New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-08-08
BETTER THAN A CLONDYKE
TRANSMITTING SILVER INTO GOLD
DISCOVERED THE SECRET THE AICIEMIsTs
STROVE IN VAIN To FIND

why should men face almost certain death
py 1reezing and starvation In the Clondyke
region after long and costly Journey when, Il
Dr. stephen ii. Emmens is correct, the precious
Hetai which they seek can be manufactured
GOWN mere IN warm ATTITUDES, in a comfortable
factory or laboratory? And, after all, what is
the use OF making such sacrifices to obtain
substance that may soon prove to be worth only
trllle more than silver. or say. about one
fwenty-fifth as much as gold?
1t is nearly or quite year since this modern
aicheinist startled capitalists, economists. mine
owners and metalurgists by declaring that he
had found way to convert silver into gold. BY
scientific men the announcement was received
with calm scepticism open derision, although
DIR. Emmens was known to be an educated and
experienced chemist as well as broker At that
time he w AZ unable to meet the challenge to
produce evidence as to the quality of the stuff
which he said he had manufactured Moreover,
such prejudice as was thus created in the minds
OF well-nformed persons strengthened
rather than weakened by DR.. Emmens's au-
daciOus attack on Newton's theory of gravita-
ton early in January last. But to-day he is in
somewhat better position to attract favorable
attention. although ii is too soon to pronounce
final judgment on his claims and theories
DR. EMMENS'S GOLD AT THE ASSAY OFFICE.
Since April Is, 1897. Dr. Emmens has deposited
at Uncle Sans Assay Office in New York seven
ingots. each weighing from seven to seventeen
ounces. These have been examined by experts
Of the highest standing. official reports declare
that the ingots consisted OF a mixture Of gold
and silver more than nine-tenths fine, and that
from three-ffths to two-thirds Of the precious
metal in them was gold For instance of the
ingot deposited on June II. 57S thousandths were
gold. 80 were silver and 81 were baser metal.
The whole lump. weighing 1860 ounces. was
valued at $500 y. The ingot deposited on July
90 found to show $50 thousandths Of gold.
200 of silver and only 40 OF base metal It
weighed l43S ounces, and its value was placed
at SOD 30 Dr. Emmens declares that these in
gots all produced by his special process,
and that the principal. in fact, it would almost
be correct to say the exclusive, material employed
in making them was lot of Mexican dollars. in
which there were nine parts Of silver to one Of
copper, but no gold. This alloy curiously enough,
is said To give better results than perfectly pure
silver.
One important link in the chain of evidence is
Still lacking. No disnterested and competent
witness has gone into the laboratory, sampled
the materials. watched every step Of the process
and certified to the identity Of the ingots sent to
the Assay Office with the products of Dr. EN-
menss art. scientifically. therefore, the story Is
not yet entitled to full acceptance. 1t is inter-
estne, nevertheless, to learn what DR.. Enlmens
himself says about the matter. and especially In
regard Ia the mode Of manufacture The fol-
lowing statements are based on his assertions:
GREAT PRESSURE THE MEANS USED.
The essential agent in the alleged transmuta-
Is Is
a little huxing and granulation. Chemical treat
ment with a modified nitric acid is also resorted
to. But a prolonged squeeze. enduring from a
week II ten days, in a machine which the in
ventor calls force engine and in which a
pressure of 30 tons to square inch is said to
be eXerted. is the main feature Of the operation.
Eventually Dr. Emmens expects to be able to
apply a pressure of 500 tons to the inch. Some
samples of metal which he exhibits to illustrate
the gradual change in the substance while under
treatment show a faint fecking of the white
surface with pale yellow spots and streaks after
q certain time These grow until finally the
metal is of uniformly yellOwish tint AT
certain stage of proceedings, Dr. Emmens says.
the metal has been changed into something
which he is disposed to regard as new element.
to which he gives the name "argentaurum.
Subsequently, however. a large proportion
(roughlv speaking about GO per cent? Of the
mass is "advanced' to the condition of pure
gold while the rest of the argentaurum re
yerts'' or goes back again. TO the character of
silver. The proportion varies slightly in series
of experiments. that DR.. Emmens, like
housewife making bread. has little better luck
at one time than at another; yet thus far he has
never succeeded in converting all of his silver
into gold He has an explanation for the fact,
but it is not necessary to go into that at pres