davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-30
The Supply of Diamonds is Growing
Less Every Year,
WHILE TIE DEMAND Is INCREASING
Profits That Accrue From Restrict
ing the Annual Output.
PROSPECTING NEW FIELDS

Written for The Evening Star.
The price of diamonds is going up, and
this is why:
One day about ten years ago Barney Bar
nato, who began life in South Africa as a
peddler of cheap jewelry and ended it (by
his own acO as the diamond king, pro-
posed to Cecil Rhodes that they put all the
diamonds at Kimberley in pail.
Good enough" said the continent grab
Der. Pour them in. I'd like to see how
they look
Barnato placed a large bucket on one of
the sorting tables in the main office, and
into that dumped all the rough diamonds
that had been mined during the year 1889.
They filled it to the brim.
Now he said. TN buy that bucket of
diamonds from you, Rhodes, just as they
are, unsorted.
The two quickly agreed upon a price. and
then and there was laid the foundation Of
the famous diamond syndicate which is
now attracting the attention of the gem
wearing public. for when Barnato packed
up the stones and sent them to London
and Amsterdam it required the experts
there three months to accomplish the sort
ing, and in that period diamonds became
so scarce on the market that they began
to bring fancy prices. Mr.. Rhodes who
can awaken to such opportunity with
out being roughly jolted, saw it was a
good thing. and since then his syndicate
has been buying up the Kimberley diamond
crop in advance, doing out the stones as
II sees fit
The product is now arranged for until
June. 1900. and if the demand for these
sparkling haubleS continues to increase no
one can say what diamonds will be worth
a year from now. The De Beers CONSOLE
dated Mines Company has the world at its
mercy. Not enough diamonds are pro-
IN prI7 A1---r 1sr, I.
tered localities to supply the demand Of
the city of Philadelphia alone. The jew
elers in Maiden Lane say that the market
value of stones is already 20 per cent
higher than IL WAS 3 wear ago. with inlica-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-30


tions he has by letter His last instruc-
lions were to decrease the output for the
next twelve months, which will according
ly be done.
Wants q Model City.
Mr. Williams is about fifty years old, OF
imposing figure and kindly face. He holds
the position of American consular agent at
Kimberley and any reputable citizen VINO
lands there is sure of good treatment. IN
Kimberley he is the whole show. to use the
miners description. His ambition is to es-
tabIish a city where each man Will own MS
own home and make enough money TO I'VE
in comfort To this end he mas Degun
model village on the outskirts OF kimberley
which is called kenilworth here thefe ~ c
tary arrangements, which the employees
can rent for two pounds ten sni!iihes per
month and purchase on installments. 1nere
are special buildings for bachelors ana an
excellent cub house, with billiard rooms. Ii
brary and all the other appointments. Inc
village is threaded by wide drlveways
fianked with eucalyptus oak, cypress anu
pine trees.
only a small part of this enterprsing Amer
leans services to the De Beers CoHoahy.
Every day he goes over the three Hililes
now being operated. namely, the kimberley
De Beers and the Premier. The Bulttontain
and Dutoitspan though controlled by the
company. not worked lie visits inc
convict station, the various dSpar t1nentS VI
each NINE practically handles every ola
mond shipped from the country, and in gen
eraI takes care of his family, which con-
sists of 1000 native Africans and 2.OVO
white miners.
Digging for the Gems.
Mining diamonds requires more kinds OF
attention than any other Industry, ana MI
Williams has his work cut out for him. lie
knows exactly how many loads are haul
ed ont each day and how many feet Oh piue
Garth have been excavated. This blue clay
is the home of the diamond. 1t runs IN
veins and the process is to sink smart anu
blast along levels at distances regulated SO
that one will not fail through on another
below. The De Beers mine mas no" Deem
carried down to and beyond I,3oU leet anu
The Kimberley to $50 feet. The Premier IS
less rich than these two. but has larger
area and is very easily worked. SO tilat d
much lower cost of production compenSates
for a smaller yield.
The amount OF blue ground reported as
in sight was estimated at that time as
3.OooGJU loads in the De Beers and 4,0o9,G0
in the Kimberley; While in the Premier there
We're . 100, 900 loads above the 12o-foot level
and 4,O00000 loads brought to view by fur
Their exploration to 161 feet, in all 6,2l5,00J
loads The total in the three mines would
thus be over 100000 loads. That Is
enough TO keep them busy at Kimberley for
five years, but Mr.. Rhodes IS cautious and
advocates a constant diminutlon In the
yearly output for fear that this vein of
blue ground may suddenly be exhausted
and humanity deprived Of its supply of dia-
monds.
He has also instructed Mr.. Williams to
tighten the watch against diamond thiev
Ing. for when the employees learn that the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-30
The worI, of an American.

