The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-07-02

bureau Of the mint, treasury department,
arrived N Seattle yesterday morning from
Washington City. He is here for the pur-
pose OF establishing the government assay
office n the Prosch building. al No. SIS
Ninth avenue. The assaying and melting
furnaces as Well as the chemical supplies
have been ordered from New York and
are expected 10 arrive here within TWO or
three days. AS soon as they reach Sc
attic DR.. Whitehead will personally super
intend the work of putting IN the plant
Yesterday DR. Whitehead told Post
Inte!agenoer reporter that without doubt
the office viii be in running order and
capable OF taking care Of the business
offered by July Is. IL Is not believed that
the steamers with gold from the Yukon
will reach Seattle before that date. No
time nor energy will be spared IN perfect
ing the plant and making it first class in
every respect.
The Seattle assay office is not 10 5e such
in the ordinary sense of the word The
plant which Dr. Whitehead has ordered
Will be Of such size and character 20 do
much more work than the simple process
Of ASA wing gold dust. An equipment viii
be supplied which viii enable the assayer
10 prosecute qulnutive chemical analysis
on a COMPREHENSIVE .<aie in fine, 10 do
work Of a higher order than is ordinarily
done in the assay offices of the country.
Or Whitehead is about 81 years old,
nearly SIX feet ,ail. wsth a strong, intel
lectual countenanCe and an energetic and
determined manner. He is graduate OF
Leigh university and holds the degree Of
doctor Of philosophy in the Columbian uni
versity. Of Washington city. He has been
In the service OF the mint bureau OF the
treasury department for twelve years past.
He is 4 most engaging gentleman and at
the Butler yesterday freely told Post
Intelligencer reporter his plans relative TO
the establishment OF the office.
In Operation by July Is.
"T expect 10 stay in Seattle until the as
say office is firmly established aud equip
ped for the great business whic1. Il Is ex-
pected it will do. he said. Before / left
Washington I told Assistant Secretary OF
the Treasury Vanderlp that would have
the Seattle office in operation by July Is IL
/ had ID do the assaying myself on cook
stove. There is no doubt however that
the plant win reach Seattle in plenty or
time to have all the departments IN good
working order when the first boatload OF
gold reaches Seattle.
THE melting and assaying furnaces
were ordered at New York on June q. for
immediate shipment TO Seattle by fast
freight. They should be here within a day
or two Al most The chemicals necessary
for the office have been ordered at Chi
cago and they. too, are on the way and
Will he here very soon IL they have not
already arrived. II is my mission 10 set
up the plant and see that everything is in
tie task | expect TO be present myself
when the first lot Of Yukon gold is pre-
scented for wing and shall remain at
the office until every department Is in per-
feet working trim.
The office here viii he equipped with
new aud thoroughly UP 10 date plant.
Chemicals and the necessary apparatus
will be supplied which will enable the as
sayer to 10 work of a very high order. He
will be able 70 do quantitive chemical an
ABYSS to solve questions as TO the purity
and tinensss Of metals and 10 discover the
elements OF new minerals that may De pre-
scented - him.
Although / have been In Seattle but
very short time, am mtch impressed
with this city and look forward 10 my stay
here with much pleasure. The Sound is a
magnificent body OF water. Seattle seems
10 be admirably situated in j business and
commercial way. There is no doubt but
that the assay office here Will have plenty
of work u do II the gold production Of
Alaska keeps pace with what has been
accomplished already
Has Seen Long Service.
Or Whitehead entered the service Of the
mint bureau Of the treasury department: in
1855 at Boise. He was assayer az the Boise
Office untl lSeo. when he vas appointed
a-Sayer for the bureau al Washington.
He is the technical and scientific man OF
the bureau. To him are referred the
countless scientific questions that arise in
the various assay Offices OF the country.
lie l. charged with the duty II testing
coins before they are placed n circulation
ana - examine and analyze those which
come into the secret service suspected Of
being cours erfeit. DR.. Whitehead is also
professor Of metallurgy 81 the Corcovan
Scientific school. OF the Columbia univer-
SHY q Washington City.
II was Dr Whitehead who exploded the