The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-11-24

600. 1t was presented to the pope by the
president of the TransVaal republic
The Jagersfontein gem Is said to have
Deen picked up by native who was
loading cart with blue mud. Though
an oVerseer was standing close by, he
hld II on his person, and kept it for
some time. His purpose was not to steal
II, however. A few days later he deliv
cred ii personally to the manager re-
eelVlng as a reward $3.50 in cash and a
horse and saddle. This remarkable stone
weighs nearly half pound avoirdupois.
IT IS three inches long, one and a half
inches thick, and two and half inches
wide.
1t seems more than surprising that no
diamond mines have ever been discovered
in the United States. Occasional gems Of
this kind have been picked up in various
discoveries being that they are restricted
almost wholly to a belt along the eastern
base of the southern Alleghenies, in Viz
gina and Georgia. and TO another belt
along the western base of the Sierra Ne
Nada ana Cascade ranges. 1t is a melan-
choly fact that this country hardly pro.
monds annually. Nobody can say with
certainty that diamond mines riValins
those or South Africa may not be struck
some day within the limits of Uncle Sam :
domain. Within the last few years some
hnds have been made which cause the
experts of the geological survey to shake
their heads thoughtfuly. In 1876 a wen
digger at Eagle, Wis, found a diamond
OF htleen carats Another one, wine-yel-
longing 10 Henry Endlich, at Kahlsville,
WIS. 1t weighed tWenty-four carats, be
ing nearly as big as a pigeons egg. Mrs.
Endich keeps ii as a memento of her1e-
ceased husband. Many other diamonds
have been found in the same neighbor-
mood, and biologists are certain that they
nave been brought down from the north
IN glacial drift The problem is to tind
the source from which they started. APP
parently, they are traceable to localities
where the geological formation closely
resembles that n - No
mond fields. One of these is the Menom-
lnee district of Northwest Wisconsin; the
other is to the northwest of Lake Su-
Perlor, in the vicinity of Pigeon river.
somewhere in these regions there is a
hopeIul prospect for the diamond seeker.
The geological formal ton in the neigh
Dofhood of the South African diamond
nelds is. very peculiar. The surface layer
OF the earth whereabouts was originally
or earbonaceous. shales-that is to say,
KIND OF rock containing a large percent
age OF carbon. Carbon. of course, is in
It's pure state the sole material Of the da-
mond. Volcanic eruptiOns Vomited from
the bowels of the earth vast amount OF
molten rocks and other stuff heated TO
an lnconceivably high temperature. BY
TINS high temperature the carbon in the
shales was crystaHzed into diamonds. APP
parently similar processes have been OPP
eralVe IN past ages in the regions of the
United States refererd to.
1t is a great mistake TO suppose that
diamonds are the most precious Of gems.
IN market value they are far surpassed
by rubies. A four-carat ruby of true pi-
geon blood color is worth 5000 while a
nne white diamond of the same weight will
sell for $1,000. Most Of the rubics to-day
come from Siam, but the finest are from
Burmah. OF the latter the supply Is very
small, however, owing 70 the difficulties
which attend mining IN Burmah. When
King TheebaW was depOsed and the cOun-
try opened. IL was imagined that the mar
ket would soon be flooded with rubes
but the expectation has not been realiz-
cd The gems are guarded By a deadly fe-
YER from which no white man escapes
only natives can DO the digging. and they
steal the best stones, resorting TO an in