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

A location for the government assay
Office in this city has Tot yet been select
ed, but George Z Roberts. director Of the
United States minis, and Theodore r.
Swsyze. 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. X Is very evident that the govern
ment officials do not intend 10 act hastily
in the important mission which has been
intrusted to their care. for each location
which has been brought 10 their a1ten-
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 MIR. Roberts and Mr.. Swayze re-
turned 20 their apartments at the Hotel
Butter. and there they accorded an audi
ence 10 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 government officials on mat
tiers pertaining 10 the assay office have
suggested that the location De made at a
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 attentively. as
Il is the object of the officials 10 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 a
Post-Intelligencer reporter that while they
had inspected a large number Of build
ings offered, they had not yet arrived at
a 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 TO 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 to
offer would be sighted. The selection of
a location for an assay office, Mr.. Rob
erts said is an important task. Mr.. Rob
erts talked in an interesting manner on
matters pertaining 10 the Seattle assay
office, and also OF the different minis of
the country. pointing out the differences
between the two government institutions.
lie further discussed the present geld 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 MIR. Roberts. Mr.. Rob
eris said:
Assay office Work.
The Seattle assay office VIII receive
deposits OF gold precisely on the same
terms az governs the reception of gold at
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 Will be employed Another diff
ference between the TWO institutions is
that al bullion Is shipped to a mint at the
expense or the government. while the gov
eminent does not share any of the ex-
p8GSBS incurred n the transport OF
gold 10 an assay office. The theory Of the
government IN regard 10 the establish
nleut and operation 0f assay offices = 10
place them at a point in the country that
IL convenient TO miners so as 10 eucour-
age the mining industry and the devc.5p-
ment Of gold. In the csta biisament of
these assay offices il Is me desire and in
tention OF the government 20 pat ali Of
the mining districts practically on the
same basis. 50 that each territory VIII lee
treated alike and no favors shown toward
any locality. Under the terms OF deposit
waich will govern the Seattle assay office.
and are now ~ vogue at tae o.@er assay
offices OF the country. the miner viii de-
post his gold and IL will be weighed in
MS presence. after which he Will be given
a receipt The gold WIFI then b taken ~
TIE smelling room and treated fer the
purpose of eliminating the foreign sab
stance. After the foreign substance is
eliminated the god is then cast into
bSr OF rectangular form. and two assay
era are put TO work on II. One OF the
assayers takes a clip Of gold from enc end
and gsSayer No. performs a SIMILAR
operation or the other end II the assays
agree " conform with each other. the bar
az gold is presumed - ne Of tie Same
fuenesS all the way through. II IRE as
says disagree. she bar IS again sent 70
the smelling room for treatment, and fhs
same operation j. gone through Unit. such
a time "a tire TWO assays agree.
'FFhe miner IS paid Substantially the
amount that 6ls gold represents in co5n
there bei1g only a few sight charges faT
tia treatment % coarse gold Il can b.
said. though. that the miner IS paid sub
stantlaily what his gold represents 81
money Payment ~ ina assay Office AL
~ made ia drafts On I've JEi;ed States
government which are usually wcrc7 par
at any hank wh.le az the mint the de-
fo>ttor hss the privilege ~ being ps5I i1
coir. made out q his own gold IL d.
sired The system wd'ch governs fhe
opera t3ouS of a mint would not 30 prae-
t{cable a; any assay off1e@. IS money -
not coined AZ an assay oft.ce
To Treat Alaska Gold.