The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-11-12
DIAMONDS In THE MAILS.
Large Quantities of Gold Handled by
the New York POstOffice.
New York Post.

New York Post.
1t is not generally known 10 what extent
the mails are, used in the importation OF
diamonds. On "a recent steamer day at the
New York postoffice over 10000 worth OF
rough diamonds for local importers we're re-
ceived from London. Up to the LIST of Sep
TENDER the importations through the mails
exceeded $4,000 per month this year. The
actual figures for the first eight months OF
this year are s4,19203l .S6. The importations
through the New York postoffice last year
amounted to $4,747,i AGO.
The diamonds that come through the
mails are rough diamonds. and practically
all the rough diamonds that are imported
come through the mails. All of the large
importers who cut diamonds in this city use
the mails exclusively as their carrying me-
dunn. The head of the largest diamond i'm
porting firm in this country said recently:
I'VE use the mails for importing our dia-
monds because it is the cheapest and safest
way to bring them over. The postage on
them amounts to only about one-twentieth
of what it would cost us to bring them over
in any other way. The safest way to import
diamonds also is through the mails. In the
last half dozen years we have imported some
hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of
diamonds through the mails. and have never
lost diamond
The diamonds come usually in small
packages, about six inches long by two
inches wide by inch and a half thick.
They are packed in strong boxes and Sc
curely sealed. A package of diamonds
usually bears half dozen huge sealing wax
seals. The clerks at the general post
office are able to tell them at glance.
The packages are generally registered,
though sometimes they are not, great
is the confidence of the importers in the
safety of the mails. The registered pack
ages go direct to the registry department
of the postoffice from the foreign room.
The person or persons to whom the pack
ages are addressed are notified Of their
receipt and call at the postoffice. A clerk
is then sent with them, bearing the pack
ages unopened, to the appraisers office,
where they are examined. There Is no duty
on uncut diamonds, but they must be ex-
amined.
Packages containing diamonds are usual
are always informed by importers expect
ing consignmentS of diamonds through the
mails. and the clerks watch for them. The
packages are never opened at the post
office, as are all other packages in the for
eign mails.
It is only since 1892 that diamonds have
| TO any extent. Before that time the dia.
| mond-cutting industry in this country had
not started and there were no imports of
| rough diamonds TO speak of. 1t was not
until the Dingley law went into operation,
| placing rough diamonds on the free list,
| that they were imported so largely, and
| ton. Since August, 1897. the receipts of
| diamonds through the postoffice have con-
stantly increased The heaviest month was
| October of last year. when diamonds to the
value of sS35,914.21 came through the mails.
| The importations through the mails last
| month amounted to $o32, 319.l6.
Diamonds not the only precious ar
| ticles sent through the mails. Vast quaint
ties of gold pass through the New York
naturally reticent about it, for publicity
| adds TO the risk, but the fact is that mil
| lions of dollars in gold coin and bullion are
| dividuals every year. In two days this veal
S5,lI2,cOo in gold coin came through the New
tbs soS 70 f9T 1oS @r a Most o.
| Gold is sent through the mail in strong
| canvas bags, such as are used in the treas
| sealed. The bags contain from $1,000 to $40, ON
| each in s.. $40 and $40 pieces. The bags are
| registered and the amount of gold contained
in each package is marked on the registry
| receipt. Unless the b4gs have been broken
| open in transit or their contents appear 10
| have been tempered with, they are checked
on when received at the postoftice without
| their contents being counted. But once in
| while a mail bag comes into the post
office with loose coins rafting in il that
| have escaped from one of the money bags
In that case the gold is counted to make
sure that none of 1t is missing.
The treasure comes in with the ordinary
| ~ into the mail wagons at the railway sta
lions. No outsider would suspect anything
| extraordinary in the character of the mail
| But, even if he did know the contents OF
the bags, he would have hard time in
| getting away with any Of them, for the
| wagons have armed guards in plain clothes
| inside
| When the mail containing the gold bag.
arrives at the postoffice the mail pouche.
| containing the registered matter are car
The banks to which the gold is consignet
| each has a confidential clerk at the post
office ready to receive it and carry 1t t.
| panied by armed guards. The bank clerk!
| are usually known personally to the super
intendent Of the registry department, We
| visit, with duplicate of invoice The mai
is piled on a long table, around which tn,
postofeGe and nd bank o1, clerks gather The bag
rest and the names Of the banks to which
the gold bags are addressed are called of
a anJ tespectiHe pank clerks respond AM
to them. Here the responsibility of tn,
postoffice ends and that of the banks begins
| The bags are carried to the Mail-street ent
of the postoffice building. If the consign
ment to any one bank is large, IL has {
wagon In waiting there, into which the golt
|
| times it is carried in cabs and sometimes ii
| boxes by bank messengers.
| Almost every bank in New York receive.
| gold in this way. Most of 1t comes from
| the West: some of ii comes from South
| America and some from Europe. Tn.
amount of mail shipments of gold is con
| stantly increasing. In 1897 s16,000,OO0 in goit
came through the New York postoffice Las
| year the amount was $4,000 900. and Thu
| year the figures will be much larger. Tn,
| reason for shipping gold through the mail.
| is the same as for transferring diamonds il
| this manner namey-cheapness and safety