Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-08-27
DIAMOND DIGGINGS.
PRECAUTIONS AGAINST THEFT IN
 SOUTH AFRICAN MINES.

But In Spite of All This Stealing Still Con- tinues-The Decline of the Town of Kim berley-Population Has Flown Co the Gold Fields About Johannesburg.
 'The South African diamond mines are worked almost entirely by native laborers-the Kaffirs. Zulus, Hottentots and the rest,' said diamond merchant. "These receive good wages, about $125 per month, and are hired for term of three months. During this period they are confined ill compounds located on the edge of the mines. The compounds consist of rows of buildings of corrugated iron, forming a hollow square, surround ed by high board fence and covering several acres of ground. Within this cor ral are stores, hospital, boarding houses and other conveniences. Wood and Wa ter are furnished free, but no alcoholic liquors are allowed. During their term of service the natives are not allowed to have any communication with the out side world and are under q system of close personal surveillance in order to prevent the theft of diamonds. When they come up from the mine shaft, they are carefully searched, and many in genious methods are adopted to reduce the loss from this source to a minimum.
 Notwithstanding all that is done, however, the theft of diamonds still continues. It is estimated that from 10 to 20 per cent of the diamonds found are stolen every year. Ill order to pre- vent thisa very stringent law was pass ed, providing that all rough diamonds should be registered with the detective bureau of the government as soon as they were found, and that every man who sold diamond must give with it certificate of registry
 "Tho penalty for having an unregis~ tered rough diamond is seven years on the Cape Town breakwater, and the mere fact of possession is prima facie evidence and will secure conviction. So it happens that if one laborer wants to do up another he manages to slip rough diamond into the other hborer's coat, or into his room, and then tells the police to keep sharp lookout Of course the police make a search, the coptraband stone is found, and the man is in for term of seven years. A great
 
 ably been secured ill this way, but de- spite tho opposition to the law the com pany is powerful enough to keep it fin force.
 "Thero are other diamond fields out side of the Kimberley district, but they arc difficult to work and are mainly ex- plotted ty diggers working on their own account. The total product is not large, H. kf, T: gers being mostly men who have been thrown It of work by the consolidation of thr nherley mines into one vast corpor : i'd the subsequent restric- tiOn rt ..ctiOn. This latter, by the way, has Lad curious effect upon the town of Kimberley itself. As late as four years ago Kimberley had q popula- tion of 9, 900 or 30, GOO people, It was laid out for a great city and enjoyed for q time big boom.
 "Fine brick blocks and residences were built, hotels and theaters and wa terworks and everything pertaining to q modern city. Now good third of these places are empty, and Kimberley is as dead as New England town that is dependent upon single mill. All tho supplies and machinery for the mines are now bought of course by . single company, so that more than twO-thirdS of the business of the town is gone. There is nothing there to sustain town except the mine, and with the opening up of the SoldtieldS much of the popu- lation moved on north to Johannesburg.
 Although the existence of gold i'll the Transvaal had been known for years, vet the BOrrS diSliked the invading prospectors and for a time kept them out by law. Afterward more liberal spirit prevailed, and the Boer govern ment offered reward for the finding of paying guldticldS. But it was not unti2 1882 that tho now celebrated gold bear ing reef i'll which the bulk of South Af- rican gold is found was discovered, and it was not until four years later that the opening of the celebrated Sheba mine and its phenomenal yield, gave riso to q fever. Then prOSpCCtOrS poured i'll from Kimberley and tho Cape, coming by push cart, wagon, horseback or OH foot. In wear there were 10, 900 persons i'll the district. The center of the excite mtmt Was ti.r little town of BarhCrton, but this $t't.,n was soon thrown into tho shade ly he discoveries on the Wit water; r,.::'i. But while the excitement lasted t!.r b. k;,;:p fcl;ls, as they were Known. h.;d their day and 96 com punjrs, Wlth Il nominal capital of $l15, OOO. 0"n, were tua'Id. and many of the sha",~; SnlI ;;t Il tremendous premium. Mu.t If I}'rs'' mines al" now abandoned, though tho ShrlH rino iS still big producer "--New>Surk Sun.