The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-01-10
HE SAYS THERE'S AN EXODUS
FROM CAPE BON EsPERANcE- TO
THE NEWEST DISCOVERED
GOLD REGION.
GOSSIP OF THE CITY HOTELS.
:" no were Registered at the Inns of
MinnesOta's Capital for the
Sabbath.


representing English capital, is regis
tered at the Ryan. Mr. Watts is direct
from Cape Colony, South Africa, where
he has been for a number of years,
and is now on his way to the Pacific
coast, where he will form a company to
go into the Alaskan gold fields. Mr..
watts Will meet two other English
men interested in the scheme, and they
will determine what method to take to
get into the gold country. Mr.. Watts
says his associate in the undertaking is
now on the coast arranging for the
transportation of supplies to the Klon-
dixie. Mr.. Watts further states that
they have new scheme for getting
over the mountains, but declined to
state just what the nature of the plan
was. He did, however, say to
b e man yesterday that, while they
had great faith in the ultimate success
of the undertaking, they had not given
the device sufficient trial to enable
them to say, without a doubt, that it
would be successful
Mr.. Watts says there are many Eng
lishmen coming to the United States
from South Africa with a view to go
ing to Klondike next spring The gold
mines there have not prospered he
says, since the boom fell out of the
South African country. nor have any of
the industries into which so many mil
lions of English capital were invested
a number of years ago. The mines
there are what are known as quartz
mines, and the quartz from which the
gold is refined is taken from a depth
of from 700 to 1000 feet. These mines,
the largest and most important of
which are situated in the Transvaal,
some $50 miles from the Cape, were
located at great expense and risk. They
were put in, according to Mr. Watts,
when the country was new, that is,
to the white man, and when the coun-
try was in an unsettled state. They
were the most expensive kind of an in
Vestment, and, while many of them had
made money on the investment others
had not done as well, as it cost a great
deal of money to operate them after
they had been located and a shaft put
in. 1t is for this reason, Mr.. Watts
thinks, that SO many Englishmen who
were engaged in gold mining in South
Africa have come to the United States
to start anew in new field. One thing
which has been a special inducement
to Englishmen was the comparative
cheapness of locating and operating
mines in Alaska. In the event of
satisfactory arrangement on the Pacific
coast, Mr.. Watts and his associates
will operate on osome of the many
creeks tributary to the Yukon river.
Mr.. Watts, when approached by
G o b e man yesterday at the Ryan
hotel, proved a most interesting con-
iSt
lands across the ocean. He was espe-
cially familiar with the situation of
the Southern colonies of Africa He is
thoroughly English and has peculiar
dialect not characteristic of the Eng
fish, but acquired by constant associa-
ton with mixed population of French,
Dutch and English.
Another industry which still contin-
ued to rank among the first OF Southern
Africa was the mining of diamonds, the
principal mines being located in the
vicinity of Kimberly Mr.. Watts says
the help employed in these mines are
wholly negroes, Iand that they have an
iron-clad system toaguard against the
theft of stones by employees. No one
except licensed dealers is permitted to
have the possession of diamonds in the
rough, and If they are found in the pos
session of an unauthorized person they
are liable Ito imprisonment in the
breakwater This is government
regulation, There is more money in
this industry than in the gold mines.
Ostrich feathers are the principal ex-
ports of severapcof 1.-THE countries of
South Africa. Mr.. Watts further said
that since so many fortunes had been
picked UP in this country the trade
had gone back TO itsonormal state and
the bulk of commerce in this part of
61,nv n Cd
the legitimate channels of trade. There
was little Specializing in any part Of
Southern Africa now.
Mr.. Watts says a railroad has recent
ly been built from Delagoa bay, the
point where all steamers from England
make their Southern African terminus
to the TransVaal, giving that country
direct communication with England.
1t will also enable the mining compa-
MES to get their coal and dynamite into
the TransVaa1 at a great deal cheaper
rate. Another railroad is being built
from the cape up into Mashonaland.
which will do much towards increasing
direct commerce with the natives in
land.
There are very few dressmakers in
Southern Africa, Mr. Watts says; in fact
there is no necessity for them, as the
native ladies are not at all particular
about their appeal. Most any old thing
VIII w u wear, lnat is Wnen they come
to town, but when they go rabbit hunt
ing they discard their suspenders and
belt. There is law which regulates
the blacks living in the cities, compell-
ing them all to be in town by o'clock,
and none are allowed outside of the
city without permit. Some of the
Zulu prfncesses down there think they
are dressed up when they have a cam
paign umbrella, a silk hat and a leather
belt, and never fail to create consterna-
ton among their Ethiopian admirers
But when they get without the confines
Of the city where the English rule is
dominant, they hide even these under
tom-tom drumS