The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-07-08
CAN CONTROL KLosDrxE OUTFIT.



what Assistant Secretary van1eTiiD
says ~ Lseal Assay Ofnee-
Assistant Secretary OF the Treasury r. A.
vanderiip. after . sojourn OF . day and .
half In Seattle, left yesterday afternoon
for Spokane, TO which place be r. called
on the same mission rs that which brought
him here. 10 examine into the conditions
OF the assay ONCE. From Spokane he viii
proceed to Helena. Butte ard Deadwood.
from which latter place he will return home
TO Washington. Just prior TO his depart
ure yesterday afternoon. when asked re-
garding any changes he had made IN the
ONCE here. and for a statement regarding
the relative prominence Of the Seattle as
say ONCE ~ compared with other similar
Offices in the Western states. he said:
II am not here 10 make any changes.
but simply 10 lock into the conditions OF
the offices and recommend TO my superior
any changes that | may think advantage.
Gus TO the bettcrment OF the ONCE Until
these recommendations are made and act
ed upon there viii be no change made In
the assay rates here. However. VIII say
that ] VIII recommend a reduction OF one
eighth OF cent an ounce OF the present
rate charged on gold.
This may seem small but much COM
plant has been received in Washington on
account OF It, This fraction OF cent
represents the excess OF charge over the
rates In operation In the ninfs of New
IDFk. INnG<ylSdr-A ana 0InSE i3Tke flEles.
and to my mind there is no reason why Sc
attic should not enjoy the same rates as
the largest offices In the country. / will
certainly advise tina, this difference be
taken or. and with this action taken Seat
tie will be placed on the same footing with
the largest assay Offices. and among which
believe II will soon be numbered.
There Is no good reason why IL should
not be- and the treasury department Jocks
forward tn a tine In the near future when
u will be. With the same assay rates ef-
York there Is no reason why Seattle should
not control the output OF the klondike and
the other numerous gold paying proper
ties throughout the state
II have another thing 10 say which ID
OF much moment. The assay ofYfce at Seat
tie was the latest one established by the
department. II was constructed on the
very latest plans. using all our past ex-
perience In the various Offices to perfect
this one. While In the beginning 4 was
but on approval, IL has since demonstrated
accurate Offices now open. The amount OF
gold handled here IL very large and. with
the reduction OF the rate. will be still larg-
err The volume Of business done here at
the present time Eurpasses that OF either
Helena. Butte or Deadwood- which latter
ONCE, however. has proven a failure. In
fact. can say that II IL greater than the
volume handled In any assay Office In the
Western states
There Is another thing find here which
can not he said OF all other cities where an
A8aay tutlf Is tAAbt Sufus the NdHkcTs
here are always anxious to cooperate with
the government. and have done much to
encourage deposits at the assay Office. This
In apparent to no small degree. and to a
great extent has resulted in the growth
and maintenance OF the present Office.
For the ONCE itself have nothing but
words OF praise. The work 3 most ac-
curate: the conduct good and everything
about the place pleasant
81 am not now prepared To say Just when
the reduction In the rate charged win be
made. bur II is fair 10 presume that IL will
not he any great length Of time. l will
send my report in at once. and all then de-
ponds upon the action of the department.
Yes. probably IL may come In thirty
days.
las 10 the Helena and Butte Offices. OF
course l am not prepared TO say. II the
same conditions exist there as in Seattle /
the same. There should be no alarm felt
n Seattle. however. IL this should be DONE
~ In my opinion there In no city in the
West that can ever become a rival of this
city In the matter Of ASSAY Office business"