Arizona citizen., 1878-05-17
scienttacally Considered

AEizOua ScAentincaiIy Considered d
 The Smithsonian Institution and Az ricultural Department are endeavorine to collect information from this Terri
 tory; the latter. in addition to its con stant want of information regarding the cultivated products of the soil, is now asking for samples of wild hemp which grows so plentifully on the Col. .orado bottom, and the former is seek. ing facts regarding the interesting part Eighty-six questions are asked by the eminent Professor Henry of the Smith sonian, and as a preface to these ques tions, he says:
 For more than a quarter of a cen tury the Smithsonian Institution has been engaged in researches concerning the antiquities of America. As the result of its efforts many important memoirs have been prepared, and pub lished in its Annual Reports and in the Contributions to Knowledge; and the National Museum, in charge of the Institution, has become the depository of the largest and most valuahlr col lection of American aboriginal relics in the world.
 "In continuation of previous effort in the same direction, the Institution contemplates the publication of an ex- haustive work on American Arch@olO- gy, with numerous illustration. This will be accompanied by a series of maps, exhibiting by appropriate signs and colors the localities and dIstinc- tive characteristics of ancient mounds and earthworks; shell-heaps; cave and cliff dwellings; masonry; sculptured slabs or carved images; inscriptions and rock paintings, graves and ceme- teries; aboriginal quarries and salt works; caches or deposits of objects in large quantities; workshops or places of ancient aboriginal industry; an- cient roads or trails; and reservoirs and aqueducts.
 "To this end the Institution desires to collect from every available source, whatever is now known, or can be as certain by special investigation of the antiquities of North America; and 1t invites the cooperation of all into whose hands this circular may fall"
 After a somewhat lengthy and min ute set of directions of how to explore and report upon old ruins and other subjects named, the circular concludes:
 "In addition to original records and descriptions concerning the objects enumerated above, the Smithsonian Institution desires to obtain copies of all books, memoirs, pamphlets, eX- tracts from periodicals and newspaper clippings having any relation whatev- CT to American archaeology. It also desires to be informed of the locality of all collections of American antiqui- ties, however small, whether in pri- vate hands or in public museums. Spe- cial information concerning these col lections, the number and character of the most perfect and choice specimens, together with photographs, tracings, or other drawings of the same, will also be valuable, and may enable the Institution 10 publish a directory of all the archaeological collections in the United States.
 In conclusion, the Smithsonian h. stitution respectfully and urgently in vites contributions of specimens of ab- original art and antiquities from all sources and from every part of the country, 10 be placed in the National Museum at Washington, and presery- ed permanently in fire-proof build ing under careful supervision. The object in view is not merely to possess every variety of article, but also to as certain the geographical distribution of each form. In this manner, impor- tant information may be obtained as to. the migrations and commerce of the ancient races.
 All specimens contributed will bel duly accredited to the donor in the re- ports of the Institution, in the propOs ed work on American Archaeology, and on the labels of the specimens; sol that wherever the object may be, the source whence derived will be known. Instructions will be given by the h. stitution, on application, as to the best method and route of transmission of such collections, the freight on which will be paid on receipt in Washington.I