The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1888-02-24

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the American nations the United
States only excepted, aud they
are vesng With the united States IN this
matter BY sending expeditions 20 Amert
can coasts and TO the interior Of the country
for this purpose The great museums q
London, Paris aud Bsr'in already contain
large and valuable collections OF our an
tiauifes. and the materials Of early
American history are rapidly beng car
RED away 70 other lands. All OF this mat
Ger has great scientific, historic and poru
lar interest. an interest rapidly growing
from year 70 year in America and Europe
alike. The bureau Of ethno'ogy, under
the supervision Of Major Powell,
Is making an organised and systematic
effort 20 collect an PRESERVE those mate
rlals. aud Harvard University Is system
atically collecting the relics Of the mound
builders. The col ections Of European
nations are made irregulariy and 50 care
lcssly that much OF their scientific ard
historic value il lost though popular IN
ferest remains in them as curiositiss.
American nat ions. other than the United
states are doing very little 70 preserve
such records, but are permitting them TO
b rapidly destroyed and lost
AS 10 the fate Of thess relics Of former
peoples. il prompt steps are not taken Tor
their preservation. Major Powell SAID.
s.lhey will soon be lost or destroyed.
In his earlier visits 70 Utah Territory ne
found the ruins Of many ancient pueDioss
built OF stone, and one, two or three
stories high. The sites Of these pueblo:
were along the streams which were USED
by these ancient people TO irrirafe me
lands Of that arid country since ms
10 81
DESTROYED. The materials Of which they
we're erected have been used to build
bonse<. stables. and fences for the present
Inhabitants Many Of the ruins bad
b.en DESTROYED anterior to his first visit
70 the country. salt Lake City is the site
az An old pueblo. aud nearly every town
IN Utah is the site or in the neightorhood
OF an ancient pueblo, the vestiges Of
which are now almost wholly cbliterated.
A similar destruction Of these relies 70
going on throug hoa: the whole Southwest
ern porti on OF the United States. Farther
east, too, they are being lost or destroyed
IN the same manner. For example,:
when America was first discovered
there was in the region Of country now
embraced in the State Of Missouri.
a people who built their houses
on moands. These houses were con-
structed Of timbsrs planted in the ground
and standing erect, into which there were
woven small poles and withe& and the
" loIe covered with plaster. The people
a. themselves were very skilful In the
making or use q pottery, aad IN many
other arts and industries Scarcely .
vesfige OF this art remains II j. re-
corded In the travels Of early explorers,
and only q few fragments now remain on
the ground. Similar Illustrations might
b. brought up from every part q the
United States. As time goes on all these
relics of the early culture Of this country,
OF the ancient peoples who dweit hers
rnior to the advent Of the white man, 10
come mere and more valuable, and rapidly
the relics Of their history are being lost
Major Powell was asked as 20 how h'
proposed to awaken interest IN this sub
5ect. and 10 check the destruction and o.
liberation Of these footprints Of peeps
Who have passed away. He said that, q
AZ was proposed 10 Organize an exposition
IN honor Of the anniversary Of the discov
cry Of America nv Columbus, he bclieves
that the occasion could be utilized for thi
purpose. OF that grand collection Of th
antiquities Of America would b IN
most appropriate thing for such an occs
sion: and q it was bclicved that all IL
nations Of America y ,uld take an act'v
and deep interest In . grand infernations
exhibition, they would doubtless BE- please
20 take each is share In the coilectio
and preservation Of these relics, and
fhis manner We might obtain for the gres
National museum 1t Washington IN
collection or the ant Equities Of Amerie
which would BE- Of priceless vaiue.