The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-10-26
DIAMOND MINES
OF KIMBERLEY

From the Chicago Times-Herald. - -
Kimberley, which It is said the Beers have
Invested and isolated from the outside
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 t1e commercial interests of
Great Britain in South Africa. Cecil
Rhodes is lin the town, and its defenses will
be stubborn. Kimberley is not a city in the
modern uses of the word. 1t is a great
camp in which mems passions rise and
fall The treasures of earth are I'M
covered or not found. The camp is in what
is called the Vaai Basin the wash ground
of gie river Which divides the Transvaal
from the Orange Free State. The first dia-
mond discoveries were made about 1870,
but it was about ten years later when Eng
lishmen and others realized that the spot
was dae most valuable of dts kind in the
world.
By 1881 5he mines which had been opened
rad yielded gems to The value of $2O,OOOOOO.
BY 1887 seven tons of diamonds had been
taken out, valued at $3.50 600 900. This rec
ord placed the Brazil diamond mines in
tGe 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 SIS 900 900,
and pays interest at the rate of 51a 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
1900 900 karats of diamonds. To get at these
1T has been necessary to wash 270o 900 loads
OF the blue earth in which they are found
I'm the working of these diamond mines
there are employed about 1000 white men
and 5000 natives. The create proportion
OF these men are employed in the De Beers
and Kimberley mines. the two biggest holes
which greedy man has ever dug into the
earth. The De Beers mine has an area at
the surface of thirteen acres and depth
of 450 feet. The mines are worked from
shafts sunk some distance from the origi-
nal holes and penetra ting to the blue
ground by transverse drivngs at depths
varying from 500 to 1900 feet. The blue
ground, when extracted, is carried in small
iron trucks to the levels. Upon these levels
the blue ground Is worked until these gems
within are extracted The process of ex-
tracing takes from three to six months.
The stones found vary in size from pin
head ito the largest ever found-42S1a karats.
This largest stone when cut weighed 22S1a
karats. 1t is one of the experiences of THE
mine owners that they lose from ten to
fifteen per cent. of their product each year
through the thefts of employees who, al
though closely watched, still manage ito get
away with their loot. The punishment for
stealing a diamond is fifteen years impris-
onment. All diamonds except those which
pass through Illicit channels are sent to
England. 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 shipped
by respectable merchants +.
y
1t is said that the Rhodes interest in the
mines that they take good care of their
workmen. They have built a model village
called Kenilworth within the precincts of
the mines. In this village are cottages for
the white workmen. A clubhouse has been
DuHl lOT their use anu There is. Il PUBIC
library. The equipment of the mines is
something remarl1a BILE. Each mine has 10
circuits of electric lights. They consist of
So arc lamps of 1000 candle power each, and
691 glow lamps of 16 and 81 candle power
each, or total Illuminating power OF about
$4,000 candles. Thirty telephones are los
Gated in each mine. and over 100 electric
bells to each for signaling. The lives of
the workmen are insured and every pre-
caution is taken to make their condition
tolerable. The rate of wages runs from
81 to IS per day, unskilled 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 large
stock on hand in English and French
hands. OF course all labor has ceased at
Kimberley and if the Beers get into the
mines they may win rich prizes. The town
is said to be we'll fortified and prepared for
a long siege. An expedition to relieve it
may leave Capetown at amy time.