New-York tribune., 1906-07-17

Brokers) were concerned Belts firm secured con
troll Of the three principal diamond mines in Kim
berey and also Of gold mines in the rich Transvaal
region.
When Mr. Beit when to London from Kimberley
in 1888 he was hailed as great hnancier. He was
one Of the life governors OF the great De Beers
Consolidated Mines Of South Africa, a director OF
the Rand Mines, Of the Rhodesia Railways. of the
Bechuanaland Railway Trust. the Beira Railway
Company and the Consolidated Company Of the
BultfOntein Mine. More and more the power Of
Mr.. Belt was felt in the commercial world. so far
especially as the price Of diamonds was concerned
and the great advances OF recent years have been.
in the main. attributable to his methods
While closely associated with Cecil Rhodes. Mr..
Belt did not adventure on so extensive or colossal
a scale as the who set foot the scheme for
a great South African empire and plsnned the
Cape-to-Calro Railroad. But Belt much
suspected Rhodes in regard to the scheme to
force the Beers out Of the Transvaal. and he was
called witness in regard 70 the Inflated Jane
son raid.
Mr.. Belts fortune advanced by leaps and bounds
until those who were disposed to estimate it lib
orally declared that he was Millionaire in Amerl-
can money and the richest Of Engltshmen. Others.
t1O0OOO,OOO One who knew him thus described this
COLOSSUS Of finance:
reckoned at all cute in small transactions He has
the large, luminous brown eyes Of dreamer and
the point OF view Of an opttmtst. but with an ex-
wants He is absoutely bundle OF nerves and his
nervousness is at times quite DISTRESSING In mo-
Enents Of excitement # is practically impossible for
and he emphasizes his remarks by nervous tugs at
his small, fair mustache He is hardly known in
society but he is very popular with his
ciates. They call him Alfred and refer to him as
26 Park Lane London and really palatial offices in
the City but he Is not ostentatlous In fact he is
one OF the most difidene and unassuning little men
that you gould meet anywhere"
Lo3don safd Of his friend sF Bet last Winter: IN
Alfred Belt has ono OF the greatest business and
without exception, excels any man who has gone
into the great gold and diamond fields Of Africa
Any that knows the would have cause
to wonder at his tremendous success.
reputation OF being a Confirmed woman hater- Il
was reported at one time that he was to marry
reputation for beauty. and again that he was en-
5o{bing came Of either qeport ana Mr. Bet ss
credited with saying, mo marriage bonds for me-
He is saii to have frequently left London for South
Africa to escape the Vaccinations of matchmaking
mammss an who sought t. him i'm as son-n-aw
rage Of young men in his employ and this story is
In 1884 his secretary asked for a holiday to get
married. Mr.. Belt replied: III you get married
a9 Ieo aPf e d o iF @ @ o DS e, "a ahI you you
serve me properT Come in later and et me TU i lo
what you are going to do Next day the secretary
Wees We're % spe9sed 1 % With them and d there bus st
before the wedding Mr. Belt sent for him. wished
him success and handed him an envelope. not to be
opened until after the wedding It contained a
check for 5000 and a note admiring the young
Mr.. Belt was one of the founders of the British
Jameson raid he resigned from the board OF d.
rectors. suit having been brought against him
and his resignation demanded by DR.. Leyd. the
representative of the TransvaaI in Europe. After
the death of Cecil Rhodes. in 1902. # found
that Mr.. Belt was of the executors Of his will
and he restored to the directorate Of the COM
pany.
Having secured control of the diamond output Of
the world Mr.. Belt was credited with scheme to
secure control Of the gold production beginning
with the mines in the Rand and taking IN those OF
the londil1e Australia and the United States, but
no development in the progress of this plan had
been made public.
He made gift Of $4,000 to found a university
in his native city of Hamburg. and was expected
TO endow it literally.