The evening times., 1896-10-17
GOLD In TRANSYAAL FIELD
More There to Be Mined Than There
Is Now in Use.
DR.. Becker Has Returned From Jo-
hannesburg and Gives an Interest
ing Account of the Country.

There is more gold i'll the TransYaal field
ready to be mined than the amount now in
use throughout the world, according to DIR.
George r. Becker, the chief expert OF the
United States Geological Survey, as re-
CARDS precious metais, who has recently
returned from Joha nnesburg, where his ex-
haustIye Investigations were in progress at
| the time of John Hays HammOnd's trial.
Most OF the Americans there, including
Hammond, had formerly been assistants or
pupils or DR.. Becker, and in great measure
his cablegrams 10 Secretary Olney assured
impartial trials TO our citizens
In a lecture yesterday before the Ma
tional Geographical Society on the Wit
watersrand nd the Uitlanders' revolt, nr.
Becker declared that the primary cause OF
the troubles in the Transvaal was the lack
OF sympathy between the extremely com
mercial industrial foreigners, OF Uitla nders,
and the bucOlic Beers
The Beers had made repeated and sx-
traordinary struggles for freedom from
English rule, anu regarded the influx Of
English to Johannesburg as a new and in
siGious form OF aggression. Their distrust
of the English was excusable on historical
grounds. The English, he said, had not
pursued a policy OF deliberate oppression
in South Africa. but they had made many
blunders. with effects as bad as If their
motive had been evil
Gold production on the Rand, DR.. Becker
said, began in 1887. Since then the town
of Johannesburg has grown up, with 81 900
whites and as many colored inhabitants,
according to a census in July. The number
or Beers III the Transyaal is probably only
about % 900 souls The laws OF the cuun-
try did not contemplate a large industrial
town, and the Beers have been slow to adj
just their ideas to the needs OF such u cum-
munity.
They dare not give the Uitisnders the
franchise, and their administration OF Jo-
hannesburg has been extremely faulty, Civ
ing rise TO a long list OF real grievances
on the part OF tie Uitlanders
Much of the maladministration is popII-
larly attributed to the numerous Hob
lander" or European Dutch officials. The
grievances, however affect the capt. alists-
far more than the other foreigners, who
really have little to complain OF, since they
are much better off than in any 9th er nli.
camp in the world.
The reforners laid no plot against tho
independence Of the republic, their idea
being TO frighten the administration into
redress of grievances, or at most to sub
stitute forcibly a IEore liberal adnlinistra-
tion for the present one.
Jameson's announcement that he would
raise the British nag was made only after
he had crossed the border in Contraveution
OF an explicit agreement with the leaders.
1t came as Il great shock to the rcformers,
and Hammond, the ok American among
the leaders, Immediately demanded and
obtained an oath of allegiance to be Trans
yaal flag from all the members Of the re-
form committee. Had he failed to ia ke this
step, the puFIshnents subsequently warded
To the reforners would have been much more
severe.
There were seven Americans among
the Reformers, but none of thenn> was in
the slightest degree Implicated in any
attempt TO overthrow the republic; they
took their punishment like American men,
and have done nothing to forfeit ;he re-
spect OF their countrymen.
Quiet now reigns in the TranSvaal. and
Dr. Becker believes that the reforms de
manded by a sense of justice will be
granted. though the franchise will he
withheld. The effect OF the disturbances.
however, has been to draw together the
powers throughout South Africa. and to
accentuate race feeling. The whole coun-
try is in state of tension. and a bluEder-
ing policy on the part OF the paramount
power would have unusually serious conse-
quences.