New-York tribune., 1905-01-06
DIAMOND KING THE HOST.
W. @. Meyer, Who RediscoUered
Brazilian Fields, GiUes Dinner.

One of the passengers on the steamer Byron
which sailed for Rio Janeiro yesterday. was Will
lam G. Meyer who is known in Brazil the
South American Diamond King Mr.. Meyer had
been in New-York for about six months, and the
night before his departure he gave farewell din
at the Grand Hotel for a number OF his Amer
ican friends including several business associates
Among those at the dinner were T. Milton john
son. George P. Keeney, Jesse R Grant. president
Of the Brazilian Dredging Company; w. S. Zirkel
II. D. Cowdin, president of the Brazilian Expora-
ton Company; Llewellyn H Starkey, vice-president
and c. W. Girsch, treasurer OF the DatuS-D Diamond
Fields Company; S. A. Lehman, Henry B. Corey,
A. H Longfelow S. H. Congdon. L. Z. Replogle
George H. Kern, @. c. Coingwood DR.. Alfred c.
Dupont C. c. Ruthrauf, A. Heymann and George
+. Hurlburt proprietor OF the Grand Hotel
Mr.. Meyer who is a native OF Schleswig- -Hostein.
in Germany. for twenty years prior to 1885
identified with gold mining in California He then
went to South Africa, where for nine years he was
engaged IN acquiring his knowledge of diamond
mining the Wall River diggings, and in the
mines at Kimberly and Jaegersfontein. He was
one Of the jameson raiders. but avoided mprsOn-
ment, and demand being made upon him by Presi-
dent KRUGER that he raise a company OF his
trymen Germans. and OF Americans. his adopted
compatriots. 10 fight against the English. he re-
fused. and escaped. He went to Brazil six years
ago.
II went TO Brazil determined TO rediscover the
abandoned diamond fields Of that country" said
Mr. Meyer. For nearly year washed In the
rivers and their feeders and was able TO the
stones TO their source and clearly established their
volcanic origin and that they had been expelled
from the craters identically South Africa
In sixteen Of the rivers prospected twelve them
carried diamonds in paying quantities.
Prior 10 the diamond discoveries in South Africa
IN 1865 nine-tenths of the diamonds of the world
from the Brazilian mines Up to 1871 the
average annual output $4,000 carats but with
the abolition of slavery and the lack or labor the
industry was ruined, and ten years ago the Bra
lillian output only 1900 carats. Recuperaton
is in progress. and last year the output 900
carats."
THE advance IN the price OF diamonds" Mr. Leh-
mann told the diners is not due TO a lessening
output OF the precious stones. The demand has
increased greatly IN the last few years, and since
the De Beers syndicate has controlled the output
they have doubtless followed the policy OF consery-
ing the quantity of the high grade that shall
go into commercial channels. One of the Kimberly
mines that they have been holding in reserve is
the Du Lois Pan. which Is productive of high
grade diamonds but which has been worked 10
the limit OF its possibilities. The Wesselton is
another that is comparatively new, and yields
the high grade product Some idea OF the profits
derived by the trust: with capital of $50 boo OO
may be gathered from the experience OF a new
mne-the Premer-which is outside the svndicata
control. The net profit in the last year has been
f66I0cO. and shares once having Il par value OF q
now fo7"