Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-10-14
UNCLE SAM NEEDS
MUCH PLATINUM
ApPeafs to Owners u Jswslry to Do
Patriotie-Pays sos an Ounce

Patriotie-Pays sos an Ounce
The fact that the present value Of
platinum is sos Dor ounce Cor the
pure metal appears to have created
. desire on the part Of Augusta own
ers OF platinum jewelry to dispose Of
the same and receive their value in
cash. and not email number # Of
fers Of chains. rings. ETC., have been
received by local jewelers.. In con-
nection with the demand for this rare
metal just at the present time the
following will undoubtedly prove Of
interest:
To buy or sell platinum beginning
oct. l, 1918. a license must be secur-
ed from the U. s. Bureau Of Mines.
Regulations concerning these liz
ccnses have just been issued Control
OF trading in this rare metal results
from legislation recently enacted by
Congress and emphasizes again the
important role platinum plays in the
war program.
To increase government holdings an
appeal has been made by the author
tiles for contributions from the pub
lie Of platinum jewelry. Director Of
the Mint Raymond T. Baker. has an
nounced that the government will
pay for all platinum rings. cavaliers,
chains and other ornaments received.
A great melting pot will be estab-
lished to which citizens will De ask
ed to contribute as q patriotic privi-
lege jewelry or scraps Of platinum,
large quantities of which are urgent
~ required for war need.
Since there will be many persons
Who viii desire to donate their jew
elfy and other ornaments without
reward. the government Is planning
that such donations be placed with
the Red Cross, which will :eceive
from the treasury full value by check.
Therefore, whether the articles are
sold to the government or donated
to the government through the Red
Cross, war work will be benefited.
Citizens are asked. to send their
platinum to Raymond T.. Baker, d.
rector Of the mint. Washington. d. c..
who will handle all Of the precious
metal gathered from the melting pot.
Jewels should be removed. In addi-
ton to this agency Of collection and
the Red Cross, whose aid it is plan
ned to obtain. national banks have
been asked by Controller Of the Cur
rency Williams to assist by acting
as receiving depots for platinum. The
War Industries Boards platinum sec
ton also is arranging systematic
method of collecting scraps OF the
metal from chemists. electricians
railroads, manufacturers and others.
The important uses of platinum in
the chemical industries concerned
with war work are referred to in a
communication from a committee OF
the American Chemical Society. But
as pointed out by j. ]. Willaman, a
member of the Minnesota section or
the society, the most important OF
all its uses, that Of a catalySer. IS the
most difficult to explain to the aV-
erage newspaper reader who has
failed to keep abreast with The pro-
progress Of chemistry in the arts.
A catalyzer does not itself enter into d
chemical reaction, but by it's mere pres
ence it induces that reaction to take
place many times more rapidly. Thus in
the manufacture of sulphuric acid from
sulphur, when very finely divided plat
mum 10 suspended on trays in the cham-
Der where sulphur is burned. the sulphur
vapors combine readily with oxygen %
form the acid which is used in such
enormous quantities in the manufacture
OF explosives and the bases used in war
fare. A little platinum will cause CO.
lossai quantities to unite; but it does
wear out and has to be revivitied or re-
placed.
Shiploads on shiploads of explosives
must be sent to our forces on the fight
ing front. and this means tons and hun
dreds of tons of sulphuric acid: and
this means platinum and more plati-
mum. Therefore the government men,
the bureau of mines and the American
Chemical Society who know the situa-
ton are saying: You. Mr.. and Mrs.
Wearer Of Platinum Jewelry. will you
insist on wearing articles of platinum
Just because they are costly, and by so
doing handicap the production of war
munitions? Will you not gladly give
up your useless dull-colored metal and
put 1t to service in the winning OF the
war;" All contributions Of platinum
to the government will be paid for at
the rate OF sos an ounce of pure plat
mum, the regular market price.
Concerning the source of the supply
Of platinum and the value OF it and its
products brought during May. the Jew
elers' Circular Of July 10 contained the
following special report from Washing.
ton, D. c.:
A special report covering the impor-
tations Of platinum into the United
States for the month of May, last.
shows a total import value of unmanu-
featured ingots. bars and plates Of 1919
Troy ounces at 1888. This was sub
divided between N54 Troy ounces of un-
manufactured platinum at . total value
of $2N. 375. and as Troy ounces. Of in
COTS, ETC., at value Of 81, 023.
The chief source of supply in each
case was Colombia. from which we re-
ceived 22s5 Troy ounces Of unmanufac-
tured at $2oO. 2i5, and 4a3 ounces Of in
gots. bars and plates at $S6.4S. England
supplied US with III ounces Of unmanu-
featured at s12.5s5. and Is ounces of in
gots, bars and plates at $z67.
The receipts from Canada include four
ounces OF manufactured and II ounces
OF ingots at 1888. The remainder in
ciuded rs ounces from China at a total
Of S7ss5, and three ounces from Peru at
$50.
The Tinker Divorce Case