"MANUFACTURING" SILVER.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 810, 16 June 1879, Page 2

" MANUFACTURING" SILVER.

A valuable discovery has, it is alleged,, been made by a Dr Thomas Farris m the United States — namely the art of making silver out of cheap materials. This gentleman, it seems, Was employed m the laboratory of tho . lowa Wesleyan University m. 1873 as under teacher^ and while treating of chemical analysis ' before the class one day, his attention was direoted' to the condition of the waste materials, or " washings," m the earthen vessel whore they had remained all night. Various nietals and acids had been used m the illustrations. In emty* ing the vessel he noticed that a metal had been formed from the waste materials which he concluded was platina. This led him carefully to note the ingredients and proportions that had been used hoping to be able to reproduce the same substance. Ho afterwards ascertained that the metal was not platina, but silver j and resolving to keep the information to himself, followed wp his investigations without the . publicity. In continuing his experiments" he would sometimes succeed and othei times he would fail. These experiments continued over a period of some years, and ne has at last been able to perfect the process. Ho has now entored into business arrangements with two gentleman to whom he had confided tho secret of the art, and preparations aro being made for the manufacture of silver on a largo scale. ; The reports of experts who have made assays of the metal produced leave, it is stated, no doubt as to its being the genuine article. In the present condition of financial affairs Dr Farris' " discovery " will hardly bo deemed a boon, except to himself and his collaborateurs.