The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-11-03
WHAT B[COMESOF THE GOLD
GOVERNMENT ENpEAvoRrSG TO
TRACE THE PRECIOUS METAL.
AUTHORITIES Anxious to Learn APP
proximstely the Quantity Con-
s1mes I'm the Arts, Sciences and
Manufactures-Mfii Absorbed.

me government has sent a circular let
.er 70 manufacturing jewellers and pri-
waite assayers requesting Information
concerning the probable amount Of gold
,hat Il being consumed in the arts,
sciences and manufactures. This infor-
nation Is asked for every year. in order
70 supply data 10 the director Of the mint
Tor Inc preparation OF his report to the
government OF gold and silver The pres
ent inquiry is additional TO the annual
one, ana has been made on account OF
me shrlnkage In the visible supply of gold
puihon. The gold coinage last year was
greater than that OF any previous year in
the history OF the country, reaching In
round numbers si0s, &C., 900 this together
with a falling or in foreign bars and the
large amounts diverted from the mints Is,
~ IS said, the main reason for the present
circular letter 10 ascertain the purpose
Tor which the metal Is being used
During the preceding fiscal year ss.t5o.-
W OF domestic gold and 81 10000 OF old
gold jeweiry were consumed in the arts.
Inc indications are that a great deal
more is now being absorbed and that the
total VIII be greater than in any former
year. In fact, Chicago alone is absorbing
gold at the rate Of 81 0oo 900 a year in the
arts and manufactures. OF course much
OF this comes from old jeweiry. but II Is
the manufacturer as purchase II is
taken on account OF new articles This
shows that the actual demand for gold
for manufacturing purposes Is larger
than ever before.
Gold that goes into jewelry is counted
az being out OF the market temporarily.
for styles OF jeweiry change. and this
eventually brings the metal back into the
market as old gold That which dentists
nj nj tor L. 4,
ing been permanently absorbed and an
absolute loss to the gold supply Every
year dentists use more and more gold.
and although there are no reliable sta
tistics as TO this annual consumption. IL
r. estimated 10 be in the millions. OF
course, the commercial demand for gold
coins is not being threatened by a short
age. but the quantity that Is being d.
verted to uses other than redemption
money seems to have made the govern
ment feel 1t necessary TO have the best
obtainable information on the subject.
Should the money market become
stringent the inflow OF jeweiry TO be sold
as bullion would be great. as has always
been the case. but II times continue az
they are the use OF gold in the arts and
manufactures IL likely to be large Last
year domestic production OF gold was in
round numbers s7soeo. 0oo--that Is. there
was SO. o0oooo more OF gold coined than
swas produced. but the same conditions
have prevailed In former years. though
not often. What the domestic output viii
be this year IT, OF course, an unsolved
problem. but II the present rate of con-
sumption by the arts. and In channels
other than the mints. IL maintained the
demand for gold as a commodity is likely
to be active all the year. which In turn
will stimulate prospecting for new gold
aetds ANYWAY there Is not the slight
est danger. knowing ones assert. that the
demand for gold for manufacturing pur-
poses will interfere materially with the
inflow to the mlnts