The Seward gateway and the Alaska evening post., 1918-01-04
SILERADO REDWVUS


 Once more does silver move toward the status of fi nancia responsibility The white metal formerly part ner with gold in the money scheme of the wOrd is in pro- cess of revival from the financial oboquy to which it has been egsated The process of restoration is well along Silver already has been quoted above the dollar mark and the prediction is freely made by financial Wseacres that it is destined reach that once famous value of $l29 Un foreSeen developments have defed all financial philosophy and the One-tne hereSy of sixteen to One becomes pending and n all probability will be actual fact
 Speaking after the manner of the romance writers, silver has had checkered career It has stood at the pinnacle of national money systems and the other has been the bee nore of the worlds fnanciers In the course of its varying fortunes has given rise to. more economic discussion among the people than any Oth fact with which the American nation has dealt poc ally Silver has been worshpped by it's champions, held in oburgaon and contempt by its assaants, debaSed by the governments with which had been associated long and honorable sece and noE is riding the crest of the conditions back to it's old position of responsibility and power
 Not since 1890 has silver been quoted above dollar and not since 1883 has its average annual price been $129 the figure made famous in 1896 by Mr. Bryan and his fol- lowers in advocacy of the ratio of sixteen to one During the Civil war silver was above that price. In that period it was quoted as high S1345 In 1866 had fallen but a fraction of a cent From 1878 to 1889 there was a steady decline in the price of silver from S154 to 935 ceptn the average price for 1885, which cent high than for 1881 The silver purchasing clause of the Sherman act in 1890 sent the metaup to SlO46 compa ed with 935 for the previous year but during the follow ing two years declined to ST. and upon the repeal of the purchasing clause of the Sherman act in 1893 the decline in the price of silver immediate steady and rapid In that menorabIy turbulent year when MT. Bryan, fresh from the classic region of the Platte burst into the nation al arena silver was quoted at 67 cents and until it it has never reached so high price save in 19O6 when it sold for and eighttenths mills more than that The lowest price to which it was ever reduced was in 1915 when it sold for 496 cents.
 wouId serve little better than interesting specula tion to indulge in prediction concerning the use silver Its price has gone up in response the demand for money metal in European countries The United States has the gold of the world and silver must serve and serving in those countries from which the gold has been drained The United States also has goody supply of the silver of the word-mOuntans of in the raw state and just the United States is producing more than third of the total world supply Yet the United States silver is barely more than material by-product We have the material and the ability to supply all the world may need and undoubtedly will be pleased to do that at the price which silver rehabtated in former financial responsibility will bring.