Evening star., 1905-11-04
KNOW IvoRY'S VALUE.
African Natives Increased knowledge
Enhances It's Price.
From the Chicago Chronicle.

From the Chicago Chronicle.
1t is curious fact that notwiths tanding
the marked advance in the price of ivory
in recent years the volume of sales has not
diminished. but has actually increased
Tusks have been selling in the markets of
London and Antwerp at an advance OF 80
per cent over the prices charged a few
years ago.
The causes which have led to this ad-
vance in price are interesting. 1t is not due
to any artificial manipulation of the mar
kets in the great centers nor is IT due to
Increased demand or scarcity of elephants
r'or the cause the inquirer must look 10 the
heart of Africa, where spirit of genuin
commercialism is manifesting itself amonl.
the natives.
Their wealth is in ivory and they have
learned to value IL as such Indeed. The
wealth of leading men among the natives
was once commonly counted in tusks. They
would say of a dusky capitalist of this kind
that he was worth so many tusks, just as
one in this country would say that a man
is worth so many dollars.
or course that was a natural phase in the
development of primitive people. The
red man estimated his riches In warnpum
and the Laplander in furs. They oftea
would part with their possessions for few
beads or trinkets. They did not know the
value of a dollar. Certainly il can no
longer be said of the natives of Africa that
they do not know the value of money. They
have learned. Thus 1t comes that the
heather in his blindness is not so blind
as has been supposed.
Increased transportation facilities ard
telegraphic communication have brought
Africa into closer touch with the rest of
the world II is said that a native may be
working 1000 miles in the Interior, and yet
he can quote you the cash value of tusks
IN the Antwerp or London market.
OF course IL is far cry from Africa to the
United States and yet there is a good market
for ivory in this country. Alert and enter
prising buyers always on the lookout
for opportunities to pick UP good tusks II
Bostock or Barnum & Bailey ever chance to
have an elephant die on their hands in this
country 1t is not dead loss to them by
any means 1t is likely that an energetic
buyer of ivory will be bidding for II before
the carcass is cold.
American manufacturers confine them
selves mainly. though not exclusively. to
such workings of ivory as are appropriate
for toilet goods. The process of manufac-
cure Is delicate one, requiring consider
able skill. A tusk weighing, say, from -
10 125 pounds is bolted to a moving table,
which II IS sawed into plates. During
this stage the tusk has to be kept thor
oughly wet down to prevent burning, as
ivory is very hard and good deal of heat
is generated by the friction.
From these plates or fiat pieces various
rough shapes are sawed out. according TO
the forms or designs which to be per
fected later on In saving out these shapes
care has TO be taken to avoid spots or blem-
ishes in the ivory, and at the same time
guard against wasting valuable material.
To be able to do this with good judgment
and discrimination is one test of a good
workman in ivory. and the number of men
who are competent to do this kind OF work
Is very limited. Indeed, ivory working
seems to be select sort of craft. into
, which but few are initiated.