The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-29
LIFE At JOHANNESBURG,
Five Thousand Men Starving
at the Richest Gold Fields
in the World.
WONDERS OF THE TRANsvAAL
The Output Is 10000 Ounces a
Month and Negroes Must
Walk in the Street.

cts the greatest gold-mining region in
the world" said John E. Owens, a we'll
known newspaper man who has just re-
turned from his travels. He was talking
about Johannesburg, and he ought to be
an authority on that corner of the world,
for his ramblings in the Transvaal have
been extensive.
Eyes" he said, ''the greatest gold mines
in the world are now at Johannesburg,
which is in the Transvaal, South Africa.
1t is situated on high plateau at an alti-
tude of 5000 feet and 1014 miles from Cape
town. Its population of about 10000 Tin
Guiding the African negro) is decidedly
cosmopolitan. Men from all parts of the
world have hocked there in their wild rush
for gold" He continued:
The mines of Johannesburg Cwitwatersrandt,
or more commonly known as the Randy are
now yielding more gold each month than all
the other mines af the world combined. The
aye ea monthly output at present is placed at
ing, and tits beyond the conception of any per-
son TO estimate the possibilities of these mines.
To the visitor standing on the small hin back
OF Doornfontien, a fashionable suburb of
Johannesburg, the sight is grand one. AS
far as the eye can reach in direct line east
and west, the huge ehimneys OF the gold stamp
ing mills may be seen blazing forth their fire
and smoke.
The gold reef is forty-five miles in length.
The first row of deep levels is now in active
operation, and before another five years shall
have passed by the second. and third rows of
deep level mines will be in active operation.
The greater the depth the richer the ore. Some
OF the mines are now down TO depth OF over
1000 feet. The supply of gold seems to be in
exhaustible. 1t has been estimated by experts
that there is surety of ST., 900 100000 OF
gold in the Johannesburg mines.
The success of these mines is due solely to
Americans. The Australian miners first Wis
a Int hnU we rSITn fn
After many attempts, they finally left, stating
that no gold could be found in those fields.
responsibility. Though they made better
showing than the Australians, yet they were
far from giving satisfaction.
The Rothschilds became interested in these
fields. They sent out Hamilton Smith, Cal
nornian, TO look over the ground and see
whether there was sufficient gold on the reef
to warrant an expenditure. His report was 81
favorable one. From that time experienced
American miners made their appearance at
Johannesburg. The place began to assume
life from the moment they took charge. The
result is that to-day, under the management of
Americans, mostly Californians, Johannesburg
has become the greatest gold center of the
world, and one may find there the very latest
improved mining machinery.
There is at present over $500 stamps at work
in the mills. These mills are run at their full
est capacity night and day, from one week s
end TO the other. Everything is on q gigantic
scale, SO far as mining is concerned
From early morning till late in the after
street is a scene of excitement If stocks are
high then business is good in the town, but If
there should be a drop in the market money is
scarce. The population seems to live by gam
bling.
The hope of South Africa is eentered in Jo-
hannesburg; Capetown, Port Elizabeth, East
London and Natal are ell dependent on the
Johannesburg trade. The financial houses of
Europe have their representatives at the
"Rand." Notwithstanding this great wealth of
gold, South Africa is not the place for poor
man TO go for work. All the labor in the mines
is performed by the negro natives
There are no factories nor any opportunity
for agricultural work. Living there Is ex-
tremely expensive, it being next to an impossi-
bility TO get along with less than Sl0o month
The influx of population to Johannesburg has
been very great. The result is that at least
5000 men are out OF work and starving. A
large number are arriving weekly swelling up
the list of unemployed and adding to the gen.
eral confusion.
Among the most notable Americans who have
been the means of building up Johannesburg
may be mentioned: Charles Buffers, the intro
ducer OF the cyanide process there; J. II. HAM
mond, who receives the fabulous salary of
1925, 900 per annum; Captain Mein of the
Robinson mines; Hamilton Smith, represent
ing the Rothschilds; Mr.. Weber of the Crown
Reef; Nh. Wiltse OF the Glendenhuis estate,
and J. G. Manion, representing American firms.
johannesburg may be considered one of
the wonders of the mining world Its growth
has been phenomenal. Nine years ago the site
of the "Rend" had but one habitation. To-day
the town has magnificent office buildings and
palatial residences.
The feeling here between the English and
the Beers is very bitter. How long the Trans
vaal Government will last, it is very hard to
guess. One thing is certain, that the popula-
ton of Johannesburg excepting the Ameri-
cans) are ready TO revolt whenever an oppor-
tunity occurs. The police force of Johannes
burg may be considered of the most
incompetent in existence. Negroes, coolies,
Chinamen, and all who have black or Asiatic
blood in their veins, must walk in the middle
OF the road. The sidewalks are for the use of
the whites in Boerland. Any of these above
Wa sidewalks n p
arrested and fined SO or one month. 1t is a
peculiar country with peculiar people.