The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1918-05-28
UNCLE SAM BUYS
COLD AND SILVER
AS old METALS
Unique Shop Opened : in
Fifth Ave. to Save Gold
From Leaving Country.

New York, May 2S-A new Fifth
avenue shop unlike any other was
opened Yesterday in the Winfield
Building. at Fortieth street. 1t buys
old gold. silver, platinum and by a
process of alchemy which is every
body's secret transmutes the metal
into guns, uniforms, adrplanes, de-
stroyers-a1 the paraphernalia and
implements of victory.
1t is kept by Uncle Sam It is
the War Savings Metal Market To
this shop one may take ware that is
out of date or superffuous or cumber-
some, or has been idling in safe de-
post box and costing the owner
money. On the spot the government
pays for it in War Savings Stamps.
and then melts the metal into bull
lion. Thus, from the standpoint of
the person who has metal to sell,
good business, thrift and patriotism
are combined.
So many men and women seized the
opportunity yesterday to get rid of
boarded possessions and at the same
stroke turn them into Savings stamps
that the force of women and apprais-
ers who are running the shop in the
name of the United States will have
| to be enlarged today. More custom
ers appeared than could be taken care
of. They carried boxes and bundles
containing articles ranging from
silver collar button, which brought
25 cents, to a gold mesh bag, in re-
turn for which the owner received
s125 worth of the precious green
stamps.
| Many singular offerings were re-
ceived. The most appealing was that
of a gray haired woman. Her clothes
were not made this year or last. She
carried no box or bundle. In the lit
tie English she knew she asked for
some one who could talk German.
Mrs. Joseph Griswold Deane, chair
man of the committee in charge in
the War Savings Metal Market, re-
sponded. The woman slipped a gold
band ring from her finger.
She said she was born in Germany,
but she wanted to see the Germany
that had tried to wreck the world
beaten in order that the Germany
she loved might be restored. She
had only her wedding ring to give.
She wasted to give that to the United
States. She wanted nothing in ex-
change; this was a gift.
Now the Metal Market is not in
the habit Of accepting such priceless
items as wedding rings. Mrs. Deane
tried to dissuade the German woman
from her purpose, but could not
Then Mrs. Deane explained that the
committee was not accepting gifts
but that if the wedding ring had tt
be accepted it must be paid for, at 1t:
bullion value, in War Savings Stamps
VERY wen,'' the German woman
said. But don't give me the stamps
Give them to the Red Cross"
So one dollars worth of thrift
stamps were duly transferred to al
agent of the Red Cross, and the re
cent wearer of the wedding ring de
parted, saying that she had made tht
best possible use of it, whereupor
the women Of the committee looked
at one another rather mistily and re
sumed their work.
Gov. Whitman sent down from Al
bany a tiny individual silver coffe,
pot. 1t was the first article bough
when the market opened at 1 p. m.
and the governors stock of Fedora
thrift stamps. Martin Vogel, Assist
ant Treasurer of the United States
in charge of the New York Sub-Treas
ury, was on hand with " M. Bowie
superintendent of the Assay Office
Mr.. Vogel talked to the committe,
and visitors, telling them how badI,
the government needed bullion H,
said so serious was the shortage O
silver that 100000 silver dollar
were being melted into bullion to b,
used in transactions with nation
that have the silver standard, includ
ing India. Every bit of metal turn
ed into the War Savings Metal Mar
! ket keeps it's value in gold from be
ing sent out Of the country. MI
Vogel explained
! At long counter sat those who hat
+ come with metal, waiting to have
; appraised. With three sets of Jew
eller's scales for gold, silver and plat
, mum, an expert from the store of E
; M. Cattle & Co. weighed the ware
1 while ME-. Cattle sat in another cor
4 ner and passed final Judgment Of
' values. In the weeks to come me
from Gorham's. Tiffany's and erich
! ton Bros.'s will contribute their ser
4 vices as E. NJ. Cattle & Co. did yes
] terday.
!. NEED MESSENGER Rows