The San Francisco call., 1895-07-20

same reef when it had been developed
later, that led Hamilton Smith, the we'll
known American mining engineer, to de-
clare that There have often been mines of
short length far richer than these of the
Rand, but nothing approaching them ever
have been, so far as regularity and extent
are concerned.
Character of the Gold Deposit.
''The deposit is held in broad bed or
vein that takes the shape of something
like an enormous bowl. So it happens
that the same deposit will be found at
deep level some miles away from the out
crop of the reef. The English law is that
claim extends into the earth on vertical
lines and not according to the strike of
the vein as in the American system.
So, knowing that the vein could
be tapped at distance, an AM
erican engineer, Hennen Jennings, con-
ceived the idea of sinking long shaft at
distance from the main reef. This was the
beginning of the deep level work
ings and from these many of the
richest mines have been and are now being
developed. The value of the gold in the
Rand field, which is now practically 'in
sight reaches the billions. Hamilton
Smith estimated that along the stretch of
eleven miles of the main reef which he
drills to the depth of 500 feet Zone mile)-
there were at least 100O00,000 tons which
would yield 60,000,000 ounces of gold, or
value of ELS, 100000. He estimated that
the mines outside of this area would pro-
duce half as much more or a total
of something like 81, 100000 in
all. This, on an entirely conserva-
tive estimate. Since the opening up of
the deep levels this estimate has been
RI inp nn1u nf 40
demonstrated wealth of the Rand. So,
when you consider that from 1849 to 1892
the entire gold product of California was
less than 81 400,000,000 you get something
of an idea of the untold riches that lie
beneath the few square miles embraced in
the Rand. Smith estimated that the Rand's
output of gold would reach eighty or hun
dred millions by the end of the century.
1t is now not improbable that his predic-
ton will be realized.
A Toacn Remoped to Get at the Gold.
"When the Rand was first opened UP,
town was forthwith established right on
top of the reef, but when later it was found
that underneath the streets and stores
were valuable beds of gold, the Govern
ment opened up town site little dis
tance away, selling the lots at auction, or
rather selling ninety-nine-year leases.
y
increased enormously in value. This
was the beginning of Johannesburg.
When the town was first laid out
all the supplies and machinery
for the mines had to be brought from the
seaboard and for 800 miles of the distance
were carried in OK wagons. By the end of
1899 the Capetown railroad was built in
and now two others have been completed
through. The city is well laid out and
presents now very pleasing and attrac-
tive appearance. 1t is modern in every de-
tail. and is busy and growing place. The
mines extend along the reef for some
miles in either direction, and their big
crushers and the chimney-stacks of the
engine-houses stand out boldly against
the horizon. The mines are equipped with
immense stamp batteries, and these, with
the great furnace houses, the chlorination
and cyanide works, with the adjacent res
ervoirs of tailings and of shines, following
one after another over the grassy depths
and rises of the country for miles and
miles, present scene unparalleled in any
part of the world.
''The mineral wealth of the Transvaal,
however is not confined to the Witwaters-
rand. There are other gold fields along
the northern and eastern edge of the re-
public and not very far distant from Jo-
hannesburg are extensive coalmines. These
latter occur not in a mountainous country,
but right in the midst of farming and
stock-raising area, and the big dumps piled
up contrast strangely with the purely agri-
cultural character of the country. Silver,
copper and lead are likewise to be found in
the Transvaal although the silver mines
are not worked much nowadays on account
of the low price of silver. They probably
will be developed in few years, with the
extension of railroads and the cbeapening
of transportation" CARL SNYDER.