Norwich bulletin., 1915-03-09
PRODUCTION OF DIAMONDS
 GREATLY CURTAILED
Some of Biggest Mines Closed Since Aueust-Lareest Percentage of Gems Come Here.
Especial to The Bulletin.)

Washington, D. C., March 8.-"War has worked a greater disturbance in
 the production of diamonds than al most of any other commodity says a
 bulletin just issued by the National Geographic society. Not only has the
 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 Africa, from mines within the
 war area whose operation has been
 suspended. It is feared in Belgium
 that the Antwerp diamond cutting in dustry has been ruined past repair;
 the Rue de Pelican has been deserted.
 In Amsterdam, the. other great dia- mon cutting and polishing center, work has almost completely halted. The workrooms of London and Paris are l reported to be as quiet as those of the Dutch.
 Diamond production Is of consid- | erable geographical localization. The stones were produced through the centuries in India, and many are still put leaves the country. Likewise, the 1 diamond production of South America | is of little importance in connection with the worlds supply. South Africa | is the great diamond source, and the
 greatest part of it's product is pur-
 chased by the Diamond Syndicate l with headquarters in London, which | takes the entire product of the De l Beers Consolidated Mines, Ltd. This | syndicate through it's centralized con | trol of the diamond industry has been able to fix the worlds price for these
 rare gems.
 ''The machinery by which the nice balance between supply and demand necessary to the maintaining of dia- l monds in superior relationship to other Nf e l l1r Cecil Rhodes. Many millions of dol lars worth of these stones were taken each year at the mines near Kimberley the Premier mine in the Transvaal, and | the mines of German Southwest Afri ca. It is estimated that the total dia- l mond production of the mines of South Africa has reached the enormous sum
 of $75O,000,000. In a single year. 1913, | the combined outputs of the De Beers and the Premier mines amounted in
 volue to $57, 100000, while German Southwest Africa produced during the same year diamonds valued at $10, 750,- 900. The United States takes the larg- est percentage of these gems.
 Some of the wea1thiest houses in
 Europe are included among the man
 agers of the Diamond Syndicate. A great amount of capital has been tied up in the quantities of stones held back from the market by the Syndi-
 
 maintained. There is, therefore, little cause for fearing that those who have the money and the desire to buy need
 feel the effects of a diamond famine. The diamond surplus from the years
 of peace will likely cover any demands which may be made during the war time. The demand for diamedds in this country, according to experts. is remaining good despite the war, be- ing about S5 per cent. of normal.
 Diamond production has been the
 backbone almost of South African de- velopment. It has increased in inn portance from year to year, the out puts being limited practically only to the amount of capital which the Euro pean houses dealing in these precious crystals could afford to tie up in their purchase. In 1913, the mines of Ger man Southwest Africa produced about 1, ,570, 900 carats, and an Antwerp Syn dicate which was formed for the talk ing of the whole of this production,