The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-25
NEW THINGS IN LEATHER.
Hides of All Sorts OF Queer Animals
Are Now Being Used.

are NOW OSeOs
From the St. Louis Globe Democrat.
New things in leather form some of the
novelties of the season, and the manufac-
turers of leather goods are making great
exertions to obtain the skins Of animals
heretofore not utilized for that purpose.
Some of the most striking articles in the
coming market are made from the skins
of the African elephant and rhinoceros.
The rough, thick skin of these animals
makes excellent leather and when stretch
ed over steel frames they make the
strongest sort of dress-suit cases, travel
ing bags and trunks. The vast number
Of elephants killed in Africa for their ivory
tusks has made elephant leather compare
lively cheap.
Since the rapid decrease in the number
of alligators in Florida began a few years
ago, the price Of alligator hide or leather
has advanced sharply; but now there is to
be a revival of the industry Mexican al
ligators are plentiful, and their skins are
being brought into the country in great
quantities. The Mexican variety of alli-
gator has a hide scored more deeply than
that of the Florida saurian, and just at
present it is more popular. The attempt
to raise alligators in the South may re-
suit in the re-establishment of an industry
that was very profitable few years ago.
Kangaroo leather is more popular than
ever, and manufacturers can obtain some
striking effects with this hide that nothing
else can equal. There are some 5000 kan
CARGO skins received in Newark, N. j., ev-
cry week, and they are all tanned and
made up into shoes, trunks, bags, valises
or pocketbooks. These hides come direct
from Australia and New Zealand, where
the hunters are so active that the animals
are threatened with extinction. Kanga-
roo steaks and roasts are important arti-
cles of diet in Australia; but the hides OF
the animals are all shipped to this eoun-
try. popularity about the kangaroo
trade is that Americans control 1t almost
entirely. and London and Paris shoe man
ufacturers buy their stock Of kangaroo
leather directly from Newark. Prominent
buyers from Germany. Greece, Spain and
Australia have to do the same.
The reason for this is that an American
first established the industry of tanning
the hides for leather, and he has so mo-
nopolized the market that no rival coz
Germ has attempted to compete With him.
The hunters bring the skins of the kanga-
roos to the coast, and the agents of the
newark cOucGiIl Duy lllNii a. OiNS, Jul
bidding all others. The hunter receives
about 70 cents n pound for the skins, ana
some Of them make $1,000 to 5000 a year.
The skins of all of the twenty varieties
Of kangaroos are imported here, and tan
ned for The market.
The gradual decrease in the number of
wild animals suitable for the leather mer-
chants purpose has had the effect of es-
Ia blishing several experiment farms for
their skins. In the last two years ca.
skins have been utilized by the maaufac-
turers Of leather goods The skins OF
these animals arc tanned, and then glued
to wooden boxes, trunks and other ardcies
of use The effect is decidedly novel ana
attractive. This has increased the demand
for cat skins, and several farms have been
established where cats are raised at a
good profit.
The same Is true of dogs. The wild
mongrel of the streets IS no longer q use
less and worthless arirnal. His skin when
properly tanned will make just as good
leather as the hgh-born pedgreed poodle.
Two or three dog farms are reported in
different sections Of the country where all
worthless ours are made welcome until
slaughtering time. II does not cost mucn
to keep these animals on farm, for they
are fed on the carcasses Of their dcad
mates. Dog meat cooked TO a nice brown
is relished by the CANNES.
The demand for novelties ia leather for
book-bindIng, card-cases, purses, and for