Show ASSAY OFFICE CHARGES LOWERED director of the mint JL R T baker has instructed ted charles gammon assayer in charge of the salt lake U S assay office to eliminate the assaying and stamping charge on gold and silver bullion after jan 1 1919 this charge in the past has been one eighth of one per cent of the gross value of the bullion this order places the local assay office on an equal purchasing basis with the denver and san sail francisco mints large jarge producers of gold and silver bullion have had a tendency to ship to these mints because this charge was not imposed by them and the saving thereby was more than offset by the long distance express charge and insurance they incurred bullion producers will be by this change encouraged to send gold to the nearest assay office in preference to a mint mr gammon has been further instructed that the parting and refining charges on bullion containing more silver than gold will be reduced fifty per cent F for or some time past as a stimulation to goli gold mining the producers have asked that the mint bureau lower the charges on bullion deposits which at last has been granted |