New-York tribune., 1902-02-23
THE WEEK AT WASHINGTON
DECREE FOR DIRECTOR WALCoTT OF
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY = INDIANS
WHO VISIT THE CAPITAL
AFRAID OF CAMERAS.
AFRAID OF CAMERAS.

t-o,,o, op IT'S quarter centennial Johns Hopkins
University bestowed the degree OF LII D. upon
Charles D. Walcott, director Of the Onlteo
States Geological Survey Mr.. Walcott mas
been many times similarly distinguished pu'
that this institution, with which he has been
for several years in direct contact, has thus
honored him is most acceptable recognition
of the high place he has attained in the scien-
tifjc world and a source of qualification to ms
friends his associates and his subordinates-
Mr. Walcott came Of an ancestry of sound
business men His father was cotton manu-
facturer and destined his son for mercantile
career; but rocks and stones, the woods ana
waters, had stronger attractions for him.
collection of fossils, which he made, before he
reached his majority in collaboration with one
of his companions at Trenton Falls, attracted
the attention of scientists far and wide, and the
young geologist received many offers for it. 1t
was finally sold to Professor Agassiz, who pur-
chased it for the Museum of Comparative Geol-
ogy at Cambridge.
Mr walcott's fame coming to the ears of Pro-
fessor James Hall, State Geologist of New-York,
he appointed him his staff. In this service
he made researches in New-York, Ohio and Indi-
ana, and so added TO his reputation that in
1879, when the Geological Survey removed
from the control of the Smithsonian Institution
and formed into a separate bureau, Clarence
King its first director. appointed Mr.. Walcott as
assistant geologist. One of Mr.. Walcotts first
assignments in the new survey was the study
of the great geological section extending from
the high plateau Of Southern Utah to the bottom
of the Grand Canyon of the Colorado. In 1SS2
he collaborated in the survey of the Eureka
mining district of Nevada. This work finished,
he took up that important problem in New
England geology, the "Taconic Question" but
matter how occupied his special line of in
ye.tigatfon the Cambrian system, the subject
that has brought him his greatest fame, was
carried on from year TO year. He has published
numerous works on this system, and in 1898
presented a summary of the results of his in
vestigations to the International Geological Con-
gress in London.
In this same year Mr.. Walcott was advanced
TO paleontologist in charge of the invertehrate
paleontology. and three years later made
chief paleontologist His appointment Of geol-
ogfst in charge of geology and paleontology
which included a general direction of this branch
of the survey, was made in 1893. and upon the
retirement of Major Powell year later he was
promoted the dictatorship of the survey
Shortly after he had assumed this office Mr.
Walcott received the Bigsby medal from the
Geological Society in London, medal conferred
for important services rendered TO the cause of
science before the recipient has reached the age
OF forty-fYe.
AS stratigraphicaI geoIogist Mr.. Walcott has
contributed many papers to science, but his
most exhaustive labor has resulted in the pro-
duction of his great monograph on the fauna
clearly remarkable series of rocks contain
ing the Oldest fossil fauna yet discovered, and
capable of being paralleled and identified by its
fossils nearly all over the world
In 1893, shortly before assuming direction of
the survey. Mr. Walcott was made honorary
curator of the department Of paieontclogy in
the National Museum, and in 1891 at the re-
quest of the board Of regents and the secretary
OF the Smithsonian Institution he accented its
temporary direction. He is member Of numer-
GUS scientific and literary societies, and since
1882 has been fellow of the American AS
Nfas4 4f,- H.,
Welcott has long been interested in the estab-
Nshment of national university at the AmerI-
can capital and it was in recognition of that
interest ana or the conspicuous place he holds
in the world OF science that Mr. Walcott was
appointed one Of the trustees for the admins
tration Of the fund Mr.. Carnegie has given for
the endowment OF great university.
If Paris is the paradise of all rich Americans
Washington is the Mecca Of all ambitious Ind
ians Formerly IT extremely difficult to
cajole red man to trust himself behind a steam
engine that would carry him TO the presence Of
the Great Father; the slightest pretext is
seized upon by the various tribes to send repre-
sentatives to the capital and all through the
winter delegations of Indians come and go II
an lndian agent announces TO a tribe an order
that 1t is unwilling to accept. a commission is
sTAghtway sent to enter protest; if rumor
that legislation is in progress concerning their
welfare reaches an Indian settlement four or
1iFe oi Iheir nunper are at once dispatched 10
look after the matter. Tribal differences also
bring them here-a squabble over a souaw or
some family feud. At times Of course the visit
ing delegations have real mission but oftener
their grievances are visionary and with the
pontlcal instinct, said to be typically American
they grasp any occurrence that will furnish them
an excuse for junket to Washington The
Indian Bureau encourages rather than discour-
ages their coming, having learned through long
experience that visit to the capital means
education and enlightenment, and that the
stories the chiefs carry back TO their tribes Of
the greatness and glory. the power of this gov
ernment, have wholesome effect
Unhappily, the credulity of the Indians IS
often played upon by the Indian agents Only
recently delegation OF Sioux, civilized and en-
hghtened braves. visited the Indian Commits
sioner and among other things demanded to
know IL the bureau had issued an order requir-
sng that all Indians wearing long hair should
nave 1t cut When assured that this was only
q silly rumor, without the slightest foundation.
they expressed the greatest content and nothing
will ever persuade their people that the order
was not rescinGed through this delegations in
fuence.
An interesting lot of Pawnees have recently
visited Washington, headed by Ray-tah-cotz-
fay-sah Roaming Chief and Good Fox who
came TO protest against any change in the laws
relating 10 the disposal of their allotted lands
at having reached their ears that some unscru
pulous people were endeavoring TO have the
law, requiring that allotted land shouId he
twenty-five years in the possession of its owner
before he would be allowed to sell it, changed
80 that they might buy Indian lands for the
purpose of speculation where they listed. On
being assured that no such bill had been intro
ouceu INTO congress, and that the law would re-