The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-05-08
Lapidary Industry Of Birk nfeId

The cutting and polishing OF preci-
Gus and half-precious stones forms the
chief industry OF the little principal
fly Of Birkenfeld. up among the hills
Of the Nahe River, and gives employ
ment to over 5000 persons. says Wal
ter Schumann. u. S. consul at Maing.
Although an improved factory sys-
tenn is gradually superseding the la
borious methods Of former times, there
are nevertheless plenty Of the old pol
ishing and cutting works. which bear
evidence to the lives sacrificed to this
industry.
In the early days Of the trade, agate
Quarries existed 10 the near-by-hills,
and this half-precious stone was cut
and polished by a very lab0rious
method. which is still practiced, al
though the agate quarries have long
been exhausted and the raw material
-as well as amethyst. jasper, opal,
topaz. etc.-has been imported (since
about 1834l. chiefly from Brazil.
whence It Is shipped to this out-of-
the-way place to be cut shaped, and
polished for the jewelry trade.
The usual method employed in cut
ting and polishing these stones is the
following:
In a rude hut by a stream. which
furnishes the power. four large grind
stones about 4 feet In diameter are 50
fixed that their axes are only about 1
foot above the floor. into which q nlit
IL cut, so that part Of the grindstone
is below It's level. This lower portion
passes through the water, thus keep
ing the stones constantly wet
The operator has a bench or block
Of wood about IS inches high. hol-
lowed out to receive his chest and
body. On this bench he lies at full
length and with his fingers holds the
small piece Of opal. amethyst or other
stone which is 70 be cut against the
grindstone slightly above the level Of
the hoor In this position the men
lie from morning TO night day after
day. Consumption usually carries
them OF at an early age. but other
men are found to follow this voca-
tiOn as the earnings are comparative
~ high The operator usually owns
his grindstone OF at least half Of one.
This represents an investment Of
about $500. and skillful lapidary can
earn from SIS to $25 per week. He
does not usually cut and polish stones
on his own account. but generally con-
tracts with manufacturing jewellers,
who furnish him the stones in the
rough, 10 cut and polish al a certain
price per gram AS the stones, even
IN the rough. represent quite an out
lay OF money. the honesty OF the
workman must be greatly relied upon,
for nobody can say in advance how
many grams Of finished stones a GER
tain piece of opal. amethyst, or the
like may yield.
Besides these half-preci0us stones,
precious stones such as diamonds, ETC.,
are also cut and polished there; but
this Is an entirely different branch Of
the industry and Is chiefly carried on
in factories with modern machinery
Another branch OF the industry in
these parts Is the cutting Of canoes.
Pearls are also polished. drilled and
cut and shipped in large quantities to
an countries. including the United
states. invoices covering single ship
ments OF the vaue OF 100000 having
been certified TO at this consulate
Il Is strange that this industry still
nourishes in the little villages OF this
principality-r from railroad
communication and far away from the
sources OF supply Of the raw material.