Omaha daily bee., 1908-10-11

WWzHn~ Is Aipitub W lliidlllbt dhu uN 10
the son Of Mr.. Gardner f. Williams, who
took charge Of the mines at the time the
DE Beers company was organized, and who
managed them until three years ago. Dur
ing Gardner Williams control the mines
became the chief source of the diamond
supply OF the world. He had charge OF
them for about twenty years, and in that
time they produced almost 1900, 900 600 worth
OF diamonds and paid out $l1S, OO0. 90 In divi-
bends. Since his son has been handling
them they have been yielding in the neigh
borhood of S25. O0O.O00 a year, and the pros
pect is that they will produce millions an
nually for many years to come.
. {
Manager of De Beers Company. !
1t is a big thing to be the manager Of a
company like this. 1t means the control
OF an army OF wage-workers greater than
that which X%enophon led on his march to
the sea, and equal to the standing army
of the United States before our war with
Spain. During the last two years Mr.. Will
liams has had on his payroll in the neigh
borhood OF 5000 men. This number has
been reduced since the American panic,
but still 1t runs up close to 1900 and it will
be increased as the times improve All Of
these men have to be fed and the supplies
which they consume cost millions. The
five great diamond pipes which are now
being mined here are operated with the
most expensive machinery. They have vast
works connected with them, and the wealth
erlng fields. with their miles OF cable cars,
cover lL.00o acres. or over seventeen square
miles. Most OF you can realize the size
Of a 160-acre farm. The diamond floors
and washing works of the De Beers COM
pany here would cover just about seventy
two such farms, and every square yard
OF that area is humminE with industry.
Neatly every square of It yields more or
less value; Il has to have guards to
watch It, and the greatest economy Is re-
quired to keep tho millions from leaking
away, In the year 1906 the wages paid
amounted to over SlO.OOO,OOO and the food
nocessaries OF the native IaDorers almost
~$l,OOO,OCo more. Supplies for the men who
have 10 be fed in walled compounds would
tax the capacity OF our largest department
stores. They used last year almost 5000, 900
loaves of bread and something like 5000, 0O
pounds OF fresh meat. They drank 1000, OC
bottles OF milk, smoked 1900, 90 cigarettes
and were supplied with $1,000 new shirts
and 5000 pairs Of trousers. The items for
mining supplies are even larger. 1t took
600 pounds OF candles to light the men
at work In the tunnels and more than 1,OC
miles OF steel wire rope to haul the cars
The new tim6eb for the mines. which
came from San Francisco, amounted tc
more than 100000 feet board measure, and
the iron and steel bars. brass castings and
bolts and nuts ran high into hundreds OF
thousands OF pounds.
In addition to the mines, the company
has a number of other institutions In and
about Kimberley. 1t has 400, 900 acres OF
land, a great farm for raising its horses
and mules, an electric railroad. a hotel
and hospitals and clubs. Ii practically
controls the town OF Kimberley, which ha.
a population of 10000, so that altogether
the mine manager has little time to spare
9
Talk About Diamonds.
II was in the effiee OF the DE Beer
company that / had q talk with the mar
who controls all the Institutions. Mr.
Alpheus Williams is not yet over 80 YEAR,
OF age He was born in the United States
and educated at Cornell and the Univer
sity OF California before he came GU
here some years ago to be his father
assistant. When the latter retired Ii
1895 he was elected In his place, and sine,
then he has been In charge OF all the ID
Beers compGny's properties here. DurinI
~ TAIN WIN AAAAA dlN cADlcGL OF al
diamond demand came NJ, and he reptile,
that IL had been excellent until our grea
panic occurred. Up 10 that time tn
world was taking the whole OF the Kim
berley output, and the company had bu
comparatively few diamonds on hand. TIL
people were everywhere prosperous, an
they were buying diamonds as never be
fore. This was especially so In tn
United states. which was taking almos
thres-fouFths OF all the diamonds Pre-
duosd here. Then the panic came, and on
demand dropped. Fortunately the u
Beers company had an enormous amour
OF blue ground on its floors, and IL he
been able 20 reduce It's expenses withOl
any danger OF being unable 70 supply II
demand OF the near future. Today n
mines are running with a much decrease
force. and they will be operated on
very conservative basis until the tim,
improve.
.
American MArket.
In talking with Mr.. Williams about Il
American market ! asked him what kiI
OF stones were purchased Dy us. He r
piled;
.sThe very best. The finest and pure
of our diamonds 50 TO the United Stat
and within past years that country h