The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-03-08

Z ( b & y, d i x
lis being mined al present, the large COM
npan,es holding miles OF It In reserve.
From most reliable estimates, based on
the yearly production for several years
and calculating at prices obtained during
that period, experts reckon the value OF
obtainable ore now In the vicinity OF Jo-
hannesburg to be worth over one billion
two hundred and fifty pounds sterling.
or six times the amount OF the entire
production OF California between 1913 and
1893
In addition to this wonderful aurifer-
Gus deposit. which In this vicinity alone
covers over 5000 square miles, there are
similar deposits around Potchefstroom.
Venterskroom, De Kaap and Komatt, In
the Transyaal and Orange River Colonies.
and immense alluvlal goldhelds In the
latter, as well as in Swaziland and Zulu
land. The "Lydenberg'' alluvlal Held
(Transvaal) is famous for its big nuggets.
one OF over 2l5 ounces having been found
there not long ago. Rhodesia, formerly
Matabeliland and Mashonaland, are all
rich In gold.
It is well that this country abounds in
SOlu anu pEcClOuS SkUIloS, .SihSC IIo SCs'S
OF living in Joha nncsburg Is something
terrible. spent Christmas week on the
Rand, and Christmas day IN Johannes
burg. On Christmas eve l saw small,
sickly-looklng turkeys selling for AZ shil-
llngs, over $40 each, fancy paying over
a dollar per pound for poultry. Every
thing else sells in proportion, and all
staple foods are brought up from the
coast ports. One dares not drink. Water
and claret and lemonade are 80 cents per
glass In the hotels. German beer or Eng
lish ale Is TO cents per glass. Scotch
whiskey and soda. so cents for large
glass at dinner. a decent cigar, from
rs cents to s1,a5 each. EGGS, $3.50 per
dozen. Fruit and fresh vegetables, al
most unknown outside Of the mine own
crs table.
In Pretoria.
Pretoria, the capital Of the Dutch
8(Boer) Republic, now the Transvanl Col
ony of England. is a very pretty place.
and the Dutch Government public build
ings are the finest In South Africa, Here
was tho residence OF "Oom Paul., rs the
white House" OF President Kruger was
known, and here the old fellow lived In
simple splendor, II sitting out on wide
piazza smoking a ''calabash" (Boer pipe
made from peculiar gourd handle). and
uuaf,lng schnnpps, and Won Riebeek. and
ruling at will, could constitute happl-
ness, with the chink Of accumulated
wealth constantly tnkling IN his ear.
But It's all over now could not help
contemplating tho scene and observe IN
Mace Of the bulky form of the rotund old
Dutchmnn, the nntty appearance or Inc
smart English army officer who l'lled MS
place. aspo,toir ord
Natal sprult begun my Journey oyeF-
land to Pietermaritzburg ana DuEpa ~. !;
Tho distance by rail is a llttle over ~
miles from Pretoria and 800 mics tEonl
Cape Town, and the run from fretotlt
TO Maritzb,lrg Is about 80 hours so yo'l
see ono has ample time to take ~ we
country, The trip Is one or great lh!er-
est since one passes through nearly alI "
the great battlenelds of the late war una
particularly those so disastrous 20 Wy
British arms In the early campaign OF
Sir Redeyers. Lord Methuen ana otneFs'
and Including Tugela River ColeEso sPlon
Kop, Majuba, Estcourt and many others
stopping at Ladysmth and other inter-
esting points,
Africa" and we'll deserves the name
when compared with Cape Colony and
Rhodesa, or even the Orange River OF
Transvaal. It lies to the east and south
of these colonler and It's waters drain
to the indian Ocean, and It Is nearly
wholly east of the ,Drakensherg range
and is subject TO tho warm Influence OF
the Indian Ocean, whose refreshing lnjsts
hover over Its beautiful hills and val,
leys and makes than as fertile as the
others are barren. Tea, sugar-cane, corn
{mealies), and tropical as well as other
fruits are groWu and 1T presents tho