Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-05-13
CHECKS DIAMOND OUTPUT
War Has Also Ruined Antwerp's
Gem-Cutting Industry.

war has worked n greater disturbance
in the production of diamonds than al
most of any other commodity" SAYS a
bulletin lust issued by the National Geo
graphic society. Not only has the cut
ting of these gems almost ceased. but
the largest diamond mines In the world
have been shut down since last August.
More than 90 per cent. OF the annual
diamond output comes from south Afri-
ca from mines within the war area Who's
operation has been suspended. 1t IS
feared in Belgium that the Antwerp dia-
mond-cutting industry has been ruined
past repair. the Rue de Pelican has been
deserted In Amsterdam. the other great
diamond cutting and polishing center
work has almost completely halted The
workrooms of Tendon and Paris are re-
ported to be as quiet rs those of the
Dutch.
Diamond production is of considerable
geographical localization The stones
were produced through the centuries in
India, and many mined there. though few
OF this output leaves the country. Like
wise the diamond production Of Soutl
America is of little importance IN con-
ncction with the worlds sIpply. South
the greatest part Of it's product IS pur-
chased by the Diamond Syndicate. with
headquarters in London. which takes the
entire product of tho DE Beers Consoli-
dated Mines. Ltd This syndicate
through its centralized control of tho
diamond industry has been able to fix
the worlds price for these rare gems.
| "The ma rhinery by which the nice
balance between supply and demand
necessary t. tho mah.tainire of diamonds
in superior relationship to other COM
lnoditicS Of life was devised by Cecil
Rhodes Many millions OF dollars worth
Of these stones We're taken each year n
the mines near Kimberley. the Premier
mine In tho Transvaal. and the mines
| Of German Southwest Africa. II ia est-
mated that the total diamond productio
of the mines of South africa has reached
the enormous sum OF t7ao,"b'0o In a
single year 1913, the combined outputs
of the he Beers and IT,. Premier mines
amounted In value To- $4,000" while
German Southwest Africa produced dur
/ Ing the same wear diamonds valued NJ
slo75n,Con Thu United States takes the
largest percentages Of these gems.
Some Of the wealth est houses in EN-
rope are included among the managers
| of the Diamond Svndclte, \ great
amount of capital has been tied mp IN
the quantities Of stones held back from
the market by the Syndicate I'm order that
prices might ne maintained. There Is,
therefore, little cause for fe7rir; that
those who hav" the money and the de-
sire to buy need feel thu effects Of a
diamond famine. The diamond surplus
from the wears of peace will likely over
any demands which may be mado during
the wartime Tho demand for diamonds
in this country. according to experts Is
remaining good despite the war. being
about " per cent Of normal.
Observation-Disclosures has been the
backbone almost II South Africa develop
Inert. II has increased in Importance
from year to year the outputs being
limited ~ cticGlr pulv to tine mount #
capital which the European houses deal
ing in these precious crystals could af-
ford TO tie M in their purchase. In
1913, the mines of German Southwest
Africa produced about l,57oCn carats,
ana an Antwerp Syndicate which was
formed for the taking of the whole OF
this production. failed. Just before the
war a conference of all the leading dia :
Tond interests was called IN London
whose object was the adoption of plans
for better control of the ever-swellin,
South African diamond OUTPUT"