The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-03-25
GEMS OF GREAT PRICE.
TEE PRODUCT. IMPORTATION, AND
CUTTING OF ITEM nv AMERICA.


the south Africa Freiss-Beesasuess 81 the
BrssiIisn hiuss-Fashioss n Jewels.
A comparison Of the literature that existed
in 1860 on the subject OF precious stones with
that Of 1894, shows at a glance the immense
revolution that has taken place in the short
interval OF twenty-five years Among books.
Feuchtwanger's Treatise on Gems" was the
standard reference on this side Of the Atlantic.
and the works OF KluGe and Barbot abroad.
We had none OF the i've editions OF Precious
Stones" Great Diamonds OF the World" and
Pearls and Pearling Life" bearing the name
Of Edward w. streeter. The second edition Of
his Antique Gems" Antique Rings"
and other contributions to antique gem
lore. by the Rev. C. W. King; the works OF
A. X Church. S. w. Burnham, A. c. Hamlln.
and others have been !ded to our gem
lore. The nth edition Of the System OF Min
eralogy," that marvellous compendium Of
inersl ogical science By James d. Dana. APP
peared in 1853; tho sixth edition In 1892. this
monumental undertaking containing 1,l34
pages, mainly brought up to date By Edward
& Dana. son OF the great Nestor OF min
eralogy. although at such an expense Of his
physical condition that he has not fully recov-
cred even after one year OF rest
The i'm portance OF statistics on the subject
Of precious stones has been so fully recognized
by Major Powell OF the United States Geologi-
cal Survey that each Of the nine volumes Of
mineral statistics edited by DR.. David T. Day.
the chief. has contained an article on the sub
ject; and the eleventh United States census
had q special investigation made and q report
printed in the volume on mines. in charge Of
the eame eminent authority. while at the
present time the United States Fish Commits
sion Ia preparing an investigation as to the
occurrence and production Of pearls In the
United States.
In 1858 the pearl fisheries OF the Little
Miami and other Ohio rivers were prolific.
In the past i've years there have been pro-
duced more than quarter OF n million dol
lars worth OF pearls from Wisconsin. and
m ore than one-half that amount from Texas
Tennessee, and kentucky. At that time the
discoveries OF diamonds In South Africa had
scarcely begun. and none OF the four now
great mines had been opened. We little
dreamed then that during the coming quarter
OF q century nine aBd one-half tons OF dia-
monds selling for more than $500. OO0.O Oo
uncut and Tor 5000. 900. 900 after cutting. would
be added to the worlds wealth. an amount
more than twice as much rs was known be-
fore; that corporation whose stock is valued
in the market at over $50. 600 900 would control
over 40 per cent OF all the output and would
regulate and maintain the price. resulting In
the esta lsh m emit OF diane d-cutting indus
tries such as were never before thought OF.
BY which tens Of thousands OF men would
be employed as cutters. polishers. and deal
ers. these industries In turn being revolution
lied BY tho establishment OF immense mills.
at which the cutters hire only the benches at
which they do the cutting.
The diamond mines OF Brazil which had
chiefly supplied the world. have now become
almost an unknown factor In the production
80 al. Il, olttN v1 % oil .t,o
in Bahia about ten years ago yielded a large
quantity OF remarkably fine white stones. In
1859 diamonds had been cut only for one year
In the United States. In 1892 the value OF the
diamonds cut in this country almost eauslled
that of all the diamonds imported in 1853;
and the weight OF the stone cut that year ex-
ceeded the weight Of the total imports OF
twenty-four years before
Henry Morse OF Boston had scarcely COM
mepced tho industry OF diamond cutting In
this country. which he subsequently continued
for ore than eighteen years. breaking down
the superstition about the difficulty OF acauir-
ing the art by becoming master Of 1t himself
and teaching 1t to American apprentices. In
1870 l. Hermann started the New York Dia-
mond Cutting Company in New York city. In
his attem pt to establish this industry in the
United States he has sunk three fortunes. but
he still has faith In our being ultimately . dia-
mond cutting centre.
Both Mr.. Morse and Mr.. Hermann taught
the art OF diamond cutting to girls. which led
to their taking up this industry not only on
this side OF the Atlantic. but to . large pro-
portion In France. Switzerland. and other
European countries. 1t was really these pio-
nser diamond cutters who increased the taste
and proficiency OF the cutters abroad; for cut
ting diamonds as they did. with mathematical
tad far
here which the foreign cutters had to acquire
the skill to meet. and the result was q style
OF diamond cutting which for mathematical
precision had never been excelled before.
In Mr.. Morss's shop. In 1872. C. NJ. Field in
vented the first diamond-cuttinR machine.
which has made 1t possible to cut diamonds
faster and with more precision than By the
old hand process. 1t has been adopted In some
OF the larger establishments in the United
States. although abroad Its true value has not
yet beer fully recognized.
Sir Henry Bessemer has devised for the
London cutters an endless rope that fur
nishes the power for as many as ten diamond
mills at the same time. thus doing away with
the long belt for each machine. Now it Is
suggested that an American dynamo motor
company furnish q separate perpendicular
dynamo for each mill. thus dispensing with
the belts entirely. saving power. and making
IL possible to cut diamonds with more clean
Illness than with a moving Lelt
This is also, OF interest when one realizes
that smaller dynamos could be attached di-
rsetiy TO precious stone polishing wheels. to
the gem-cuttlng lathe. or, better still. to the
revolving drill. such IS Is used for the dentists
work and gem engraving. thus producing. as
in the days OF ancient Greece and ancient
Rome, more artistic fnish than would be pos
sibls BY the horizontal lathe method. This
method OF gem engraving Was fully described
In the .jPFP prS' CTcti ar some eight years ago
=. There have been imported iEto the United
States since lSiS more than Sl75,O0O.0OO
worth OF diamonds. and there are to-day on
the continent four stones weighing more than
fifty i've carats each. Six hundred thousand
dollars added to the worlds wealth In the most
concentrated, portable. and ornamental form,
more convertible than anything except gold
and silver, in the aceretion OF which cities ike
kimberley have been built, Amsterdam aud
other cities sustained, prove the great eco-
monte importance OF the invincibls and beau
tilul precious stone.
Trance was an empire In 1919. and Napoleon
III. little thought that the imperial crown
jewels would be dispersed md that American
house would he the purchaser OF more than
ons:thiEd Of them. The famous Duke OF Bruins
wick coll sction OF gems aud the Hope collection
Of Jewels have been dispersed within this time,
the yellow diamond OF tho diamond duke
~ faaf ~ bA