Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1883-08-03
Alligator Leather.

n ihA ~ NhiiNll VI PuNhft-ubpkN, tdiu
cases, handbags and other articles mad,
OF peculiar mottled leather was seer
in u Chambers street showcase.
long narrow piece Of the same kind o
leather hung over them. 1t was round
ed At one end and tapered away to O
point at the other. Two ilippers pro
jected from each side of il.
The use Of alligator skins seems to
be increasing, the reporter said to the
proprietor Of the show case.
The increase is astonishing he re-
piled. "Twelye or fifteen Years ago
alligator leather was tanned as curl.
osity. Few articles were made of it.
About four years ago. however. the
manufacture OF alligator leather began
in earnest. First a few shoes were made
of it, and the manufacturers Of such
goods saw there was something in it.
1t is peculiarly beautiful leather.
There are no two skins marked Just
alike, and it follows that no two articles
made of the leather can be alike. Tho
natural color Of the leather is attractive,
aside from the beauty of the markings.
Il finishes soft and flexible. 1t is con-
ceded that Americans tan and finish il
in manner superior to the best work
manship Of the old country. Here is a
pocket-book; American alligator skin
forms the outside; American calfskin
the lining. Any Judge of such goods
will say that il is by all odds the hand
soonest as well rs the best leather Of the
kind in existence. Sixty dollars a doz.
en- for such goods, small as they are, il
a low price.
While the beauty of alligator leather
is its chief characteristics its durability
IS of hardly less Importance These
gripsacks of alligator leather viii out
wear their owners, no matter how
youthful. With these two things in its
favor, it is no wonder that the sale OF
alligator leather is Increasing
Glow many alligators were slaUgh.
tered to satisfy the demand last yearP"
"Not less than half million. .
Glow do you get the skins, and,where
do they come lromgn
"Most Of them come from Florida and
the other Gulf States. The alligators
are shot with rifles, and the negroes
have almost y monopoly of the business.
When an alligator crawls out in the sand
for his dter-dinner sleep he falls a vic
tim. The negro gets from fifty cents to
one dollar apiece for alligators. The
hunt is carried on so vigorously that the
reptiles are beginning to grow scarce.
Laws will have TO be enacted eventually
to protect them during the breeding
season and when Young.
"All sizes from two 20 eighteen feet in
length are now killed. The choice skin
is six feet long. There is as much diff
ference between the six-foot skin as
there is between a calf skin and an OK
hide The skins are packed in lime for
two months to remove the horny scales.
The remaining process is much ike that
for any leather. Il takes four months
10 prepare a skin There is tannery
for alligator skins in Brooklyn"
"Ilas any one developed an imitation
Of alligator leather?r
''The frauds are in using imperfect
skins. No Fine will soften the horns
that have stood the attrition Of red-hoi
sand for half a century. Those skins do
do not wear well between the scales.
There are other impcIfections in the
skins. The demand for colored goods
helps rs ont. however. as the c1loring
matter covers multitude oi imperioc.
tions. When you want an alligator ar.
ticle Of any kind chose the uncolorod
goods, pay fair price. and you will gti
the cheapest a. wen as TIE handsomesi
and best. ~. J. San.