Arizona republican., 1900-08-09
Four Hundred Millions
 Lost Somewhere
MIR. MUHLEMAN'S TASK
Asked by Secretary Gage to Find Out Where tLe Stock "in the Hands of Individuals" Is-He Has Been Engageil in the Search of the Golden Fleece for Many Months.

New York. Aug S.-Maurice I4. Muhleman, United States deputy as sistant treasurer, has just completed special statistical report on gold pro- duction, the preparation of which has cost many months of hard labor At the beginning of the year Secretary Gage made up his mind that a thor Ough inquiry ought to be instituted as to the whereabouts and uses of some $40O,0OO,0OO of gold, which. in the official statistical table. issued by the department, was classified as being in the hands of private banks and indi- viduals.''
 The total gold coin, and bullion of the country held by tre treasury and the national banks, which amounts to more than $500, ,00O, 900, could easily be accounted for, but the secretary has long regarded the private bank and individual holdings" as in the nature of unaccounted for gold, officially speak ing. The treasury's method of classi- fication has annoyed him somewhat, and he has been determined for some time to have 1t improved. Skilled financiar as he is. Mir. Gage himself could not produce a better exhibit of the country's stock of gold, and in hi, determination to give to the public an intelligent idea of the unlocated treas ure his eyes therefore turned toward Muhleman, and he requested that offl- cial to find out where the gold was.
 It was a big job; a difficult job. but MT. Muhleman revels in such tasks He set to work at once earnestly. Muhle- man knows a great deal about gold, but he nevertheless, in order to accomplish his purpose, entered into correspond ence with many and varied interests, with individuals and corporations; with skilled financiers and eminent econo- mists; with men regarded as authori- ties on treasure production and with persons engaged in the arts. He did not soon discard the unsought views Of theorists and cranks who suggested where the gold would be found. The holdings of the private banker and the individual, and even the contents of the old stocking were carefully inquired into. Possible hiding places and un- usual haunts and methods of con sumption were subjects also of inquiry
 After three months of work Muhle- man found himself confronted with big pile of letters and other matter Some of them were helpful and brimful of suggestions; some were absolutely worthless. Most of the matter was complicated. Muhleman condensed this mass as well as his own views to typewritten document of sixty pages. in which form it will reach MT. Gage.
 Has MT. Muhle man located the S40O,- COG. 900? Will the result of his labors give enough information and suSges- ton to Secretary Gage by which he can amend the present unsatisfactory official tables of the ownership of the metallic stock?" These questions were put to Mir Muhleman this afternoon. but he declined to say word. From other sources, however. it was learned that the report. which naturally bris- ties with statistics, will be regarded favorably by Secretary Gage. That it will cause the department at Washing ton to alter its present method of re- porting the country's stock of gold iS almost certain. It's contents will not be published for some time. but it may be stated that it contains much that is helpful to the government and in structive to the financial interests or the nation.