Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-10-16
DIAMOND CUTTING

After travelling through Germany. some
time ago, made stop at Amsterdam, the
interesting capital of old Holland, and had
the curiosity to visit the large diamond
cutting establishments of that city. which
give employment to no less than 10000
men. The diamonds cut there amount in
aggregate value to -e4,O00,O00 annually.
Demonstrating is a very simple process,
and, like many other mechanical operations,
may, of course, be well or bunglingly exc
cuted. Holland, however takes the lead in
cutting, as Russia excels in setting the dia.
mond
Accompanied by guide, l entered
special office, where registered my name,
and was then conducted to the cutting
room. Here each workman had a little tin
box before him, containing q collection OF
what looked like small crystal pebbles, On
one of the crystals being taken up, it was
carefully examined, and the side which
would make the best front then decided on.
It was next secured to handle by piece
of wax about the size of large bullet; the
wax held it sufficiently secure, and left ex-
posed only that face VIII n was first to be
cut. Then was seen the actual Diamond
cut Diamond
The cutting diamond, which the work
man held in his right hand, had a sharp
edge (not always of the same shape), one
eighth of an inch long, and was set in a
handle like that of a GLACIERS diamond, on
~ little larger and stronger. This dia-
mond is generally of the hardest quality.
It is really wonderful, considering the OBJ
durate nature Of the material, how quickly
the rough diamond was cut into shape.
When it had large Or heavy portion which
was to be removed, a small notch was cut
at the place where the fragment was In
tended to be split off. Picking up piece
of steel about twelve inches long, one
eighth Of an inch thick, and one and three
quarters inches wide, one edge Of which
was sharp and hard and had "a short bevel.
the workman placed the edge in the notch,
made with the cutting diamond, and strik-
| ing a light blow on the back, the splinter
came off.
| These splinters are saved and worked up
into small brilliants or glazier's points
There is AN art in using the cutting dia-
mond SO as not to wear it out too fast. The
cutting was done lengthwise with the edge
Of the cutting diamond, commencing at one
extremity of the face to be made On the
rough diamond, cutting off, little by little,
as in planning cast iron. The small parti-
cles crumbled away from the diamond were
saved and sifted for the polishing. When
one face was cut the cement was softened,
and the diamond turned around far enough
| to present fresh face to be treated as the
previous one, and in this. way the diamond
was all prepared for polishing.
We were conducted to the polishing room
| The polishing wheels were OF cast iron,
about twenty-four inches in diameter, and
ran horizontally; the polishing being per-
formed upon the upper side Of the wheel.
The diamond was now embedded In lead
and attached to a piece Of wood, hinged at
the outer end, in order that the workman
may raise it 10 see how the work progresses,
and apply the polishing paste mixed with
diamond dust. The polishing wheel hal
room for several diamonds undergoing pol
ishing at the same time, and one man could
superintend all on Il wheel.
was Afterwards led TO the sample room,
where the beautifully polished brilliants
were exhibited, and also models of all the
largest diamonds in the world. l saw, too,
some specimens of pebbles cemented to-
gether, containing diamonds as they are
found in the mines. Nest Of the diamonds
come from Brazil
The mines of GoEconda, formerly proverb-
ial for their wealth, are no longer worked,
| as they finally did not produce sufficient to
nav expenses. Other mines have been
abandoned for the same reason. Late ac-
| counts Of diamond mines in the Orange
River Settlements, in South Africa, point
out fresh fields for the diamonds dventurer
The papers announce That there is one from
this territory on the way to Europe, valued
at e32, 900.
The discovery of these mines was, as in
most other cases, accidental, while search
| ing for gold It is said that diamonds were
| first found in Brazil by the natives. when
examining the sands washed down from the
mountains for grains OF gold. The glitter
ing crystals were laid aside as curiosities.
| A disinterested miner, whose name does not
| appear on record, arrived from Europe, saw
! their value, and, instead of quietly buying
them up, instructed the people as to the
nature of the discovery.
Habit.
| 1t is so difficult to break up established
modes Of action, and turn the channels of
ones activities in new directions, that it is
not surprising that the mature in life, who