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Show MiigiitiMs - 1 ' 4 1- U f' K v '-- . J -Wy-iy: -.y:y.-yyy:yy : &.. .-, - e ::::-:;.: : yy ;''v Z ft: A T Kimberly, Cape Colony, is probably the biggest hole in EatX the world the old "Central" j mine with a space measurement measure-ment at the surface of 14 acres, and a depth of some 400 feet. There are, in addition to several smaller small-er ones, four other enormous excavations, excava-tions, all witnessing to the tireless energy en-ergy of men in a hurry to be rich. The diamonds are found in a grey rock called "blue ground," which fills a "pipe" or natural shaft of unknown depth, widening towards the surface into funnel shape. Below the few feet of red sand on the surface comes the "yellow ground," lime for fifty or sixty feet. Underneath that is the "blue ground," which, although the "yellow ground" Ic not without diamonds, is the true diamond-bearing rock. Sclen-tists Sclen-tists believe that these "pipes" are the craters of extinct volcanoes, and that at some time when the surrounding surround-ing country was under water, this dia-mondlferous dia-mondlferous rock was forced up in the form of volcanic mud. How and when and where the diamonds, were formed remains a mystery, but they are undoubtedly un-doubtedly of earlier date than the rock which encloses them. Early Diamond Digging. The first mining operations were restricted re-stricted to digging and scooping out the earth. But, by degrees, as the hole got wider and deeper, troubles came in the shape of accumulation of water and fails of "reef." In gold-mining gold-mining the "reef" is the gold-bearing rocks, but the "reef" of the diamond mines is the surface shale and basalt surrounding the "pipes." This was the cause of great tribulation tribu-lation to the early miners, as it caved In again and again, and overwhelmed those working below. After various expedients ex-pedients had been- tried wlthiut permanent per-manent success, it became impossible to work the mine any longer in the old way, and many thought the industry in-dustry was absolutely ruined. Here was the opening for the capitalist, cap-italist, who soon superseded the "digger." "dig-ger." The larger claim-holders banded together, to-gether, and sank shafts outside the area already operated upon, with galleries gal-leries running towards the center, until un-til the "blue" was tapped. In 1888 Messrs. Rhodes, Barnato, and Belt, having bought 'out the smaller holders, hold-ers, formed the De Beers Consolidated Mines, Limited, that great corporation which has ever since controlled the diamond mining Industry. The main shaft at the "Central" connects with the "pipe" of blue ground by means of several galleries, galler-ies, the distance from Bhaft to "pipe" being 1,134 feet. At the time of the writer's descent the lowest gallery was 1,200 feet from the surface. Armed with the necessary permit, we stripped and re-clothed ourselves in a sort of dressing-room. The outfit Includes flannel shirt, and coat and trousers of "duck," or some such material, the articles being decidedly decid-edly the worse for wear. Instead of braces or belt, a looped leather thong does duty. An ancient sou'-wester with ear-flapB, and tied under the chin, a pair of socks that have seen service, and rubber Wellington boots complete the costume. Accompanied by the manager, we get into the cage at the top of the ihaft, and after a few seconds of swift motion, step out at the 1,000 foot level. lev-el. Each supplied with a composite candle but no candlestick! we proceed pro-ceed to explore the workings on that level. We pass Btalwart natives at work, with here and there a white overseer. Some drill holes in the rock ready for blasting; others gather gath-er up the fragments into small steel trucks, which are pushed along on rails to the "shoot" which conveys the "blue" down to the 1,200 foot level. These "boys" handle many a lump with a fortune hidden In It. Sometimes Some-times their quick eyes detect the "stone," and not being without the desire de-sire for pelf, they covet, like Achan, and, like Achan, take if they can do so unnoticed. They will make an incision in-cision in their flesh as secure hiding-place hiding-place for their "find," and even swallow swal-low stones. To encourage the "toys" to give up what they find, they are allowed al-lowed a percentage on the value of the diamonds. Descend by Ladders. We descend the remaining 200 feet in stages of 20 feet by means of perpendicular per-pendicular ladders. The utter blackness black-ness Into which one steps is friendly to the nervous man who shudders whenever he looks at masons nd carpenters car-penters at work on scaffoldings Nevertheless the ladders have to be negotiated with cars for the rungs are slimy, and the candle has to be carried, car-ried, while the approach of your , friend above you is heralded by lumps of mud dropping from his feet on to your sou'-wester. Water also occasionally occa-sionally falls from the roof. But we emerge safely at the 1,200 feet level into comparative light, greater dampness, damp-ness, a cooler atmosphere, and deafening deaf-ening din. The noise is caused by the constant running of two sets of steel trucks the one carrying the "ground" from the bottom of the "shoot" to the foot of the shaft, the other returning empty and the mechanical emptying of the full trucks into the "skip" for conveyance to the surface. We essay a conversation with the checker stationed near the "tip," which is only managed by dint of each In turn shouting Mr. , who in his washen hours is well-known on the Diamond Fields as an eloquent advocate advo-cate of temperature principles. He tells us, among other things, that accidents ac-cidents are of almost daily occurance, chiefly through falls of "ground," and that the sight of a native maimed and bleeding, being carried to the shaft, is on to which he Is well accustomed. The native, however, takes it all as part of his day's work, and bears his pains with Spartan hardihood. He seems to have greater power of endurance en-durance than the white man,or else, having a less delicate and sensitive organization,' the pain is not so acute. Willingly enough, after an hour and a half underground, we re-enter the "cage" and speedily measure the 1,200 feet to the surface. Resigning, without with-out a sigh, our be-sludged disguise, we enjoy the thoughtfully-provided bath, and return to life in the sunshine. sun-shine. A syndicate now buys the whole weekly "find," and the Tuesday morning morn-ing Cape train conveys the precious iurden to Cape Town, for shipment. The writer has seen, on a Monday afternoon, aft-ernoon, 400,000 worth of diamonds, assorted in heaps, on a counter in De Beers' offices. The annual output is from $20,000,-000 $20,000,-000 worth, and up to the present something like $700,000,000 worth, weighing about 20 tons, has been taken tak-en from the Kimberley mines. |