The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-06-04


United States minis. and Theodore +.
Swayze. chief clerk OF the United States
treasury department, are still In the city
inspecting the various locations or head
quarters which have been submitted to
them. II is very evident that the govern
ment officials do not intend to act hastily
in the important mission which has been
intrusted to their care. for each location
which has been brought 70 their atten-
ton has been inspected thoroughly. and
whatever opinion they have formed they
are keeping 10 themselves. Both gentle
men devoted the entire time yesterday
to looking about the city in company
with public spirited citizens, particularly
those who are closely identified with the
affairs OF the Chamber OF Commerce.
After all the proposed locations were in
spected. Mr.. Roberts and MIR. Swayze re-
turned TO their apartments az the Hotel
Butler, and there they accorded an audi
ence TO several other parties who also
submitted propositions. Each person who
called was accorded the most courteous
treatment possible, and was assured that
the location submitted would be thorough
ly inspected and given due consideration
when the selection is finally made.
Many Suggestions offered.
Several Seattle business men who have
talked TO the gu eminent officials on mat
tiers pertaining TO the assay Office have
suggested that the location be made al
point just as near the central part Of the
city as possible, while others have made
suggestions OF different character. These
suggestions are listened 10 attentive,y. as
4 is the object OF the officials TO please
the people of Seattle as much as. they
possibly can in selecting the headquarters
for the assay office. AT a late hour yes
terday afternoon Mr.. Roberts informed
reporter that while they
had inspected a large number of build
ings offered. they had not yet arrived at
decision. and he Furthermore said that
he did not believe that an agreement
would be reached until today. and pos
sibly not then. Mr.. Roberts also said that
ii was not advisable 10 act hastily. II
is the intention, he said. to proceed with
the utmost care and precaution, So that
no person or persons having a location 10
offer would be sighted. The selection of
"a location for an assay office. Mr.. Rob-
"a IA,
erts talked in an interesting manner on
matters pertaining TO the Seattle assay
office, and also OF the different minis OF
the country, pointing out the differences
between the two government institutions.
He further discussed he present gold pro-
duction OF the United States and Alaska,
and touched on matters pertaining TO the
production of the entire world, calling at
tention 10 the amount of the yellow metal
that may be expected from the bowels of
the earth during the coming and also the
following years. The expected output OF
Alaska proved an important factor in the
estimates made by Mr.. Roberts. Mr.. Rob-
erts said:
Assay ONCE Work.
THE Seattle assay office will receive
deposits of gold precisely on The same
terms as governs the reception of gold al
the United States mint The assay office
will be as advantageous as a mint In
every way with the exception that not as
many men viii be employed. Another diff
ference between the two institutions IS
that all bullion Is shipped to mint az the
expense of the government while the gov
eminent does not share any OF the ex-
penses Incurred in the transportation OF
gold 10 an assay office. The theory Of the
government In regard 20 the establish
ment and operation OF assay Offices y to
place them at point in the country that
II convenient TO miners so as 10 encour-
age the mining industry and the develop
ment OF gold. In the esta blishment OF
these assay offices 1t IS the desire and In
tention OF the government 10 put all OF
the mining districts practically OF the
same basis. so that each territory VIII I've
treated alike ana no fayors shown toward
any locality Under the terms Of deposit
h. .fa
and are now in vogue al the other assay
offices of the country. the miner Will de-
post his gold and IL will be weighed in
HIS presence. after which he will be given
a receipt The gold will then be taken 10
the smelling room and treated for the
purpose OF eliminating ,ne foreign sub
stance. After the foreign substance is
bar OF rectangular form. and two assay
ers are put TO work On Il. One Of the
assayers takes clip OF gold from one end
and assayer No. performs A similar
operation on the other end. X n. assays
agree or conform witn each other. the bar
OF god 81 presumed to 81 OF the same
fineness ali the way through, II the as
says disagree. the bar is again sent 10
the smelling room for treatment. and the
same operation * gone through unit. such
time as the two assays agree
THE miner IS paid substantially the
amount that IBIS gold represents IN coin.
there being only a few sight charges fer
the treatment Of coarse gold l. can -
said. though that tbe miner 5 paid sub
Stantially what his gold represents N
money Payment ~ tGc assay office w'u
Ne made in drafts on the United States
government. which ARE usually worth par
al any hank, while at the fuint tne de-
reaslt0r has tho privilege 81 being paid in
coin made out 81 his own gold. II de-
SIRED The system which governs tie
opera lions OF a mint would not ~ pfac-
y}eaeie az any assay Office. as money Is
not coined a. ar assay office.
To Treat Alaska Gold.
THE assay office In Seaftis was created
mara especially far ere treatment = Alas
ka ro,d and a. was stated n ,he Pest
Inte5Ggsncsr yesterday. it MI ~ pre-
pared equipped and - operation by JGiy
- - order 20 - n readiness FOR sae first
treasure ship from = M.cAae4 Il Is sup
posed ~ ira government that oas-ha3t
ira god brought down from Alaska will
cone to Seattle - t4s assayol and stree
2