Republican farmer., 1918-05-31
UNCLE SAM BUYS l GOLD AND SILVER ]
 AS OLD METALS.
Unique Shop Opened in Fifth Ave. to Save Gold
 From Leaving Country.

New York, May 28-A new Fifth avenue shop unlike any other was opened yesterday in the Winfield Building, at Fortieth street. It buys old gold, silver, platinum and by process of alchemy which is every body's secret transmutes the metal into guns, uniforms, airplanes, de- stroyers-all the paraphernalia and implements of victory. Q
 It 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 To this shop one may take ware that is out of date or superfluous or cumber- some, or has been idling in safe de- posit box and costing the owner money.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 hoarded possessions and at the same stroke turn them into Savings stamps that the force of women and apprais- CTS who are running the shop in the name of the United States will have to be enlarged today. More custom CTS appeared than could be taken care of. They carried boxes and bundles containing articles ranging from a silver collar button, which brought 25 cents, to a gold mesh bag, in re- turn for which the owner received $125 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 ir 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
 
 States. She wanted nothing in ex change; this was gift.
 Now the Metal Market is not 1T the habit of accepting such priceless items as wedding rings. Mrs. Deant tried to dissuade the German woman from her purpose, but could not Then Mrs. Deane explained that tht committee was not accepting gifts but that if the wedding ring had tt be accepted it must be paid for, at it bullion value, in War Savings Stamps
 'fVery we'll" the German woman said. "But don't give me the stamps Give them to the Red Cross"
 So one dollars worth of thrif 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 tn, best possible use of it, whereupol the women of the committee looked at one another rather mistily and re stunned their work.
 Gov. Whitman sent down from Al bany a tiny individual silver coffe pot. It was the first article bough when the market opened at 1 D. m and the governors stock of Fedora securities is increased by $3 worth 0 thrift stamps. Martin Vogel, Assist ant Treasurer of the United States in charge of the New York Sub-Treas ury, was on hand with V. M Bowie superintendent of the Assay Office
 MT. VogeI talked to the committe and visitors, telling them how badl the government needed bullion. H ' said so serious was the shortage o silver that 87,000,000 silver dollar were being melted into bullion to b used in transactions with nation that have the silver standard, inc1ud ing India. Every bit of metal turn , ed into the War Savings Metal Mar ket keeps its value in gold from be 7 ing sent out of the country. MI l Vogef explained
 $ At long counter sat those who ha t come with metal, waiting to have 5 appraised. With three sets of jew eller's scales, for gold, silver and plat l mum, an expert from the store of E 3 M. Cattle & Co. weighed the ware ] while MT. Cattle sat in another COT ] ner and passed final judgment O 7 values. In the weeks to come me from Gorham's, Tiffany's and Crich ] ton Bros.'s will contribute their ser l vices as E. M. Cattle & Co. did yes ] terday.