The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-11-19

for transmission to an agricultural dis
trict where all is guilelessness and trust in
human nature, for the young man in ques-
ton is foreigner whose honesty is not
above suspicion or reproach."
Il should think the fellow would get
himself into serious difficulty with the
police" suggested the visitor who had
brought an old-fashioned picture frame to
be rehabilitated.
No, there is no danger of that" re-
piled the veteran glider. for it is not con-
sidered a misdemeanor as the law now
stands to make gold brick. When the
con man tries to dispose of it, then the
crime comes in. The glider never does
that, you know. 1t isn't part of his bust
ness"
Most of the so-caEed gold bricks used
by swindlers are made in New York" con-
tnued the veteran glider, land the work IS
done by skilled mechanics. There are many
more foreigners than Americans engaged
in this questionable pursuit but The CAPT
tai which backs the enterprise, l under
stand comes from American pockets. 1t is
the Austrians and Italians who are readi-
est to become makers of gold bricks. Any
skilled worker can turn out the article if
he has the requisite delicate machinery
and materials; still a glider who has a
good trade or steady employment could
hot De persuaded TO GnDdrk IN an unu6T-
taking which would ruin his reputation ir-
retrievably and strip him of his legitimate
patronage. Although, as 1 said, the max
ing of gold bricks does not appear in the
laws as a felony, nevertheless 1t is con-
Quoted with absolute secrecy.
ITO my certain knowledge there are
three concerns in this city which will ac-
cept contracts to transform comparatively
valueless metal into precious gold for a
consideration nd will OItf
perfected bricks as their rogue of patron
may desire. These shops are very small,
and each employs no more than two or
three men, There Is still much money in
the manufacture of the bricks, I am told,
and, therefore, their sale by the conf
dence men must still continue very brisk.
Occasionally we read of gold brick hav-
ing been sold in the East and even in
wide-awake New York. but there is not
enough to be made in the traffic here by
enterprislhg swindlers who aim to become
rich. Most of the output goes to the West
and Southwest. Very little of it sells for
real gold east of the Mississippi or Ohio.
Gold bricks are made of one kind of
metal or another and are never simply
gilded clay bricks, is some persons SUD-
pose. 1t Is quite posi- BILE yes to gld COM
pressed fire brick, but II will not with
stand the handling or yield the weight re-
quired of the article by the crooks 1t is
merely gilded fire brick hence the name.
THE finest gold bricks disposed of to the
come-ons in the East and the unsochisti-
Gated miners, ranchers and farmers in the
West and Southwest are prepared from
copper alleged with a small percentage of
zinc, for expert manufacturers have dis
covered that this alloy retains the luster
and tone better than any other metal. and
furnishes immunity from the chemicals
used in the gliding. Pure copper too.
have heard it said, makes>an exceptionally
fine gold brick, and lead, iron and steel
are often used. Silver is still more desira
bic and has frequently been employed bv
swell manufacturers. Its principal recon-
mendation is that gold and silver fuse
and unite naturally, but then silver is
costly, and few makers of gold bricks can
afford to use 1t.
Gold leaf is never used in gliding metals
IN these days. Metallic ornaments and
weapons have been gilded by an applica-
ton OF gold powder but even this method !
has been discontinued. Nearly all of The
metallic gliding is done by processes re-
curing liquid or seni-sold materials Far
more care is taken in gliding a gold brick
than any other article, so one who knows
al about the business told me. He made
gold bricks himself until wave of refor-
NATION overwhelmed him The pieces or |
metal preferred by him as brick was a |
bar or ingot with no resemblance to the |
building brick, being longer and about one |
half Of real bricks diameter.
The value of the standard brick turne1
out for the trade would be something less /
than S6OO If made of pure gold. When the |
article Is first prepared for market its cost |
to the purchaser varies from $40 10 $50. ac |
cordihg TO the value of the maj erials used.
The purchaser from the factory, of course. |
endeavors TO secure better terms from his
victims. Amateurs or gilders not yet out of