The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-08-17

artists, does not change, and in which a
lot of small diamonds are necessary, the
prices of small diamonds will still increase
and sell readily.
were most in demand Stones about one
karat wer neglected by Americans as well
as by European buyers, although large
pears were placed easily in Paris and Ber-
lin. This year. as well as previous years,
Americans formed the majority OF the
buyers In Amsterdam; but Europe, too,
bought n great quantity Of goods, when
were often of a better quality and higher
grade than those bought by Americans:
It often occurred that several buyers could
not fill their orders satisfactorily. as there
were not enough desirable goods in the
market, and, therefore, they only bought
half and sometimes less than half of the
quantity which they had the intention of
buying when they came out.
The San Francisco disaster, which every
body thought would harm the trade very
much. had no bad effect at all. On the
contrary. the Pacific coast diamond trade
1ourished this year more than ever before.
Prospects for the year 1907 are very bright.
In almost every country of the world well
fare and prosperity in all classes of society
are increasing fast, and II can easily be
understood that this augmentation OF
demand for jewelry, precious stones and
other articles of luxury.
Another factor added to stiffen the mar
ket. In the last quarter of 1906 the Lon
don Diamond Syndicate renewed its con-
tract with the De Beers Mining Company
for five years, with a condition of a
gradual increase of prices every year and
with a restricted output Of SIC, $4,000 an
nually. notwithstanding all these good
factors. the manufacturers profits were
not very large, and many of them even
complained. The cause Of this must be
found in the difficulty of obtaining the
right kind of rough from the syndicate,
MS very often they had TO wait for several
months before they could obtain a sight
of the shipments in London, and thus
We're obliged to take whatever was offered
them, the high wages which cause the
diamond worl5men to be classed among
the most well-to-do workmen of our city,
and the strong mutual competition.
As to the alarming news which came to
us from South Africa, where II was said
that influential men were going to trans
fer the diamond industry to johannesburg,
this was very much exaggerated; but 1t
Is, at any rate, a warning to our manu-
facturers to be on their guard and to
make themselves strong so that they will
be able to work advantageously, notwith-
standing a protected foreign industry.
Proposed of Cutting Industry.
During the last year the press, both in
South Africa and Europe, has given, con-
siderable space to discussion. of projects
having in view the establishment of n
Observation-Disclosures industry at Cape Town,
Johannesburg and other places. 1t Is
regarded seriously here. A South African
exchange to hand states that 10000 work
men will be employed in the prospective
industry. People here ask where these
workmen are to be sought. Today AM
sterdam factories employ about 5000 work
zerland plants. 200; German. 800, Paris.
200: New York. 300. and London, rs, or all
together. according to Mr.. Polak, an Am
sterdam authority, about 1000 people.
The establishment of a new industry like
that of ialnon cutting, splitting and
polishing is no slight undertaking. In 1903,
after the enactment Of the tariff of 1890
when the duty on polished diamonds was
raised from 10 to 25 per cent. ad valoren.
a very considerable industry began to take
f.OOf In tho TTnffod Cfofod Tn 1Q20 fhnTn
were twenty-nine factories. with. a total
capital Of 800. 900. while the product was
estimated at 100000; in 1890. ffty-hye fac
tories. with a capital of SIZE. 900, turning
out a product of 100000. In the year 1900
these were sixty factories, with a capital
OF or about bout 10000, a wage i Eed oS 0f s s09 y
product amounting to $,750. 900. OF this
product s.. 500, 600 was accredited to. New
York. $3.50. 900 to Illinois. $4,000 to Massa-
chusetts. $500 to Pennsylvania and the
balance to other States.
American Labor-Saving Mecbanisms.
The following statement is from an ex-
pert source:
Any suggestion of the diamond-cutting
Industry brings at once to the mind the
importance of the Netherlands and France,
especially the cities Of Amsterdam and
a foremost place In this field Is generally
overlooked. Yet, through the ingenuity
and enterprise of American cutters and the
adoption of a number Of new mechanical
1abor-saving implements and devices an In
dustrv that did not exist fifteen years ago
now shows an output in excess of $780,
900. A mere enumeration of just a few Of
these new devices and methods. many Of
which originated in the United States and
have since been adopted in Europe, is Of
interest. An octahedron, or long stone. can
now be sawed in two at the centre by n
revolving disk of sheet iron or phosphor
bronze so that but 2 per cent. OF the
weight of the crystal is lost; angles Of
octahedrons can be removed by nicking
the stone at a given point, then by a
sharp blow breaking Off a piece, thereby
saving both material and time formerly
lost In polishing; stones and facts are now
so grooved by n patented process that the
brilliancy is greatly enhanced; a new me-
ehanical device, the dop. for holding the
diamond while being polished. does away
with the formerly necessary frequent heat
ings. involving risk. to which the stones
We're subjected when secured in place by
means of a fusible metal. A few figures
illustrate the rapid growth Of the industry
tions. The wear 1896 showed nlnety-two
persons employed In lapidary work. a mum
Der which in five years had increased to
value of materials used rose from S124,S52
to &.655. 765. and the value Of the product
Increased from sSl5. cot to s~5.7S6,2s1. Per
haps the most convincing figures Of the
progress of the diamond-cutting industry
IN the United States. however, are found
In the relative lmportations of uncut and
cut stones. In 1897 the Importation Of UNI
cut diamonds was s47. 1885,; in 1905 II was
S1O.390.917 an increase of over 2,lOO per
cent. lit increased further to S11,17S,1 19 in
1906-B. of M. In the same period the
increase In the importation OF cut stones
was us per cent. or from S1.937. 9H to s17-
019.530 advancing to the still more strik-
ing Importation in 1906 of $25, 2S2, lis worth,
B. of M In 1897 for every dollar Of
uncut stones imported there was an I'M
portation of s40.5D OF cut stones; by 1906
for every dollars worth Of uncut stones
imported the cut-stone importation was a
little over 50.
wages and ProHts-snIes to America.
Z Wages Maid in the diamond Industry at !
Amsterdam are estimated to have
amounted to $500 900 in 1905. and with
mill hire. disk polishing, and profits OF