MACHINERY IN THE TRANSVAAL. 283 



with higher pressures, and compound engines were employed, 

 with very often surface condensers fitted. 



About the end of 1889 attention began to be turned to machine 

 drills, and several small plants were fitted. The Robinson 

 Company were the first people to lead the way in any extensive 

 manner in this direction, and under Mr. Spencer's management 

 a fine 20-drill plant was installed, and both Ingersoll and Rand 

 drills were used under the supervision of a competent drill fore- 

 man, who came from America specially for this purpose. This 

 marked a very important epoch on the fields, and shortly after- 

 wards the Langlaagte Estate Company followed suit in a similar 

 manner. The writer believes he was the first on the Rand to 

 employ compressed air underground for the use of hauling and 

 pumping engines, and a rapid increase in the prosperous condition 

 of the Langlaagte Estate Mine is distinctly due to the extended 

 use of compressed air. 



In the middle of 1890 the prospects of the Langlaagte Estate 

 Mine were so good, the directors ordered a complete mill of 

 120 stamps with compound condensing engines of 500 H.P., con- 

 densers, boilers, pumps, pipe lines, ore cars for mine and surface, 

 etc., in fact a most complete equipment. This gave the needed 

 impetus for large crushing outfits, which, in a comparatively short 

 time, became common. Block B built an 80-stamp mill, Robinson 

 increased to 60, Ferreira put up 40, and many other mines 

 followed suit. 



Prior to September, 1889, the Langlaagte Estate had the 

 largest mill, 60 stamps, in operation. In this month the Jumpers 

 had 70 stamps at work, but the Langlaagte Estate ran their 

 lo-stamp mill as well, so the number of stamps in operation on 

 both mines was the same. In January, 1890, the Jumpers had 

 100 stamps running. In October, 1890, the Simmer and Jack 

 had 75 stamps at work, in November 90 stamps, and in December 

 80 stamps. Before the other mines had increased their stamping 

 capacity, the Langlaagte Estate had started their 120-stamp mill 

 in March, 1892, and this mill was increased to 160 stamps in 

 September, 1893, and it remained the largest reduction plant on 

 the Witwatersrand Gold Fields until the New Primrose increased 

 their mill to 160 stamps in January, 1895. In July, 1896, the 

 City and Suburban increased their mill to 160 stamps, but in 

 January, 1897, the Langlaagte Estate added 40 stamps, making 

 a total of 200 stamps, thus retaining the lead in this respect. In 

 December, 1897, the Simmer and Jack took the lead with their 

 240-stamp mill, of which 200 stamps were working in December 

 and the full mill of 240 stamps in February, 1898. This mill was 

 further increased to 280 stamps during 1898. 



The 120-stamp mill of the Langlaagte Estate w^as very much 

 improved in its equipment, compared to the mills previously 

 erected. The suspended Challenge ore feeder was used here for 

 the first time in Africa, and the stamp driving pullevs were fitted 

 with friction clutches of the rim type. Leather link belts were 

 used for the stamps ; there was no masonry employed in the 

 construction of the mill, nothing but timber framework being 

 adopted ; the engines were compound condensing, and the mill 



