St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-05-16

To modern civilization, says the
Great Northern Bulletin. this is the new
world, and in certain sense it is new.
Next year we celebrate the 40Oth ami
versary of the discovery of America by
Europeans.
Europe boasts of a much longer his
tory clearly marked, yet the time may
come when this country may be able TO
trace its civilization back even beyond
the period from which Europe began to
make history for itself. Already there
are abundant indications that a people
we'll VerSed in art and architecture
waXed and Waned in America long be-
fore Columbus landed on our shores. In
fact. back of our history is another his
tory OF which we have discovered only a
trace. and which has thus far baffled the
efforts of archROiOgiSt and antiquarian.
The unanswered question is, what man
ner of people were these prehistoric
dwellerS. what did they do, aud how did
they do it?
-
Central America abOundS in ruins Of
palaces and sculptures created by I'M
known races. All over the Mississippi
valley mounds exist by thousands. built
AOA HUME fNOAoA4t - M anu
by apeOple now gone forever. Around
the shores of Lake MunnetOnka, Mime
sofa. and Devils lake, North Dakota,
are numerous mounds supposed to have
been thrown up by the ancient people
who occupied the country before the
Indians. Last summer a party from
the [ University of North Dakota found
many interesting relics of the Mound
Builders at DEVILS lake. This location
is the most nOrtherly at which mounds
have been found.
It is the general belief of biologists
that North America is the oldest cont
nent, ifs foundations being the first TO
come above the surface in the mighty
ocean of waters surrounding the earth
during the latest phase of its formative
period. There is evidence that i'm
menSe forests once covered the West
iern plains. shown in the enormous lig-
Mite (haff-Inade cOai) beds, and that the
mammoth and other gigantic animals
battled- with each. other for Su-
premacy and existence. Interesting
discoveries have been made during
tue last year or two in Mon
tana. Last summer Prof. Scott and
party, from Princeton college. found in
the Smith river valley whole skeletons
of the camel, rhinOcerOs and other
tropical animals, comprising in all for
ty-tWO species and twenty-five genera.
Several specimens of tie three-toed
horse were found. The remains are
petrified, lying in indurated elays and
,pretruding from the banks or sides of
The valleys Oh. coulees. The Arrow
creek bad lands, at the foot of the
HighWOod mountains, east of Great
Falls. is another interesting section full
of wonderful formations and abound
ing in fossil shells and remains of sea
lizards and ancient reptile life. 1t is a
fantastic region with deep couiees and
rocks twisted and bent INTO odd and
,faneifuI shapes. a lofty cliff has been
fUund'in thiSJnei ghborhood almost full
of petrifieSf fishes. The Little Rockies
and Bear Paw mountains are also rich
III fossif temaius. Tie geologist will
find much of interest around Great
Falls, for no less than 800 different met
ais, minerals, ores and rocks have been
found and classified in that neighbOr-
hood. Five ranges of mountains are in
sight from the Cataract City, il being
the natural Quitting point for seien-
tlfic, sketching; exploring, hunting and
Gshing parties.