No artigo anterior a propósito da "Transvaal Share & Claim Exchange" falei mais sobre as acções (shares) e aqui falarei das claims que são reservas / pedidos / titulos de propriedade ou de exploração de terrenos que o Estado concedia aos mineiros interessados e que seriam também negociadas na bolsa de valores.
Não sou especialista do assunto mas como é interessante tento aprender e explicar, por isso a ler com as devidas reservas.
Não sou especialista do assunto mas como é interessante tento aprender e explicar, por isso a ler com as devidas reservas.
Para primeira ilustração do tema vemos dos jardins do Fountain Bath Cottages Hotel uma reconstituição duma escavação artesanal em foto do tripadvisor:
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| Ferramentas dos mineiros pioneiros e a reserva (claim) do terreno |
Sobre "claims" no espaço público podemos ver em baixo informação de dois países de "fronteira selvagem" tal foi a África do Sul. Suponho que o direito nesta área pelo menos nos grandes princípios não seja muito diferente do que era nos finais do século XIX e como são os três de direito britânico deve dar para compreendermos o que se terá passado em Barberton.
"Peg a claim" é explicado na Australia é o primeiro passo para ter uma licença de mina. Marca-se um local para depois se pedir a licença que será concedida se quem pede provar que tem condições financeiras e técnicas para explorar a mina. Isso faz compreender porque muitos prospectores marcavam locais e só depois iam procurar sócios e ou capital (Mineral claims - A mineral claim is a type of mining tenement under the Mining Act. A mineral claim allows you to prospect or explore for minerals in the area of the claim for 12 months. It also gives you the right to apply for a mining lease or retention lease over the area. A mineral claim is pegged by placing posts in the ground to identify the area of the claim. With prior approval from the Mining Registrar, you can identify the claim by using a plan prepared by a licensed surveyor. Any individual or registered business entity may peg a mineral claim).
No Estados Unidos actualmente as regras para se marcar o lugar de uma "claim" (Staking claims) requerem um objecto dos três tipos seguintes, quer dizer com cerca de um metro de altura. Tem por isso de ser muito mais visível do que era usado nos tempos de Barberton assumindo que a marca da primeira foto era mais ou menos fidedigna:
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| Métodos exemplificados para os Estados Unidoa |
Encontramos dois sinais que me parecem ser dos dois tipos ao centro e à direita estipulados em cima. Na primeiro caso que vem deste site reclamava-se 1/4 de milha pelo rio abaixo o que corresponde a 400 metros e no segundo do site findinggoldinclorado reclamava-se 20 "acres" (um "acre" são 0.4 hectares ou seja 0.4 X 100 m X 100 m) nas duas margens do rio.
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| à esquerda: "Registered mining claim sign, El Dorado County. California, USA" à direita: "A professionally done claim marker" |
Fico na dúvida se se pode colocar estes sinais antes de se contactar com as autoridades mas pelo texto da Australia que copiei em cima parece que há as duas hipóteses, deixando como é óbvia a segunda a situação mais clarificada. O site dos EUA diz também algures que quem for marcar tem de se assegurar que não há já uma marcação anterior dentro dos limites, o que também leva a crer que se possa primeiro marcar e depois ao ir registar ver bem se há algo registado e do qual as marcas tenham por exemplo desaparecido. Nestes dois casos há já dados do registo, de qualquer modo deve haver um limite máximo de tempo entre se colocar a marca e registar.
Há também regras bem definidas do espaço que se pode reclamar / reservar. E pelo que me apercebi, limite no número de "claims" nos EUA não há e privados e companhias têm os mesmos direitos desde que se pague ao Estado o devido para fazer a "claim" e para a manter (mining claims nos EUA).
Mas como se pode adivinhar isto não é simples de gerir quando se começa a encontrar ouro numa zona e começam a afluir prospectores e os representantes da lei e ordem estão ou distantes ou são poucos. Podemos ver do site umjindi (completo em baixo) e barbertonbuzz um exemplo de confusões legais em Barberton e que resumo assim: French Bob encontrou ouro nas terras de GP Moodie em 1884 e por lá rápidamente apareceram outros mineiros que estabeleceram acampamentos. "French Bob" falou com Moodie que vivia em Pretória (e por isso parece que através do seu agente Nourse enviado ao local). Moodie de quem falámos aqui por ter sido agrimensor-chefe do Transvaal devia saber tudo sobre lei de terras e de minas e ter influência e amigos no Estado. "French Bob" pediu a Moodie o direito de minerar com "previlégio especial" como descobridor (não sei o que seria isto) mas Moodie não tinha o direito de o conceder (ver em baixo, quem teria era só o Estado?).
