New-York tribune., 1902-07-01
THE FUTURE or THE RAND.


There are other rands In plenty IN South AZ
rica but that of Witwaters Is pre-eminently
and unmistakaby The Rand. 1t is not only the
most notable single gold field in the world; II is
the Industrial and political centre of South
Africa above the Orange River. It's influence
upon The recent history Of that part of the
world, and indeed OF other parts of the world,
too has been enormous. It was the bone Of
contention, or at least it produced that interest
ing article, in the late war between Briton and
BOer. With the return Of peace we may rea-
sOnably expect its business and political intlu-
enCe to be in n considerable measure restored.
The place which produces more than one-fourth
of all the gold mined in the world is not one 10
be ignored.
The history of the Rand began only fifteen
years ago In 1887 the region produced some
23,1J3 ounces of gold The next year that
amount was increased more than eightfold. BY
1892 the output had grown TO more than 1910
Geo ounces two years later IT passed the
100000 mark and in 1898 the maximum,
4,555,0l5, was reached. These figures would
probably have been exceeded In 1899 had Ii not
been for the outbreak OF the war, which practi-
cally stopped all operations. With the cessa-
tion of hostlities in that immediate region.
however, work was resumed. with "A steady In
crease of production. In May, 1901, the first
poSt-bellum returns were made, of 7,47S ounces
The output has since then grown steadily, and
in April last, the latest month for which re-
turns are at hand, it was close to 100000
ounces. The prospect is that the total for this
year will not fall short of 100000 ounces
while it may greatly exceed those figures, and
next year may well the maximum of 1898
surpassed. Colonel John Hays Hammond than
whom there IS bpttpr authoritr rInon
subject, estimates in The Engineering Maga-
zine that within year after the full reSump-
tlOn Of work the Rand will be producing TWEEN
ty millions sterling or 100000 900 a year. and
that three or four years more will see these
ngures Increased by % per cent. Beyond even
these latter figures he expects to see "a further
increase, the amount of which it is impossible
TO estimate; but he roughly reckons that ten
miles OF the central portion of the Rand con
tain. within workable distance, more than
$3000O00OOO Of gold
There has been much talk about the quick
exhaustion Of the mines and the consequent de-
sertion of the country. That Is not to be appre-
hended. There is no reasonable prospect that
the mines will be worked out during the present
generation, after which there is no telling what
new gold fields may not be discovered fun
generation Of enormously profitable mining will
III such country certainly build up a perma-
heht population, with permanent industries
which will abide after the last quartz is crushed
or roasted. The history of California does not
warrant the idea that gold mining country is
doomed to speedy reversion to barbarism.
Neither does the history of Australia The
Iransvaal has fine climate and soil. and Is
well calculated TO be the home of n large and
prosperous population. engaged in variety OF
pursuits. 1t is not unreasonable therefore, to
anticipate that the much troubled Rand will I'm
future figure as the centre OF such State.