Contrary to the general impression, the
man whom the directors of this company
hold responsible for its prosperity is not
Cecil j. Rhodes He is not even an En-
glishman. but thorough whole-souled
American who has displayed such wonder
full managerial talent that the stockhold-
ers look to him, as it were. for their year
ly dividends.
Gardner F. Williams. though COMPARE
lively unknown in this country, is one of
the few prominent characters in South
Africa. for he is head and front of the
diamond industry and has metamorphos-
ed the town of Kimberley from a strag-
Cling settlement into a model city He Is
so greatly valued by the De Beers Com
pany that he Is given carte blanche in the
management of the mines and no one ever
questions his actions. He has often re-
Quested them to accept his resignat ton,
but on each occasion the directors Increase
his salary for him to remain. As for Mr.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-30

Rhodes, he seldom comes to Kimberley
these days and makes whatever sugges-
tions he has by letter. His last instruc-
lions were to decrease the output for the
next twelve months, which will according
" be done.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-30

z. To 8.
There was therefore nearly sS.ooo,00 TO
divide among the stockholders in the De
Beers Consolidated for the year 1898. and
these fortunate persons will be enriched in
a still greater proportion when the accounts
for 1899 are cast.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-19
A THING OF THE PAST.
Miners Have Gone to Work and Coal
Is Plentiful.

The coal famine is practically thing of
the past, and now everybody, from the
great furnaces down to the smallest house.
keeper, is getting all the fuel needed. All
of the miners have gone back to work and
the mines are running at their full capac-
ity.
The three furnaces at Ensley and those
at Bessemer which were closed down the
first OF the week-that is, had their fires
banked-on account of the small amount
of coal on hand, have resumed operations,
and now have enough coal in sight to keep
them running indefinitely.
Most OF the coal yards in the city re-
ceived large consignments of coal yester-
day, and there need be no further want
among the housekeepers of the city for
this necessity. Those citizens who during
the past week have been so unfortunate
as to be out of coal have been having a
hard time, particularly those living on the
outskirts of the city and in the suburbs.
The dealers, most of them, have shown
great Partially to the consumers living
near the yard, who could be easily supplied
There has been a good deal of complaint
i'm this connection from many of the con-
sumers, who claim that the prices have
been outrageously advanced. In many
cases some of the coal yards have demand
ed as much as "a a ton for the precious
stuff.
But all of this seems to be over now and
this week, certainly by Wednesday or
Thursday, Birmingham will have all the
coal it wants.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-19
FINED $25
Doctors Have Kellogg. the Osteopath
Arrested

! The doctors, as a general thing, do not
believe in osteopathy, and DR.. II. G. Kei-
logg has felt the strength of their antipa-
thy in the sum of SIS. DR.. Kellogg, who is
an osteopath, was arrested for practicing
medicine without license, on a warrant
sworn out by DR.. j. w. Barclay at the In
stigation of the Jefferson County Medical
society. He was found guilty of the charge
and fined $50 as a penalty.
Judge Greene, of the criminal court, ap-
pointed Attorney E. X. Campbell as a spec
tal judge to hear the case, and the proceed
ings were before him.
After a careful survey of the evidence,
Judge Campbell came to the conclusion that
Kellogg was guilty and accordingly imposed
the fine upon him.
The physicians do not believe in the prac-
tce OF osteopathy and think 1t Is a violation
of the state law, which requires one to hold
q diploma from a medical college and also
pass the examination of a competent board
of physicians before he can be admitted
TO the practice of medicine
The defendant in the case was not sat
isfied with Judge Campbell's decision and
took an appeal. The case will now be tried
before Judge Green In the regular criminal
court
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-19
HE QUALIFIED.
Peace Is Declared in the City Sanitary
Department.

