WHAT IS TO BE FOUND IN SOUTH AFRICA.
By Editor
When so much is heard of the prospects of South Africa as a field for emigration, it cannot fail to be of benefit to know just what is to be found in that country. The following letter from Ed Russell, who formerly resided in this city, is very interesting:— "The labor market is now overdone in Johannesburg. Lots of men are lying around who have been unable to secure employment for months. Many of them are from Australia, and they have to borrow money to return home. A great many Americans also find it difficult to get anything to do, although they are preferred to almost any other class, especially in the mines. This is probably due to the fact that the principal mines are owned by Americans and operated by American managers. The only class of men safe in coming here are machine men—good drill machine men, I mean, and good blacksmiths, of course. Carpenters, bricklayers, etc., might find work, but they are better away, if they know when they are well off. Railway men are 'not in it,' as wages are low. I will say, however, that I think prospects will be better later. At present the best thing to do is to stay away. If one does want to venture, let him go to Natal, Deligo Bay, or some other East Coast town. There the chances are much better, for the simple reason that everybody comes direct to Johannesburg. "As to the climate, if you went to sleep in Arizona and woke up anywhere on the road between here and Cape Town, you couldn't tell the difference. About 300 miles from here you strike a splendid grazing country, all the world like Northern California and Southern Oregon. The soil is rich red loam, and the climate similar to that of California. Johannesburg is 6,600 feet above the sea level. We are now enjoying the rainy season, which is called summer. The winters, they tell me, are very dry and dusty, and heavy frosts are frequent. The country hereabouts is as level as a prairie, but New Johannesburg lies in the center of a hilly spot. This ridge is the much-talked-of gold reef, and is wonderfully full of free-milling ore. Dozens of mills are already in operation, and more are being erected. In a few years Johannesburg will be full of such mills, and there will be employment for thousands of men. "The reef is 60 miles in length and runs north and south. Only the outcroppings have been worked so far, but arrangements are being perfected to work the lower levels, where the ore is said to run much richer. Each claim is 400 feet square. Those located on the outcroppings of the veins are fast being worked out, owing to the dip of the veins, so that owners of claims on the deeper levels will have to work under the greater expense. I understand that the majority of the mining claims and mills are owned by the Rothschilds; but be that as it may, there will be plenty of work for the poor man in the future. Just think of it—a city of 60,000 inhabitants, of which one-half are whites, formed in six years, and a very fine city at that. "The blacks are industrious fellows, too, and do all the common labor at from $15 to $20 per month. The much-talked-of war is over for the present. The scene of action is about 600 miles from here, so that news reaches us very slowly. The impression prevails that just as soon as the dry season sets in and the floods subside, the head chief will be on the warpath again. "With the advent of the dry season there will be a grand rush for Matabeleland, which is reputed to be the richest gold district in South Africa. It is said to be a dangerous trip, on account of the fever in the lowlands, through which one must pass in order to reach the promised land. The charter company is trying to get control of the entire district, and already lays claim to one-half of all mineral found there. The government backs it up, and is making it warm for prospectors and locators. "In this city good board can be obtained for $7.00 per week. The bill of fare includes plenty of beef and mutton, but very few vegetables. The Boers are too lazy to raise vegetables, and the result is that potatoes are worth from $4.50 to $5.00 per cent. Ham costs from 60 to 75 cents per pound, and eggs 60 cents per dozen."—Morning Times, Oakland, Cal.