Iditarod pioneer., 1916-04-22
NO DETRIMENTAL CHARGES
 AT SEATTLE ASSAY OFFICE

A letter from J. L. McPherson, manager of the Alaska bureau of the Seattle Cham Der of Commerce. says:
 "We understand that it is not generally known among the Alaska miners that the diferential charges formerly in force at the Seattle assay office have been removed and the office placed on the same basis ss other United States assay offices and hints. With these charges removed the Seattle assay office affords the Alaska miner a saving on his Alaska gold-dust shipments equal to the extra cost of transportation from Seattle to other assay offices and hints, together with a saving in time and resulting interest charges"
 He calls attention to the following letter from J. W. Phillips, assayer in harge of the government assay office at Seattle:
 Seattle, Jan. 28, 1916. "J. L. McPherson, Manager Alaska Bureau.
 Seattle Chamber of Commerce:
 Your recent letter of inquiry defines 3 strange lack of information that has for be past two years worked to the disadvantage of the Alaska miners, possibly due to a misunderstanding as to the modified charges now in force at the Seattle assay office.
 Two orders of the director of the United States mint dated June 9, 1913, and another of November 30 1914, abolished the so- called ditferential charge Of one-eighth of 1 per cent equal to $1.25 per each $l 1000, previously in force at the United States as say office in Seattle
 Charges at 9aa:.l, were th.a adjusted with and now gre un the same n.., aa the present charges at the United States hints at Philadelphia, Denver and San Francisco.
 ''The Seattle assay office Is from 500 to 1000 miles nearer to Alaska than any other United States government purchasing agency; and Alaskans deposting gold in Sc attle can save from two to four days re quired to ship thousand miles farther, and secure payment therefor; also there will be a saving in transportation charges.
 'In payment for deposits of gold at the Seattle assay office the government fur nishes no cash, but only cheeks to be issued by the assayer in charge. drawn on the United States treasurer at Washington City. Said checks may be cashed in any of the United States sub-treasuries or st the active United States depositary banks.
 If the Alaska shipper of gold sends written request for currency to be sent to him in Alaska, less cost of insurance and transportation, the assayer in charge draws check so that it will be cashed by one of the local United States depositary banks, which will send the necessary currency at the risk of the Alaska owner, after securing full insurance against loss of the money. The cost of said insurance, and all express charges, or cost of postage and registration, will first be deducted by said bank.
 There is another way by which the Alaska shipper may secure currency-by the use of one or several United States postal orders, purchased by the assayer in charge at the Seattle postoffice at cost of 30 cents per S100 and drawn and mailed as directed by the Alaska depositor of gold; then United States currency or silver coin may be secured at any of the sixty-four United States money order postoffices ln Alaska. The cost of securing the money orders, the postage and 10 cents register stamp are first deducted by the Seattle postoffice when issuing the sad orders and eIso furnishing the necessary stamps.
 This office was established to aid in de yplOping Alaska"