The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-10-04

ried the figures far beyond all previous
records. Thus the total value of dia-
monds and other gems brought into
the United States in the year just end
ed was half again as great as in the
preceding year, more than twice as
great as in 1899 and three times as
great as in any year down to 1887.
Verify, the love for jewels must grow
by what it feeds upon
At present there exists a discrimi-
nation of 10 per cent. in favor of the
cutting of precious stones in America
with the result that a steadily increas-
ing proportion of the total imports are
in uncut form. Thus the value of I'M
cut stones imported has increased from
$2,500,000 in 1898 to $40, 900, 900 in 1908, or
about one-third of the total.
While nearly all the diamonds are at
present produced, as everybody knows
by the mines of South Africa, most of
those brought to the United States are
shipped from Antwerp, Amsterdam or
London and enter the port of New
York The two former cities are the
center of the demonstrating indus
try, while London is the great diamond
market of the world, and New York
occupies similar position in America.
The greatest quantities of gems are
brought in by the Red Star steamers
from Antwerp and by the American
line from London via Southampton,
though nearly all the fast liners have
a share in the trade.
One might suppose this an extremely
profitable kind of cargo for the steam
ships to carry since the freight is paid
according to value, and since a small
box six inches long and less that in
width and depth may pay 5000 ar $500
in transportation charges. But this
same box may contain a hundr5
thousand dollars worth of gems, and of
course part of the freight rate is really
paid for the insurance of their safe
carriage. In carrying packages of this
tremendous value, extraordinary pre-
cautions must be taken. They, are inn
INJURED in strong safes and are carefully
guarded, and in addition the shipper
usually takes the precaution of insur-
ing them with the marine companies
against the possible loss of the vessel.
1t is a noteworthy fact that not an
instance has been recorded in which
diamonds have been lost or stolen, al
though a man could easily walk off
with half a million dollars worth of
gems in his waistcoat pockets, were it
not that it is one of the most difficult
! undertakings in the world to commit
such a theft or even to find where the
gems are stored on shipboard.
A number of interesting deductions
may be drawn from the $50, 900 and
more which the American people paid
last year for diamonds and similar
articles of luxurious adornment. One Is
that this astonishing total, even with
the import duty and the dealers profit
added, Represents an expenditure of only
about 80 cents for each man, woman,
and child in the country, so that to
| counterbalance the few who spend tens
of thousands of dollars for jewels there
| must be a good many thousands of US
who spend nothing at all. Another s
that in INDUCING this little fancy for
! expensive stones 100000 was paid in
to Uncle Sans treasury, or enough to
pay the salaries of the entire House of
Representatives. Another is that the
American people are the greatest pur-
| chasers of precious stones in the world,
and that, while we cannot all wear dia-
monds as yet. we may be able to do so
in the course of time.