Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-08-27
Lord Randolph Churchill Gives an In
teresting Account of His Travels
in South Africa.
He Finds Some Rich Gold Ore That is
Exceedingly Hard to
Handle.
There are Also Found in That Country
Valuable Silver, Coal and
Iron Ores.

richness OF Its ore, and fore the enterprise
ana method of It's management. This
mine was originally bought by a small
syndicate for less than 920, 900. In 1885
company was formed to work it with a
capital of 81 zoe, 900. The company pos
sesses a "mijinpacht," or mining lease, of
about two hundred acres, containing some
thirty-tive mining claims. Three distinct
reefs are being worked at different levels
the main reef leader, the middle reef
and the south reef. The latter has hither-
to afforded the richest results.
The deepest level now being developed
is about three hundred feet below the sur
face and it has been found by assay, but
not yet confirmed by practical crushing,
that the ore at this depth maintains its
richness. There are about FIVE mics of
underground workings, mostly illumin-
ated by the electric light The ore. which
near the surface of the ground is friable
conglomerate, free from pyrite, becomes at
the deeper levels hard conglomerate rock
almost lmpervious to the ordinary drill
and hammer worked by manual labor, and
highly pyrltlc. These two qualities have
necessltated the installation of American
air drilling machinery of such power as to
be capable of drilling a hole four feet deep
into the rock in fifteen minutes which a
native would be unable to complete work
ing IN an entire day.
The abundant presence of pyrites CON-
pels chemical treatment of the concen-
trates and tailings the stamps alone being
unable to extract more than fifty per cent.
of the gold. The Macarthur Forrest
process, or, II other words, the treatment
OF the ore by cyanide Of potassium, is be-
ing tried upon the tailings, and a chlorin-
alton plant is being installed for the treat.
ment of the concentrates. 1t is, however.
too soon to pronounce upon the respective
merits Of these processes, and it is posi-
BILE that the expense per ton may be greater
than would admit of appreciate profit
Here and there in the deeper levels pock-
cts of ore of extraordinary richness are
found. | have before me as | write a
specimen taken from such a pocket esti-
mated by assay to produce thousand
ounces to the ton. This is probably an ex-
aggerated estimate Another specimen
has been estimated to produce twenty eight
ounces to the ton. The average yield,
however, of the ore in the deeper levels
will probably be found to be little under
two ounces to the ton.
The entire gold production cf the Robin
son mine since the commencement of the
year 1889, period of little more than
two years, may be stated in round figures
at 1907 tons of ore, realizing 100000
ounces of gold, in value from six hundred
to eight hundred thousand pounds. Upon
the enormous capital the directors de-
clared for the year 1889 dividend of FIVE
per cent, and for the year 1890 four per
cent. They spent moreover out of the
earnings on the development of the mine
and on new machinery an amount equal to
these dividends. From October next, when
the additional twenty stamps have been
erected, making a total of sixty stamps,
when the rock drilling machinery is at
work and the chlorInation plant set up,
the manager expects to oct from crushings
from eighJy-fve hundred to nine thousand
ounces of gold per month. There are EN-
ployed in the Robinson mine one hundred
and thirty Europeans and about nine
hundred native workmen.
The wages paid to Europeans range
high. Carpenters receive from 95 to e5
los, week Skilled mechanics and
blacksmiths receive G6 a week. Strange
to say, in spite of these high wages the
white workmen are constantly leaving
their employment and going off to Mas
homeland. The directors find it more and
more difficult to obtain skilled labor, and
there appears to be both at this mine and
generally all over the Randi most prom
Using opening for young English mechan-
les and miners. The cost of living would
probably exceed the cost of living in Eng
land, but the high wages, counted with
dwelling rent free, in addition to mag
nifcent climate, would appear to open the
road to fortune.
The Robinson mine. such as it is, is
probably one of the finest gold mines in
the world, but it is overbur dened With an
excessive capital account, which before
long it may be found convenient and prac-
ticable considerably to reduce. Situated
somewhat to the west of the Robinson
mine is the Langlate estate. THIS COM
pany, with capital of Gt5, 900, owns and
works an estate held in freehold not un-
der mining lease, tf considerable larger
area than that held by the Robinson COM
pany. The main and south reefs are
principally worked. but the average yield
does not exceed fifteen pennywelghts to
the ton. There is, however, an enormous
quantity Of this ore in sight, and the ex-
"ellent management enables good profit
to be realized. A battery of 100 stamps is
in process of erection on this mine, which
is perhaps the best developed and general
ly the most attractive of all the mines In
the Randi.
The Ferrelra mine, adjoining the Rob
lnson, is Just as celebrated for its splendid
milling plant and machinery and for its
economical and skillfui administration.
lie mine consists of about fifteen claims,
yielding on an average nearly one ounce
to the ton. The concentrates and talllngs
tf this mine, when properly treated, are eX
pee ed to produce a considerably addition
al yield. Here has been installed very
perfect assay and smelling plant and lab
oratory. BY the courtesy If the very skill
tul gentleman in charge of this depart
ment, DIR. Simon, | was enabled to follow
the beautiful process Ct treatment of
pyrites 10y CHLORINE gas. The pyrites are
roasted prior TO treatment, becoming ex
tremely frlable, losing the sulphur which
they contain, freeing the gold and render
ing 1t accessible to the attractions Of
chlorine in tie Macarthur Forrest pro-
ceSf-the cyanide OF potassium process
the talilngs do not require to be roasted,
the expense of treatment being thereby
considerably reduced, but 1t Is asserted.
and probably with truth, that the Nc
Arthur Forrest process is only available for
the treatment OF failing where the gold is
free, and that it produces no appreciable
results when treating pyrltlc concentrates.
1t should be remembered that in addi-
ton to the difficulties and obstacles which
! have described above and which the gold
fields have had to encounter and overcome
must be reckoned the most stupid, selfish
and incompetent government which ever
ath Icted community or country. The
Iransvaal possesses everything which man