A street called Boom - some glimpses of pioneer Klerksdorp.

Abstract

• Opsomming: Voor die ontdekking van goud was Klerksdorp 'n rustige dorpie wat vir sy bestaan hoofsaaklik afhanklik was van transportryers, jagters en boere wat dit as handelsentrurn gebruik het. Gerugte van belowende goudneerslae in Klerksdorp het die dorp in 1888 oornag in 'n miernes omgeskep. Ondoeltreffende mynboupraktyke en oorkapitalisasie het die voortbestaan van die dorp en die mynbedryf teen die einde van 1890 bedreig. Die ontdekking en die toepassing van 'n nuwe proses van goudontginning het dié ondergang voorkom.

• Summary: Before the discovery of gold, Klerksdorp was a peaceful village depending for its existence mainly on transport riders, hunters and farmers who used it as a centre for trade. Rumours of promising gold deposits in Klerksdorp in 1888 changed the town overnight into a hive of activity. Towards the end of 1890 the survival of the town and the mining industry was threatened by inefficient mining methods and overcapitalization. However, ruin was averted when a new process of gold recovery was discovered and applied.