Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-09-27

ANBER.-A very large proportion of the am
Der appearing in the various markets of the
world is supplied by the province of Prussia, in
GLIDING the neighboring district of Aleme. The
following particulars are CLEANED from a re-
port by Mr.. Ward, her majesty'S vice consul at
Memel: In the western portion Of the province
of Prussia amber is found not only on the sea
shore, but also in the mountainous ranges OF
the interior; excepting, however, in rare cases
of its appearance in so-called CHESTS" amber Is
only to be met with in isolated places in the
latter localities, so that the profit arising from
the amber diggings among the hills is but very
moderate one, and may be estimated at about
double the amount paid by the proprietors for
the wages of the diggers In East Prussia,
however, and especially in that part called the
Samand, amber is more abundant, and during
the prevalence OF certain winds is frequently
thrown upon the shore by the sea in large
quantities. it is collected there, as well as fshed
for in the surf; it is also dug out
of the sand hillocks running along the
sea coast In these sand hillocks reg
ular beds Of amber are found enclosed in a
soil OF blue clay, which is to be met with at an
average depth Of about 100 feet in thickness of
% feet to 80 feet. 1t is stated that out of some
diggings established in those parts, $500 pounds
OF amber were raised in the course of four
months of the year 1869 Diggings of this kind
exist at present in various spots of the Sam
land. There are establishments at Brusterort
where amber is obtained by divers from the
DOtlOlll Oh lc sea, ana OcllWafZOft, near Memel,
where 1t is raised by dredging for it at the bot
tom of the Curish Haft; the importance and
size of the dredging establishment last mem
toned has of late years increased considerably
and at present about $4,000 pounds OF
amber are annually obtained by it. The
total amount Of amber obtained during the
| year 1862 in all parts ofthe province of Prus-
STA, by the various means of collection is esti-
mated at about 100000 pounds the value of
which may be taken at $4,000 Prussian dollars.
The quantity collected (by fishing for it) in the
| sea and upon the shore, is about eqaal to
that raised by the digging and dredging
works. Accordingly to the opinion of com
| petent persons, the produce of the diggpgs
could be increased considerably by working
| them upon regular mining system. Apart
| from the fact that no certain knowledge has
| hitherto been arrived at TO the actual extent
| of the amber fields in the blue clay-and these
| fields exist most probably not only in the vi
cinity of the sea coast, but also in the interior
| OF the Santana, and even beyond that district
and the frontiers Of Eastern Prussia it is most
| likely that below the stratum of clay to which
| the diggingS are at present confined there are
| other strata in which amber would be met with
| This suppostion is based upon the circum-
| stance that considerable quantities of amber
| have been found among the soil washed away
| by the sea during heavy gales from those
| portions of the coastal sand hills
| which lie below the layer of blue clay
| first alluded to. The prices of the prin-
| clpal kinds OF amber, as stated by
| an official report vary according to the size,
| ranging from twenty-five Prussian dollars per
pound, where the pieces run about nine to the
| pound, TO four dollars, where the pound re-
| quires 100 pieces or more. The prices of larger
| (so-called cabinet) pieces are subject to great
fluctuations, and are fixed by the increase or de-
crease of demand from the east; the prices of the
| commoner kinds seldom vary more than about
ten per cent. The chief seat of the retail amber
trade is Dantzic; the wholesale trade is at pres
| ent in the hands of only two or three firms in
| the province of Prussia. The working of the
Prussian amber into mouth-pieces, beads, &C.. is
likewise carried on chiefly at Dantzic, but also
| in all large cities; oflate manufactory of amber
| wares has been established at Polaugen a small
Russian town near Mcmcl, and it is intended to
open similar works at Konigsberg, Moscow, and
| at New York