The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-01-18
President of the State HiStOri-
cal Society.
New Directors Elected and New
Members Admitted.
KANSAS VOLUNTEERS
Eulogized by Major w. L..
Brown in an Address
Full Of Patriotism and 10y atty
to the State.

The afternoon meeting of the State
Historical society was to have been held
in the new library room at the state
house but as that was cold the meeting
was adjourned to the rooms of the So
ciety in the basement of the west wing
and the so or 60 persons present crowd
ed into the cramped quarters OF the So
ciety and sat on tables, piles Of books
and historical relics.
D. w. Wilder presented a resolution
that a circular letter should be sent to
the editors of every paper in Kansas
asking them to publish a history of
their town from it's founding to the
close of the nineteenth century. This
will be asked for to commemorate the
close of the century and in order that d
history of every town may be presented.
Such histories would be invaluable in i
short time. The historical society will
urge that this be done and will make
ample provision for the preserving of
such papers.
If this plan is carried out Kansas will
be able to boast of a history more COM
prehensive than that of any other state
and great amount of historical data
can be had from the Indians now living
who can add to the history events and
traditions before the time of the white
man.
The society will take active steps
toward carrying out this idea.
SOD HOUSES.
Prof. s. w. Williston of Manhattan
read paper on the ancient sod houses
Of Kansas, as follows: 1.-The old sod
houses date back before the time of the
white man and before the time Of the
mound builders. They are north OF
Scott City on Beaver creek. The ruins
are in the center of the valley. Around
these can be found traces of charcoal.
| charred corn and corncobs. The whole
structure was probably entirely made
of sod but perhaps some stone. The
N IL
| rection. The only instrument 1 saw
was sandstone affair, probably used
in grinding corn. The structures re-
mind one of a modern sod house.
Fragments of antelope and buffalo
bones are found. have not the slight
est hesitation in saying the structure
was not built during the past rs years
and probably not in this century. Who
built them? Was it a Jesuit mission?
There is no record of a Jesuit mission
in this part of the country. There are
that 1t was Coronado. It was not Pu-
ebIos. Beads and crosses have been
said to have been found and it may
have been built by Coronado but my
opinion is that it was not built by Span
| iardS."
RUINS IN REPUBLIC.
]. c. Price OF Republic City spoke on
! the old ruins in Republic county.
He said: 81 have been corresponding
with Indians and their testimony is that
an old chief says that the Spanish flag
| f1Oated there for four or five years. 1t
was between White Rock creek and the
Republican river. Lieut.. u. A. Pike
raised the stars and stripes there over
| the fertilization. Mrs. Geo. Johnson has
| purchased this site which she thinks
| too valuable to go uncared for"
A bill is to be presented before the
| legislature asking that the governor be
! authorized to buy the tract to be set
| apart as a public park and be preserved
as such.
Eugene Ware reported for the COM
mittee on Prof. Bowers Coronado in
vestigation. that money was what was
needed and for the want OF at the in
| veStigatiOn stopped.
MR.. CONNELLY'S PAPER.
ct have here a paper from Mr.. w. E.
| Connolly of Beatrice, Neb., on First
| Provisional Constitution of Kansas"
| said Chairman George w. Martin. cit
| is AZ pages of closely written manuscript
| and too long for reading at this meet
| ing. 1t would do for a platform"
| II propose then, that you read 1t to-
| night" said Mr.. Ware
| But it will be printed in the records"
| The committee on Connolly collection
Of Wyandotte Indian manuscripts, re
| ported that the society, if given charge
| of them, should furnish a suitable place
| for their preservation. The report was
| adopted.
| In the absence of President John
| Speer, who is sick in Denver, the even
| ing meeting was called to order by Vice
| President E. F. Ware who requested
| Rev. H. d. Fisher to open the meeting
| with prayer, in the absence of Rev.
| Allan Buckner-
| I'VE are to elect SO directors for three
/ years" said Mr.. Ware at the close of
! the prayer. land as I can not tell the
| members from the audience will re-
| quest all to vote aye to the SO names
| selected by the nominating committee
| The secretary will read the names of
| those selected and they will be voted
| on collectively
| The following names were read and
unanimously elected: