The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-12-18
kimberly
IS PREDICTION
FOR ARKANSAS
MANY VALUABLE STONES ARE
BEING FOUND IN THE FIELDS IN
THAT STATE WITH PROMISE OF
MORE.

LITTLE ROCK. Dec. lS.-From the
cold point of view OF science diamonds
may be merely Jumps OF carbon, like
those the coal man noisily rattles
through cellar chute, but they are
still much esteemed by lovers and
women. and by some who have lost
their faith in savings banks. 1t Is
startling 10 think what a dull. UNI
sparkling world IL would be IL there
were no diamonds on the stage and In
the opera horseshoe, upon the fingers
OF commercial travellers and aproned
artists who mix the peoples drinks.
Distinction would vanish. romance
would almost fade out OF life. and the
occupation OF pin snatcher. pawnbrok.
er and sleuth become almost profit
less. or course, we know that the
majority OF diamonds are rhinestones.
yet the existence OF some real ones Is
necessary, In order that the limitations
should be respected.
Every one wing likes spaTklers will
be pleased to learn that there Is no
shortage In the diamond crop this
year. There are plenty Of stones OF
all sizes To he had for the mere pay
ing OF the price. South Africa Is stead
lily adding to the ten tons OF glitter.
which she has distributed throughout
the world.
Now comes Arkansas, United States
OF America, hitherto the producer OF
little OF note. and hints that this state
may soon be supplying the country
with homemade stones equal to the
best. A report OF experts on the Pike
county field. where one John Huddle-
ston. farmer, picked up a CLASSY
pebble two years ago. indicates that
some day we will not be importing dia-
monds worth s30.000,000 or 100000
900 year. and may even send few
abroad.
In advance OF mining operations on
a large scale in Arkansas, 400 dia
monds, the largest Of 61-2 carats.
have been found there. The colors
range from white and yellow TO black.
Drs. George +. Kunz and Henry ..
Washington, well-known experts. say
that the field is diamond-bearing vol
canic pipe, like the mines of kimber-
ley. Near the surface OF the 60-acre
crater. natures laboratory for the
manufacture OF diamonds. there is a
mass OF decomposed pendotite. which
lower down offers q problem, since the
process OF crushing is likely 10 de-
stroy precious stones.
Laborers steal Gems.
A serious difficulty in numerical
production Is declared TO be- 1.-The pre-
vention Of the loss OF diamonds
through theft by the laboccrs. With
the class OF labor employed at the
South African mines a system OF de-
tention in compounds, thorough physi-
cal examination for hidden diamonds
and other methods for the prevention
OF theft or the recovery OF stolen
stones can be carried out, but In the
United States IL might be impossible
to employ safeguards Of this charac-
ter" The Kafflr diggers in South AZ
RIGA are imprisoned In walled yards
covered with wire netting. so tina
they cannot throw the stones to con.
federates outside. Stones are snug
gled in tobacco pipes, concealed In
wounds and swallowed. One native
swallowed diamonds worth $4,000
which the company doctor managed
TO recover. Could such methods OF
safety be employed In Arkansas?
The Cullinan diamond, which was
presented TO King Edward by the
Transyaal government, aud the cut.
ting OF which has just beer finished,
was larger before cutting than all the
Kohinoors, Nizams, Orloffs and Re-
gents that have ever been found. IRE
history really dates back 10 the day
when Tom" Cullinan, a grizzled old
prospector, saw q rounded plateau
on the farm OF an ugly ola Boer In
the Transvaal and judged that II was
volcanic pipe covering diamond
treasury. Experts had no faith In the
location; nothing had ever feen found
whereabouts. The Boer farmer would
not permit any prospecting in advance
and wanted $l25,000 cash for his prop
erty.
While Tom" argued that this was
steep for potato patch the farmer
boosted his price to s250,000 Cullinan
raised the money with soma effort and
bought the farm. Then he put In the
diamond drill in a hurry TO find out
what underlay the vegetables. At $40
feet the drill struck the Kimberly
blue" ground. and soon a dozen fair
sized diamonds came out OF the wash.
After that the Premier mine became
known as a record breaker, yielding
four stones above 300 carats, two
above 200 and sixteen above 100 car
ats In weight. Tom" Cullinan began
to smoke Havana cigars and to ele.
vate his other habits correspondingly.
But he could not foresee the climax
OF his marvellous luck, which was TO
put stone worth $4,000 900 In his
hand, else he might have bought
Havana plantation and invested In sew.