The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-05-21

thoroughly taken in with the absurd reports
that The mining expert" sent OF these fields,
aud the Dutch farmer, the venders aud pro-
moters reaped rich harvest from the golden
food that then swept in from England and the
Continent
Although large surs have been lost by un-
scrupul0Us not b. say swindling, promoters. a
very large part Of the loss and disappointment
this really rich gold field has occasioned has
been caused by the gross ignorance Of the So
called experts, vino faucied that FIRE assays
showed the commercial value Of a reef from
an ordinary crushing
One expert, who was probably tho most
followed by the silly sheep Of investors, had
spent his life timbcr-sawing ia Natal, but on
his casual, and in many cases most interested.
examination. hundreds Of thousands OF pounds
have been paid for properties perfectly guiltless
Of containing eold-bearing quartz, much less
payable.
To give an idea Of the generalization Of the
Rand and Barbcrion gold fields IL NAV DO
mentioned the par value Of the gold-mining
companies that have been registered is as much
as 100000 pounds sterling while the output
Of gold is now 5000 ounces per month from
the Witwatersraud field, aud 1000 10 1900
from BarbertOn.
Tho Witwatersrand reefs are overlaid by
sandstone a deposit Of which they have also
underneath them, down 10 the original water
level, where the bauket Dutch for "hard-
bake" IL being a congiomeration) gives place
10 the vein proper which Is highly charged
with pyrites Here the character Of the rock
changes TO a very hard, blue quartzite, also
carrying pyrites.
The rebcllious nature Of the ore at the deeper
points will necessilate some mode Of treatment
Tor the gold extraction. but several methods
are now being tried, AID that patented and
called the MArthur Forrest process, in which
cyanide Of potassium is chiefly used, has proved
very successful.
Although johannesburg. tho chier-nav the
only-town on this gold field, is in a Republican
STATE, there is very little real liberty for the
miners in IL.
Taxes are plentiful. There is p poll-tax Of
l57 shiliings FOR every man over 2l years OF
aye. A prospecting license costs a. ca. per
month, and digger's lcouse Ell per month.
public house license amounts 10 go per
year, aud a stand license for plots Of ground,
often as small as JOE5D feet. Is los. per month.
OF this SUN the landlord farmer gets half,
aud the Government half Every Kaliir payr
5s per month for the pleasure or honor of
working in this enlightened State, while the
1 sight Of the mounted policemen riding down a
! Kailir 10 apprehend him should his pass not be
paid up 20 date would remind many Of your
older readers Of the tales Of capture OF runaway
slaves in the Southern States before the war.
/ performance is pursued chiefly on Sunday, the
day Of rest.
One Of our yexations Is the requirement oI
F. the Government that Dutch should be the
official language, although the proportion o
the races in Johannesburg is probably ten
BritOus % one Duichman. In the law courts
1 although the fuuctiouaries understand English
4 thoroughly, and may even hrgc gained theil
judicial knowledge ia London-thOugh the par
Ties 20 a suit may be English--all that trans
pires has 10 be translated aud re-trauslatcd
An Englishman enters the witness box. anJ
counsel puts questions la Dutch, which hayi
to be rendered ia English by ana interpreter
The witness gives answers in English. whicl
have then 10 be repeated in Dutch. % Tia
farce goes on.
The same requirement applies 10 ell ofcia
work Agreements and other legal document
that have TO be registered, must bc translates
aud lodged in the Dutch language. This mean
the language Of Holland, called High Dutch no
the patois, or the Taal spoken by the BOeri
/ Even a BOer may not understand the ques
iions put 10 him in the Courts in Hig
Dutch.
An amusing instance Of this happened nc
long since. An uneducaied Bocr was asked