The times., 1899-11-20
WAR ADVANCE IN DIAMONDS:
Eject of the BritfSb-Boer Struggle
on the Price

Eject of the Britfsh-Boer Struggle
on the Price.
That the cost of diamonds in the rough
has been affected already by the trouble
in the Transvaal seems to be an assured
fact, judging from information received
from New York by number of
prominent dealers in the stones in
this city. That the general public
viii have TO pay a much larger price
for the cut jewels seems. however, to be
open to reasonable doubt The leading re-
taileTs say that the advance, if any, will be
slight and they cite the fact of a good
supply as the reason for that way Of think
ing. Several prominent retailers who were
asked yesterday said that there are enough
diamonds in New York and throughout the
country TO meet any demand that may
arise.
Among wholesalers there is an inclina-
tion TO look a the far future possibilities
rather than at actual conditions suggested
by the present. For instance, one man
went so far as to make his deduction de-
pend entirely upon the fall OF Kimberley,
and he argued entirely from the standpoint
that the mines had passed into foreign
hands. Another man said that diamonds
would surely reach a price that would be
prohibitive as far as the general public
is tDuttiLtI. bCtuASt 4C bGlAe tA AIGb L1S
war would not be a matter of months, but
Of years.
One dealer said: 1T is not unlikely that
there may be further rise in the price of
diamonds. but il will be small in all prob
ability There has already been a rise on
some stones. and. again, on others there
is no advance at all. The rise has been a
natural one It has been caused in the
first place by the fact that in order to get
the stones il is necessary to go down deeper
nowadays, and the cost of production has
been necessarily increased. Then there has
been an unusual call for stones In gen
eral diamonds can be sold today at no
greater advance than from 10 to Is per cent
over old prices. l have heard of jewelers.
who want an advance of from 40 10 so per
cent but in almost every such case it has
been unwaTTanted.
Il think il is true, as has been said, that
the syndicate still has some stones on hand
that it is holding back. II is only natural
that they should speculate on the future
I But these men who have advanced on the
prospect of Kimberley's being taken are
. dscouuting something that may not occur
There is another factor that Will tend
to keep the market price from being ex-
/ cessiye Many diamonds are owned by in
dividuals. and with the prospect of a good
"
balance will be established in the market
if necessary. There Is no danger of prohibi-
tive prices We have no fear that we will
not be able TO get all the diamonds We
need Il may be worth mentioning now
that the people who are thinking OF buying
diamonds for Christmas won't find the price
much greater than at a time when it was
much more difficult to pay for them"
Another dealer said that the syndicate
had ceased It's custom OF quoting prices on
/ demand. and sent word to prospective Gus
toners that prices would be made when
/ The goods were shown He said that the
/ supply in this country was large enough 10
/ last for some time and that although the
/ importers had been obliged to pay advances
| on their stocks he was inclined TO think
! that the retail buyers would not be ma
terially affected at present He said that
/ diamonds had advanced fully 90 per cent
/ in year, and that within one month there
/ had been two advances Of Is per cent.
I
An Aged Woman Sues for Divorce.
NEW YORK. Nov. l9-Mrs Freaerica
| Heisser, seventy-two years old has begun
/ suit for divorce from her husband, Jacob.
! who is six years her senior. Counsel for
/ the aged woman appeared before Supreme
! Court Judge Garretson. in Long Island
! City, yesterday and made application for
| alimony ana counsel fees pending the trial
| OF the action. Judge Garretson took the
! papers in the case, and reserved decision.
/ In her complaint Mrs. Heisser states that
/ she was married on May q, 1883, in ia
maica, and that she lived with her hus-
! band until April s, 1898. She was forced
TO leave her husband, she alleges because
| Of his cruel and inhuman treatment Of her.
| It is quite safe to predict that people de
! ccived when they ask Tor dark OF light and
| are made to believe that they are drinking Heu-
| nchs when in fact they are drinking infer
! Tor grade OF beer instead Of Maerzen, Senate or
1 I...n- 4. L.. IL. 4 4 IL