Agricultural and Mineral Resources, 329 



important than the Witwatersrand has ever been 

 discovered. When I passed through Johannesburg 

 in June, 1891, the monthly output of gold from its 

 mines was 54,000 ounces. At the time of wi'itino- 

 this has risen to 86,000 ounces. Three causes will 

 contribute to sustain and swell this remarkable 

 development. The general introduction into the 

 mines of the compressed air rock-drilling 

 machinery, and a consequent large increase in the 

 amount of auriferous ore, extracted together with 

 a saving in the charge for labour. 2. The marked 

 success of the chemical 23rocesses, for treating 

 tailings with a consequent large increase in the 

 amount of gold actually won. 3. The construction 

 of the railway to Johannesl^urg, with a consequent 

 large decrease in Avorking expenses, and in the 

 cost of li^ano-. There is now before manv if not 

 all of the WitA\'atorsrand mines an amount of 

 auriferous ore practically in sight which can 

 exhaust the energies of at least another generation 

 of men. Of the silver deposits near Johannesburg 

 no absolutelv definite and precise allegation can be 

 made. Their j^romise is good, and almost warrants 

 the speculation that some day the silver mining- 

 industry will rival if not surpass in importance the 

 gold-mining industry of the Randt. It is to the 

 Transvaal wealth that I look for the attraction 

 which may ere long thickly populate South Africa. 

 It is impossible not to regret that a policy as some 

 say of prudence, as others say of cowardice, com- 

 pelled Great Britain to give up her direct 

 authoritv over this land, but the riches of the 



