New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-07-02
as relate to the action of the Democrats in matters
of important legislation and such as Indicate Tue
animus of their course in Congress.
ANCIENT sOAP-sToNE QUARRIEs.
WHAT THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION HAS FOUND
IN VIRGINIA.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE

IBY TELEGRAPH TO THB TRIBUNE.l
WASHINGTON, July 1.-Professor Balrd, Oh
the Smithsonian Institution, is preparing TO send Wlth
days, Of the scientific specialists IN sis em
ploy Virginia to prosecute the archaeological hVes
legations begun under the auspices OF the lnstitu
ton Tie region Of the investigation lies in Amelia
County about fifty miles south OF Richmond, where
there have been discovered Quarres Of soapstone, OF
steatite, which appear to have been worked by the
aboriginal inhabitants of the continent. ExteDslVe
traces have been found Of these ancient quarles OUT
of which were procured the pots and various doesc
vessels used by the aboriglnes of this region grea
number OF specimen articles have been obtained areaoy
and brought 10 Washington. The examinations which
have thus far been made prove that the quarries were
abandoned at least four hundred years there being
found in them vestge of iron or other metal lmpe
nents, while the remains OF the various implements
with which they evidently worked are abundant
forest Of pine and oak has also overgrown the site OF
the ancient excavations, the trees In some instances
being nearly two feet in diameter.
The pots which were taken by the early Indians from
these beds OF steae appear to have been carved with
the bottoms upward and then broken from the EOck Inc
evidences of their having been obtained are nnmer
ous the vessels being found in every stage OF compile
ton the bottoms of the quarries The spot
at which the original excavations were begun has also
been ascertaned and examination OF this and the
subsequent workings the steps of progress In the ART OF
excavation and Of shaping the pots has been made
obvious In the beginning, the excavatOrs appear TO
have employed their ordinary stone axes as Is seen
from the number Of these broken instruments at single
point in the quarry As the traces OF these implements
are found nowhere else In the excavation. 1t is inferred
by Professor Baird and his assistants that this mode OF
auarrying was given up as beng too costly, the
labor Of making a single stone axe TO replace broken
one being in itself the work of years. Later tine pots
seem TO have been Quarricd with flint AIDES fashioned
especially for the purpose out of neghb0rlng mint
ledge The site of this ledge las been found and
numerous AIDES procured from 1t are strewn every
where i'll the quarry. -.----.,-.
In ADDITION to these facts there other interesting
details discovery which will be given Tor puDc
ton after the return OF the present expedition when Is
TO be made for the purpose OF asceraining the full extent
Of the excavations aud for observing more closely the
traces of the ancient people who made them.
Some curious experiments have just been made IN the
Smithsonian Institution with the famous woOruarra
poison used by many savage tribes OF South America
on tne tips OF their arrows. The experiments made
verify the most sensational reports OF travellers with
10 the dCadness OF this poison The poison
was applied to a number Of rats In various
ways, and it was found that the largest rat
died IN less than five minutes, although the
point of the with which the poison was applied
was made TO prick only slightly the skin Of the hind
leg the poison had been dried Tor years.