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THE DIAMOND
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exceeded
any other. One hundred loads of Roberts-Victor brought over £260,
whereas with a higher price per carat, the yield of the Dutoitspan was
so much smaller that one hundred loads brought but a little over £100.
The
mine is in the Orange River Colony near Boshof, about forty miles from
the Kimberley mines. It was acquired by the present company from the
original owners in 1906. At that time there were about ninety claims.
The company now owns 500 acres.
Work
in the mine began in May, 1906. The percentage of carats per load for
the first month was .91, but it fell so that the average for the first
year was .698. To the end of December the yield was 20,406 carats,
which left a profit after deducting the expenses of prospecting,
developing, mining operations and registration, of £39,045. Out of
this, however, the Orange River Colony is entitled to a share, the
maximum being forty per cent, of the profits.
The
output for 1907 was 132,809 carats, but the percentage of diamonds per
load was still less, being given as .536. It is considered one of the
most promising of all the South African mines, as it combines fine
quality with abundance. The diamonds are of very good color and many of
the crystals are very perfect and beautiful.
The
Voorspoed is an Orange River Colony mine capitalized at £400,000 in £1
shares. Work commenced in 1907, and the first six months yielded 46,340
carats at an average of .21 of a carat per load. They realized an
average of thirty shillings per carat. Only one mine yields less in
money value per load, the Lace. Never-
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