11 Fractions of pounds, carats, and pence omitted or approximated. l' Data not given.
The
quantity of hlue ground in sight at these mines was estimated as
amounting to 51,300,300 loads. This amount heing added to that given
above for the De Beers and Kimberley—8,026,400—the entire total foots
up 59,320,700 loads. Beyond this, however, there are of course the
unexplored resources of the three newer mines which have only been
opened to depths from one-fourth to one-third those of the older mines.
The
recovery of diamonds from tailings and debris has continued, though on
a scale somewhat less than in the previous year, which was,the maximum.
In 1903 1,626,630 loads were washed, mostly from the De Beers mine, and
there were obtained 257,050 carats of stones, valued at £311,030.
Even
with the higher rate realized for rough diamonds, the earnings of the
De Beers Company were 1.1 per cent less than in 1003. as the average
yield of rough diamonds from the De Beers and Kimherley mines has
fallen from 0.70 carat per load in 1002 to 0.01 carat per load in
100.'! and to 0.40 carat per load in 100.1. Great quantities of the
poorer diamond earth were treated. The total sum realized from the sale
of diamonds was £4,802,844; the expenditures were £2.037.500: the
profits were £1,805,335. Out of the profits £1.800.000 were paid in
dividends, the dividends being 20s. per preferred share as against 27s.
(id. in 1903 and 1904. The reserve was £840.783. The entire sales in
1903 were made "rough" by the syndicate, and this is to continue in
1906. on account of the lower yield and on account of the great demand.
This is in spite of the fact that the price of rough stones was raised
twice, 5 per cent each time, during the year 1005; but the diamond
syndicate makes these advances because there are less diamonds found
to-day than there were found fifteen years ago, while the demand for
them has greatly increased.
Premier (Transvaal) mine.—The
increased output of the Premier (Transvaal) mine has caused great
interest in the production of diamonds; and the finding of the largest
known diamond, the Premier or Cullinan, weighing 3,024 carats, and of
several other large stones, one of which weighed over 000 carats and
another 340 carats, has given this mine the greatest record for
producing material of exceptional size.
Orange Rirer Colony mines.—The
extensive development of diamond mining in the Orange River Colony is
well shown in the Annual Report of the Mines Department of that Colony
for the year ending June 30. 1005.a This report, by
" Mines l'epi. Orange River Colony, Ann. Rept, for the statistical year ending June 30, 1905 ; Bloemfontein, 1905, p. 31
