Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1900-02-22
klMeERLEYs VAST RICHES.
The Enormous Value of the Diamond
Mines Threatened.

Kimberley, which it is said the
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. II the
report Of the investment be true, this
is the most serious blow which Krl-
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 a city in the modern use Of the
word. 1t is a great camp in which
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
ground Of the river which divides the
Transvaal from the Orange Free
State. The first diamond discoveries
there were made about 1870, but it
was ten years later when Englishmen
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 100000 OO. BY 1887 seven tons of
diamonds had been taken out valued
at $3.50. 100000. This record placed
the Brazil diamond mines in the shade
and made Kimberley worldwide in
its fame. The Cecil Rhodes syndi,
cate, known as the De Beers, came
into control Of all the mines after
mi CHI negotiation. This syndicate is
capitalized for $75,OOO,OO0 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 CIV
en- out 2,50O,000 karats of diamonds.
To get at these it has been necessary
to wash 100000 loads Of the blue
earth In which they are found.
In the working of these diamond
mines there are employed about 1900
white men and 5000 natives. The
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
Il diamond Is fifteen years imprison-
ment All diamonds, except thosa
which pass through Illicit channels,
are sent to England, the weekly ship
ments averaging from 10000 to So
600 karats. The greatest outlet for
stolen diamonds is through the Trans
vaal to Natal, where they are shipped
by respectable merchants
1t Is said Of the Rhodes interests In
the mines that they take good care
Of their workmen. They have built
a nice village called Kenilworth, with
in the precincts Of the mines. In this
village are cottages for the Willie
workmen. A clubhouse has here been
built for their use and there Ia a pub
bc library. The equipment Of the
mines Is something remarkable. Each
mine has ten circuits of electric lamps.
They consist Of fifty-two arc lamps of
1000 candle power each, and COL. glow
lamps Of 10 and 64-candle power each,
or total Illuminating power Of about
$4,000 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 precaution is taken to make
their condition tolerable. The rate OF
wages runs from 81 to So per day, un-
skilled labor receiving the lower price,
What effect the closing of the mines
by war will have on the world at large
1t Is hard to say. Diamonds have al
ready risen in price, but there is a
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.