Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1895-01-25

Funk island-that is, part of it.
lils been reproduced for exhibition al
tho National museum at Washington.
iG 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 perished. 1t is represented
row by a skeleton, worth $500, stand
ing by a heap Of bird remains such az
chiefly compose the surface soil of Funk
island, while alongside is an egg of the
iowl, valued at 81, 500, together with
the inner skin of another egg. The Ma
t1onal museum possesses nearly all OF
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 a nicely articulated
skeleton OF man for $40 or of woman
for $5O-sex makes some difference in
the price-whereas the skeleton of a
gorilla costs $500, of a whale $3.50, of
an elephant $400, of lion S75, of a
horse $40, Of a cat $12 and Of python
$75.
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
| a 0nO6 6noI nf oniY,,o1
| 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 market value of about
$18, 900, if it could be separated
1t is only in bones that phosphate of
lime is found in anything like a pure
state. Everybody knows the value of
that material as a 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
90, 900 individuals were represented in
the lot
This would not be considered q novel
ty in Europe Years ago English farm,
ers used human bones to some extent to
tertilize their land. The battlefield of
Waterloo was for time the base of sup
>lies, 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 slide, which contain
mummies Of cats, hawks, ibises and
now and then snakes and small croco-
diles. Mummies are recognized COM
mercial article in that country today
For a long time locomotives We're run
between Cairo and Suez with no other
fuel Corpses of royal personages 3, 900
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 a derelict off 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 midoeean. She
was worth $40, 900, including her
freight. The bones had been collected |
in deserts and cemeteries of Egypt, The
preparation of human skeletons for mar
ket is quite an industry. The chief CEN
ter for this branch Of commercial actiY- |
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 bodies |
from public institutions, most OF them
being those Of paupers and criminals. |
In the United States the existing laws
would not permit the establishment Of
a factory for bleaching and preparing |
human skeletons The only sort Of
skeleton produced here is Of tho family
type, which is kept in the closet
10 supply tho demand In this country
about /, 800 skeletons are imported an
nually This reckoning docs not include
minor parts, such as skulls and thigh
bonas These arc in great request by se-
crot societies, being absolutely indis
pensable for iDitiatoFy ceremonies ono
may purchase q Uranium and oroasbones
for only $40 Rut II you want spno-
thing really fancy in tho way of . skull
you must pay $40 Il 10 worth tho
money, however being beautifully dis
30 that naol particular bQAe
may he studied separately, including
syan tho lille bQnes ~ tho eaI
You ean huy YfIy good skeleton
foF $40. plain skull costs
only 90 by studout ~ obstetrics
tAlre Is speoial demand fog lhe pplFis
which comes IA a. Clubs organized a.
dpiy supegstilious hplipfs Aileei lhe pse
NJ skulls fQr dTlpkipR pupal sna Young
mln who age studying fpf lhe meileal
"a .rII.aIIa I . I