The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-24

free to agitate this assay office U.aughter.D
j am delighted to congratulate you all that
your agony = at an end Soon you will
nave your fate as well "a my own IN your
hands This office is urged here today INV
der some Disadvantage Prominent rnen-
bers on the Republican side are opposed
Goth 30 the consideration and the passage
OF this bill I regret this. am satisfied
they labor under q false impression.
This assay Office Is not sough. as favor.
but as q government necessity: rot as
gtfs 10 Seattle or the state OF Washington.
but as a benefit TO the treasury of the
United States. The necessity for having
this assay office In that country is very
apparently established from the fac. that
otherwise you lose the business OF these
miners and men engaged In Alaska. These
miners come down from Alaska with their
gold. and they cannot have II as<ayed there.
Iney could take IL to the mint az San
Francisco; but instead of going that dis
lance. losing that time. they viii return 10
Ianada. al either Vancouver or Victoria,
and there. az the gentleman from pennsyi-
wanna has explained TO the Canadian
banks. will have their gold assayed for no
charge pay them mint price. the govern
ment OF Canada getting the benefit of the
gold for their country, and our American
merchants lose the trade. This ought not
10 DE longer tolerated. Canada will not
permit any OF our citizens 10 take min
ers license out IN any of the American
cities or ports. This Is to prevent them
trading In American cities and forcing them
| have 20 purchase their supplies. This IS
our loss. IL is a most unjust discrimins-
ton You must help US 10 avoid this in
Mr.. Hay-How does this office help the
matter?
Mr.. Lewis. OF washington--It brings
| them with their gold to city where they
can have IL assayed freely and without
charge. and the American miner. all things
| being equal. is like every other American.
a patriot TO his country. and will come 10
her shores to scatter his possessions
well as 10 enjoy her blessings. (Applause.f
Mr.. Mahany-You say the treasury de-
! partment has recommended this?
Mr.. Lewis, OF Washington-ln two sep
| arate full communications. likewise the
| director OF the mint
a~- sfailany-Then I will be with you
| Tor that reason. as well as to be with my
| friend from Washington.
Mr., Lewis. OF WashiDgton-Mr. Speaker.
] cannot IN more terse or complete del all
| describe Seattle's commercial and general
| advantage over al her competitors than to
| use the words or one OF Seatte's eminent
| citizens, Hon. Erastus Brainerd, TO whom
| am indebted for much aid in the CON-
| piiaton or facts in this matter. From
/ his figures and arrangement / inform
you there is no known source of gold pro-
| duction so rich as Alaska and the North
| west territory OF Canada, the gold bells
| or southeastern Alaska and of the Yukon
| river. BY the energy and enterprise OF
American citizens in the blshment OF
| lines of transportation and trade this I'M
| precedentiy rich goId-produeing area has
/ been made tributary to the United States
The product OF the year 1878 from the
Yukon-Klondike district alone IS con-
| ooo0oo. and the total Of Alaska and North
| western territories at over SEQ 900. GO. This
| god has been produced chiefly by Ameri-
| can citizens. Every possible effort, as
! members OF the house well know. has been
| put forth by. Canada 10 divert the great
| trade which Is OK the basis OF this product
| from the. United States 10 Canada. The
Dominion parliament reports show both
| Conservative and Liberal united to this
end. Every obstacle possible has been
| put In the way of the American miner,
and no other need be considered, because
! the miners are practically al. Americans.
| and every help has been extended to Cana
| among mining men that miners will trade
| rs rule, where they dispose of their gold.
| Heretofore they have traded in the United
| has caused two branch hanks-the Cana
| dian Bank Of Commerce and the British
| North American bank-to be established at
+, Dawson to buy and handle the Yukon gold
| Unless some step is taken to Offset this
| Canadian movement, much OF the trade
the establishment Of a United States
| agency to buy go.d-an assay offibe-at the
most available point. The establishment
of an assay, office on the Yukon is I'm
tons. by lack OF interior transportation
and by its remoteness from mints Seattle
such an office, II Is only seventy-two
hours from Alaska and half a day from
british Columbia; Thi.her not only the
output Of the Yukon will go, but that OF
Southeastern Alaska. of Cook met, Con-
| yer river, and other similar points must
go. for there the United States proper
send gold from Cock inlet. which
! last year produced nearly s75o 0eo TO
| the Yukon would be an absurdity. The es-
| adjustment of an assay office al juneau
would be open 70 the same objections only
| in n less degree. The government would
| then take all the risk of water transporta-
| ton from Juneau OF nearly / 900 miles he
| fore the United States Is reached.
| There Is still another reason relating 70
the gold product by itself why Seattle
should Be -, selected, ,s The gold and silver
| is already important and increasing in
! value The secretary OF the treasury in
/ his letter OF February :. 1855 to the house
/ committee on coinage. weights and meas
! ures. estimates the gold product Of Wash
/ ington at sses eoo for 1896 and sJo0os1 for 1887
| Add this amount 10 the Alaska ana Yukon
| product and X will be seen that the bullion
receipts at Seattle are OF the first imnor-
/ tance. At the present time to turn these
| into cash the miners. who naturally arrive
~ Seattle first. often with no cash IN hand
! tuust send their bulliou 10 the ASSAY orr "a
/ ri Helena or to the mint at san Francisco
/ ,n either case causing delay and loss OF
time 10 them Of not less than one week
/ This difference IN time. with its costs ard
/ anuoyancets. is not unlikely 20 make him
/ dispose Of his gold in Canada or in British
Columbia. whereas IL he could exchange i
+ point on Puget sound. he would 20 there
! The Atlantic coast. with Il minimum gold
( product. affords opportunities 10 exchange
! gold AZ ASSAY offices or minis at either
/ New York Philadelphia Charlotte y c.
. or New Orleans. The Rocky mountain belt
. ard its s91urs are provided fer a, Dead
I wood Boise Denver. Carson and Helena;
/ hut the Pacific coast. from the Arctic cir
/ Gle 20 Mexico IL provided with but one
! place wAcra tire citizen can secure the
stamp or his government on his gold and
! that place IS 80 miles distant from the
present central receiving p0snt OF the great
es' prospective and already great producing
I gold fields such "A Discrimination, In view
~ the facts. - unfair 10 ENTERPRISE. Last
wear alone the SHIPMENTS az gold from s.
attic, by t;rea, Northern ard Pacific ex-
] press. 10 Helena and San Francisco equal
ed obe-atth % al the gold received II all
the assay orices 81 the United States They
! were equal 10 tWo-thtrds az the Boise de-
. posiaF. and seven tscnes az large as she de-
posts 3t Charlotte. This year they VIII ex-
cecd all
This measure is recommended hv the SEC
/ Fetary - the treasury. It has nasyed ,Ne
. senate. It - % more than local iruoor-
s taNce. II adopted, Is IS likely 10 put mil
& llQuS - gold into FIr.-.1t tkass