The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1894-05-25
AFKIUA'S DIAMOND KING.
ENORMOUS FORTUNE GATHERED
IN THE KIMBERLEY DISTRICT.
II. /. Barnatd, Whose Wealth VIII
Soon Eclipse That OF Any Mill
ionaire Known I'm This Country.

III tbT-dWby
r His name is B: i: Barnato,
and he is said to be the
wealthiest diamond miner in the world.
The story OF his career reads like q
page from tho "Arabian Nights" Bar
nato went to Cape Town in 1873, com
paratively a poor man. Three years
later he bought the first claim in what
is now the fpurishihS town of KIM:
berley, tho center of the diamond
mining industry in Africa. The price
he paid for it was inconsiderable.
In 1881 he owned four claims, which
he hoated into company for about
500, 900 claim. He was how on
sound financial basis. In 1884 he
bought another tract of land, paying
tho highest price ever given in Kim
berley. But he made from that specu
lation alone 100000. With the money
now ut his command he began opera
tions in diam ond mining stocks.
His system was to amalgamato dif
ferent mines and thereby ccntralizo
capital. At the present time he repre-,
sents ono half Of the diamond export
of the Kimberley mines. One can est;
mate from Mr.. Barnato's Is holdings what
his income must be. Diamonds weigh.
ing 80, 900, 900 karats, or seven and
half tons, have been found mt Kim.
berley since he purchased his first
claim. In the rough their aggregate
value is $3.50, 100000.
1t is only question of time and Tho
continuance of the diamond yield whcD
Mr.. Barnato will eclipse III wealth the
Indian Maharnjah and tho big mill,
ionaires of America. Yet the bulk
of his wealth has been Accumulated
within the pnst ten years. AZ dia
monds are small and can easily b,
smuggled out Of the mines by the
workmen, it is found necessary t.
keep the strictest watch upon them.
Most of tho miners in South Africa
arc natives. They are divided int
two classes. One class devutes its
entire time to spying upon tho other
class. These detectives arc usually
chosen from tho Zulus, who make, by
long odds, the best officers OF any
native tribe. They are keen sighted,
quick witted aud attentive, regular in
their habits, and simple in their
wants. The kaf1irs are tho workmen.
These men are passed iii squads
through the various departments of
the searching house.
Tho searching house is arranged
according to this plan: The miner,
on going to work, takes OF his clothing
in the first apartment. He passes into
the second nude and in the third puts
on the regulation working garb of tho
company. On coming out of the
mine this order is reversed. Tho
miners are searched ut midday when
they come in for their meals, rs we'll
as in the morning and evening. There
are always trustworthy inspectors
present to see that everything is
properly conducted.
Notwithstanding these precautions
great deal of thieviny goes on. 1t
is u problem to the companies how to
prevent thefts on the part of tho EN-.
ployes. To encourage the zeal of the
officers 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 incloscd by four high
walls, and comprises II spacious dor
mitory, recreation sheds, hospital
and general store. The utmost re-
gard is paid t. sanitary regulations,
and nothing has been left undonc 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 tho mining company. The
average cost OF living in the "com-
pound" Is about five shillings day.
The natives know the value of the
coupons issued to them thoroughly,
ana are economical anil saving. The
compound" is inspected daily by a
physician, so that the health OF those
who work in the mines may DO pre-.
served. Consequently most of the na.
tive miners are healthy and perfectly
contentel.
1t is different, however, with tho
white miners. As n rule they will
not consent to enter compound. 1"
They prefer to 1.-Two in houses by thcm-
selves, although tho expense is much
greater. Attached to ono of the
mines there arc about sixty of these
dwellings,, forming three sides Of u
square, with an open space in the cen
ter. These buildings were erected at
tho expense Of the company AMI arc
comfortably arranged. Wood, water.
and medical Attendance are supplied
free. The rent, however, including
taxes, is twenty five shillings, or Sc. 25
n week.
Intelligent white labor receives u
higher compensation than is given the
native workman, AMI, therefore, no
complaints aro heard. All this has
occurred within Mr.. Barnato's time,
and he has been an important factor
in evolving the system. He has in
troduced into South Africa systc m
OF employing the natives in remuncra.
tive work that might b> studied to II |.
vantage by those who are str,iuins
their minds over the Indian question.
st Louis Republic