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[Page 143]
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These welded formations are frequently jumbled up together in such a remarkable way with the primaries, that an idea may be formed of the prodigious natural forces which must have been at work in these upheavals and depressions.
The numerous borings undertaken over the whole island have everywhere given the same material, to a depth of 10 to 15 feet, and in all places phosphate in the form of polished pebbles has been found lying loose upon the surface. To what depth the store of phosphate may reach is not yet determined, but the stocks indicated are so enormous that their exhaustion will not be accomplished for many generations.
As regards the exploitation of these discoveries, economic considerations, and above all the circumstance that there is in the near neighbourhood an English Island with similar phosphate conditions, have led to the union of English and German interests. First on the English Island, and for the past year upon the German Island also (about 1909) arrangements have been made for winning, drying, and shipping the phosphate. Many hundreds of natives, Chinese and Japanese are employed. Lines of railway (narrow gauge for trucks holding 1 ton each), steam and electricity furnish power, light, and drinking water. Substantial iron structures house the dried stock and carry the waggons over the edge of the reef. From these, certainly, the phosphate is lightered in small row-boats to the steamers which lie a ship's length from the reef, moored to enormous buoys.
The quality of the phosphate surpasses that of all deposits known, both as regards the high and uniform content in phosphoric acid, and also the very small admixture of iron and clay.
To make the phosphate saleable for fertilising purposes, it is, as is known, treated with sulphuric acid. With an improved and more scientific management of the ground the demand increases from year to year.
Naturally a considerable part of the shipments goes to the countries about the South Seas - Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and Honolulu; but also France, England, Belgium, Sweden, Norway, Russia and above all Germany take large quantities - the "Union" in Stettin alone, for example, 20,000 to 25,000 tons per year.
In the trade and cultivation of the little island of Nauru the Phosphate Company naturally plays an important part. In the period from 1st April 1906 to 31st March 1907 it imported building material and provisions to the value of 652,000 marks, and for the current year the exports of phosphate will reach 75,000 tons. (This must have been in 1908.) The Protectorate Treasury receives of this a tax which figures in this year's accounts as 25,000 marks. As further revenue the Administration receives 18,000 marks, as fees on the engagement of 600 newly imported Chinese coolies. The police required for the oversight of these men - one white Police Superintendent and 12 colored police soldiers - the Company has to pay. Naturally an active building industry (for the Company only) is also springing up on the island.