Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1903-08-06

pOSLSflly. II Jle general SOFtTHmeul
does not take the necessary steps to
that end private enterprise will take
up the matter and future generations
will have the pleasure of viewing
these Interesting relics OF a race once
powerful and well advanced in the arts
of civilization, but now long since
extinct. ID. |. Bushnell of the Peabody
museum at Harvard university has re
Gently completed a plaster cast OF the
Cahokia group of mounds, which will
be placed in the institution with which
he is connected, and an attempt will
be made to interest the national
geological survey in the matter so as
to secure its cooperation in the effort
to procure an appropriation from con-
gress for the purpose of establishing a
national park including in its limits
these mounds and preserving them
from Dissertation for all time.
This remarkable group OF mounds
among which the big Cahokia mound
is famous as the largest structure Of
its kind in the world-follows the
winding course of the little Cahokia
river, and was once connected by a
line of single tumuli, with the smaller
group of mounds from which st. Louis
derives its title of the mound CITY,"
The great mound of st. Louis has now
vanished forever, but one mound still
remains among the Cahokia group
which is believed TO be almost It's
exact counterpart. The age of these
mounds antedates any tradition con-
corning them among the North
America Indians. Like others scat
tered about in different parts of the
United States, they have figured
prominently In various romantic
theories of an early race, differing
from the Inalans, and finally either
exterminated by them or driven into
Central America, there to become
the precursors of the civilization dis
covered and destroyed by the
Spaniards. Modern archaeology, UNI
fortunately for the romance of the
story, discredits this picturesque
theory and attributes the mounds
directly to the distant ancestors of
the present Indians--an explanation
that still leaves sufficient material,
however, for the imagination.
Little Known of Them.
However that may be, Cahokia is
the king OF all American mounds and
ii is strange that monument of such
Importance should be so little known
in its immediate neighborhood.
Illinoisans know Of it as they know OF
the Pyramids of Egypt, but few have
seen it. Yet 1t is only twenty minutes
ride by electric car from the end OF
the Eads bridge. Ii covers nearly
fourteen acres of land and stands in
the same relation to other mounds as
tic great pyramids of Egypt to the
mountains of the valley of the Nile
II IL perhaps all the more interesting
IN that no measures have yet been
taken for its permanent preservation
and IL Is therefore always in danger
of becoming eventually mere
memory, hardly less dim than that OF
the mysterious nation which original
ly built it. Such a fate would deprive
America of what is, in many respects
monument, and the archaeologists are
not None in hoping that 1t will be
avcideG Situated near the center OF
some sevSnty-fve mounds-practically
also in the very center of the mount
builders emEire. the great American
bottom land bNtween the Mississippi
and the cresce0t-shaped range o
bluffs that begin just opposite tht
mouth OF the Missouri overlooking st
Louis, Its general Structure suggests
comparison with the Teecali or ruined
temple, of Mexico and hs more care
full investigation, although neither
money nor opportunity has yet mad,
such investigation possible, is con
siiered likely to be of the gleates
value in the growing study of Aneri
can archaeology.
Thought II Temple.
In its own immediate neighborhoo
Cahokia is best known as monks
Mound" name derived from mis-
taken tradition that the old Trappis
monks once made 1t their heaC
quarters. AS long ago as 1911, how
ever, II. M. NDNcS ~
count of his impressions is still
recognizable by anyone who travel
over the same path, stated definitel
that the monks lived near the mound
but not on ii. when reached tn
foot of the principal mound" wrot
Mr.. Breckenridge. 81 was struck wit
a degree of establishment not unlik,
that which is experienced in contem
plating the Egyptian pyramids. Wha
a stupendous pile OF earth! To heal
up such mass must have requireC
years and the labors of thousands
- II stands Immediately on III,
banks Of the Cahobia and on the sid,
next it is covered with lofty trees
Were il not for the regularity and de
sign which il manifests the circum