The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-03-04

Been Mined For Years In This Country, |
but the Work Is 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 proenos-
tications of several large diamond mer-
chants and mineralogical professors are
fulfilled. The census bulletin giving the
statistics of the precious stones found IN
this country opened the eyes OF q number
of millionaire dealers in valuable gems,
and after consulting with learned profess
ors in our leading colleges they satisfied
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 Appalachian
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 difficult matter to
sift the genuine accounts from the ficti-
tiuus. 1t was for the purpose OF finding
out the 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 exaggeration 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-
vealed 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, as rule, are very 1ond OF
precious stones, and l should say that
there are more in this country according
|
world. The importation of diamonds,
rubies. sapphires and other gems has con-
seauently been 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, 600, 900. We have SO long de
pended upon other countries to supply III
with precious minerals that little attention
has been given to the home mines. Their
0 miners here have been wrapped up In theil
3 explorations for gold, silver, iron, coal
oil and such products that they have no
T had time to think of other things. Blu
the promise of future shortening OF tn
; supply of all the leading gems has mad
Q dealers look around for other sources.
"Another thing that attracted our at
0 tention was the wonderful supply OF rar
q minerals found in the Appalachian system
D of mountains. Not only gold, but genuin
J, sauphires and scores of other stones hav
u been found in those mountains. AT tn
g Corundum hill over 100 beautiful saI
phires have been discovered accidentali
/ while mining for other products. Thes
8 stones have sold from $50 to 500 and ny
ward. In the same state, In Alexandri
county, beautiful specimens of the emeral
have been found, both the aquamarin
and yellow boryl There are now sewers
emerald and hiddenite mines worked
y that place, but only on small scale an
d chiefly to supply institutions with roug
1t specimens Nevertheless from $40, 00o
II SEQ, 900 worth of these stones have pee
y sold from these mines In the past Re
I years. Splendid garnets and few oil
re monds have also been excavated In the
a. North Carolina mineral fields, and art
We an exhaustive examination of the grour
s the conclusion has been reached that d
IS fore long startling disclosures OF precio'
ne stones will be made In the Appalachia
es mountains. We may yet have q Sou'
African diamond field Mt our door.
"Other parts Of the south have al
% been found to contain precious stone
I'd True beryls and garnets OF considerap
n value have been located In Virginia, al
Id there are several we'll defined distric
where small specimens Of diamonds ma
been found in Georgia.
re "In the west and southwest the miner
fields are even more extensive. Californ
j. diamond mines are the LARGEST and 90