Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1873-03-01
Our University and Archaeology.

l. EDITORS CHRONICLE am glad 10 see
that my communication in your issue oi
the 25th inst, has drawn some attention
to the subject of Archaeology That is
just what is most desired. The extreme
apathy in regard to the subject was some
thing to be deeply deplored by all interest
ed in scientific progress, ,and especially was
it a matter of great concern to those
friends of the University of East Tennes-
see, who were anxious that their beloved
Institution should recognize the rightful
claims Of science to their most earnest
attention. 4Fr -fyV vvHT
And here, in reply to your correspondent
~. g." 1 would cay that we are not will
ling to let these interesting relics pass into
the hands of any party but our own Uni
versity. a 81 =
To her they belong uf right. She is ours,
and has q just claim upon everything of
scientific interest within her domain, and
j S. and every other man should feel that
to her he owes whatever work he may do
in this department.. 1t is only by making
this personal matter and each one de-
termining to labor all in his power for her
advancement that We can build up such
an institution here as we shall be proud of,
and as we ought to do with the facilities at
our disposal.
We have no space to dwell upon the fact
that, if Prof. Bradley had been authorized
TO offer a sum approaching what Mr..
Dunnery offered, those interesting spec
linens would now have been in possession
of the University or that the University
has but few specimens in Natural History,
Zoology or Archaeology that have not been
obtained through the individual labor of
some OF the Professors. These sins of
omission We pass over, accepting as pal
liation the hitherto embarrassed condition
of its finances, and will proceed to show to
Common Sense" how much useful scien-
tific work can be done with but little ad-
ditional expense to the University. ---z
It is understood that Prof. Bradley will
return in few weeks and that it
is likely he will not join the
United States Geological Survey again
next summer AS it is part of the duties
of the University to teach geology, and as
that can, confessedly, best be done in a
practical manner by taking the students
out on O geological survey and letting
them see how things are for themselves
let the senior class each summer under the
charge of the Professor make such sur
vey of the country around Knoxville, for
l0SUauCo Oll IlllS SuINty lCG q CO1CCtiou vi
every thing be made appertaining to the
natural sciences, botany, entomology. ich-
thyology, &c, all to be the property of the
University, but with due credit given to
the collector One or two such surveys
have been made and know they excited
considerable interest among the people.
The expenses of such survey would
be but trifling in comparison to the great
good that would result from it. With an
annual income of So, 900, q small amount
could certainly be spared for so useful and
necessary a work, and it is work that
the Professor is not only willing but anX-
ious to do. ..-
As to the University monopolizing all
the relies, this should be done just SO far
as it is possible. Perhaps Common
Sensen does not know the value of these
mound relics. He is, doubtless, not aware
that, for duplicates of any specimens we
may have, we can obtain in exchange ar.
ticles from the great museums of America
and Europe that any amount of money
could not buy. If Common Sense will
agree to procure the relics, we will guaran-
tee room for their storage.
These things we say in the friendliest
spirit, for we are deeply interested in the
welfare and progress of our University.
Being native to the manor born" we
take local pride in her advancement.
We arc willing to work for her, and when
we learn what other institutions are doing,
we do not like to see what appears to be
an unwillingness'o her part to work for
herself. .}k ? ScIENTIA. :.
February 81, 1873