The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-01-20
A Talk with Man who Makes a Bust
ness of 1t.
New York Mail aud Express

New York Mail and Expressl
''Some queer things happen in our
line of business, remarked the proprie
tor of an assay and refining establish
ment to a reporter. He was in the
basement of his house, where the
smelling furnaces were glowing at
white heat. He looked like an alchemist
seen in pictures bending over the fur
mace to invent a process of making
gold. He put down ladle red hot,
removed a small skull cap from his
head, and continued:
"You see, we take the sweepings from
factories to private individuals and ex-
tract the metal Well, very often peo
pie that were once wealthy come in and
part with their silver service or gold
ornaments in order to get the cash right
down. The pawnbrokers will give
nothing on them because perhaps they
are out of style. We give them the in
trinsic value of the metal, less the ex-
pense of refining. Ladies frequently
bring their silver dinner sets in order
to raise money. Some part with their
wedding presents, given to them
twenty and thirty years ago 1
can see the way they act that only
stern necessity has compelled them to
part with what was given to them IN
happy and prosperous times. Three
weeks ago young man strayed IN
casually. re said he had a piece or
ore and wanted to have 1t a5sayed. 4
picked it up accidentally he said, "a
few days ago in Pennsylvania, where l
was spending vacation. The specimen
we assaYed roved a wonderful one. 1T
turned out $50 in gold and SIS in sill
yer. The young man nearly went wild;
He fastened back to Pennsylvania and
purchased the land where he found the
ore. If the land is rich with that KIND
of ore it will be bonanza.
eve smelt down and refine every de-
scription of iewelry and assay large
amount of specimen ore which has al
ready been examined and disposed of as
far as the mine is concerned forever.
Photographic wastes have became enor-
nous within the last few years. The
trimmings from the paper, which are on
a surface of nitrate of silver, amount to
thousands of dollars annually in saving.
Each photograph gallery is careful to
save the trimmings and have them re-
duced. 1t is only of recent years that
the sweepings from jewelry factories are
saved. Ny grandfather commenced
business in New York seventy-tive years
ago He tried to teach the people the
value of savings. Ny father succeeded
q
ness people what a great piece
of economy it was to save the trim
mings and sweepings of all metals.
Why, twenty years ago [ knew jew
elry factory that threw away $50 to the
pound of discarded trimmings. They
would thrash their Office boys if they
did not put the stuff in the ash barrel.
To day if the boys put it in the ash bar
rel they will be treated with due severity.
So much for change to strict economy
in metal"
what do you do with the metal after
it is refnedp'
eve sell it again to the jewelers. and
dealers. 1t does not deteriorate by the
process of refining, but puts on
brighter look than ever"
twill the trade amount to anything
yearlyF
Eyes, to millions. l have furnaces
here and in Newark and keep them run
ming all the time. The sweepings alone
would amount to millions Throughout
the city. In these days nothing mus
he lost -