The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1878-05-16
DixmondG

the world, writes Alfred B. Smith, fror
Brazil, Is to-day sfiks one who trsads alon
some banquet hall deserted" Men who
few years ago had their hundreds of thou
sands Of milries, tod are forced to beg TO
the bread and farina they eat. This wa
caused by the fall in the price of diamonds
of which they had many on hand In tn
European market diamonds are scarce and
cheap. A diamond which would have solt
for two contos-ono thousand dollars-si,
years ago, to-day goes begging for two hun
dred dollars. I purchased . diamond to
day for fifty milries-or about twsnty-fv,
dollars in of United States money-aireadJ
cut, which would bring, perhaps, one hun
lred and fifty dollars in the United States
1t does not pay 10 work in the ~lavries, o,
~veshings, unless a man has much capital
machinery and slaves to do the work. Al
tie superficial diamonds have been taker
out, and the earth for hundreds of miles ID
turned upside down for diamonds and gold.
What is necessary now is machinery to &c
into the bowels Of the earth TO turn the cur
rent Of vast rivers in order to reach the rich
oascdno, many yards deep, and to blast
mighty rocks. A man working with n picl
and crowbar does not min his mush, which
here Is far cheaper than salt. 1t is true
they take out now and then q diamond, md
also q little gold, but it is precarious labor.
There are sir Jh5rieas de hpiddcao, or dia
mond-cutting establishments In this city,
where the brute. or rough diamonds, are cut
and prepared for market. Diamond-cuttina
is one of tho simplest and easiest things 10
the world. The machinery for cutting 4
simply q fat, revolving surface, On lathe,
turning as q potter's lathe, only the wheel b
Of the best tempered steel First, two Ola
monds are placed in the end Of . sticl
shaped Ike that used by jewellers to clear
nngerldngs, ind secured there by . wa
which hardens with heat. and are ther
rubbed, one against the othe-, 70 remove
the hard outer coat, and also 70 give Il tbs
desired form. This rubbing forms q dust
without which diamonds could not be cut
After the above operation Is finished tbs
diamond is placed in a mold, shaped Iiks
the half Of an egg-shell, in which there Ia Q
composition of solder and lead in q state Of
fuson- The diamond is buried In this com
podtion, except tho part to be polished.
This competition when cool becomes ver
hard Tho diamond Ia now ready for pol
ishing and reducing TO q salabls state. L
u placed In what Is called o arektts, which
allows the exposed surface TO rest on Thu
aforementioned revolving surface or wheel
which Il rubbed with o feather from
time 70 time, . composition Of the diamond
dust I spoke Of, and sweet oil. This causs,
tho instrs Of tho diamond, and perfeots Ii,
ahaps. After leaving this wheel IL passss Il
emery, whore It receives the fnishine
touohes. A diamond Is heated 70 witt
heat . great many times In tho process 3
cutting, which does not affect II in tho least
A Apidary can cut or polish three or fou,
stones at the same time. The work In itseb
is nothing, and an ordinary minded youth
with any taste can learn the business in nj,
or tan months. Diamond-cutting certainl,
d6es mot add much to the actual cost of a
iamond An average diamond will cost
from stx TO ten dollars for the cutting. I
NV . diamond the other day, in the Ga5riea
OF a friend, for which q man asked three
oontos, or fifteen hundred dollars. This
Wa before II was cut. 1 saw II again to
Day, after Il was cut, and thrso hundred
dollars viii buy Il because of the color.
Many diamonds show defect after cutting
which before cannot be seen.
Diamentina is one of the oldest towns in
Brazil, and was originally called Tipica. II
q q very pretty city, or ratheraw was in its
palmy days. On all sides are to be seen
painful vestiges Of n once great wealth.
Houses which cost twenty thousand dollars
few years ago can be bought to-day for
that amount. But who cares to
BUY property in q town which Offers no
advantages whatever, which is hundreds, of
niles from civilization, and is to be reached
'nly by mules, through o count where
Dads are unknown, rivers are to be forded,
nd bill after hill, and mountain after noun.
are succeeded by still lnrger ones. Din
is from twenty days to a month from
uiz do Fora, the nearest present railroad
It costs about thirty dollars for every
of stuff which comes from there.
mixing things very dear. A loaf OF wheat
read weighing four ounces costs twelve
ents. You may be sure that very little in
aten. h o of this country is corn
neal, black beans, farina of mandrake. n
DOT shaped like a parsnip, which, poison in
Is natuni stats, makes a very good substi-
nte for bread after it is washed, dried and
round into a coarse sort Of meal. Eaten
bsans--which to this country arc what
'otatoes are to Ireland-makes n very pass.
BILE food, which l have grown To ike very