The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-09-24

the world was content tn receive each
year an accession of new dug diamonds 81
about 100000 in value on the average
hut suddenly from South Africa comesa
new supply, exceeding 100000 worth
each year for 10 years, 1t is true that 10,
Gently In Australia, North America, and
other xtra-European centres OF European
elvillzation, q new population has come in
being, numbering over i0,OOO,OOO, the up
per ten thousand OF which are specially
prone TO diamond ornaments, and no doubt
AT the first there was a great void To be
supplied. But now II would seem that
the limit had been reached, and the mar
ket Is overstocked and the world as II
stands thus supplied seems hardly III ely
70 take more than t2OOO,O00 per AMMAN
The fall in price has, however, already
checked the output, as several of the
working the less profitable mines have
ceased work, 1t seems probable also that
even the larger mines will reduce opera
lions in the face of the low prices, and
then as the supply falls off SO may prices
again be expected to rise, A diamond is
pure and unmitigated luxury, and there
lore there could be no complaint, II those
who hold n monopoly of the supply chose
to restrict output in order to keep up
prices, 1t seems not improbable that a
policy of this type will shortly animate all
the diamond diggers of this district.
But this fall in prices is not only due to
overproduction. It is estimated that 10
per cent. to 10 per cent. of the fall is due to
the sale of stolen diamonds. These, Of
course, can be and are sold at very low
price, as their cost of production usually
means some triiing sum paid to native
laborer for what he can secrete on his per-
son or by other means smuggle out of the
mine. In the early days, when each man
worked for himself, there was no diamond
stealing, but as 1t grew TO be necessary to
work on larger scale and by the aid of
hired labor, and rs at the same time the
process of operating afforded new oppor-
tunlties for stealing, this crime grew to
DC one OF the great curses of the industry.
AT present ut every stage OF the process
laborers or employees come across dia-
monds The men down in the mine,
blasting and picking out the blue, fire.
quently come upon the valued stones: and
as the" stuff" is handled at every stage
diamonds show themselves. The natives
posted to empty the buckets coming up
from the mine watch keenly for what
may CLEAN in the process, and so does the
engine driver or mule man who runs the
laden trucks out to the floors. And on
these floors the regular gangs, who I'M
load and break it up, find many and large
stones" and SO, right through the pro
cess, there is ample opportunity at every
turn to pick up stone which is sure to be
worth pounds, and may be worth thous-
ands.
How to prevent or even to check this
thleving has taxed the best energies of
proprietors and police for many years past.
Success has not yet appeared, for with
every new appliance, some new form of
theft seems to come into being. There
are endless means actually adopted.
Swallowing the stones is quite common,
and at one time the thief threw them
wrapped in dough to dogs which were
killed and cut open by his cOnfederates
outside Hiding them about the dress and
pitching them away to be picked up at
night are among the other means. From
the commencement the method of col
lecting the stones has been rough and
ready rather than careful and complete
and to the stranger there appears to be
not only every chance but every tempta-
ton for employees to steal perpetually
The evils of this diamond stealing are
stands an unnatural lowering of prices.
The possessor of the stolen stone has paid
but little for it, and although he will nat
urally endeavor to realize as high price
as he can, he nevertheless greatly under
sells the possessor of stones that have hon
estly paid all the expenses of production.
1t is estimated that every year from one
fifth to one-siXth of the stones exported arc
stolen, or, in other words, something like
$500, 000 worth of stolen diamonds leaves
the colony annually. At the diggings at
first there was n not unnatural laxity in
dealing with this new and prolific wealth,
and the social soil was at the least con-
genial to the development of this laxity
into customs little less than criminal.
Nowadays there is danger that this steal
ing, with its necessary complement, the
illicit diamond buying" or "I D. b.
trade" as it is euphemistically known,
may sap the morality of the community.
and against this vigorous protest is now
being made. The mine owners are will
ing to pay large sums to stop this Illicit
trade. One mine calculates it loses each
year at present 100000 in unnecessarily
deprecated price, and e100,0OO in value of
diamonds stolen, or total loss of 600, 900
in an output of e ,000,C COO, but there seems
ground for hope that this great evil may
be successfully put an end to.