The heated discussion which the city
council INDUCED in Friday night with re-
gard to the sanitary inspector of Bir-
mingham, had it's sequel yesterday morning,
when DIR. Robert Gotten, the official in
question, went before Mayor Evans, took
the necessary OATH and took all the other
steps necessary for qualify .ng. He there
upon entered, officially on the duties CT
his office.
1t will be remembered that Dr. Gotten
was appointed sanitary inspector for Biz
minghan by the board of health several
weeks ago, but a strong complaint was reg
istered at Friday gifts meeting of the
board, because he had never been to see
Mayor Evans to take the oath of office and
to get his instructions. DR.. Cotten's visit
yesterday morning, was the outcome of the
councils action. He explained his con-
duct by saying that he did not know that
any such formalities were necessary, else
he would have complied with them long
ago.
He stated Furthermore, that he and Gen.
eral Thomas, his assistant. had been around
the city hall repeatedly and had been
constantly at work looking after the city s
welfare and health. They have been seeing
that all of the garbage was hauled away
properly and have been attending to all
the other duties of their offices.
According to a resolution passed by the
board Friday night, Mr.. Virgins, who has
been connected with the sanitary depart
ment for some time will be continued in
office until the first of March, If not longer
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-19
INVITATION EXTENDED
Lord Charles Beresford to Visit Thi
District

An invitation has been extended to Lord
Charles Beresford, the noted Englishman.
who is now travelling through this country.
to find out the opinion of the various in
dustrial and commercial bodies of the
country on the open door, policy which
England has adopted with regard to China
and the other countries of the Orient. The
following letter was sent to him yesterday.
care of the New York Chamber of COM
merce, by President Steiner of the Com
mercial club:
I'm behalf of the Commercial club of
Birmingham, and of the wide and extended
business interests 1t represents, / have the
honor and the pleasure of extending to
you a most hearty and cordial invitation
to visit Birmingham and its mineral dis
trict before you return to England, at any
date you may fix that conforms to your
previous engagements.
You will find the manufacturers and
exporters of this district are vitality con-
cerned In the open door policy in
eastern markets that you SO ably advocate
as the representative of the Federated
Chambers of Commerce of England, and l
can promise you their hearty cooperation
In your efforts to extend our trade.
You will find in this manufacturing dis
trict similar industries to those in Great
Britain, and you will receive such a cor
dial welcome that you win feel perfectly
at home"
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-19

WILL MEET TOMORROW.
Carnival Society Will Set Date For
Celebration.

There is a prospect of an earlier cele-
bration of the postponed carnival than was
at first anticipated. 1t now seems prob
able that the festivities will take place on
April 10 and II, instead of waiting until
May.
A majority of the society members have
expressed themselves as being In favor of
this plan and such an action will probably
be taken at the meeting next Monday ey-
ening in the rooms of the Commercial club.
The following letter has been sent to each
member of the Carnival society:
Birmingham, Ala. February 49, 1899
Dear Sir: You are earnestly requested
to attend the annual meeting of the Biz
mingham Carnival society, on Monday, Feb
ruary 20, at o'clock p. M, at the rooms of
the Commercial club. This meeting is very
important, as it will decide the fate of fu-
ture carnivals and take action regarding
the postponed festivities. A general report
VIII be rendered and an election of officers
will take place. If the society resolves to
E. LESSER, President.
L. BRAUN, Secretary.
The future of the society is also in ques-
tion and this meeting will no doubt be well
attended This matter will be settled at the
meeting and if celebration is decided on,
officers viii be elected for the ensuing year.
Some suggestions have been made that
hereafter the celebration be held in the fall
instead of winter as the weather Is very
uncertain at the usual time of Mardi Gras.
As the fall weather is usually warm and
pleasant there would be no obstacles in the
way of successful celebration.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-19
PERSONAL.

