The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-05-13
DIAMOND MINE PROFITS.
Revenue from Industry in German
Southwest Africa S2,432, 500 in 1912


Consul w. J. Yerby. writing from
Sierra Leone. says that the govern
ment authorities of German Southwest
Africa, estimate that the revenue from
the diamond industry Will amount to
s2,432 500 in the budget year of 1912
This amount is mainly composed the
export duties and to a smaller extent
the mine taxes. According To the
"Berlincr Tageb.att." the estimates for
this year are of special interest. as il
had been Ieckoned that the export
duties would be reduced or converted.
but the budget again provides for the
imposition of export duties of 80 1876,
which may he assumed as proof that,
a decisive alteration in the duties can
not be counted on for the time being.
Having regard to the fact that num-
Der of diamond fields win be worked
out this Year and the northern fields
can not certainly be expected "a fur
nish much production. the government
authorities estimate the output Of dio-
inonds at $4,000 carats for this year,
as compared with an estimate of 300
900 carats for 1911.
In this connection it might be of
interest TO state that the balance sheet
OF the German Colonial Co. for South
ives. Africa at Berlin for the half- yeai
April to Sept. &c. 1911, was presented
at a recent board meeting at which
the administration declared the: ac-
corddng to estimates a dividend of
about $3.50. might be expected for the
Year l9ll-l9l2. This is another re-
duction OF the dividends OF the COM
pany, which paid 64fo for the yeaI
lg09-10, and SOC for the year l9l0-I1,
due TO the unfavorable economic con-
dltion of the colony and the decrease
of the output Of diamonds.
A profit OF $685. is disclosed H..
the report of the Premier Diamond
company for the year ended Oct. 81.
1911, in addition to tl,5l5,165 worth OF
diamonds on hand and unrealized spe-
cial accounts for SG5.i9l. Practically
the whole OF the balance (Si.45O.9T5)
was realized In November and Deem
Der at an advance I'm stock prices.
During the company's year $500 (IS6,-
e5O) was paid as dividends on the
preferred shares ana 20Ofo ($3s9,32O on
the deferred shares a further div-
dend of 5000 later declared payable on
the deferred shares made a total for
the calendar year of 5000. against the
previous record of 400Es.
The earth washed during the year
= 10
less than that handled I'm the preced-
Ing year. owing to the scarcity of ma
tive labor. hut the value per load in
creased enough to make the aggr cgate
profit nearly equal to that of the pre-
vious' year. The recovery per load was
SO Use. against 771sc, in isO9-l0. but
the weight recovered per load from
0.230 to 0l23 carat per load. The in
creased value per load was therefore
due 10 the increase i'm ,he average
value OF the diamonds
The average number OF loads hauled
per e4-hour day was 29.O55; the cost
mined and washed, 5Oaic.. and the
average cost per carat won. S2.37 1-3.
The yield of diamonds was 1.774,206
carats. a decrease OF 37l, 627 carats from
the previous year. Recruiting costs
came to 5000 per head for IL, 169 ma
lives forwarded by recruiting agents
in 1911, against $s.47 per head for
1907 natives in 1910. Voluntary ma
iives numbered 2.S56. The natives re-
ceived 65hc. each per day and found
themselves. The number OF white emf
ployes averaged 729, receiving sl.O11-
G96 in wages