The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1900-01-09

must have been at one time sub.
merged. This naturally led me TO
think that there must be conglomerato
beds or drifts in the neighborhood
which might carry gold, as in other
parts of the world had been the case.
1t was not until March, 1885, that |
struck beds of the blanket formation,
of nature which hitherto had not
been known in Africa. | showed
these conglomerate beds TO several
people, among them well-known ex.
pert, who only laughed. Ny brother
and L crushed fifty tons, however. and
10! they gave eight pennyweights to
the ton. "
Such was the beginning of tho
South African gold fever. Within g
few months the Rand was overrun bv
enthusiastic, determined and PENN
less gold-seekers, capitalists from the
recently discovered diamond fields of
Kimberly, adventurers from England
and the colonies, and all classes of
men from all parts of the world. The
Boer Government took no action con
corning the new gold-felds until July
Is, 1886, when it proclaimed and
threw open nine farms.
In November, 1887, there were sixty
eight mining companies with II capital
of SD, 100000. In January, 1890,
there were five hundred and forty gold
mining companies established there
with an aggregate capital of $50, 600,
600. Steadily the output increased
until, in May, 1892, one hundred thou
sand ounces were taken from the mines.
The monthly output has since reached
nearly fives times that amount, the
output for August, 1899, being 49,,
los ounces
GOLD REEFS OF THE wGrwArEEsTAND.
The gold that was first discovered
at the Rand cropped out of the ground
In series of five parallel reefs vary
ing In thickness from one inch to four
feet, the distance between the south
ernmost and the northern reef avcrag-
ing one hundred and fifty feet. The
original claims were 4OOxljO feet. the
latter dimensions east and west along
the reefs, the former north and south
so as to take in all the five outcrops.
a fact which makes the Rand the
greatest gold-feld in the world was not
known then. 1t was not for two or
three years that the true formation of
the gold-bearing veins was discovered
When it was at length found
that the veins after descending
to Il depth of about two thousand feet
curved off in a southerly direction.
forming, as 1T were, one side of Il
basin, and continuing at that level
practically an indefinite distance, the
whole world went wild ovor the
riches of the Witwatersraud. This
was as great a surprise to old and
experienced miners as the first dis
covery of the gold was TO the sleepy
Beers.
Hundreds of claims were pegged
out to the south of the outcrop
claims, thousands of shafts were sunk
to a depth of 1000 feet, always to find
the rich conglomerate deposits. Hun
dreds Of new companies were formed
to work the deep levels at distance
of miles south of the outcrop.
4 craze TO find the other side Of
this marvellous basin also seized the
people. 1t was argued, with some
semblance OF reason, that perhaps
hur dreds, nay thousands Of miles
away, the southern edge of the basin
should reach the surface, and fortune
seekers penetrated where the foot of
white man had never before stood.
This craze aided the formation of the
British South African Chartered
Company. 1t was largely responsible
for the support which has been given
to the expansive plans of Cecil Rhodes
The Government buildings are still
little better than barns. The post
Office is a little one-story shanty.
where the residents must call for
their mail. The Government, though
1t collects the heaviest taxes in the
world, gives no such return for the
money as free delivery OF letters. In
spite of every obstacle placed in toe
way of Improvements, the Uitlanders
have built in the heart of the Trans
yaal desert such city as would do
credit to any civilized country.
Such is the past history of johann
nesburg, the gem of the Transvaal.
and yet the Beers will probably
wreck and ruin this modern city OF
Midas Philadelphia Saturday Even
ing Post.