Graham Parker. of Tuscaloosa, is in the
city.
T. H. Aldrich went to Cincinnati yester-
day
B. F. Roden returned from Montgomery
yesterday.
Offnere Hope, of Tuscaloosa, was in the
city yesterday.
General e. w. Rucker went to Decatur
yesterday at noon.
A. M. Plaut, a well-known travelling man
from Cincinnati Is in the city.
Judge William Richardson, of Huntsville
passed through the city yesterday on his
way home rom Montgomery.
Misses Ida and Marion Inge. of Green's
boro, returned home yesterday afternoon
after an extended visit to Miss Adelaide
Moore.
SD Cowan, formerly of this city, recently
went to the Indian Territory, where he
opened a furniture store. He rs said to be
doing excellently.
The Tradesman, of Chattanooga. has Just
expressed desire through the Commercial
club, to publish in full the paper recently
read by Colonel Horace Harding, of this
city, before the Alabama Scientific and In
dustrial association, on Roads and Road
Making" This paper has been pronounced
by experts a most excellent one in every
respect.
State Senator Thomas s. Sowell of
walker, was in town last night on his way
from Montogemry to attend the circuit
court at Jasper. Senator Sowell will not re-
turn to Montgomery for the adjournment
of the legislature the session of which is
now virtually closed; albeit, the three
most important bills of the session, save
one are still to be finally acted upon,
namely, the revenue, the appropriations
and back tax measures.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-19
THE new COUNTY
BOARD OF REVENUE
Governor Johnston Makes the
Appointments.
NEW BOARD A STRONG ONE
P. H. Earle, Successful Financier, Is
Made President of the Body I'm
der the Bill Their Duties will
Begin at Once.
NEW BOARD A STRONG ONE

Events in the county commissioners
court fight followed closely upon the heels
of each other The senate passed the bill
Friday night. Yesterday morning it was
signed by Governor Johnston and in an
hour he had given out the appointments for
the board of revenue. They are as follows:
P. H. EARLE, of Birmingham, president.
CHAMBERS MADORY, of Jonesboro.
HUGH MGEEYER, of Birmingham.
r. ]. WALDROP, of East Lake.
j. B. ELLIOTT, of Leeds.
The news of the appointments first
reached Birmingham over the long distance
telephone and not a comment other than
favorable was heard.
1t was not publicly known that any or
the gentlemen appointed were candidates.
In fact no name, excepting that OF Mr..
McGeever had been mentioned in print.
1t is said that the governor acted very
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-19

largely upon his own judgment in making
the appointments, and if the many ia
vorable expressions count for anything the
board is a strong one.
Enters Upon Duties at Once
Under the provisions of the bill the board
will enter upon its duties at once. The
members of the board will receive salary
of s., 900 per annum and may elect clerk
who will d aw $500 per year.
Much ill-feelng was stirred up over the
bill and it's passage through both branches
of the legislature has been a stormy one.
In the senate it encountered the opposi-
ton of the president Senator Cunningham.
1t was talked about that If the bill passed
the senator from Jefferson would resign as
presiding officer. The senator's friends
say that this is absurd and that the rumor
never gained any foundation from any Ut
terance of Senator Cunningham. They
contend that the senator made an honorable
fight and that he lost is no reason why he
will play the ''baby act"
There was some talk yesterday to the
effect that the present county commission
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-19

ers would carry their case to the courts.
None of the commissioners would verify
this and all the talk was from persons not
In a position to speak authoritatively.
1t was predicted by some that the ILL
feeling would all die out in few days and
that would end the matter.
Are All Well known
The gentlemen who will constitute the
county board of revenue are all well known
in Birmingham. P. H. Earle is the presi-
dent of the Birmingham Trust and Savings
company, financial institution having the
good will and confidence of large circle
of business men. He is also president OF
the Birmingham Water Works company
and is among the wealthiest men of the
city.
Professor in Howard College
r. ]. Waldrop is at present professor in
Howard college and has been for number
of years. He is among the few proml-
nent men in the Birmingham district who
were born and reared in this county. Pro-
fessor Waldrop was born in the northern
part of Jefferson county on August Is,
1867
After attending a common school he
went to the University of Virginia where
his education was finished Returning to
his home he opened up an academy in the
vicinity of what is now known East
Lake. Upon the removal of Howard col
lege from Marion, Ala, he was appointed
to a chair in that institution. which he has
held ever since. He has been a lifelong
democrat and has taken an active part In
politics.
An Extensive Land Owner
J. b. Elliott came to this county many
years ago and though his residence Is at
Leeds he Is well known In Birmingham.
He is an extensive land owner and is ia
miIiarly known az the Duke of Leeds
where he has hundreds Of acres of valua-
BILE lands, besides considerable property in
this city. For some time he was connected
with Sloss company in buying up lands in
and around Leeds.
His appointment was somewhat of a sur
prise to his friends, but 1t is said he will
likely accept the position.
Prominent Hibernian
Hugh McGeever, one of the appointees on
the new board of revenue, was born in
Donegal Ireland, February I. 1853 When
only lad of Is he left the sol of Erin and
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-19