Moodie queria tratar o assunto de forma "justa" com "French Bob" enquanto que aos mineiros seguintes que apareceram nas suas terras pediu licenças caras e uma percentagem no ouro obtido. Mas segundo a "lei do ouro" do Transvaal as licenças deviam ser pagas ao Estado e o dono da terra receberia metade (daí Moodie preferir fazer negócio particularmente pois receberia muito mais!). Esses mineiros que estavam nas terras de Moodie recusaram pagar-lhe e continuaram a pesquisa / mineração e por isso foram presos e apresentados a tribunal. Não foram condenados mas entretanto Moodie obteve a interdição de que eles entrassem nas suas terras e por isso os mineiros tiveram de se afastar delas. Entretanto Moodie obteve em Agosto de 1885 uma concessão para ter mina nas suas terras, antes deveria ter só para agricultura pelo que não podia ele próprio minerar ou a conceder licença a outros e essas terras de Moodie foram integradas numa companhia mineira em 1889.
Isto para dar ideia de como a actividade mineira podia ser complexa em termos de lei e regulamentos, no entanto como a descoberta de Barber que deu o nome a Barberton foi fora dos limites das quintas de Moodie, ele e outros pesquizadores da área tiveram só de tratar com o Estado. Barber por ter descoberto ouro em terras do Estado e informado os serviços tinha direito a ser recompensado (em dinheiro) mas isso parece que não aconteceu. De qualquer maneira Barber deve ter tido a vantagem de poder escolher o melhor sítio antes dos competidores chegarem e fazerem os seus pedidos ao Estado.
Diz ainda o artigo no buzzword que os mineiros em Barberton formaram um Comité (Digger's Committee) que me parece seria facultativo mas conveniente para resolverem disputas e tratarem de assuntos de interesse comum sem estarem sempre a recorrer ao Estado ou à "lei da bala". Sem dúvida, assunto muito interessante para quem se queira tornar garimpeiro sem ser "selvagem" ou para juristas que se queiram especializar nesta área ...
Moodie queria tratar o assunto de forma "justa" com "French Bob" enquanto que aos mineiros seguintes que apareceram nas suas terras pediu licenças caras e uma percentagem no ouro obtido. Mas segundo a "lei do ouro" do Transvaal as licenças deviam ser pagas ao Estado e o dono da terra receberia metade (daí Moodie preferir fazer negócio particularmente pois receberia muito mais!). Esses mineiros que estavam nas terras de Moodie recusaram pagar-lhe e continuaram a pesquisa / mineração e por isso foram presos e apresentados a tribunal. Não foram condenados mas entretanto Moodie obteve a interdição de que eles entrassem nas suas terras e por isso os mineiros tiveram de se afastar delas. Entretanto Moodie obteve em Agosto de 1885 uma concessão para ter mina nas suas terras, antes deveria ter só para agricultura pelo que não podia ele próprio minerar ou a conceder licença a outros e essas terras de Moodie foram integradas numa companhia mineira em 1889.
Isto para dar ideia de como a actividade mineira podia ser complexa em termos de lei e regulamentos, no entanto como a descoberta de Barber que deu o nome a Barberton foi fora dos limites das quintas de Moodie, ele e outros pesquizadores da área tiveram só de tratar com o Estado. Barber por ter descoberto ouro em terras do Estado e informado os serviços tinha direito a ser recompensado (em dinheiro) mas isso parece que não aconteceu. De qualquer maneira Barber deve ter tido a vantagem de poder escolher o melhor sítio antes dos competidores chegarem e fazerem os seus pedidos ao Estado.
Diz ainda o artigo no buzzword que os mineiros em Barberton formaram um Comité (Digger's Committee) que me parece seria facultativo mas conveniente para resolverem disputas e tratarem de assuntos de interesse comum sem estarem sempre a recorrer ao Estado ou à "lei da bala". Sem dúvida, assunto muito interessante para quem se queira tornar garimpeiro sem ser "selvagem" ou para juristas que se queiram especializar nesta área ...
