The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1894-06-15
AFRICA'S DIAMOND KING.
ENORMOUS FORTUNE GATHERED
IN THE KIMBERLEY DISTRICT.
b. I. Barnato, Whose Wealth VIII
Soon Eclipse That of Any Mill
ionaire Known in This Country.

g and he IS said to be the
wealthiest diamond miner in the world.
The story of his career reads like
page from the arabian Nights. " Bar
nato went to Cape Town in 1873, COM
paratively q poor man. Three years
later he bought the first claim in what
is now the Furnishing town Of Kim
berley, the center of the diamond
mining industry in Africa. The price
he paid for it was inconsiderable.
In 1881 he owned four claims, which
he foated into q company for about
$1,000 a claim He was now on
sound financial basis. In 1884 he
bought another tract of land, paying
the highest price ever given in Kim
berley. But he made from that specu-
lation alone 500, 900. With the money
now at his command he began opera
tions in diamond mining stocks.
His system was to Gmalgamate diff
ferent mines and thereby centralize
capital. At the present time he repre-
sents one-half of the diamond exports
of the Kimberley mines. One can esti-
mate from Mr.. Barnato IS holdings what
his income must be. Diamonds weigh
ing $4,000, 900 karats, or seven and q
half tons, have been found at Kim
berley since he purchased his first
claim. In the rough their aggregate
value is $3.50, 100000.
1t is only a question of time and the
continuance of the diamond yield when
Mr.. Barnato will eclipse in wealth the
Indian Maharajah and the big mill
ionaires of America. Yet the bulk
of his wealth has been Accumulated
within the past ten years AS dia-
monds are small and can easily be
smuggled out of the mines by the
workmen, it is found necessary to
keep the strictest watch upon them.
Most of the miners in South Africa
are natives. They are divided into
two classes. One class devotes its
entire time to spying upon the other
class. These detectives are usually
chosen from the Zulus, who make, by
long odds, the best officers of any
native tribe. They are keen sighted,
quick witted and attentive, regular in
their habits, and simple in their
wants. The Kafirs are the workmen.
These men are passed in squads
through the various departments of
the searching house.
The searching house is arranged
according to this plan: The miner,
on going to work, takes off his clothing
in the first apartment. He passes into
the second nude and in the third puts
on the regulation working garb of the
company. On coming out of the
mine this order is reversed. The
miners are searched at midday when
they come in for their meals, us we'll
as in the morning and evening. There
are always trustworthy inspectors
present to SEQ that everything is
properly conducted.
Notwithstanding these precautions
o great deal of thieving goes on. 1t
is a problem to the companies how to
prevent thefts on the part of the en-
ployes. To encourage the zeal of the
officers a reward of twenty-five per
cent. on the value of the stolen gems
was offered to him who succeeded in
recovering them.
The compound" or barracks, of
the workmen is inclosed by four high
walls, and comprises spacious dor
mitory, recreation sheds, hospital
and a general store. The utmost re-
gard is paid to sanitary regulations,
and nothing has been left undone in
this respect, no matter how costly 1t
might have been.
The store for supplies is bountifully
supplied with goods bought from the
local merchants, and the miners can
purchase whatever they want upon
presenting coupons issued by the
clerk of the mining company. The
average cost of living in the "com-
pound" is about five shillings q day.
The natives know the value of the
coupons issued to them thoroughly,
and are economical and saving. The
compound" is inspected daily by a
physician, SO that the health of those
who work in the mines may be pre-.
served. Consequently most of the ma.
tive miners are healthy and perfectly
contented.
1t is different, however, with the
white miners. AS a rule they will
not consent to enter compound.
They prefer to live in houses by them
selves, although the expense is much
greater. Attached to one of the
mines there are about sixty of these
dwellings, forming three sides of a
square, with an open space in the cen
ter. These buildings were erected at