Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1902-02-08
Transvaal and in cape Colony dia-

mondS hav9 already been found in pay
able quantities. BY, far the most i'm.
portant dianioad mines for South At
RIGA, and indeed Of the world, are lnose
at Kimberley y. a bout $50 miles north Of
Cape Town Diamonds we're discover
ed there in 1869. They occur in the
indurated mud of the craters of ex-
tinct volcanoes and vary in size from
that of a pinhead to the great Jaggers-
fontein diamond, of which shall pres
emily tell you. The present workings
are from 1.200 to 1000 feet in depth,
located in what is called the neck of
these volcanoes. The diamonds are
minedTery much as coal is mined. aft
er which the diamondiferous rock is
exposed to atmospheric agencies to in
sure its disintegration, thereby facili-
tating the separation of the earthly ma
terial from the diamonds in the subse-
Quent process of washing.
''All the mines of Kimberley are now
under the ownership of the De Beers
Consolidated company. This company
employs about 1000 white men and
about 1000 kafirs at the mines and
indirectly supports population of So
600 at the town of Kimberley. The an
nual production of the mines is from
100000 to 100000 carats, having
value Of about $20,O00,000. This out
put could be greatly increased, but is
restricted so as to admit of the market
absorbing the product without entail
ing any reduction in the price of the
diamond. The entire product of the
diamond fields of South Africa to date
that is, for a period of about thirty
years somewhat over fifteen tons in
weight, having value in excess of
$500, 100000. A box about eight feet
square would contain all these dia
monds. the net result of mining over
100,000,000 tons of rock, besides the
millions of tons of earth moved in
exploratory and dead work. The life
Of the mines is as yet Understandable,
but diamond mining in Kimberley un-
doubtedly will continue for many years
to come.
'@rhe diamonds are sold to syndicates
of diamond buyers at from So to SIS per
carat. The syndicates agree to take
the entire output of diamonds, regard
less of size, at that price In this con-
nection, if you will excuse the digres-
sion, might mention the history of the
celebrated Jaggersfontein diamond
This is the largest stone ever discov-
cred, weighing very nearly 1000 carats
in the rough (about half pound avoir-
dupois), and is three and a half inches
long, about as large as an average
goose egg. 1t is impossible to deter
mine the value of diamond of this
size. 1t is OF good color, but would
not cut well. Diamonds lose from 40
to 60 per cent of their size in cutting.
Some idea of its value, however, might
be suggested by the fact that dia-
mond Of only $50 carats was sold a
few years ago by the De Beers COM
pany for $3.50, COO, and diamonds, as you
know. increase greatly in value with
increase of size. AS yet there are no
bidders for this white elephant The
Jaggerfontein diamond which ! have
just described was found July 2, 1893,
at 8 o'clock, after firing one blast
Commenting recently on the facts set
forth in his address. Mr.. Hammond |
made this additional remark:
at will be several months, however,
before there is an adequate supply of |
labor for the mines. The number of /
workmen needed is 10000 whites and
loo, 900 kaflrs The pay of the Kaffir
is so cents day and his board. White
labor cannot possibly compete with
black labor. in the mines. Owing to the
low grade of the ore the mines could
not be worked at profit were white
labor employed. But there is any
of opportunity in the mining
district for skilled white labor. Mining
iremen, mach:nists, drill men and car
penters are greatly needed.
"a considerable quantity of machin-
cry will be required in the future.
Most of the machinery will undoubted-
" come from this country. but the mar
ket will be greater and more profitable
when transportation facilities are in
creased"