Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1919-12-31
COSTLY COAT ONE
WOMAN'S GIFT
Russian Sable Coat Wcrth $50, 900
Was Her 1919 Christmas Pres
ent, Was Garment of
Rare LONELINESS.
Fur INDUSTRY NOW
BIGGEST EVER KNOWN
4 Number of Dealers in Decorah
and Winneshiek County Now
Doing Big Business i'm
FurS.

Fur bearing animals are in the
biggest demand now than any time
before in the history OF the country
and big prices are being paid. There
are a number of dealers here and
, they have handled large number
of various kinds this fall and winter
An American woman, the wife,
sister, mother, or daughter of a
postwar Croesus Cher idenity is
the secret of big Brooklyn furrier)
received on Christmas morning an
SS5, 900 Russian sable coat. 1t was
kind of dolman, garment of rare
loveliness, consisting of so skins
from animals trapped in the interior
of the Burgesin region Of wild Sib-
eria.
This extraordinary price, paid for
a luxury weighing a little more than
five pounds, was at the rate ofS1,-
062 an ounce. The coat was valu-
ed approximately at SO times its
weight in gold. And yet, this Brook
lyn firm, which has trading posts in
Alaska, Russia and other cold and
,, forbidding regions of the world,
says that sables this year are mot
the most expensive furs." An adj
vance of so to 10 percent has been
made in these gifts for the rich
since last spring.
The palm for the highest priced
furs, however, must be awarded to
the finest natural black foxes which,
at present, are bringing $1,000 q
pair enough to make ''set" con-
sisting of scarf or neckpiece and
a m Last year the price was S.
t6vu. Natffaf sfIvsr roSes cont,
next at 1880 to $4,000 a pair ant
it was said that there has been 8
bigger demand for them this winter
! than ever before. The numerous
fox ranches" new industry which
/ sprang from successful breeding
4 cStdDiiSHitlcht ui IiihCC NSu"oiu 10
land, it was stated, had no effect
on the market prices of the wild
pelts.
| J.. w. Argenbright, New York ful
importer with firm nearly cen
tury old, explained that the war haC
helped to make America "the great
est fur producing country in th'
world. both for variety quality an'
dressing" He said that while
there was a duty of so percent OF
manufactured furs and S5 percen
on dressed skins, at present there
+, is no duty on raw pelts enterin:
the United States and this enabled
New York to equal if not surpas
Paris and other European fur cen
ters. Fur prices were as high. HI
said, if not higher, abroad.
i Mr.. Argenbright said the sea OF
ter. of which not more than Is ha'
been marketed throughout the worl'
the past year, is perhaps the rares
fur. 1t is coarser and heavier thai
sable or fox, pelt weighs about L
! pounds and would bring $4,000.
is used for collars. cuffs or capes. Il
color it is a dark brown, tinged wit
silver.
\ The only cheap" furs in the Ne'
York retail market at present,
was said, ara Russian pony AM
Australian coney Cor rabbit) Coat
of these materials. trimmed in beay
: 'er or nutria are selling for from
$500 to $400. A year ago the
brought half the money. The abun
dance of money in America, anothe
dealer pointed out, had stimulated
revival of Hudson Bay and Alask
seals. Coats of this fur which, som
years ago could be purchased TO
$500 to S400, are now bringing IS
80 to $1,000.