The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1905-02-04
GOLD FILINGS cosT MlLLloNs,
Dentists Each Year withdraw from the
CoMnfrYss 9mnnIv 90 nnn nnn

Gonntry's Supply $2,oOO,OOOs
OF the wealth of this country there
Is a certain part that has never
entered into the reports of the census
or fiscal departments Of the govern
ment. There is, If the estimates. of
men who should know are to be taken
as authoritative, over $4,000, 900 per-
sonal wealth, In the shape of gold, of
which the government is entirely igno-
rant, or, II not ignorant, has decided
not to mention in its financial reports.
Each year there is over 100000
worth of gold that disappears, that
is lost to the moneys of the world,
and yet it is not lost.
More than 100000 worth of gold
Is used annually in caring for the
mouths of citizens of the United States
who have been neglected in the mat
ter Of their teeth. This $2,OOO,OOO is
practically wealth that Is lost. After
the gold is once securely fixed in the
mouth of dentists patient it ceases
to exist as precious metal of impor-
tango In the world of finance, and is
only a plug to a tooth, base article,
lost forever as particle Of an article
for which men have fought and died
and murdered and perjured and sold
themselves since the world began.
The figures seem vast when the
small amount used in making q filling
ts considered, but the y are undoubted-
ly correct. The man in charge of the
gold department of the largest dental
supply house In the country arrived at
these figures after extensive researches
and calculations, and his estimate ia
verified by other men In a position
to know.
Two million dollars taken out of its
stock Of gold is the price that the
country pays annually for having it's
teeth cared for in an up~to-date man
Ter.
len years ago it is estimated that
only rs per cent of the people of this
country ever went to a dentist ex-
cept to have tooth pulled Five years
ago the percentage was 3S 1-8. Now,
it Is declared, so per cent of the popu-
lation pay visits to the dentists chair
for some other reason than that o.
having an aching tooth extracted.
This increase in the number Of dental
patients in the country has resulted
n consequent increase in the amount
Of gold used for this purpose. Prac-
dcally all Of the so per cent who are
numbered as the dentists patrons have
some gold In their teeth. Thus, ten
years ago there was only, $1,000, 900
worth of gold put into the mouths Of
the citizens as against the $4,000. 600 |
IF to-day.
Using the rate of increase each wear
Tor the last ten years as a basis, tho
average yearly consumption Of the
precious metal in this manner has
been $1,50O,0OO a year. This would
make $15,00OOO0 worth of gold which
las been put into teeth since 1894. For
his amount could be built three of
he best battle-ships in the world; the
Presidents salary could be paid for
thirty years; every voter who has
zone to the polls this year could be
'a1d 81 for his trouble and still leave
million for good measure.
Deaths, Of course, have cut the num-
'er of people who have had gold filling
tut in their teeth in these years COLI
iderably. Five million dollars worth
+ gold, 1t Is estimated, has been
uried in the graveyards of this coun-
ry in the period covered by these fig
res. If total could be arrived at,
from the time when gold
rst was used In filings, it ia certain
hat the amount Of gold lying unused
nd dead in graves would be near to
q, 100000.
subtracting the 100000 taken off
he earth from the total of $15,OOO,OOO
sed in the last decade, it will be seen
hat there must be at least $1O,OOO,oO0
Torth Of gold perambulating about the
ountry in the mouths Of the citizens. Il
EN- million dollars in the most con-
enient form in the world, in the DOS
ession Of the people: $1O.Oo0,0 900 walk
lg, sleeping and eating with them,
nd yet not a cent Of it that can DO
pent, not cent Of It that may he
eckoned in the wealth Of the In
lvidual or the country at large.-Chi-
ago Chronicle.