The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-04-03
ABOUT DARKEST AFRICA
Mr.. Healy Advises Whites to Keep
Away From There
HARD ON PROJECTORS
Many Who Are in That Country
Long to Return to a Free and
Independent Country-Off
for Alaska.

ana enjoyed an hours pleasant converse
ton with him. Mr.. Healy, who is a
brother of John ]. Healy, formerly sheriff
of Choteau county, and of Thomas L.
Healy, clerk of the district court of Cho-
teau county. was formerly prominent
figure in the commercial life of Northern
Montana, and has just returned to the
head of navigation after an absence of
eight years, the greater portion of which
time was spent in the gold fields of South
Africa. In the interview Mr.. Healy
said:
II left Montana in 1887, Immediately
ester the completion of the Great North
ern railway to Fort Benton, and in a short
time took a vessel for South Africa, par
ticularly the Transvaal. Landing, l trav-
eled by rail to the Portuguese frontier,
where, through the medium of customs
house officers. / secured the services of a
number of Kafflrs and travelled inland 50
miles, over a park-like country, to the
town OF Barbeton, on q tributary of
Queens river, and tho center of the min
ing district.
II arrived just after the great excite
ment attendant upon reported discover
les of gold had subsidized and stagnation
and retrogression had begun. The Sheba
company was operating the only mill then
in operation, employing 60 stamps. 1t
was the product of the Fraser & Chalmers
mandatory at Chicago and had been
purchased at Zoo, half the cost of its
transportation into the district. The mines
are at distance of four miles from the
mill, and the ore is brought down by an
Otis aerial ropeway. The mill will be re-
moved to the mine and electric power
will be transmitted to operate it.
SIhara are gold laada all ovar tho oottn.
try but there is only the Sheba mill oper-
ating. 1t is owned by English capitalists,
Arthur Chambers of London being mana
ger and director. The mine was opened
by Frank Hammond, formerly of San
Francisco. and of the Treadwell mine,
Alaska. After his death fro m the dread
fever, Chris Curry was placed in charge.
Mr.. Curry was formerly in the Home
stake, in the Black Hills, and has often
travelled over the Benton-Helena trail.
at may seem strange that this is the
only mill operating in district with so
many good leads, but it is explained by
the fact that English capitalists, who once
invested their money in the development
of the country, fare sick of it, Tales
of fabulous richness caused great excite
ment and a sudden influx of whites. The
reaction set in and the country is paralyzed
and no one knows when it will recover
certainly not for years. There is no
chance for a prospector. No matter how
rich a claim he might h ave, he could not
dispose of it at any price. The Trans
yaal government exacts an annual license
from prospectors for every claim, and the
laws are not as liberal as the mining laws
of the United States. These adverse con-
ditions prevail throughout Africa and l
advise everyone to keep away. If a man
has means 10 develop his property, or to
insure his escape in time to save his life,
he may 60.
There is absolutely no demand for
white labor. Skilled labor is the only
white labor necessary and the supply now
exceeds the demand. At the Sheba mill
there are 600 blacks and only nine whites,
The blacks are paid partly in cash and
partly in provisions and the total amounts
10 about 81 per day. The cost of living is
high. Table board is $40 per month, for
good board. 1t is necessary to live we'll
to ward off the fever. Beef is about the
same price as in Montana. Flour was S.
per hundred when left, and the duty has
since been raised. 1t comes mainly from
Australia. Canned fruit is shipped from
California and consequently is high.
"The population comprises few whites.
They have a hard struggle for life on ac-
count of the fever. This is caused by the
decomposing neutrality-suspicious. a
coarse, long, rye-grass, of (which the Kaf-
frs construct their huts. Its growth is
luxuriant but it early decays and causes
malaria and other fevers, which are often
fatal. Women and children are few, for
it requires strong constitutions to resist
the privations and diseases.
AT Johannesburg. the climate is bet
ter. The altitude is greater, and tho sur
face resembles the prairies of Montana.
Johannesburg supports a population of
$1,000 whites. 1t appears that in this whole
section of country but one lode is to be
found. Prospectors have zealously
searched, but nothing has been found
outside of the main lode. There is a sur
plus of whites. There is no hope for pros
pectors and no demand for even skilled |
labor. Many whites are in Africa to-day;
but they would leave it if they could. |
They will work along until the fever |
claims them, and they will leave behind |
less than they had when they began.
"Since returning home / notice that the |
government has decreed that |
no foreign silver coin shall circulate in |
the Transvaal. This is in retaliation on |
Great Britain, which refused to ACCEPT |
Transvaal coin-for Transvaal has its |
own mints and national banks. The peo-
pie are mostly Beers, and do not mingle |
with other inhabitants, except in COM
merce.
The diamond field at Kimberley have
proved alluring TO many. / want to warn |
all against going there. In the mines all |
labor is done by blacks. and a man must |
pay license to prospect in the river. |
When he has prospected and finally |
found a stone-for they are few in the |
river-he must hoard the proceeds in con-
slant fear that he cannot find another |
and will starve.
The Charter company of British South I
Africa is seeking TO induce immigration |
INTO Mashonoland, north of the Trans
gaal. This is an ancient mining country.
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