Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-23
KNOW THE VALUE OF IVORY.
Africans Understanding This Raise
Price in Worlds Markets.

From the Chicago Chronicle.
1t Is a curious fact that Notwithstanding
the marked advance in the price of ivory in
recent years the volume of sales has not d.
miIshed. but has actually increased. Tusks
have been selling in the markets of Lon
don and Antwerp at an advance OF 80 per
cent over the prices charged few years
ago. - }---r .-s--.--. -..i.- ~ ,-..
The causes which have led to this adj
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.
For the cause the inquirer must look to the
heart of Africa, where a spirit OF genuine
ccnsnlercialism Is manifesting itself among
the natives
Their wealth is in ivory and they have
learned to value 1t 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 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
part with their possessions for q few beads
or trinkets They did not know the value
of 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 a native may be
working ] 600 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 good
market for Ivory In this country. Alert and
enterprising buyers are always on the look
out for opportunities to pick up good tusks
II Bostock Barnum & Bailey ever
chance to have an elephant die on their
hands in this country 1t Is not dead loss
energetic buyer of ivory will be bidding for
1t before the carcass Is cold.
American manufacturers conf1ne them
selves mainly. though not exclusively to
such workings of ivory as are appropriate
for toilet goods. The process Of manufac-
ture is a delicate one. requiring considerable
skill. A tusk weighing. say. from seventy
five to 125 pounds, Is bottled to a moving
table. on which 1t IS sawed into plates. Dur
ing this stage the tusk has to be kept thor
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 are to be per-
fected later on. In saving out these shapes
care has to be taken to avoid spots or
biemishes in the ivory. and at the same
time guard against wasting valuable ma
terial. To be able to do this with good
judgment and discrimination Is one test of
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.