The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-11-21

HEMNIJNI 10 tho pest barometer ~ lIle
lSE9EZD country's prosperity, and quite
po,.s.u.y this Is the case since very
few gems are produced in the United
States and since the demand for them.
which must be satisfied by transporta-
ton, Is not likely to be widespread unless
people are making more money than
they actually need to accord with their
standards OF living. There are said to
be some people who will go with empty
stomachs in order to sport diamonds.
but these In the aggregate are probably
not numerous. ana, ut any rate. their
purchases through such privations cannot
be very extensive, since one gooc uia-
mond or. luby or emerald costs about
as much as would feed and clothe an or
binary person for u year. 1t Is q we'll
accepted fact among dealers IN jewels
Ina. wien prosperity Is Widespread their
sales increase rapidly. and that when
hard times come theirs is a bout the first
business to feel the depression.
IN THE PAST YEAR.
II It be admitted that the trade In
sens is a faithful indication Of the In
dustrial situation. one must acknoWl-
edge that the fiscal year which ended
with the first half OF 1903 was the most
prosperous III the uIsbpTyf " TIC Gou1il y .
for the value of the precious stones
imported during that period was far In
excess OF anything previously recorded.
According to the compilation OF the gov
eminent officials. which has just heen
completed, diamonds and other precious
stones OF value exceeding $4,000. O0O
We're brought into the United States be-
tween June Both. 1909. and June Soth,
MOB, and even this enormous total Is
T., liza Fnr ; no,
figures are taken from the invoices OF
the importers. who are not likely to
overvaue packa ses on which they must
pay high import duty.
1t is interes..,e, ~ compare the figures
given above with those for previous yea s.
In 1909 the importation on this count
amounted to $23000000; in 1901 10 $780,
lo),0D; In 1890 to sl400o,000; In 1895 to
SO, 100000; In 1907 to S?,5e0,O0o; In 1895 to
So $4,000; In 1905 to S7.00).0O; In 1884 to
IS, 100000, Between 1857 and 100 they had
increased from $1,000 1000 10 sl6,0oo.00o, but
In the next three years they fell OFT even
more rapidly to s5,5o0,00o. The Influence OF
the depression of 1893 Is very clearly
marked In the small importatons for
the following year. while the tide of vN,-
rerity which set in In 1895 has carried e
figures far beyond all previous records.
Thus the total value OF diamonds and
other gems brought into tho United States
In the year Just ended was half again as
great as In the preceding year. more than
twice as great as In kso and three mes
as. great as In any year down to 1887,
Verify the love for jewels must grow by
what 1t feeds upon.
MANY UNCUT.
At present there exists a discrimination
of ten per cent In favor of the
cutting OF precious stones in America.
with the result that steadily Increasing
ptoportlon OF the total imports are In
uncut form. Thus the value OF uncut
stones imported has increased from s2,50).-
900 IN 1898. to $lo,0oo,0od In 1909. or about
oYie.third OF the total,
While nearly all the diamonds arc at
prevent produced. as everybody knows,
by the mines IN South Africa. most VI
those brought to the United States are
shipped iron, Antwerp. Amsterdam o.