Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1900-01-13
kIMssRLeYs VAST RICHES.
The Enormous Value Of the Diamond
Mines Threatened.

Mines Threatened.
Kimberley, which it is said tie
Beers have invested and isolated from
the outside world, is the diamond re-
gion of the world. far surprising the
mines Of Brazil in richness. If the
report Of the investment be true. this
Us the most serious blow which I<iu
ger has struck at the commercial inter-
'ests of Great Britain in south Africa.
Cecil Rhodes is in the town and its
defence will be stubborn kimberley
is not q city in the modern use of the
word. 1t is a great camp in WHEN
mems passions rise and fall as the
treasures Of the earth are uncovered
or not found. The camp is in what
is called the Vaal Basin, the wash
around Of the river which divides the
Transvaal from tie Orange Free
State The first diamond discoveries
there were made about 1870. but it
was ten years later when Engllsnmer
and others realized that the spot was
the most valuable of its kind in the
world.
BY 1881 the mines which had been
opened had yielded gems to the value
of $20.OOOOcO. BY 1887 seven tons Of
diamonds had been taken out valued
at S25OOOO,OOO This record placed
the Brazil diamond mines in the shadc
and made Kimberley worldwide in
its famt. The Cecil Rhodes synd-
cate, known as the De Beers. calac
into control of all the mines after
1I. fnN L..
capitalized for S75,OOo,00O and pays in
terest at the rate Of 81 per cent per
annum and an annual dividend Of 20
per cent Since Cecil Rhodes came in.
TO control OF the mines they have giy.
en- out 100000 karats Of diamonIs.
To get at these it has been necess AIRY
TO wash 100000 loads Of the blue
earth in which they are found,
In the working Of these diaplOnd
mines there are employed about 500
white men and 6.O0O natives. Ths
greater proportion of these men are
employed In the De Beers and kim.
berley mines, the two biggest holes
which greedy man has ever dug into
the earth. The punishment for stealing
4 q diamond is fifteen years imprison-
ment All diamonds, except those
which pass through Illicit channels,
are sent to England, the weekly ship
ments averaging from 40,Oao to 90
/ 600 zarats. The greatest outlet for
stolen diamonds is through the Trans
vaal to Natal, where they are shipped
by respectable merchants
It is said OF the Rhodes interests in
the mines that they take good care
Of their workmen. They have nuit
q nice village called Kenllwoith with-
in the precincts Of the mines. In this
village are cottages for the White
workmen. A clubhouse has here heen
built for their use and there is a pub
hc library. The equipment OF ihe
mines is something remarkable Each
mine has ten CT cults Of electric lamps.
They consist of fifty-two arc lamps uf
1000 candle power each, and 69l glow
lamps Of 16 and 64candle power each.
or a total Illuminating power of about
G4,OOO candles. Thirty telephones are
located in each mine and over 100
electric bells to each for signalling.
The lives Of the workmen are insured
and every precautlOn is taken to MAKE
their condition tolerable. The rate Of
wages runs from 81 to IS per day, IN
skilled labor receiving the lower price,
What effect the closing of the miiiss
, by war will have on the world at large
/ it is hard to say. Diamonds have al
ready risen in price but there is n
large stock on hand in English and
ceased at Kimberley, and IL the Beers
, get into the mines they may win rich
. prizes.