The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-10-09
j. 5. RULE BLOW TO
JEWELRY MAKERS
Many Fear They Must Quit Business
Because Platinum Is Shut on
and Gold Limited.
SOME GET WAR CONTRACTS
Turn to Manufacturing Surgical In
struments and Gunsights for Gov
ernment--Ncw Demands for Goods
Appear.

Jewelry manufacturers throughout
the country are facing a crisis as the
result of regulations put into effect
by the United States government. de-
creasing by one-half the amount of
gold they may use and shutting off
entirely new supplies OF platinum.
AS result, some have expressed
belief they will be forced out of bus
mess, while scores of others are seek
ing to obtain war contracts for sur
gical instruments and gunsights to
tide them over. while still others have
turned TO the manufacture of arti-
Giles which do not contain the barred
metals,
Bars Use Of Platinum.
The order limiting the amount of
gold any ieweiler may manufacture
10 one-half the amount used in 1917
has been in effect for several months,
The order shutting off the use OF plat
mum went into effect on October /.
lit provides that no platinum jewelry
OF any sort may he manufactured,
that jewelry containing platinum may
mot be altered, repaired, with the adj
ldition Of platinum, iridium or paNa-
fdium. and that no platinum jewetyy
may be sold except under a federal
license. Under such license. deal
ers may dispose of stocks they have
/ on hand.
This order forhids the placing OF
diamonds in platinum setting. the use
Of platinum in watches and in. other
ways in which it's use has beeT pop
ular. On top of the two orders from
the government has come an almost
unprecedented demand from newly
prosperous persons for gold and dia
mond jewelry of every description.
A man prominent in the jewelry
trade explained that people who have
been big buyers of expensive jewels
are buying bonds instead with the
result that there has been an i'm
mense falling off in the business of
| the better-class shops. On the other
| hand. thousands of persons, who be-
cause OF the war have surplus money
for the first time in their lives. are
ready to take all the goods the man
ufacturers can turn out.
| Expected to Take War Jobs.
| On top OF the other demands has
come the information that 90 per
cent Of Tho men employed in jewel
manufacturing establishments would
/ be expected to seek work in NUM-
+ ton plants In jobs for which they
! are especially fitted. A large jeweller
estimated that as a result there would
be 10 per cent less Jewellery manu-
| featured next year than there was
1 last.
Thirty manufacturers in this city
/ have taken contracts from the gov
eminent for making surgical instru
ments, and II was said yesterday that
practically all the others were seek
/ ing government work. Such work has
! IL additional advantage of insuring
/ the manufactures his coal supply dur
ing the coming winter.
AS in order to obtain n license for
! the sale of platinum a dealer must
file an inventory of his stock on hand
with the bureau of mines, it is be
4 lieved that practically none of this
| will find its way to the usual market.
! The government has taken steps to
purchase platinum jewelry from indi-
ividual owners, and is expected to take
similar steps in regard to manufac
tured articles in the hands of jewel
ers. The metal is badly needed for
use in manufacturing high explosives
used in the manufacture of torpedoes.
-Buy Liberty Bonds--
| Explosion on u. S. Sub.
Washington, Oct. THE navy de-
partment is informed that an internal
explosion occurred on board United
States submarine O-5 Saturday after
noon at New York, killing one man
and injuring two Ensign William ].
Sharkley was killed and Lieutenant
Commander George A. Trevor and
Electrician (second CLASSY Still were
| injured. The cause of the explosion
has not yet been ascertained.
I -Buy Liberty Bonds--
! AMERICAN PRISONERS
OF WAR NUMBER 1851
Washington. Oct. War depart
mcnt reports to October s. 1918, show
the number Of American soldiers.
sailors and civilians prisoners Of war
In Europe to he as follows:
| Prisoners OF war In Germany be-
longing to a. +. f.. f.48O.
Civilians interned in Germany. go.
SaiforC informed In Constantine