Phosphates Their Discovery

The existence of phosphate deposits in Florida has been known for many years, but owing to a general belief that the quantity was limited and the quality not commercially valuable, no regular examination was commenced until the close of the year 1889. The first to discover and appreciate the true value and extent of the phosphates in South Florida was Mr. J. Francis Le Baron, of Jacksonville, who, while making a survey on behalf of the Government in the early months of the year 1 88 1, came across the bars and beds of phosphate in Peace River. He at once recognised the fact that the numerous bones and teeth, hitherto considered merely interesting curiosities, were phosphatic, and that the deposit was one of enormous value. His work at that time prevented him from taking steps towards reaping any advantage from his discovery, and it was not until December, 1886, that he was able to visit the locality again.

He then communicated with some northern capitalists, for whom he made a full report, dated January, 1887, advising the purchase of about 10,000 acres. His negotiations for acquiring the lands seem to have been protracted and finally to have proved unsuccessful, and his golden opportunity was lost, for Colonel G. W. Scott, of the G. W. Scott Manufacturing Company, Atlanta, Georgia, had in the meantime heard of the deposits, and after a careful survey, made very extensive purchases on the Peace River. In the summer of the same year Mr. T. S. Moorehead, of Pennsylvania, who had learnt from Mr. Le Baron that there was phosphate in Florida, though the secret of its location had not been mentioned to him, came south to look for the deposit, and was fortunate enough to discover and purchase the now famous bars at Arcadia.

Supported by Colonel Scott, who agreed to purchase all his output, Mr. Moorehead started actual operations on a very small scale, under the name of the Arcadia Phosphate Company, and in May, 1888, the first shipment of Florida phosphate was made, ten car-loads being dispatched to Colonel Scott's fertiliser works in Atlanta, Georgia. Shipments of phosphate were now made regularly to Colonel Scott's works, and though the railroad cars were actually labelled " Florida Peace River Phosphate for the G. W. Scott Manufacturing Company," more than twelve months elapsed before the outside world appears to have taken notice of this new industry. Following upon the steps of these developments in Southern Florida came the news in 1889 of the existence of phosphates in Marion County. It was in May of that year that Mr. Albertus Voght, while sinking a well near Dunnellon, noticed some rock which aroused his curiosity, and which upon analysis proved to be high-grade phosphate.

This fact transpired in the autumn of that year, and led to an epidemic of prospecting, the results of which were so surprising that in a very short space of time an excitement and fever set in, which have not been parallelled since the Pacific Coast gold craze of some forty years ago. Every train was crowded with prospecting parties armed with spades and with shovels, with chemicals and with camping-out apparatus. The backwoods were dotted with numerous camps ; diggers were hired at fancy prices, and the lucky owners of vehicles and animals of any kind found their exorbitant demands readily agreed to. Men who had been trying in vain to get rid of their lands at any price suddenly found themselves independent for life ; where single dollars had been eagerly sought, fifties were now refused, and hundreds readily offered and paid.

Speculators invaded every town : lands were bought up right and left regardless of prices, resold again at still higher prices, until the newspapers seriously stated that Florida was richer than the whole of the rest of the United States put together. A few head-lines from leading newspapers may be mentioned to show the state of the public pulse, "the entire gulf a rich phosphate bed" ; "millions on millions in it"; "an acre worth from $50,000 to $12,000,000"; "a gigantic bonanza"; "wastelands will blossom as the rose"; "millions of money in South Florida lands"; "Marion, Citrus, and Hernando Counties to become a veritable El Dorado." DESCRIPTION OF FLORIDA. The popular idea that Florida was a flat country composed of alternate areas of deep sand-banks and impassable swamps seems to have prevailed even in Washington, for the Geological Survey of the U.S.A., which has done such thorough and valuable work in other States, omitted Florida entirely from the scope of their investigations.

Consequently there is a great void of scientific data upon the geology of the State, and the only available information to be found is contained in the short treatises of Le Conte and Agassiz, a summary of which with additional notes appeared in an article by Professor Eugene A. Smith, published in 1881, in Vol. XXI. of the American fournal of Science. The unexpected discovery of phosphates has led to the commencement of a topographical survey by the Government, to be followed by a geological survey, but the work before that department is so arduous and extensive that no results or official reports can be expected for many months to come. Speaking topographically, Florida may be described as an undulating low-lying peninsula, the highest point being feet, and the average elevation about 80 feet above the level of the sea.