The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-10-31
THE KIMBERLEY DIAMONDS.
Output of Gems May BE Checked by the
Boer War.


The war in South Africa, besides mate
rally reducing the supply of gold for
time, may have similar effect upon dia-
monds.
Kimberley. which 1t is said the Beers
have invested and isolated from the out
side world, is the diamond region of the
world, far surprising those of Brazil in
richness. If the report of the investment
be true this is the most serious blow
which Kruger has struck at the CONNER
cial interests of Great Britain in South
Africa. Cecil Rhodes is in the town and
its defense will be stubborn. Kimberley
is not a city in the modern use of the
word. 1t is a great camp in which mems
passions rise and fall as the treasures of
earth are uncovered or not found. The
camp IS in what is called the Vaal basin,
the wash ground of the river which di-
vides the Transvaal from the Orange Free
State. The first diamond discoveries there
were made about 1870. but it was 10 years
later when the Englishmen and others
realized that the spot was the most valu-
able of its kind in the world.
BY 1851 the mines which had been open
ed had yielded gems to the value of 500
100000. By 1887 seven tons of diamonds
had been taken out, valued at $3.50, 200, 900.
This record placed the Brazil diamond
mines in the shade and made Kimberley
worldwide in its fame. The Cecil Rhodes
syndicate, known as the De Beers came
into control of all the mines after much
negotiation. This syndicate is capitalized
for $4,000 900 and pays interest at the rate
of 57s per cent. per annum and an annual
dividend of 20 per cent. Since Cecil
Rhodes came into control Of the mines
they have given out 2,50O,0O0 karats of
diamonds. To get at these it has been
necessary to wash 2,T00,00O loads of blue
earth in which they are found.
In the working of these diamond mines
4, nt>1 ol~1 III ~
and 5000 natives. The greater proper
ton of these men are employed in the De
Beers and Kimberley mines, the two big
gest holes which greedy man has ever
dug into the earth. The De Beers mine
has an area at the surface of 10 acres
and depth of $50 feet. The mines are
worked from shafts sunk some distance
from the original holes and penetrating
the blue ground by transverse drivings
at depths varying from 800 to 1900 feet.
The blue ground. when extracted, is car
ried in small iron trunks to the levels.
Upon these levels the blue ground is
worked until the gems within are ex-
tracted. The process of extracting takes
from three to six months. The stones
vary in size from pin head to the largest
ever found-42S1a karats. This largest
stone when cut weighed 22Sl5 karats. 1t is
one of the experiences of the mine owners
that they lose from 10 to 10 per cent. of
thefts of employees, who, although closely
watched. still manage to get away with
their loot. The punishment for stealing
a diamond is 10 years imprisonment. All
diamonds except those which pass
through Illicit channels are sent to Eng
land, the weekly shipments averaging
from 10000 to $4,000 karats The greatest
outlet for stolen diamonds is through the
Transvaal to Natal. where they are ship
ped by respecta bile merchants. ,
1t is said of the Rhodes interests in the
mines that they take good care Of their
workmen. They have built a model vii
lage called Kenilworth within the pre-
cincts of the mines. In this village are
cottages for the white workmen. A club
house has been built for their use and
there is a public library. The equipment
of the mines is something remarka Bile.
Each mine has 10 circuits of electric
lights. They consist of SO arc lamps of
1000 candle-power each and 1851 glow
lamps of 16 and GA candle-power each. or
total illuminating power of about $4,000
candles. Thirty telephones are located in
each mine and more than 100 electric bells
to each for signaling The lives of the
workmen are insured and every precau-
ton is taken to make their condition toll
cradle. The rate of wages runs from 81
to SIS per day, unskilied labor receiving
the lower price.
What effect the closing of the mines by
war will have on the world at large it is
hard to say. Diamonds have already
risen in price, but there is a large stock
on hand in English and French hands.
OF course all labor has ceased at Kimber-
ley and If the Beers get into the mines
they may win rich prizes. The town is
said to be well fortified and prepared for
a long siege. Anexpedition to relieve it
may leave Cape Town at any time.