Omaha daily bee., 1905-09-16
WHY IVORY is EXPENSIVE
Tusk Buyers in This Country on the
Jump for BarERins-WOrkers I'm
the Material Are Few.

II is a 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 80 per cent over the prices charged
few years ago.
The causes which have lead to this dd-
vance in price are very interesting. 1t is
not due to any artificial manipulation Of
the markets in the great centers, nor is it
due to increased demand or scarcity of ele-
plants. For the cause must look to the
heart Of Africa where a spirit of genuine
commercialism is manifesting itself among
the natives Their wealth is in ivory, and
they have learned to value 1t as such In
deed. 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
man is worth so many dollars OF course,
that was a natural phase in the develop
ment Of a primitive people. The red man
estimated his riches in wampum, and the
Laplander in furs. They often would part
with their possessions for a few beads or
trinkets They did not know the value of
a dollar Certainly 1t 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 and
telegraphic communication have brought
Africa into closer touch with the rest OF
the world. 1t is said that 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 a 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. II Bostock or Barnum & Bailey
ever chance to have an elephant die on their
hands in this country, it 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 confne them
| selves mainly, though not exclusively, to
such workings OF ivory as are appropriate
| for toilet goods. The process of manu-
! facture is delicate one, requiring consid-
cradle skill. A tusk Weighing, say, from
| seventy-fve to 125 pounds is bolted to a
moving table, on which 1t is sawed into
plates. During this stage the tusk has to
be kept thoroughly wet down to prevent
burning, as ivory is very hard and good
deal Of heat is generated by the friction.
From these plates or nat 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 blem-
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-Jewelers' Weekly