The Washington times., 1907-08-04

- ONSUL FRANK D. HILL. in
reviewing the prosperous dIa-
mond trade OF Amsterdam.
states that for the calendar
year 1906 the amount Of diamonds IN
voiced at that Dutch port for the
Cnited States was S1z, 4s5. 1eS, far and
away the largest amount ever sent IN
one year from Amsterdam to America
As more than % per cent Of these were
cut and as about one-half of the ex-
tensive cut diamond purchases Of this
country last year were made In Hol-
land, the following report on this sub
jeet from the consul Is of considerable
interest:
Among the many industries Of Am
sterdari that Of diamond cutting has
long been an important one. Since the
fifteenth century (when II was staTted)
II has been extensively carried on. and
today no fewer than sixty firms are
registered in Amsterdam as diamond
cutting or diamond-polishing COM
panies. Some of the firms restrict
themselves entirely TO one process.
that of diamond polishing, while others
carry out the whole of the three pro-
cesses. diamond splitting. diamond cut
ung, and diamond polishing. In one of
these typical complete factories 90 per
cent Of all the many thousands of
rough uncut diamonds received every
year come from South Africa. and
those principally from the De Beers
mine an Kimberley. II gives one a lit
lie idea OF the importance OF this in
dustry in Amsterdam to realize that
800, ,00c diamonds were cut and polished
In the factory I'm one year alone. and
that 600 10 $50 men are daily employed
IN the different workrooms by this one
company. which also employees about
twenty women.
The first OF the three processes
through which the rough, uncut dia-
mond has TO pass Is that OF splitting
the stone. About twelve men are en-
ployed IN th's work, which Is all done
by hand without the aid OF machinery.
It is not c lengthy process unless the
stone con,ains a great many flaws, for
an ordinary diamond weighing about
ten karats can generally be split in ff-
teen minutes. The object is to divide
the rough. uncut diamond containing
fsv-sl into several pure. fawless
stones. and in order TO do this strong
pressure Is exerted On the weak spots
Caused. by favs) by means of dia-
mond-tipped tCul, which Is held in the
right hand. IL Is an old and well-rec-
ognized principle that nothing but a
diamond will cut diamond" In the
left hand IS held a curiously shaped
little frame into which tho rough iia-
mord nov 10 bs split has been hrmly
waNed. Great pressure is then used
on the weak spot, end in a few mo-
nents thc diamond splits into two por-
tioas. Should there be any more flaws
in either OF these sections the process
is repeated until several pure. fawlcss
diamonds lie on the rough wooden
tables OF the WoFkmen, ready now for
tho second process that OF cutting
This process. like the first. is almost
entirely performed by hand. but with
one striking difterence-the work is
done by women and girls instead OF
men Only IN the case OF very hard,
difncult stones Is machinery necessary,
and then "a mere man is employed
n Lse Il
Il peasant workshop Las been built
lot the women on the quay close 10
the factory In this loom about twenty
women and girls sit at several tables,
paced where the lsht from the six
large windows can fan on tbeir work
IHsy work eight hours dsy. their
wages varying from s 10 % suilders
Ss-2l 70 s eD a week