Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-07-16
BiSOn In Chicago.
From the Chicago Tribune.

of buffalo dimes may be seen passing through
the streets of Chicago, and shipped hence for
all points East aud for Europe. Few people
know whence they come, whittier they go. or
for what uses they are destined Yet they
form not uncomfortable item of the infant
commerce of the great plains Of the West
It's estimated that some 100000 buffalo
were shot last year (up to the end of the year,
For some years previously the supply OF skins
had been small very little more, in fact, than
those Of animals slaughtered by Indians and
white hunters for subsistence. The price was
therefore remuncrative, ranging from 81 to 80
for COW skin, and st to 81 for a bull skin
Many reasons contributed to an Increased sup
ply. Hunters found it profitable to kill the
animals as means Of livelihood at these prices;
the herds, confined by railroads to compare
lively small ranging ground, became easier OF
access, aud the demand was at all times greater
than the supply. Hence buffalo hunting be-
came pursuit Of considerable value, and hunt:
ers formed parties, or Hunted companies, ana
went forth IN regular hunting expeditions OF
much greater magnitude than had ever been
conceived before. Their successes became the
theme of the new towns thar began to dot and
fringe the plains more hunters joined IN the
enterprise, and
The NORk Ot SlaItH Eht-Nh DIfr.Ai'
for the sake of their skins became an establish
| cd business. The readers are familiar with the
llaint that came from the plains over the wires
last spring Of the frightiu destruction that had
been accomplished, and the demand that was
made on Congress to pass law prohibiting the
killing Of buffalo s, except at stated seasons and
| under REGULATE n. The fact that over two
hundred thousand animals were sacrificed in
Iva, h.. NJ
money as their skins produced, created no little
excitement and Indignation in the cities Of the
plains, aud in the hide markets of this country
and 10 Europe it necessarily led TO the cheap
ening of the article; and at present the hide
| that The hunter could have obtained 50 for a
| year ago he would be glad to sell at 81. 80.
| The markets everywhere are gIutted, and it
will be some months, at least until the fall be-.
| fore the stocks on hand are worked off
| Several European governments. taking adj
vantage Of the low price of these skins, are
manufacturing them into knapsacks for soldiers.
They are largely used in the French and Bel
glan armies, and army contractors everywhere
are large buyers for the purpose Of making
them up into all kinds Of rcgimental material,
such as straps, cords, harness, &c. They are
used in this country principally for making a
cheap sort of boot and for horse collars; but
their introduction in connection with machine
ry and general workshops is only matter of
time The tanned skin is said to turn out in.
terior leather 10 consequence Of its porous char
acter, but dealers who profess to know, say that
the fault is not with the hide, but with the
hunters and tanners. The hunters sometimes
kill the buffalo at a season when his hide is al
most worthless for manufacturing purposes
and make no attempt at preparing or even
preserving 1t.
ALL THAI IS DONE AS A GENERAL RULE,
is to wash and dry the blood wet skin, and in
that state it is brought to the nearest railroad
station and shipped off by the agent to Chicago
and elsewhere. The tanners, as a rule, have
never experimental Oh buffalo hides. and they
follow the same treatment as for the farm bull
and cow There is no doubt whatever that buff
falo skins can be used for almost all purposes
to which dressed leather is applied, and that
improvements can and will be made in their
preparation that must lead to their becoming q
valuable article of commerce
Most of the skins shipped to Chicago are con-
signed to Wolfe & Epstein, Kinzie street, aud
by them forwarded to their customers Fast and
in Europe. They come chiefly from Sergeant,
station on the Kansas Pacific railroad. The
remainder of the hides arc principally handled
at Lcavcuworth. Kansas, and are sent thence
by LEGAL dealers to the different markets. The
ordinary weight Of dried cowskin is from
eighteen to twenty pounds, and OF dried bull-
skin forty to fifty pounds OF course the price
varies. but it averages go 50 for bullskin aud
$3.50 for cowskin, delivered IN Chicago. After
costs of shipment and transport commission,
and all expenses of handling have been taken
out, the hunter may calculate Oh an average OF
about one dollar per skin.
From the shelves of the modern library ideas
have been gathered respecting the killing of
buffalo that are totally at variance with the
facts. The hunter. a symmetrical being, gen
orally 10 loose cut undressed deerskln logging
and tunic, adorned with dyed quilts, and firing
ed, leaps on his painting steed and chases the
terrified bison many long mile, and at con.
venient distance, with his strong right arm,
throws the sinuous lasso, bringing the. monster
to the earth iu the midst OF It's wild career.
Calmly be takes unerring aim with his goodly
backwoods rifle, and lodges ~
THE LEADEN MESSENGER OF DEATH
10 the brain of the lassoed brute. Leaping
lightly from his steed, the hunter them adVan-
ces cautiously, knife 10 hand and the biSons
heart has scarcely ceased to beat ere the luscl-
Gus steak is on the glowing COAL And so forth
hung up on tree, or buried to be come for at
another time, and the animal duly hayed and
its skin set cut to dry in the sun. For gilt
edge young gentleman fond of romance, who
had the good luck to find terrified bouDdidg
bison out all alone, with his boots and horns
safely locked up at home, and his teeth 10 hi,
waiscoat pocket, that library picture will do
we'll enough; but the reality is sometimes
rather grim affair. The bison run In heards of
from two to four thousand head, and when
they are alarmed they scamper off, and, when
they scamper off God help the hunter or score
of hunters who are luckless enough to stand in
their way A hundred hunters would be swept
off the earth into atoms as certainly as though
they were to oppose with their bodies a loco
motive engine The bold hunters do not chase
the bounding bison in that way. They have
learned wisdom and tricks since they shot bison
for the eastern markets. They adopt all kinds
of strtagems, the most successful of which is
the digging of little pits, or hiding in natural
holes, where the buffalo are sure to pass Here