The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-20
Defending eAaafnsf Error.

CHIP IL taken from diametrically opposite
corners. for the purpose of assaying.
Defending e4gafnst Error.
The bar Is then returned to the assayer
In charge. when It If again weighed and
the weight double-checked One chip
from the bar IL taken In charge by one
assayer, and the other chip by another,
so that two separate and distinct assays
are made on each bar. thus precluding
the possibility OF error when the results
are finally compared. The assays are
made By what is known as the nitric
acid process" and II the bar be homo
geneous. the result I'm fneness of gold
and silver is reported to the asseyer I'm
charge. The weight OF the bar after melt
and its fineness In gold and silver are
used by the clerical department IN calcu-
lating its value, the latter being cali
cuation In triplicate to also preclude the
possibility OF error. After the bars value
Is determined and the regular charges are
deducted. a check IL drawn in favor OF the
deposition and paid over on surrender of
the receipt, properly indorsed issued to
him at time OF depositing the gold dust.
II desired. the depositor may accept the
gold bar In settlement and pay the reg
ular charges for the work entailed in de-
termining its value After a considerable
number of gold bars of-sufffC1ent weight
have accumulated, they are shipped TO the
bullion boxes. Departmental guards are
within the institution every minute, night
and day. and during the exceedingly busy
season special detail of police In adj
dition. II always at hand, thereby af-
fording extra precautions against rob-
berry or surreptitious disappearance OF
gold dust or bullion.
Four days after the opening of the Sc
attic office the whole world knew that the
reports of the riches of the Klondike had
again been confirmed On the morning of
July ~ tho steamship Roanoke steamed
into Seattle harbor. direct from the mouth
of the Yukon river. with several hundred
Klond'kers and "A million or more OF treas
ure. The reader can well recall the ex-
element created throughout the world at
that time. Long lines OF depostors could
be seen making their way to the govern
ments gold-purchasing institution, and n
big truck load of boxes of gold dI~t
hauled by four horses soon put In its APP
pearance at the assay office. Excitement
ran very high and the assay office became
the eynosure of all eyes. II was indeed a
busy day IN the institutions history. tax
ing it's capacity to the utmost II was
nearly week however. before ali the
gold dust arriving on this steamer found
its way to the assay office. After this,
gold kept arriving by every steamer, and
by November / the receipts OF the insti-
tuition reached more than what was then
considered the rather enormous figure OF
sb0G.00C (Report Director OF the Mint,
1885, page mo
Contrary TO pretty general belief that
November would see the end OF the gold
until the opening of next seasons navi-
CATION on the Yukon. the treasure kept
on coming by the overland route Late in
November the first party of Klondikers
came from Dawson TO Skagwny over the
ice and thence to Seattle via ocean
steamship, bringing with them many
pounds OF the precious metal,
Exceeded Expected Receipts.
All during December. 1895 and January.
February and March, 1889. klondikers