The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-01-04
GOLD IN THE TRANSVAAL
The Enormous Production Of the
South African Mines.
The british and Beer War Causes
Operations 10 Re Temporarily Sus-
pended at JohAnaesburg-A Worth
less Ridge in the Rand Be
comes Source of Great Wealth.

The war in South Africa is having a ne--
ceptible effect upon the gold ou.put OF the
world. Director Roberts, OF the United
States Mint, in speaking upon the subject
yesterday, said:
Since the commencement OF hostilities
between Great Britain and the two Baer
republics in South Africa, the output and
export Of gold from those countries has
been entirely suspended. and II is no. ye-y
likely hat this industry will be resumed
before the war is over. The United States
mint docs not receive its quota Of gold
direct from Africa, but through European
dealers
Wonderful and promising are the great
Witwatersrand gold fields. located in the
South African republic, better known as
the Johannesburg mines. This strip OF ter
ritory is about 400 miles long and so miles
in width, and was considered but a few
years ago a nearly worthless ridge. useful
only for the pasturage of cattle and sheep.
IN 1889. however. gold was discovered, and
in 1884 the value OF the gold product on
was about $500O0. It increased with start
ling rapidity, the production Of 1858 being
worth about $4,000, OO0; that of 1889. 81
oe0.eOO; that OF 1890. $40. OOO. 900; 1891. SIS
100000; 1892, over sec, eco zoe; 1898, SOS
OOO.OU0: 1924. SO. 600. 600; 1885. So. COO. zoe
1895, s44 geo geo; 1887, s55, 700. O00e, 1895.
SGT. 600 600; 1899 $50 GOO. 600. an increase n
80 per cent up to the commencement of
hostilitieS This wonderful development
has attracted great attention to South Afri-
~ her 81 "a
in the hope Of realizing quick fortunes
Development however showed that the
mines could only be successfully worked
by the use Of costly machinery, and while
they have been extremely productive
where machinery has been used. they are
not Of such character as to make hand or
placer mining profitable. as was the case in
California.
The gold production in the Rand since
1884 has been over $500. 0O0. 600. and careful
surveys OF the field by the use OF drills
and other processes OF experts show beyond
question that the gold in sight probably
amounts to So 800 900 900. while the larger
number OF mines which have been To-
Gated in adjacent territory, particularly in
parts of RhOdesia. give promise OF add
tiOnal supplies. SO that it seems probable
that South Africa will for many years con-
tinue to be, as 1t now is the largest gold
producing section of the world
OF the gold output in 1897 3,034. 6TS
ounces were from Witwatersrand: 113. 972
ounces from the Kaap: sc. 942 ounces from
Lydenburgi S4,7S1 ounces from KlerksdOrp;
223 ounces from Zontpansberg; 5.12O
ounces from Swaziland. ETC.; total output
OF 1897, 3.2S9, 100 ounces. In 1897. accord
ing to returns furnished by seveuty-two
companies. the number of whites employed
at the mines was 5000 the amount paid TO
them In wages being e.. 52I, 500; the num-
Der OF natives employed, according to these
returns. was 50,791. but the total number
employed was estimated at about 20 600
The South African Customs Union COM
prises Cape Colony, the Orange Free State,