Huntsville gazette., 1888-02-18

&@yI AgM< tention to American
antiquities, and max
Major Po,oeu. ing far more ex-
the American nations, the United
States only excepted, and they
are vieing with the United States in this
matter by sending expeditions to Ameri-
can coasts and to the interior Of the country
for this purpose. The great museums OF
London, Paris and Berlin already contain
large and valuable collections of our an
tiquities, and the materials of early
American history are rapidly being car
ried away to other lands. All of this mat
ter has great scien tifc, historic and popu-
lar interest, an interest rapidly growing
from year to year in America and Eur ope
alike. The bureau of ethnology, under
the supervision Of Major Powell,
is making an organized and systematic
effort to collect and preserve these mate
rials, and Harvard Univer sity is system
atically collecting the relics of the mound
builders. The collections Of European
nations are made irregularly and so care
lessly that much of their scientific and
historic value is lost, though popular in
terest remains in them as curiosities.
States, are doing very little to preserve
such records, but are permitting them to
be rapidly destroyed and lost.
"As to the fate of these relics of former
peoples, if prompt steps are not taken for
their preservation" Major Powell said,
''they will soon be lost or des troy ed. I"
In his earlier visits to Utah Territory he
found the ruins Of many ancient pueblos,
built of stone, and one, two or three
stories high. The sites of these pueblos
were along the streams which were used
by these ancient people to irrigate the
lands of that arid country. Since his
earlier visits these ruins have all been
destroyed. The materials of which they
were erected have been used to build
houses, stables, and fences for the present
inhabtant.. Many Of the ruins had
been destroyed anterior to his first visit
to the country. Salt Lake City is the site
of an old pueblo, and nearly every town
in Utah is the site or in the neigh hborhood
of an ancient pueblo, the vestiges of
which are now almost wholly obliterated.
A similar destruction of these relics is
going on throughout 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 mounds. These houses were con-
structed of timbers planted in the ground
and standing erect, into which there were
woven small poles and withes, and the
whole covered with plaster. The people
in themselves were very skilful in the
making or use Of pottery, and in many
other arts and industries. Scarcely
vestge of this art remains. 1t is re-
corded in the travels of early explorers,
and only few fragments now remain on
the ground. Similar illustrations might
be brought up from every part Of the
United States. As time goes on, all these
relics of the early ~ltrIre of this country,
of the ancient people, who dwelt here
prior to the advent of the white man, be-
come more and more val aluable, and rapidly
the relics of their history are being lost"
Major Powell was asked as to how he
proposed to awaken Ia crest in this SUBJ
ject and to check the destruction and OBJ
liberation Of these footprints of people
who have passed away. He said that, as
it was proposed to organize an exposition
in honor of the anniversary of the discov-
cry Of America by Columbus, he believed
that the occasion could be util lied for this
purpose, or that grand collection of the
antiquities Of America would be the
most appropriate thing for such an occa-
sion; and as it was believed that all the
nations of America would take an active
and deep interest in grand international
exhibition, they would doubtless be pleased
to take each its share in the collection
and preservation of these relics, and in
this manner we might obtain for the great
National museum at Washington fine
collection Of the antiquities of America
which would be Of priceless value.