Daily Kennebec journal., 1895-03-19
JEWELS OF OUR OWN.
MAY BE MANY MILLIONS OF AMERICAN
PRECIOUS STONES.


Field ct Our Doors--Rare Gems Have
u.en Mined For Years In This Country,
INIT tho work Il to Be Enlarged.
The next great mining industry in this
country will be for precious stones instead
of gold, silver or iron ore If the prognos-
tications of several large diamond mer-
chants and mineralosical professors are
fulfilled. The census bulletin giving the
statistics of the precious stones found IN
this country opened the eyes OF number
of millionaire dealers in valuable gems,
and after consulting with learned profess
ors in our leading colleges they satsneu
themselves that there were unknown pos
sibilities in the mines of the western,
southern and even eastern states. Experts
were Immediately engaged to examine the
rich metallic fields of the Appalachlan
mountains, the most favorable portions OF
the Rocky mountains and the diamond
districts of California.
So many wildcat stories have been re-
ported and published about finding pre-
cious stones in different parts of the coun-
try that it has been a difficult matter to
sift the genuine accounts from the 1ictl-
tiuus. 1t was for the purpose of finding
out tho real status of the industry and its
possibilities that trustworthy agents were
sent exploring every part of the country,
and their reports can be relied upon as not
containing any exaggcration of the truth.
Diamond merchants of the great American
cities are not ''castle builders" and they
generally strike rock bottom before they
invest their millions in any business, but
ever since the report was published that
the diamond fields of South Africa were
giving out the leading dealers in precious
stones have been on the lookout for new
mines that would supply the world with
valuable gems. Some looked to South
America as the future source of these
stones, and even today the rocky ranges
Of the Andes are being examined and
sounded by experts. But consensus OF
opinion indicates that great faith is placed
in the unexplored regions of this country.
Parts of the south, in particular, have re-
yealed unexpected treasures OF valuable
gems.
One of the leading dealers in precious
stones who is interested in the present
movement to develop the industry OF min
ing for American gems consented to give
the following facts out in an interview:
Americans, us a rule, are very fond OF
precious stones, and l should say that
there are more in this country according
to the population than anywhere in the
world. The importation of diamonds,
rubies, sapphires and other gems has con-
sequently been a very lucrative business
for many years. The value of these stones
in the country today, mostly imported,
should roughly estimate to be not less
than $500, 900, 900. We have so long de-
pended upon other countries to supply us
with precious minerals that little attention
has been given to the home mines. Then
miners hero have been wrapped upin their
explorations for gold, silver, iron, coal,
oil and such products that they have not
had time to think of other things But
the promise of Is future shortening of the
supply of all the let ing gems has made
dealers look around Tor other sources.
"Another thing that attracted our at
tention was tho wonderful supply of rare
minerals found in the Appalachian system
of mountains. Not only gold, but genuine
sapphires and scores of other stones have
been found in those mountains. At the
Corundum hill over 100 beautiful sap
phires have been discovered accidentally
while mining for other products. These
stones have sold from $50 to 500 and up
ward In the same state, in Alexandria
county, beautiful specimens of the emerald
have been found, both the aquamarine
and yellow Beryl There are now several
emerald and hiddenite mines worked in
that place, but only Oh small scale and
chiefly to supply institutions with rough
specimens Nevertheless from $40, 900 to
$40, 600 worth of these stones have been
sold from these mines i'll the past few
years Splendid garnets and few dia
monds have also been excavated in these
North Carolina mineral fields, and after
an exhaustive examination of tho ground
the conclusion has been reached that be-
fore long startling disclosures of precious
stones will be made in tho Appalachian
mountains. We may yet have a South
African diamond field at our door.
"O.hcr parts of tho south havo also
been found to contain precious stones.
True bcryls and garncts of considerable
value have been located in Virginia, and
there are several well defined districts
where small specimens of diamonds have
been found in Georgia.
I'm the west and southwest the mineral
fields are even moro extensive California
diamond mines are the largest and so far
the richest in this country. Some fine
specimens have been brought to us to cut,
and others are constantly being brought
in by prospectors and mine owners to test
Many stories have been circulated about
diamond fields and mines in California,
and adventurers have gone there expecting
to pick them up as they did gold 40 years
ago. Their disappointment spread coun-
ter reports. and most people concluded
that diamonds in California were ficti-
tious. The fact is that mining for dia-
monds must be conducted on scientific