The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-03-27
STATE GEOLOGICAL BUREAU.
From Ex-senator Leeper, Conapli-
mentary to the Old aud the New
Incumbent.
South Bend Times

AHaay& aAto a. Au1sAAt.AAtusk l4tT l1a Nr0-
fcient amusement OF DR.. John 20 lett. mas
GROWN TO be one of the fines; in tie West IL en-
braces among its treasures a fine collection from
the coal MEASURES OF indisna: thousands uoon
thousands of fossils from the lowest order OF snell-
feb 10 the highest grade OF mammals. numerous
insects. beetles. ~crayfish. birds and other species
belonging 20 natural history. a number Of c-suia
OF the mysterious m0unG-DuudeTs, PRINT We
trinkets. tools and implements. In boue. shell.
copper. stone and pottery, OF almost every de-
~cription. design. and finish: IN short, a rare
museum OF specimens in the line OF paieontoiOgy,
archaeology ano other Kindred branches
in the matter Of primitive art, the display is
especially me, including such articles As beads.
WHISTLES. cups ana vessels OF various kids. stone
axes. ctisels, mortsTs. pestles. feshers. gouges,
banners, AIDES, pipes, emblems. emulets. medi-
cine tubes. shutties. flint arrow aud spear heads,
knives. surapeIs, hoes, etc with a most artistic
and eiaborately wrought stone pipe, made by tue
Among the miscellaneous curiosities is a section
OF a large To0t which had Deen exhumsi from
the glacial dIih. somewhere IL this state. at A
Cepth of $50 feet below the present surface. The
wood presept Is deepkcRrs and gashes cut by the
crashing, grinding iceflOeS in the remote ages
winter still prevailed in Indiana
samples of the Indiana building stone are also
here on exhibition. The Doctor is quite lavish in
his presses of this stone, and through the state
ments in bis published sSepOrts respecting its SUI
DeriOr qualify, a heavy demand has been created
for u both within and without the State. He has
subjected the material 10 The most rigid and ex-
hausliye tests, aud does not hesitate TO say that
there IN no better or more durable stone for spchi-
teCturai purposes in the world Is has an elastic
iiy thae viii bear the heaviest strain OF cOltrac-
uOn and expansion 10 which it would be exposed
in the seSerest climates. The bars on exhibition
are perhaps an inch and a half square and two 10
fue feet long. They have the ring Of steel, which
indicates that the mateTisi IS even in structure.
ana free from flaws or defects OF any sort.
IfOuuo The Doctor. as l always had found him
before, genial and pains-taking IN explaining tle
plan and purposes of the institution, and the
nsture ard Significance of the specimens which
are there packed ia boxes. drawers. and cases COW
vering the walls, in such endless prOfnsSiOn as
almost TO tire and gorge the sight. At first blush
you wonder at the motive or The taste which had
SpuTTed &c the long and dlligent labor that this
display must have cost; but the Doctor soon re
leVes you of your suspense. The whole subject
is as familiar 10 him as \, b, c. The fossils are ar
ranged in groups IN their natural order, aud at
MS skiIlful touch, they all become instinct
from oae group 10 another explaining
their historic records. you imagine you almost
see passing in review before you that vast process
sion OF organic and inorganic life of the long
pest, as il sweeps away back toward the morning
of the world.
In archaeology the Doctor is especially felicIto Us
IN mis- historic deductions. Beginning at one end
OF a shelf. and passing from one group of speci-
mems 10 another, as they represent successive
grades Ct human development. he frames from
their stories q continuous history from the fig-leaf
to the pyramids. The dats, it IS true. are some.
what meager; but it is astonishing how much
these mute representatives of the lost ages will
reveal when their stories are Interpreted By a
master arch9ologist.
But. it may be asked, OF what practical avail is
al tbis2 Well, 1t at least fills an aching void"
I'VE are so made" as Max Muller phases IL, that
for everything that comes before Us we hsva to
pcstulate q cause and a beginning We, there
fore, ~postulats 4 cause and q beginning for man.
The ethnologist is rot concerned with the irst
Cause Of man, but be eau not resist the craving OF
the mind 10 know at least The beginning OF man. ."
Sir John Lubbock gives the subject a mora praci.
cal turn. He tells us that by studying the char
ACter of the primitive races we may see illustrated
much Of what Is passing among ourselves, many
customs which have, evidently. no relation 10 the
present. and even some ideas which are rooted in
our minds, as fossils are imbedded IN the SOL.
the mist which separates the present from the fu-
ture. At any rate. every cIrermstauae or devotion.
nent that will tend to throw light upon tne early
life Of mankind should be hailed as welcome con-
tributi0ns to humsn KNOWLEDGE.
The published reports OF DR.. C0llett, while in
charge Of this department. are esteemed as valu-
able accessiOns to science, are much in request,
and the earlier editions are said already 10 be ouH
OF print. These works, with those OF his prede-
ceSsor. DR.. Cox, have done much toward calling
attention to the rich and varied resources OF the
State. as well as toward stimulating their develop.
" 81 Seems unrOrtulAte that the State is to be de.
Driyed Of the services of so able and experienced
an officer as DIR. Collett. But he is well along in
years, is understood to be quite wealthy. and is
doubtless glad to be relieved from the laOOrious
duties OF the bureau. Hon. Maurice Thompson.
his successor, will doubtless also fill the place
with credit to himself and benefit to the State.
What be lacks in years and in experience for he
is yet a comparatively young man-he will prob
ably make up in push and application. and soOl
arrive at equal proficiency. ID. L LsEPER.