The Evening dispatch. [volume] (Provo, City, Utah) 1891-1895, 1895-04-08
SKELETON MARKET.
UNCLE SAM is THE CHAMPION BONE
COLLECTOR OF THE WORLD.

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ket Value of Skeletons.
Funk island-that is, part Of it.
aas been reproduced for exhibition as
che National museum at Washington
It 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
aow by a skeleton, worth $500, stand
ing by heap of bird remains such as
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 OK
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 articulate6
skeleton of a man for $40 or Of woman
for $50-sex makes some difference IN
the price-whereas the skeleton of
gorilla costs $500, of a whale $3.50, Of
an elephant $500, Of lion SO, of
horse $40, Of a cat $12 and of python
$40.
The bones of a human being are near
" one-quarter water during the life OK
the individual. They are chiefly COM
posed of phosphate of lime, but contain
q coed deal Of animal matter and other
elements. In the skeleton of man are
nearly four pounds & che metal cat
ctum, which is many times more valu'
able than gold, being worth $500 an
ounce. THIS in the osseous framework OF
the average tramp may be found ma
terial with a market value of about
e18,000 If it could be separated
It is only in bones that phosphate Of
lime is found in anything nike a pure
state. Everybody knows the value Of
that material as fertilizer, but = 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
Omitted 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 thas
30, 900 individuals were represented n
she lot.
This would not be considered 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 slide, which contain
mummies of cats, hawks, ibises anG
now and then snakes and small oroco.
dies Mummies are recognized com.
nlercial article in that country today.
For long time locomotives were run
between Cairo and Sue3 with no other
fuel. Corpses of royal personages 5000
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 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 midocean. She
was worth $40. 900, including Ter
freight. The bones had been collected
In deserts snd cemeteries Of Egypt. The
preparation Of human skeletons for Diar-
keS is quite an industry. The chief cen
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 bodies
from public institutions, most of them
being those Of paupers and criminals
In the United States the existing laws
would not permit tho establishment Of
factory for bleaching and preparing
human skeletons. The only sort of
skeleton produced here is of the family
type, which is kept in the closet
To supply the demand in this country
bout l, 500 skeletons are imported an.
hually. 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 crossbunea
for only $40 But if you want some
thing reall- fancy in the way of skull
Tou must pay $40. It is worth ths
money, however, being beautifully dis
articulated, so that each particular bone
may be studied separately, including
even the little bones Of the ear.
You can buy very good skeleton
for $40 A plain skull costs
only Sc. By students of obstetrics
there is a special demand for the pelvis,
which CONES at 81. Clubs organized to
defy superstitious beliefs affect the use
of skulls for drinking cups, and young
men who are studying for the medical
profession indulge CHASTITY humor by
similar reoeptaoles to hold
tobacco. The demand for human bones
always exceeds the supply. New York
World.
On Dec. last, the Princess of Wales
celebrated her fiftieth birthday. Half
century seems q formidable number OF
years for beautiful woman to have to
to, and in the case of the
princess the fact seems incredible. sha