Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1895-03-28
uSCWlLlzED AND LAwLEss.


An extensive collection ~ ella
dwollor relies is nov bcing exhibited
by the Dumngi Archaeological Hrcioly,
nt Durango, Colo, anu the HcTa'd Of
that city lays that from the display %
good idea can be gathered Of the man.
ner u life Of these extinct pu1plHl, ne
II contains their cooking utensils,
household implements, weapons OF war
aud the chase, tools, muucal inslru.
menls, clothing, ornament, etc; the
mummios AlsJ show thulf method or
disposlng n their dead. In thl8 COZ
uection ~ may hs rcmarloi that Tor
purposes Of ln'ormstiau aud Instruction
70 tho present aud coming generations,
In view Of tbs i1cl that oliil dwell.
lvn' habltaliona ATE being looted OF oil
thelr valuable contents, salt Lake
CITY might have collection OF
autlquiliog, both Of elf dwolloB and
other prehistoric inhabitants Of the
West, second 20 mono Ia tho country,
But II p0sscssui, u should be- purely
for purposes II good, that the evidences
OF ancient No, on this continent may
not be, IN the mar future, cInnngd g.
books and photographs through the
destruction u the remains themselves.
In the paper quoted from there is "a
statement OF the ownerhlp and
use Of tho collection referred 10
that suggeals a subject for serious
thought, anu for somu action 10 put a
stop 10 a gbOuliahnJss all too common.
The exhibit at Durango 10 there tom.
porarlly, being a feature " travelling
show In which the antiquities are
merely used Tor the purpose Of money
making; II was collected al tho cost OF
destroying much u the work Of tho
chi jewellers In the ruthless search
lot their utensils and bodies.
In tho vicinity Of where Utah,
Colorado anu Now Mexico como 10,
gother there 10 the Richest country Tor
American antiquities that has been
explored; perhaps the adjacent section
Of Arizona is equally rich, but It,
reservation for tho Indians has Pre-.
cluded thorough investigation. In the
county described prehistoric ruins axe
found by thousands-nOt few
isolatod remains here and there. In
consequence " their abundance there
ire numbers Of peopIelwbo make lly.
ing by gathering mummiea and other
antiquities ana dispUaing OF them 10
curiosity exhibitors, 10 make these
collections It 10 found convenient 20
tear down structures erected by the
cliff dwollers, and thus d most valuable
hnd interesting feature OF tho country
isbeing rapidly destroyed.
ItisH common thing f1ra number
ot persons 10 start on, Cor TOW weoks'
trip IN this region aud 90 return laden
with remains OF the ancient iuhablt.
ants and their earthrnwnre, weapons
OF war, clothing, urnameuts,e etc. When
brought IA these are sold fora good
price Tor travelling show purpose. 10
u NOT an unusual tnlng among tho
people who Tosido Ia that locality 20
speak OF persons on these expeditions
being out "Az.eo digging" just a. b.
the looiiug OF graves was a reputable
bu0noss, to DO carried on with the lul
approval Of civilized people.
When individuals go TO modern Gem.
eIerles for tho purpose Of "body snatch
lug" their act Is h0riiying 10 modern
oivigsi sentiment. imprisonment b.
thought almost too good for those " lao
would desecrate the grave by removing
tleroiTom human body for medical
purposes. How much better are those
who rob tho graves Of an extinct poo.
pie, that human bodies may bs hawked
over the country for muICeuRry pur-
posesg The difleroucs lu time o.
burial does not make tho Iosacrati0n
loss reprehensible. II the tomb whore
relatives and frionds have laid the
CEskvt Of loved one Ia too sacred TO