There will be no services at the South
side Baptist church this morning on ac-
count of the repairs being made in the
building. Instead, the members of that
congregation will worship at the First Bap-
fist church this morning, with DIR. David
son filling the pulpit Dr. Gray, of the
First Baptist, has offered the use of that
building to the Southside congregation I'M
til the latters church is entirely repaired.
But they feel that the First church is too
far away for convenient services, and so
tonight,s services will be conducted in the
Christian church, corner of Avenue f and
Iwenty-first street.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-19

Ladies See our novelties
lust received. Exclusive styles
a.u ratieAns. ny 49, --..S-
NaS4.SI.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-19
GOLSON WANTS
CHANGE OF VENUE
Petition Entered By His Attor-
neys Yesterday.
AT TER IMPARTIAL TRIAL
Cannot Get One in Jefferson County
United States Court Will Convene
Tomorrow in Adjourned
Session.
AT TER IMPARTIAL TRIAL

VIII Golson, the negro under indictment
for the murder of Chief Deputy Sheriff
Robert Warnock, whose case is set for
trial in the criminal court on Tuesday,
March Z, yesterday petitioned Judge Greene
for change of venue, on the ground that
he does not believe that he can get a fair
and impartial trial in Jefferson county.
The petition was subscribed and sworn to
by George e. Bush. notary public, and was
nled in the clerks office by Frederick 1.
Monk, one of Golsons attorneys. 1t is the
nrst move that has been made in Golsons
defense and indicates that the case will be
stubbornly defended. The petition is as
follows:
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-19

l,ur ~o fUunS HaL, 1prMg
h.. ,,.:s. is d IS--1.y. hAo.E, .ne
HaUoi ..ssnoi-
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-19

came to America. landing in this country IN
1871. He first located In Macon, Ca,
where he engaged in the dry goods bust
ness. From there he went to Atlanta ana
IN 1888 moved to Birmingham. He was
prominent liquor dealer here for number
of years as a member of the firm OF Nc
Geever & Brannon, which he finally quit
to deal In furniture about three years ago.
Though this is his first venture as an
office holder, Mr.. McGeever has always
been staunch democrat and Is large
factor in the Irish element of this city. He
is state president of the Ancient Order OF
Hibernians and has a wide influence In
that body.
Citizen of Bessemer
Chambers McAdory is a prominent demo-
crat of Bessemer and has been citizen of
Jefferson county all his life.
His residence is at Jonesboro, but he
conducts a merchandise business at Bees
semer and that is generally considered MS
home.
On account of his having been reared here
in the Birmingham district he has host
of friends and relatives who will rejoice
at his appointment.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-19
Bank cieariIigs

The clearngs for the Birmingham banks
for the week ending last night were $444,-
52235 several thousand dollars less than
the s465 1885, 80 for the corresponding week of
last year. This decrease is easily account
ed for, however, in that the cold weather
has had a very paralyzing effect on bust
mess of all kinds.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-19
ANNOUNCER MEN rs.
FOR MAYOR

I hereby announce myself as a candidate
for mayor, subject to the action of the
democratic primary. w. NJ DRENNE
I hereby announce myself as a candidate
for mayor, subject to the action of the DEM
ocratic primary. ROSS C. SMITH.
Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1899-11-10
Not a Leap Year.

There is popular impression,
which has led to many mistakes
that 1900 is leap year. Tur>
ner's Almanac corrects this miss
take and says:
When the charge was made
from old style" to new style"
by dropping eleven days out of
the year. it was known that the
exact length If the year was not
365I days, but sos days, five
hours, forty-eight minutes and
fifty seconos. and this difference
Of eleven minutes was sought to
be equalized by deciding that
the years ending the centuries
should not be leap years except~
ing when they We're Invisible by
four hundred, as other leap years
are thus Invisible by four. Thus
1900 is not leap year, but the
years, 2ooo and 24oo will be.