The Wichita daily eagle., 1903-08-09
MAKING GOLD
0F SILVER ORE
Philadelphia AIchemist Claims
to Have Discovered a Way.
HIS PROCESS IN FULL
Electricity Accounts Mainly
for His Success.

Claims for the new alchemy:
Silver, copper and lead transmitted into
gold.
Cost of conversion about II per cent
Profit by conversion about $50 per cent
Yearly profit on plant estimated 500,
per cent.
Length of conversion under thirty
hours.
Silver bullion increased forty times in
value.
Process mainly an electrical instrument.
More than so per cent of silver turned
into gold.
Gold produced answers chemical tests.
Purity of gold "a carat.
To forestali the inevitable smile of in
credulity and insure a serious hearing,
it is but fair that Mr.. Rudolph NJ. Hun
ter, alchemist, of Philadelphia, be prop
| erly presented. The extraordinary an
nouncement has been made that gold has
actually been manufactured in Philadel-
| phia, and many interesting specimens OF
the work have been exhibited. The claim
| is an ancient one. 1t has probably never
been made, however, by a scientist with
SO well establish reputation as in the
present case, nor have the results been
displayed so circumstantially-
To Mr. Hunter have been granted three
hundred and sixty patents at the patent
Office at Washington. He is generally
credited with being one of the most pro-
! life patentees in America. According to
the National Cyclopedia of American Bi-
ography, he is the original inventor and
patentee of the alternating transforming
system of electrical transmission, trolley
conduit and electrical accumulation sys-
TEN of electric railways, the series null
tiple controller, electric brakes, electric
car heating, etc. 1t is largely due to his
inventions that the trolley systems, es-
! pecially those of Philadelphia. have been
perfected. He has disposed of more than
two hundred electrical patents to one of
the most important electric companies in
America
| By any other name than that of alche-
my Mr.. Hunters claims would doubtless
receive more serious consideration. The
conversion of gold has been the vision
of so many ages and so much charlata-
nism has followed 1t that the world mere
ly considers the seriousness of the alche-
mist's intentions or his sanity. Need
less to say the problem has now been at
tackled from an entirely new point of
view. In spite OF the famed philosopher s
stone, this scientific alchemist depends
upon much powerful machinery. He does
not present us with mystic talismans,
but with hard, matter of fact chemical
equations.
The figure Of the conventional alchemist
of old is as familiar as that of the monk.
a tall. black robed figure with long beard
and much mysterious claptrap This gen.
| tleman who announces that he has at last
solved the problem of the ages is a cul-
tivated gentleman who looks like a bank
er and who numbers among his inti-
mate friends the leading scientists of
the country. as well as the most conserv-
ative business men in Philadelphia.
The theoretical. even the experimental.
stages of the manufacture Of gold, ac-
cording to Mr.. Hunter, are already pass
ed. He is about to commence the manu-
facture of gold on large scale for COM
mercial purposes. a factory or laboratory
will be built in Philadelphia this fall for
the purpose The building Will occupy
half city block. The machinery. which
merely duplica-es the apparatus Mr..
Hunter has been working with in his
laboratory is being planned on a larger
scale TO handle the metal in bulk. The
actual work of building and construction
will be commenced in September.
Within something less than a year Mr
| Hunter is confident that the plant Will
be working smoothly and the world at
large will have been convinced and will
have accepted this startling innovation.
The exact process is, of course, the in
ventor's. and every precaution will be
| exercised to keep il so. Mr. Hunter, how
! ever. freely discussed the scientic explain
alton along general lines Being scien-
tist, he considers. with one important res
ervation-his secret process. He already
has associated with him some Of the best
known business men in Philadelphia
Their names were mentioned as a matter
OF good faith. but with the request that
they be withheld from publication. The
plant which Mr. Hunter Will shortly
build will cost about half million dol
lars. for the machinery is very expensive
and quickly wears out. The men who
are subscribing 10 the stock for the pur-
pose are in many cases known through
out the country as successful affairs.
The samples OF the work Of conversion
already accomplished which Mr. Hunter
exhibits 10 suhs5antiate his claims are
naturally Of fascinating interest He has
many samples OF the metal IN various
stages Of conversion. besides some pounds
OF pure gold resulting from the process.
All that Mr.. Hunter cares 10 say OF his
secret is that electricity has much 70 do
| with the process Of conversion. and that
| enormous pressure is exersed at certain
STAGES OF the work
II requires upward OF thirty hours 10
manufacture the gold. sometimes less.
The process in its present development IS
| the machinery very great, yet the ulti-
| mate profit Is so enormous that the iai-
tiai cost IS almost nothing by conpsrt-
son. II Is believed that the machinery
| viii be greatly improved WITH more ex-
| pe-ience In the work.
! In all the conversions made 50 far ssl-
| yer has beer used. 10 IS possible. accord
| ing 70 Mr. Hunter. 10 turn copper or
even lead Into gole. but the process Is
cheaper IN the case OF silver. The gold
| which has been converted in Mr. Hunters
private laboratory has come entirely from
silver dollars one dollars worth Of ST.
yer Is transformed into forty dollars
! worth Of geld, less. Of course = per
cen;zxe OF loss, which. however. Is tr1s-
Ling. Ar. Hunter has scores OF Sped