New-York tribune., 1897-08-29
A GROWING USE OF SILVER
AS THE PRICE DROPS. ITS EMPLOY
MENT IN THE ARTS INCREASES.
SOLID SILVER ARTICLES NO LONGER LUX
URY-TAKING THE PLACE OF BAsER
METALS TO A LARGE EXTENT

METALS TO y EXTENT.
The emphatic protest Of the American people
against silver last November has had no effect
on the popularity of the white metal in its
standing in the Industrial world. and as it grows
cheaper silver is being used more extensively in
the arts Dealers in silver goods say that the
increased demand fer silver in manufactured
goods has been matter of comment in jewelry
circles for several years and within that time
hundreds of articles have been made of silver
which had always been produced in baser met
ais before the decline n the value of silver be-
gan. Demands for silver spoons and forks are
greater than they ever were before. and as
these articles and other table and household
articles made Of silver become cheaper the man
ufacturers will have to increase their producing
facilities in order to keep up with the demand
Bookbnders. album makers and fancy box man
ufacturtrs using ornaments clasps and Dor
der pieces made out Of solid silver where for
merly only plated and dipped metal was used
and the umbrella and walking-cane business Is
also large consumer Of silver. both plain and
stamped. There has always been demand Tor
silver harness trimmings. and large manuiact-
urers Of leather goods frequently placed ORDERS
with silversmths for elaborate ornaments
chains, etc. to be used on show harnesses. But
for the last two years the demand has increased
consumption this year in that line will equal that
of any ten previous years. The same may be
said Of the of silver in the carriage trace
but the greatest increase has been noted in the
ornamental and decorative line. One manufact-
urng merchant said:
"Silver is the staple for presents among the
better classes and those who cannot afford to
buy silver to give away usually buy what looks
like it, We have noticed of late that people pre-
fer small allsilver articles to larger pieces MADE
Of base metal. The low price of silver Will make
1t possible for us to turn out present pieces for
all classes and am sure that the average we'd
ding present of mex. year VIII be better than 1t
ever was before in tns country.
But aside from luxuries silver has had boom.
and there is every indication that the demand
will grow greater as the price grows less rms
boom may be noticed in the fork and spoon
trade There a time. and not long DacK'
when a silver spOon-a real silver art-
cle-or an equally good fork was unknown
In the homes of middle-class people. but
the low price Of silver will make these house
hold articles a possibility in the homes of the
working classes and the silver spoon will cease
TO be looked upon as the badge of luxury. These
articles are large items of expense to hotels and
restaurants. because the plated article socn
wears out from constant USE and requires re-
plating and reburnishinS. With silver down TO
40 cents, manufacturers hope to supply most OF
the leading hotels with solid silver table service.
>a.' SILVER STIRRUPS
Edward Holbrook. of the Gorham Manufacture
ing Company in speaking of the increased de-
mand for silver in the arts since its reduction in
price said that his company making
great lines Of articles in silver which had never
haen made in that metal before the decline in
the price 1T is too early to say any thing about
the uses to which cheap silver will he put" he
said .'but there can be doubt that the list
will grow continually" While he spoke
senger handed him a package which contained
pair of solid silver stirrups. "Therc." he said.
els the best illustration OF what said This is
the second pair made by us recently and. as
silver becomes cheaper | dare say we will re-
ceive enough orders for them TO warra1 keeping
them in stock.
AT another silver house the low price at which
solid slverware is now being sold was demon
strated in a peculiar way. 1t Was said that sill
yer was being sold for just about its weight in
coin and that many houses advertise that they
are willing ard anxious to give manufactured
silver for It's weight equivalent in currency
LOT of spoons and forks marked to sell for $40
wore nut upon one side of the scale and onc-dO-
lar silver pieces were counted into the scale pan
on the other side The fftysecond coin brought
tbe scalas TO a balance and the dealer smiled.
"You see" he said II could lop off 50 and still
would be getting my price. and. with the ex-
centjon IF small articles. where the silver plays
no mart and the article is valuable only because
Of the labor which has been put in it, would
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