Evening star., 1905-11-11
WHY IVORY Is EXPENSIVE.
Tusk Buyers in This Country on the
Jump for Bargains.

From the jewelers. Weekly.
1t is curious fact that notwithstanding
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
about 30 per cent over the prices charged
a few years ago.
The causes which have led to this advance
in price are very 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.
For the cause we must look to the heart of
Africa, where spirit of genuine CONNER
cialism is manifesting itself among the ma
tives. Their wealth is in ivory, and they
have learned to value 1t much Indeed
the wealth Of leading men among the ma
tives was once commonly counted in tusks
They would say Of dusky capitalist of
this kind that he was worth many
tusks, just as one in this country would
say that man is worth SO many dollars.
OF course, that was natural phase in the
development of primitive people. The
red man estimated his riches in wampum,
and the La aplander in furs. They often
would part with their possessions for few
beads or trinkets. They did not know the
value of dollar. Certainly it can no long
they do not know the value Of money. They
have learned. Thus it comes that the
heather in his blindness" is not so blind
as has been supposed
Increased transportation facilities and tel
egraphic communication have brought Af-
rica into closer touch with the rest of the
world. 1t 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, 1t is far cry from Africa to
the United States, and yet there is a very
good market for ivory in this country Alert
and enterprising buyers are always on the
lookout for opportunities to pick UP good
tuSks. If 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 it 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 manu-
facture is a delicate one, requiring con-
siderable skill. A tusk weighing say from
table, on which 1T is sawed into plates Dur
ing this stage the tusk has to be kept
thoroughly wet down to prevent burning.
ivory is very hard and a 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 are to be per-
fected later on. In saving out these shapes
care has to be taken to avoid spots or bem-
ishes in the ivory. and at the same time
guard against wasting valuable material.
To be able to do this good judgment and
discrimination is one test of a good work
man 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 a Select sort of craft, into which
but few are initiated.