The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-06-04
Mint officials Spend Busy Day
With Business Men.
DIRECTOR ROBERTS TALKS.
Makes q Detailed Statement of the
Advantage which VIII Come to
Seattle ~ . Result OF the Assay
Omee-Hosv Gold Dust and Mug
Received In Resarn-Geld Output.

location for the government assay
Office In this city has rot yet been select
ed, but George Z. Roberts. director OF the
United States minis. and Theodore r.
swayze, chief clerk Of the United States
treasury department. are still ia the city
Inspecting the various locations or head
quarters which have been submitted 10
them II Is very evident that the govern
merit officials DO not intend 10 act hastily
in the important mission which has been
iutrusted 20 their care. for each location
which has been brought 20 their atten-
ton has been inspected thoroughly, and
whatever opinion they have formed they
are keeping TO 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
specied, Mr.. Roberts and Mr. Swayze re-
turned TO their apartments at the Hotel
Butler. and there they accorded audi
encs 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
iy inspected and given due consideration
when the selection IS finally made.
Many suggestions Onered.
Several Seattle business men who have
talked to the government officials on mat
mir h. affta haxv
suggested that the location be made al 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
4 is the object OF the officials 10 please
the people OF Seattle is much as they
possibly can in selecting the headquarters
for the assay office. At late hour yes
terday afternoon Mr.. Roberts informed a
Observation-Disclosures reporter that While they
had inspected large number of build
!ngs offered. they had not Yet arrived az
a decision. and he Furthermore said that
he did not believe that an agreement
would he reached until today, and pos
sibly not then. Mr.. Roberts also said that
IL was not advisable TO act hastily. 1t
| Is the intention, he said. TO proceed with
the utmost care and precauiion. SO that
no person or persons having "A location 10
a location for an assay office, Mr.. Rob
erts said, is an important task Mr.. Rob
erts talked in an interesting maHaer 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.
He further discussed the present gold pro-
ductsoR OF the United States and Alaska.
and touched on matters pertaining 10 the
production Of the entire world. calling at
tention to 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 ar important factor IN the
estimates made by MIR. Roberts. Mr.. Rob
erts said:
Assay OHice Work.
1.-The Seattle assay office will receive
deposits Of gold precisely on the same
terms az governs the reception of gold at
shs United States mint. The assay office
viii 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 all bullion is shipped 10 a mint at the
expense OF the government, wnile the gov
eminent does not share any of the ex-
pcnses incurred in the transportation of
gold TO an assay office The theory OF the
government IN regard 10 the establish
ment and operation Of assay Offices Is 10
place them at point in the country that
II convenient to miners. so As TO eucour-
age the mining industry and the deve.op-
nasnt or god In the establishment Of
these assay Offices II IS the desire aud in
tentlon OF the government 20 pat all Of
thu m'uing districts practically on the
same basI%. so THAI each territory vii! be-
treated alike and no favors shown toward
ans locality Under the terms ~ deposit
wh!ch will govern the Seattle assay office.
and ara Tow i0 1gaIe at the other assay
Offices of the conHtry Ghe miner viii de-
post ats gold ard II viii h. weighed III
hts presence. after which No vi. he given
n receipt The gold will then be taken 10
the smelling room and treated for the
purpose OF eliminating rne foreign sub
stance After the foreign substance *
eliminated the god - then east into \
bar Of rectangular form. and TWO assay
era ara put 10 work on g. One OF the
as@ayeTS takes clip ~ gold from one end
and easaytr M. = performs . similar
operation go the other vuA- II tao assays
asyes or couform w'ta caca other. the bar
- gold ~ presumed 50 lie az the same
0HeneSs ali the way through II The AS
says disagree. the bar IS again sent -
re sgnestiTsN roOr1 for treatment and the
same operation Is gone tArouSb untI such
'lnae av tie t@ro assays agree.
The miner = paid substantially tEe
amount THAI Bis sold represents IN t,5fu.
there being only few >.'gnt charges for
the treatment ~ coarse gold f. can b.
said. though. tha} the niucT is Tsa3a sub
stautiaily what hIs sold repre- SCENTS IN
money Payment At t.}e assay oft3re atu
- made in drafts 81 TIE United states
government wh5ca az" usually worsA par
A. any hank. wniIo n tha mint the de-
rositor has TIE privilege % tsirg paid in
>s3n maize oal - bis owr god II de-
ssrsvi. The system winch governs ,he
opera tiaGs Of min: woai3 aot tse rrae-