The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1874-05-28
DIAMOND DIGGING.
Disastrous Failure OF the south Africa
Diamond Fields.

Disastrous Failure Of the south Africa
Diamond Fields.
Like so many enterprises by which
adventurous men have hoped to realizs
large fortunes without much labor, the
diamond fields of South Africa have
proved a disastrous failure. The ex-
element attending the discovery of dia-
monds near the Cape of Good Hope a /
few years ago will not readily be for /
gotten. Desperate men FROM all parts |
Of the world hoeked there in great num- i
bers. Unsuccessful miners from Cali |
fornia and Australia, forgetful of their /
former experiences, travelled thousands |
of miles to land which had nothing to |
offer them should the diamond fields |
fail to meet their expectations. Com |
Portable homes and honorable positions |
in society were heedlessly sacrificed on |
the mere chance of acquiring a sudden |
fortune. That certain ephemeral sue |
cess attended the immediate discovery |
of diamonds at the "Cape" there can
be no doubt. Allowing for the exag- |
gerations of interested persons, the ear
lest workings of the fields undOubted- |
IL realized handsome fortunes for few
persons. But these fortunes were near
" all acquired within the first year af-
ter the diamond discoveries and by the
time the great mass of immigrants
reached South Africa, the fields had
either been worked out, or the few val
liable "claims" were found to be in
the hands of two or three spectators
and capitalists.
The accounts which, during the past
year, have been sent from the Cape of
the condition of the diamond trade are
of the most conflicting nature. But in
formation, dated from the scene of Ia
Dor last February, shows that the de-
probation which has been going on for
the last two years IN the diamond mar
ket is now effectually arrested, and that
diamond digging in the Cape colony
has settled down into a trade which,
while perhaps giving large profits to the
capitalists, will only afford the digger a
scanty subsistence. The immigrants
who reached the diamond fields within
| the past year found that not only was
the supply of diamonds very small, but
that the heavy rains, and the want of
mechanical. appliances, prevented them
| taking advantage of even what little
chances of profit they might otherwise
have had. The diamond bed--the NV
Rush-which for the last two years has
been the principal scene of activity, is
now being rapidly abandoned. During
the fall of 1873, this bed gave employ
ment to 1873, 426 native labOrers and TO-
600 miners, and in February last we
find that the residents of the camp had
dwindled down to about 10000 persons
in all. The yield of diamonds here is
fifty per cent. below the average of the
last two years. and thirty per cent. be-
low that of 1873. The value { claims
has been daily decreasing, and so urgent
is the need of money that the diggers
borrow at ten per cent. per month to
pay the Caffres, whom they employ as
Iaborers. The security which these un-
fortunate immigrants give is their claim
licenses, and if at the end of the month
they fail to pay back the loans, their
claims are forfeited, no matter what
may be their value. The only persons
no now seem to reap any profit from
the diggings are a crowd of diamond
brokers from London and Amsterdam,
who also act as Insurers u on the modest
terms just stated. Parcels of diamonds
are bought by these harpies, and sold
again and again at various minute pro-
fits, from twenty five cents to four cents
per carat. The other beds in this neigh
borhood are in no better condition, and
tell the same story of disappointed
hopes and broken fortunes.
The river digRings, extending for $50
miles along the Vaal, where, during the
|
many respects the most profitable field
for theminer. They are situated about
fifty miles above the river level, and con-
sist of sandy gravel, interspersed thick
ly with huge boulders, which are shiv-
cred by the application of heat, and by
the dashing on them of streams of cold
water. It was here that the very finest
stones were found, among which were
! diamonds of 288 carats, 102 carats, 72
carats white. and hundreds of 80 to sc
off color. Two years ago fully 10000
men were actually employed in this re-
gion, while IN January last the number
did not exceed 200. The encampmeni
of Phiel, the most successful in the dig
gings, and which alone gave work tC
1000 persons, is now occupied by 6
, dozen wearied men, who struggle Oh
, from the necessity of being unable tt
! do anything better. One of these dug
assiduously for six weeks without find
ing a stone, while another, rather more
I fortunate, discovered two, the value o.
which to him was sixty shillings. The
E traders from the cape and the coast for
merly found champagne and Havana CT
r gars the most popular articles IN de
: mand at the diggings; now they carry
P nothing but the bRrest necessities o
life. As may be expected from thi
state OF aIIa1rSs OapetoWn ana O6nel
ports are overrun with needy idlers WhC
q are without sufficient means to leave tn,
I country, and others are rapidly return
: ing home poorer, and, we hope, wise,
!. men. This painful story is sad com
= mentary on the restless spirit of tn,
+ age. But it is no new one. Its relation
q however, may be the means of incnlca
: ting a little prudence in the minds o
e those unstable and too enterprisinI
Y creatures of which our own country il
4 SO full.