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| A maior pepita de ouro encontrada na região de Barberton tinha 179.8 onças |
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| Mina Tomás: terá tido boa fortuna ou não? |
E outra mina ou as suas instalações de processamento do minério dados parecer estar junto ao rio do FB Barberton Bliss.
FOTO 9
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| Mina Consort |
BARBERTON TOWN (umjindi)
With the advent of over a hundred newcomers, French Bob, Ingram James, James Murray and Magnus Jefferies left Jamestown in disgust, and prospected on the southern escarpment of the De Kaap Valley. French Bob found gold on Moodies (falta o apóstrofe devia ser Moodie's) farms and named the find Pioneer Reef. He tried to keep his discovery a secret, but when he began making a canal to the claims, other prospectors put two and two together and soon Moodies was a hive of activity. ......
George Piggott Moodie was Surveyor General of the Transvaal and obtained a concession from the government in 1872 to survey the area between Delagoa Bay and Pretoria for the purpose of laying a railway line. The line was to have traversed Barberton and Klipstapel (Breyten) to Pretoria. He was given 13 farms west of Barberton for his services. This line was, however, never built.
The discovery of gold on Moodies attracted the attention of people from all over the world and soon there were three digger's camps, known as the Top, Middle and Lower camps.
Moodie engaged the help of Henry Nourse to discuss and negotiate matters with the prospectors. Nourse met Graham Barber and his two cousins Fred and Harry Barber on his journey at Chrissiesmeer and prevailed upon them to accompany him to Moodies as he expected trouble. Fortunately Nourse could persuade the diggers to listen to his proposals and he and his companions joined in the search for gold.
David Wilson was appointed the new Gold Commissioner in January 1884 and in May of the same year took up his post at Kaapsche Hoop. The diggers were still unruly and his duty was to restrain them and restore law and order.
The Barber brothers and their cousin, Graham, were prospecting in a rift at the foot of the Ingudu mountains (incorrectly known as the Makonjwa mountains), where they came upon a rich gold reef and proceeded to peg a claim. Just the next day the Umvoti Reef, next to the Barber's claim, was discovered by Sam Newmarsh, Alan E Ede, J T Rimer and R Otto, who pegged off their claim. The Barbers kept their find a secret while they interested Rimer and Newmarsh in putting up the money to start crushing.
On 21 June 1884 Graham Barber wrote a letter to the State Secretary to inform him that payable gold had been found on State-owned land. He wrote this letter in accordance with the Government proclamation of 21 December 1870, which stated that diggers would be rewarded for finding precious stones or minerals on State land. Barber ended his letter with the words "Should there be a reward for such discovery, I beg to claim that reward”.
The State Secretary asked the Magistrate at Lydenburg to investigate the matter and for the Gold Commissioner to submit a report. David Wilson made his investigation on 24 July 1884 and found that Barber had indeed found payable gold. According to Wilson the reef yielded 7 ounces of gold per ton while the gold from the Newmarch and Ede claims was much higher and here the yield was between 12 and 15 ounces per ton. In his book 'Behind the Scenes in the Transvaal' Wilson writes that he decided to declare a township at the base of the hills where the Umvoti Creek entered the De Kaap valley, broke a bottle of gin on the Barber Reef, champagne was not available, and named it Barberton. There was apparently a choice between calling it Rimerton or Barberton, but because there was only one of the former and three of the latter, the vote went in favour of the township being called Barberton and the Umvoti Creek, flowing through its centre, being renamed Rimer's Creek after J T Rimer.
As far as is known, Graham Barber never received his reward.
A Ten stamp Sandycroft battery was soon erected on a site close to where the Impala Hotel is now located in De Villiers Street. The first crushing of 100 tons from Barber's Reef yielded five ounces of gold to the ton, and the rush became a stampede.
Fundação de Barberton (gerbera)
Moodie, determined not to be robbed by a crowd of diggers, sent Henry Nourse, big strapping fellow, down to the goldfields from Pretoria as his agent. In spite of his physique, Nourse was not a little nervous to what the diggers might do to him, and decided to take an escort. Traveling by way of Lake Chrissie, he met a group of men hunting in the vicinity. There were two brothers, Fred and Harry Barber, their cousin, Graham Barber, and two friends, Edward White and Holden Bowker. They were much traveled hunters and adventurers, and when Nourse asked them to accompany him as a reinforcement, they responded willingly.
