The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1899-12-08


The southern end Of Africa is Of vol
canic origin, as is proved by the dia-
mond mines in Griqualand West, which
are really extinct craters. From the
coast to hundred or more miles in
land the country is fairly fertile and
studded with undulating hills admir-
ably adapted for vineyards. Beyond
this fertile belt lies the Hinterland
veldt-level plains sparsely covered
with short grass and dotted here and
there by the karoo bush, a stunted tree
from a foot to Is inches high. Here
thousands of sheep and cattle Craze,
living in comparative luxury on the
leaves Of the nutritious karoo.
Back Of this comes the plateau, some
5000 feet above the sea. 1t is on this
eminence that the gold mines are sit
uated. These, too, are Of volcanic orr
gin, tremendous physical upheavals
having produced the peculiar cOnglom-
crate quartz, called banket, in which
the gold is found. Again, further in
land. another pIsteau, rich in minerals
and splendidly adapted for cattle rails
ing.
MineraIly, South Africa is the rich
est country in the world. Every min
eraI known to science can be found
there. Diamonds being the most valu-
able come first. Leaving aside the
Kimberley and the Jaegersfontein( Free
State) mines, the precious stones are
also to be found in the VaaI river, 20
miles from Kimberley; near Klerks-
dOrp, in the Transvaal; in Zebedili's
country, north Of Pretoria; in the
ZOutpansburg district, and in the
Blaauberg mountains. Rhodesia is
closed territory as far as diamonds are
concerned, for Mr.. Rhodes, as manag-
ing director of the De Beers Diamond
Mining company, made a contract with
himself as the managing director of
the British South Africa company,
chartered, giving himself the exclusive
right to mine diamonds in RhOdesia
for obligations rendered"
Gold has been found in Southern
Africa since time immemOrial, and Ma
shOnalsnd is popularity supposed to be
the Land of Ophir mentioned in the
Bible. In mOdean times gold was first
found by Arabs as early as 800. Now
it is found at johannesburg, Klerks-
dorp, Barberton and KrugersdOrp, in
Swaizeland, at Knysa, at POtchefstrOm,
in ZulUland, Damaraland and Mama
qualand, in RhOdesia, and a dozen
other spots. The only aIluviaI gold
worth mining is that at Lydenburg.
Coal is found in the Cape Colony in
half a dozen places; in Natal, near
Dundee; in Zululand, . miles from st.
Lucia bay; in the Orange Free State,
near Klerksdorp and ViljOen's Drift;
in the TransvaaI at KlerksdOrp and
Vereenigung and at BOksburg; and in
RhOdesia on both banks of the Fam
best. The approximate output of the
coal fields in 1898 was nearly 100000
tons.
Silver is found all over South Africa.
but the only mines in operation are
those near Pretoria. The official re-
ports Of the Transvaal state that the
best veins are from two to four feet
wide, assaying a ounces Of silver and
ten per cent Of copper to the ton of
ore. Under the present system of
working, each ton Of ore produces
$3.50. The Marico mines, near Zeerust,
assay 60 ounces Of silver to the ton,
but cannot be worked with profit, owing
to a lack Of coke.
Copper is found in Namaqualand'
where it has been mined since the 18th
century. About 10000 tons of ore were
shipped to England for smelling last
year, the value being about SO per ton
Large deposits Of copper have also
been found in Mashonalsnd. The
principal mines are those of the Cape
Copper company, which made an esti-
mated production Of nearly $4,000
last year.
Lead is found IN connection with
other metals in all parts Of the country.
Zinc exists in the MaImsi district. and
anthony near BarbertOn and the ZOUt-
pansburg. Tin is mined in payable
quantities in Swaziland, q pounds Of
pure tin being taken from every ton Of
ore. Iron is everywhere, but is not
mined, the profit being too small
Quicksilver has been discovered in
large quantities in the northern part
Of the Transvaal, and as it brings $50
flask at the gold mines, this find has
proved q most lucky one.
Asbestos six feet in length has been
found on the Orange river banks It
is eoarser than the Canadian product,
but is more valuable on account Of its
length. The Griqualand West Copper