The evening times., 1900-01-06


tioning any wrecking OF property or plant.
Whether or not the TeckIessness and law
lessness OF the lower elements OF the COM
munity could be restrained Is quite an
other matter. For the present, it is likely
that some Of the mines viii be worked for
the gold needed by the POer Government,
and that such work will be so prosecuted
as to yield the largest immediate returns.
Onl-' the richest ore is likely 10 be taken,
regardless OF good practice or ultimate
economy; no attention 10 maintenance or
repairs can be expected: il WILL beyond
question, be systematic robbing Of the
mine and driving of the machinery TO
deatl. The removal from the country OF
most OF the competent mining engineers
would prevent any general continuance Of
The industry.
''As for the neglected mines. they will
not suffer as seriously as would be the case
in come other localities or in different for
nations Water IS not 50 troublesome as
in many other mining districts and the
mines could be pumped out and operations
resumed without inordinate expense. IN
this regard the Witwatersrand is much
more favOrably conditioned than Kimber-
ley The mines themselves-the under
ground workings-are, of course not much
subject 10 damage They viii remain. and
viii be reopened and eventually worked IN
der better order OF things than any that
has heretofore existed.
Benefits to Accrue.
While il is to- be regretted that the de-
sired economic reforms could not have
been attained by peaceful means. there
can be no doubt that, having regard to the
financial aspect the drastic measures f.
nally adopted will be ultimately Of far
greater benefit than the economic reforms
which otherwise would have been grudg-
ingly granted. The amelioration Of condi-
tiOns, consequent upon good government
viii most materially enhance the value OF
the properties Of the Witwatersrand dis
trict. Not only will there be direct saw
ing per ton Of ore treated. but the tonnage
OF payable ore Will be thereby considerably
increased.
The sum of 6 shillings per ton would be
a conservative estimate & the direct and
indirect benefits OF good government. This
saving would be equivalent 10 an enhanced
profit per claim OF G7 800 70 G12.0O0. and
would result in an increase Of annual divi-
dends by G2.199. 434. based on last years
tonnage OF ore crushed.
The mining economies directly secured
by the removal Of the present abuses will
be in connection with the cheapening Of
costs OF mining supplies, especially Of dy-
namitei with the suppression OF the traffic
in stolen amalgam and gold and with the
improvement in the labor situation. with
which is closely connected the regulation
Of the traffic in liquor, which. as IL has
been illicitly carried on, has been a costly
item 20 the mining companies and the
cause, as well, OF many accidents The ex-
cessiye cost Of dynamite has been the sub
ject OF much discussion and requires no
al -Fr-gr-
however. has been given 10 the other
points mentioned The traffic in stolen
amalgam and gold is extensively carried
on. and its suppression by the cooperation
OF an honest and competent government
would result in a large addition 70 the rev
enUes Of the mining companies. II can
exist only through the neglect and indif-
ference OF the government officials. Prop
or regulations. properly put into effect
with a suitable detective force. would make
il as impossible 10 rob the gold-mining
companies as it is to rob the diamond
mines In Kimberley.
The Labor Question.
The labor question has been Of the
greatest Importance in the district The
inadequate supply OF native labor has ne
cessitated the undue use Of machine drills
in mining, resulting in the breaking Of a
large proportion OF the barren ground. and
in the creation Of waste in the Ore-which
has, in turn, caused a diminution in value
During the continuance Of the conditions
heretofore existing, no Improvement in the
labor situation could be expected.
The trouble is not in any lack OF suita-
bic material. Black labor is 10 be had
IN any quantity. under proper conditions.
and the best Of it is excellent in quality.
The trouble is that conditions have been
so bad that none but the lowest element
Of the blacks would submit 20 working iu
the Transvaal. and even these hardly at
all except under pressure Of absolute ne
cesSity- Abuse, eXtCr,ion. enforced labor
on me farms without pay. Jrickery. rob
berry Of their accumulated earnings hv
Boers-Jhese have not attra5ted the nero
10 the South African Republic. No doubt
the regulation o. political conditions as
between the two races Is a difficult one.
but the BOer OF the TrausvaaI has not
even approached it, Oppression OF The
blacks has ruined the labor suppIv-of the
Nitwatersrand. and not the least benefit
Of a good. honest and just government
Will be the ameliOTatiOu f.-coudltious in
this respect.
There has been. heretofore. not only
lack Of good legislation. but utter laNitv IL
the enforcement Of such law as there is
To this is attributable the depIorabIe con
ditloE as regards the liquor traffic The
statutes are nearly pTOhibitive. so far as
the sale Of liquors 10 natives is concerned.
out there Is not even pretence Of euforc-
ing them Il IS no uncommon sight 10 see.
on sunday afternoon. a hundred Kafirs
mlseTably intoxicated. with broken heads
ana eyes nearly knocked out as the result
Of drunken fights. The LIQUOR is an abon-
Unable whisky Of local manufacture. made
and supplied often by the very men who
preach religion and temperance 10 the ne
gro.
The peculiarly bad conditions affecting
the mining industry are confined to the
Transvaal. In the other Dutch republics
such fragrant abuses do not exist and the
consequent change in governmental con-
ditIOns will be cOrreSpOndingly less. But
there will be an indirect benefit at Kimber-
ley from reduced cost Of political admins
tratiOn. which Will not be without ipfIu-
ence.
4 Fight for Progress.
Whatever the outcome OF the present
struggle, England's statesmen. must uOr
and will not forget their aim, nor be blind
ed to it by greed Of acquisition. The
Beers are struggling for independence. as
they conceive it. Their fatal mistake has
been in seeking independence 10 do wrong
Englands mistake would be equally fatal
II she attempted anything but the good OF
any territory coming under her control
1t must be understood that there is no
where a people mouE capable of self-roy-
ernment than the better element of the
South African white colonists. nor any
more determined 10 secure the ends Of