Arriving at Moodie’s, they found the diggers tough but not unfriendly towards a mere spokesman. The Barber party, therefore, left Nourse to argue the case out, and having been infected by the gold mania themselves, wandered off into the valley prospecting. Stumbling into an isolated little creek covered by a drowsy indigenous forest in May 1884, they noticed a white thread of quartz up on the cliff side. They knew little of the appearance of gold, but scrambled up and took samples. And when the samples were crushed and panned they showed a fine result.
Excitedly they pegged their claims and moved their camp to a site at the mouth of the creek. A thousand other diggers, with their ears to the ground, heard the rumour, and a new rush began. It was the greatest of them all up to that time, and Moodie, his reefs and his extortion, were within a short time contemptuously abandoned.
David Wilson, successor to the former gold commissioner Ziervogel at Kaapsehoop, came down to collect claim fees. His own words tell of the founding of the town of Barberton.
“”With the proving of Barber’s Reef a new era may be said to have begun on the fields. I had communicated the facts of the find to the Government, who instructed me to take the necessary steps to declare the vicinity of the discovery a township. So in February, 1884, in the presence of several diggers, including Messrs. Ede, Newmarsh and Taylor, I broke a bottle of gin – champagne being unobtainable – on the rock containing the gold bearing quartz, and named the prospective township Barberton, after the discoverers of the Reef.””
The date has been challenged, and was almost certainly June 24th of the same year. But the event is well authenticated.
Within a short time the two weatherbeaten tents of the Barber party were surrounded by a thousand others. Wagons were outspanned everywhere, and men were beginning to erect shacks along haphazard streets which originated, and were influenced in their direction, by the establishment of innumerable canteens. Along these streets bustled a throng as varied in typ and mood as only that excitable company can be who pursue the will-o’-the-wisp of gold. Men of every language could be heard mixed with the broad dialects of England, the tang of America, the whine of Australia and the homely Afrikaans of South Africa.
Well-dressed speculators and representatives of wealthy syndicates jostled with stiffs and chancers who had tramped to the fields without a shilling in their pockets. Plump-looking rogues sat side by side with gaunt prospectors who each knew with certainty “”the best thing on the fields””. Everywhere was an endless excited murmur of sound underlined by the muffled echoes of dynamite explosions in the surrounding hills.
Throughout the twenty-four hours heavy transport wagons rumbled through the streets loaded with supplies and all the impedimenta of mining. Hordes of pack donkeys and mules, as varied in character as their human owners, thronged the township, each laden with the tools, the pots, the dixies and the blankets of the diggers and prospectors. Once arrived on the field the fortune-seekers scattered to their various occupations. Methods of recovering gold were both ingenious and laborious, and in the first few months clever and original operations were carried out. Crude dolleys acted as mills, and the crushings were panned in water led from distant streams in long races. The optimistic digger hoped for results as high as seventeen ounces to the ton, but the average output from a good claim was seldom more than one and a half ounces.
Proper mills soon began to arrive on the field, J.T. Rimer brought up a 10-stamp battery which he erected in the Umvoti Creek (ever since called Rimer’s Creek), and with the Barbers and sincerely Newmarsh organized a syndicate to work the Barber’s Reef. Several other mills were soon established, and scores of reefs, good, bad and indifferent, were discovered by the prospectors. More and more shops were built, and canteens and bars reached the unparalleled proportion of one to every fifteen persons. Stylish liquor joints were built, and Barberton soon boasted of the Kentish Tavern, the Marble Arch and the Horse-Shoe.
Boxing booths, bowling alleys, billiard saloons and music halls sprang up. On July 17th, 1887, the Royal Albert Hall was opened, providing concerts, billiards and of course a bar. Canteen men began importing barmaids, who, legend has it, were all very beautiful, and they fattened on the proverbial generosity of the excited diggers. Some of the more settled type of diggers brought their wives, and with the gradual advent of family life Barberton began to settle down in preparation for a sober maturity. But it was to have one or two final flings before it left its hectic youth behind.
Bray’s Golden Quarry had been discovered and the ore was tiding five to seven ounces of gold to the ton. More than a hundred mining companies, representing some 4-million shares, were quoted on the Barberton Stock Exchange. The shares of the Sheba Company stood at 105 pounds. There was an extraordinary gathering in the camp of company promoters, mining engineers, capitalists from Kimberley and enterprising (Kiel) proprietors. While the various companies waited for their batteries and steam engines to be delivered, their shares were being talked up to fantastic levels.
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