Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1873-10-31
IFrom the Chicago Tribune /

Ing through the streets OF Chicago,
and shipped hence for all points East
and for Europe. Few people know
whence they come, whittier they go,
or for what uses they are destined; yet
they form not inconsiderable item of
the infant commerce of the great plains
of the West.
1t is estimated that some 100000
buffalo were shot last year (up to the
end of the year). For some years pre-
viously the supply of skins had been
small, very little more, in fact, than
those of animals slaughtered by In
dams and white hunters for subsist-
ence. The price was, therefore, re-
munerative, ranging from 81 to 95 for
a cow skin, and So to 81 for a bull
skin. Many reasons contributed to
an increased supply. Hunters found
it profitable to kill the animals as a
means of livelihood at these prices;
the herds, confined by railroads to a
comparatively small ranging ground,
became easier of access, and the.de-
mand was at all times greater than the
supply. Hence bUfalo-hunting be-
came pursuit of considerable value,
and hunters formed parties, or limited
companies, and went forth in regular
hunting expeditions of much greater
magnitude than had ever been con.
ceived before. Their success became
the theme Of the new towns that be-
gan to dot and fringe the plains, more
hunters joined in the enterprise, and
the work Of Strengthening buffalo for
the sake of their skins became an es-
tablished business. The readers are
familiar with the plant that came
from the plains over the wires last
spring of the frightful destruction that
had been accomplished, and the de-
mand that was made on Congress to
pass a law prohibiting the killing of
buffaloes, except at stated seasons and
under regulations. The fact that more
than two hundred thousand animals
were sacrificed in less than twelve
for so small sum of money
as their skins produced, created no
little excitement and Indignation in the
cities of the plains, and in the hide
markets of this country and Europe
t necessarily led to the cheapening of
The article; and at present the hide
hat the hunter could have obtained
s5 for year ago, he would be glad to
sell at 81 90. The markets everywhere
are glutted, and it will be some months,
1T least until the fall, before the stocks
IN hand are worked off.
Several European Governments,
1aking advantage of the low price of
5hese skins, are manufacturing them
nto knapsacks for soldiers. They are
largely used in the French and Belgian
armies, and army contractors every
where are large buyers for the purpose
of making them up into all kinds of
regimental material, such as straps,
cords, harness, &c. They are used, in
this country, principally for making a
cheap sort of boot, and for horse col
lars; but their introduction in connec-
ton with machinery and general work
shops is only a matter Of time. The
tanned skin is said to turn out but in
ferior leather, in consequence of it's
porous character; but dealers who pro
fess 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 almost valueless for manufact-
uring purposes, and make no attempt
at preparing, or even preserving it.
AL that is done, as 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 agents to Chicago and else
where. The tanners, as rule, have
never experimental on buffalo hides,
and they follow the same treatment as
for the hides of the farm bull and COW.
There is no doubt whatever that buffa-
10 skins can be used for almost all pur-
poses to which dressed leather is APP
piled, and that improvements can and
will be made in their preparation that
must lead to their becoming valuable
article of commerce.
Most of the skins shipped to Chica-
so are consigned to Wolff & Epstein,
Kinzie street, and by them forwarded
to their customers East and in Europe.
They come chiefly from Sargent, sta
ton on the Kansas Pacific Railroad.
The balance of the hides are princi-
pally handled at Leavenworth, Kansas,
and are sent thence by local dealers to
the different markets. The ordinary
weight of a dried cowskin is from eigh-
teen to twenty pounds, and Of dried