The following description of the work at the Kimberley Mine at this stage of its history is given by Mr. Reunert:[4]
“A succession of tall, massive timber stagings was erected round the margin of the mine. Each staging carried two or three platforms one above the other, every platform serving as an independent level from which to communicate with the claims below. Stationary ropes were then stretched from the different levels of the stagings to the claims, the ropes being anchored to the ground at both ends: the upper platforms communicated with the claims in the centre of the mine, the lower platforms with those nearer the margin. The hauling ropes were attached to windlasses worked by Kafirs on the several platforms, on which grooved guide wheels for the ropes were also fixed, the buckets being swung from the stationary ropes by little overhead runners and crooks. Arrived at the level of the platform the bucket was tipped into a narrow shoot, down which the ground ran into a bag held ready to receive it, in which it was conveyed away to be sorted. The din and rattle of these thousands of wheels and the twang of the buckets along the ropes were something deafening, while the mine itself seemed almost darkened by the thick cobweb of ropes, so numerous as to appear almost touching. This mode of haulage continued in vogue during the whole of 1873, and if the appearance of the mine was less picturesque than when the roadways existed, it was, if anything, more unique. By moonlight, particularly, it was a weird and beautiful sight.”
The mine was now threatened in two other quarters. The removal of the blue ground took away the support from the walls of the pipe, and frequent falls of reef occurred, not only covering up valuable claims with rubbish, but endangering the lives of workers below. Moreover, as the workings deepened, water made its appearance, necessitating pumping. In 1878 one quarter of the claims were covered by reef, and in 1879 over £300,000 were spent on removing reef and water. In 1881 over £200,000 were thus spent, and in 1882 more than half a million sterling was needed to defray the cost of reef removal. So matters went on until four million cubic yards of reef had been removed, at a cost of two millions sterling, and still little good was done, for out of 400 claims in the mine only about fifty could be regularly worked. Ultimately, in November, 1883, the biggest fall of reef on record took place, estimated at 250,000 cubic yards, surging half across the mine, where the bulk of it lies to this day. It became evident that open workings could not be carried on at such depths, and after many experiments the present system of underground working was devised.
During this time of perplexity, individual miners who could easily have worked one or two claims near the surface could not continue work in the face of harassing difficulties and heavy expenses. Thus the claims gradually changed hands until the mine became the property first of a comparatively small number of capitalists, then of a smaller number of limited liability companies, until finally the whole of the mines have practically become the property of the “De Beers Consolidated Mines, Limited.”
[CHAPTER III]
KIMBERLEY MINES AT THE PRESENT DAY
The De Beers Consolidated Mines, Limited, was founded in 1888, mainly through the genius of the late Cecil John Rhodes, for the purpose of acquiring all-important diamond-mining interests in the Kimberley area and thereby controlling the output. The two richest mines, Kimberley and De Beers, have been actively worked ever since, and have been the main contributors to an output which now realises over five millions sterling annually. Dutoitspan Mine was completely closed down, and practically the whole of Bultfontein was kept idle for many years; but with a view to the requirements of the future and the marked increase in the demand for diamonds, notwithstanding the steady rise in prices that has taken place, both these mines have now been equipped for underground working on a grand scale. The youngest of the De Beers group of mines is the Wesselton, which was discovered in 1890 by the late Mr. H. A. Ward, and soon afterwards purchased by Mr. Rhodes on behalf of the Company. The mine is now being worked opencast on a magnificent scale and has largely exceeded original expectations ([Fig. 5]). The success of the consolidation is proved by the fact that since it was brought about £22,000,000 have been paid in dividends to the shareholders, and it is roughly estimated that 40,000,000 carats of diamonds have been produced of a total value of eighty millions.