The Evening dispatch. [volume] (Provo, City, Utah) 1891-1895, 1894-11-01
SKELETON MARKET.
UNCLE SAM is THE CHAMPION Bona
COLLECTOR OF THE WORLD.

Funk island-that is, part of it.
aas been reproduced for exhibition at
che National museum at Washington.
1t was on that lonely rock, 80 miles of
the coast of Newfoundland, that the
now extinct great aux had its principal
roost. Fifty years ago the last individual
of the species persisted. tits represented
now by skeleton, worth 5000, stand
ing by heap of bird remains such az
chiefly compose the surface soil of Funk
island, while alongside is an egg of the
fowl, valued at 81, 500, together with
the inner skin of another egg. The Ms
tional museum possesses nearly all o.
the great aux bones in existence. They
are the most costly bones in the world
The finest collection of skeletons in
the world is also stored at the National
museum. They run upward from the
lowest fishes, through the reptiles and
birds, to man. Human bones are much
cheaper than those of many other ami
mails. One can buy nicely articulated
skeleton of man for $40 or of woman
for $50-sex makes some difference ip
the price-whereas the skeleton of a
gorilla costs $500, of whale $3.50, Of
an elephant $500, Of lion SO, of a
horse $40, Of a cat $12 and of a python
s75.
The bones of human being are near
ly one-quarter water during the life of
the individual They are chiefly COM
posed of phosphate of lime, but contain
q good deal Of animal matter and other
elements. In the skeleton of man are
nearly four pounds of the metal cal
cium, which is many times more valu-
able than gold, being worth $500 an
ounce. Thus in the osseous framework of
the average tramp may be found ma
terial with a market value of about
SIS, 900, if it could be separated.
1t is only in bones that phosphate Of
lime is found in anything like pure
state. Everybody knows the value OF
that material as fertilizer, but it is
only recently that human skeletons
/, have been imported into this country to
grow crops with. Not long ago ship
ment was made from Mexico to the
United States of 10 carloads of human
bones, said to have been obtained from
ancient mounds in southern Mexico,
but more probably gathered from vari-
GUS old and abandoned cemeteries. AS
these remains were fragments of unas-
sorted skeletons, it was estimated that
30, 600 individuals were represented in
the lot
This would not be considered a novel
ty in Europe. Years ago English farm
ers used human bones to some extent to
fertilize their land. The battlefield Of
Waterloo was for time the base Of sup
plies, and this was supplemented by
cargoes Of mummies from Egypt ground
to fine powder.
In ancient Egyptian tombs are found
great numbers of copper boxes, opening
at one end by a slide, which contain
mummies Of cats, hawks, ibises and
now and then snakes and small croco'
dies Mummies are recognized com
mercial article in that country today.
For long time locomotives were run
| between Cairo and Suez with no other
fuel Corpses of royal personages 8, 0oO
years old and upward fetch high prices,
A year ago the Austrian bark Villa
was deserted by her crew. Later she
was picked up as derelict of Cape
Hatteras. Her cargo was found to con.
sist in large part of bones, and of these
one-fourth were human. The rest was
composed mainly of the bones of horses
and cattle. In one corner of her hold
was a great heap of human skulls No
body knows to this day why the crew
deserted the vessel in midocean. She
was worth $40, including lei
freight The bones had been collected
In deserts md cemeteries of Egypt. The
preparation Of human skeletons for ptar
ket is quite an industry. The chief ecu
ter for this branch of commercial activ
ity is Paris, where three concerns are
engaged in the business on a considerable
scale. They obtain the requisite supplies
of raw material in the shape of bodie:
from public institutions, most of then
being those of paupers and criminals
In the United States the existing law
would not permit the establishment Of
q factory for bleaching and preparing
human skeletons The only sort o.
skeleton produced here is of the family
type, which is kept in the closet.
To supply the demand in this country
about 1, 500. skeletons are imported an
nually. This reckoning does not include
minor parts, such as skulls and thigh
bones. These are in great request by Sc
cret societies, being absolutely indis
pensable for initiatory ceremonies. One
may purchase Uranium and crossbunes
for only SO. But if you want some
thing really fancy in the way of skull
you must pay $40. 1t is worth TIT
money, however, being beautifully dis
articulated, so that each particular Don'
may be studied separately, including
even the little bones of the ear.
You can buy very good skeleto,
complete for $40 A plain skull cost
only Sc. By students of obstetric
there is a special demand for the pelvis
which cones at 81. Clubs organized t,
defy superstitious beliefs affect the us
of skulls for drinking cups, and young
men who are studying fol- the medica
profession indulge CHASTITY humor b.
employing similar receptaoles to holc
tobacco. The demand for human bone
always exceeds the supply. New Yorl
, World
William a Hart of 1917 Waln4
street, who has travelled in nearly ever
country Of the world, says that he nc
where experienced such extreme cold a
in the interior of Labrador. To illus
trate the fearful frigidity to minds &C
customed to Philadelphia mild ten
perature Mr.. Hart says that before milk
! ing the reindeer the milkmaid place
ra;ono Of CITING. IN, tl,1, r,nil nlloxrri,,