The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-26
THE DIAMOND FIELDS OF BRAZIL.
Once Important but Now Compare
lively Neglected.


1t is not generally remembered that Bra
I'll was at one time the most important
diamond producing country in the world.
We are reminded of this fact by the Sec
ond Secretary of the British legation at
Rio who has just sent home a report on
journey to that part of the country, Minas
Gereas, whence his mineral has been OBJ
tanned in greatest quantity. Mr.. Beau.
mont tells us that though the quality of
the Brazilian stones still makes them more
valuable than any others, diamond mining
has of late been comparatively neglected,
the industry being now, for the most part,
carried on by single individuals, "garim-
peiros," or small associations, working
with rude and obsolete machinery A COM
pany known as the Boa Vista has recent
ly been formed in Paris, with a capital
Of 100000 francs, to carry on work on
systematic basis and on a large scale; for
very long period, and if it succeeds the
industry will no doubt receive a great i'm
petus therefrom.
Mr.. Beaumont's journey was undertaken
partly through. curiosity to visit a little
known country and partly in
the hope Of learning something
of the methods and prospects >in vogue, es-
pecially those of the new company, from
which such great things are expected. The
company's operations are centered about
the town of Diamantina, a place founded
by a band of st. Paulo and Portuguese
adventures were In the seventeenth CEN
fury. Diamonds were discovered in this
locality about the year 1928. Between 1772
and 1906, the period of the most active pro-
duction, the diamond mines produced 1,O3O,-
SO5 carats, at cost which averaged 40s.
per carat between 1772 and 1895, TBS. Cd. per
carat and 1876 and 1900, and 32s. between
1901 and 1906. During the same period gold
was extracted amounting in value to $751;
40. From 1772 to 1S43. under the admins
tration of the Real Extraccao," eighty
stones were found of an ottawa Us carats)
or more. The gems extracted, after the
largest and best had been set aside for
the crown, were sold by contract at from
about SIS. to sos, a carat.
For sixteen years at the beginning of
the present century the banking houses of
Hope in Holland and of Barring in London
controlled the mines, the output of which
was ass gned to them in repayment of a
loan of 100000 forms. Then the govern
ment took hold of the administration, and
continued to do SO until 1915. In that wear
1t was decided by decree that the lands
should be put up at auction every four
years, the reserve price being 30 refs cd
a "braca," but its provisions We're never
carried out, being modified by the law OF
1852, which recognized the rights of all
those who already effectively occupied
mining lots on payment of real per "bra-
ca quadrada. The term of occupation
might be indefinitely extended Lands not
yet occupied were to be put up at auction,
the reserve price being l real per "braca
quaGrada." Between 1772 and 1913 ], 354 700
carats were taken out by the Real Elk
traccao." Since that date mining has been
carried on exclusively by private individu-
4
production of Brazil up to 1880 is estimated
by NJ. Garceix at two and one-half tons.
II is impossible to form an accurate esti-
mate of the present production, but 1t is
probably about 10000 carats a year, includ-
ing the Bahia diamond fields