The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1917-11-20
SCRAP GOLD HOLDS
MANY TRAGEDIES
Sets of False Teeth and JeWeIry
Among Pieces Sent to
Uncle Sans Mint.
PATHOS IN every ARTICLE
Wedding Rings, Necklaces, Fragments
of Yellow Metal From crematories
Included In Offerings For
Warded to Bureau.

At the mint bureau of the treasury
not long ago there arrived a pathetic
letter from d poor widow, and inclosed
in package with it was set of false
teeth, literally filed with gold.
The teeth had belonged to the hus-
band, who had died leaving her moth
ing, although once a wealthy man.
The poor woman, the words Of her
letter showing great grief, asked
whether Uncle Sam would pay for the
gold in the teeth.
Although the rules Of the bureau
and the mints and assay offices under
it prohibit the purchases Of scrap gold
valued at less than 500, Raymond
Baker. director of the United States
mint bureau, sent the teeth to the as
say ONCE in New York with directions
to forward the poor woman payment
for the amount Of gold found by the
Office.
"The human tragedies behind pieces
of gold and silver sent to the mints
each year and bought by the govern
ment run into the thousands" said
the tender-hearted woman clerk, who
sat musing over many Of the sad sto-
ries that had come under her notice
after years Of work in the mint bu-
reau.
Pathos In Every Ounce.
"See this one line in the last an
nual report of the director Of the
mint" she went on. ut shows that
in the fiscal year, 1915, the govern
menr bought Jewellers scrap to the
value of 100000. Well, under this
heading there is included all the scrap
gold bought that year from jewelers.,
pawnbrokers, and individuals, and
there was pathos back of nearly every
ounce of it."
Congress gives the mint bureau each
year a substantial bullion fund for the
purchase of gold and silver.
The purchases are made at either
of the three coinage minis or eight as
say offices outside of Washington.
The bulk of the purchases are Of for
eign coins and Alaska-mined gold, but
Jewellers scrap" is an important
item. No matter in what form the
gold goes to the government, it Is
melted in electrolytical refnerieY In
the assay offices and the price Ipaid
according to the bullion obtained
therefrom. This bullion goes back
into gold coin, into the manufacture
of jewelry, and for use in the indus
trial arts.
"Serap" Carries Own Stories.
So there frequently come through
the mint bureau pieces of jewelry and
silverware that carry their own sto-
ries of blasted and broken human
lives; of woes and vicissitudes endless
in number.
It may be the wedding ring of happy
days past and gone, followed by pow
erty and misfortune in later years; a
child's or woman's chain or lOcket, the
latter sometimes containing a photo
graph Of one dearly loved; watch,
the engraving upon which told of the
esteem of friends or loved ones; So
ciety and fraternal emblems; gold
medals awarded to heroes who have
passed away and left their families
in destitute circumstances; trinkets
precious and numerous, now to be
parted with, despite the memories that
linger with them, even after the melt
ing pot has done it's work.
To these are to be added exquisitely
beautiful family silverware, bearing
descriptive messages from relatives
and friends of the long ago, some OF
1t handed down from father to son and
mother to daughter, now of greatest
value in keeping poverty from the door
or in carrying on the education OF a
cherished son or daughter.
And to this is the gruesomeness OF
the 'scrap gold" coming from crema-
tories throughout the land. For gov
eminent officials know that in the In
cineration Of the dead there Is often
left in the ashes particles of gold
that once adorned the teeth Of a
healthy, living being. Crematory at
tendants are watchful for these small
pieces of gold, and dispose Of them SO
that they are among the "scrap" which
the government buys and turns into
bullion.
His Savings a "JumbIe."
Not long ago the treasurer received
from newsboy in an American town
a mass of jumbled metal, melted to-
gether by fire that had destroyed
the boys home He had put away
his savings in a small bank and the
fire had done its work. He asked that
the metal be redeemed.
The government will redeem paper
money three-fifths Of which remains,
even where enough of charred paper
remains to determine what its denomi.
nation had been.
In the boys case nothing could be
done, and the metal was sent to Kay
Baker. The experts in the mint bu-
reau arrived at the conclusion that
the mass had originally been worth
about GO cents. The law could give
no relief hut Baker gladdened the lit.