The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-04-10
RIVALRY IN OLD BONES

Although Montana may contain
some of the Oldest bone.yards n this
continent, our people are not Dragging
about it. Some years ago, the petri.
fed man was uncovered in a certain
part of this commonwealth, and ere.
ated interest among the credulous: but
if some other state owns an older fos-
sill or q greater fake than the Mon
tana petrified man, it will not cause
envy or excitment on our part.
Montana has q wealth of old bones
in dinosaurian remains that are found
in various parts OF the state, but we
care so little about them that we invite
the wise men of the east to haul away
the ossitied %curios, assemble them to-
gether and build up skeletons of some
of the hideous monsters that once
roamed these hills and valleys. It
| appears, however, that old bones car
become a subject of great interest, II
properly advertised in the public
press, the following from the Kansas
City Journal being a case in point:
For several months the corrugated
brows of distinguished archaeologists
have been bent in that wrapt and
fervid transport which distinguishes
true scientists, over two priceless piles
of moldy bones belonging respectively
to two great states. Kansas gloried
in the possession of the Oldest relic of
the oldest "prehistoric' man, known
to the world of science as the Clans
ing skull" TO those versed in geo.
logic periods. strata, and deposits
this treasure was a shrine before which
all bowed down in learned reverence.
Kansas, true to the spirit of hat self
assertive state, made the proud boast
that this "Lansing skull' vas the
Oldest human remains in existence.
When this vas questioned, the lex
perts' we're called and they verified
the claim.
From over in Nebraska there were
people whocastenvious chances across
Vue AIuc duu VIC with " JEALOUSY
found welcome Judgment in their
hearts. 1t was irritating enough to
hear the Kansans brag of their rec.
ord-breaking wheat crops, their nam.
moth corn crops and their superlative-
ly fat hogs.
On top of this came the venerable
bones which furnished another sting
ing element Of superiority. What the
Nebraska yeomanry failed to accom-
plish the Nebraska scientists UNDER
took. After many long and mysterious
conferences the Nebraska scientists
decided to 60 in for ancient bones.
This was a field of exploitation that
was novel and blOomed with POSSIBLE
tiles. SO Nebraska began digging
around in mounds and other promis-
ing caches of archaeological treas.
ures and in due time a beautiful col.
lection OF yellow bones was uncovered
at "Long's hill, - ten miles from Oma-
. ha. Filled with glee, the Nebraska
scientists proceeded to boom their
bones for all they were worth. In q
little while the scientific world was in
a ferment. For weeks the battle
ragged.
The Nebraskans showed great abil'
ity ia exploiting their bones. Their
bone press agent drew the attention Of
the experts to their claims to the old
4 est relics of ''prehistoric' man ant
: soon Omaha became the Mecca Of bont
Judges. 1t was the liveliest sensation
5 Omaha had experienced since Pa
1 Grove stole the filling out of the teetl
: of the chief Of police. Some experts
, said the Nebraska bones were lO,0O'
0 years old, but Kansas raised this 10,
900 more. The Nebraskaus consulted
and added another 10000, which Kan
G sas promptly covered. Along tn
$ Plat, some of the more conservative
scientists began to have cold feet. TIL
II game was getting desperate. Whel
e Kansas took the limit Off aud averre'
n her bones we're 80 900 years old an
n she could prove It, the Nebraskan
laid down their bones reluctantly an
the game was up. Kansas RENAME
3. in the held flushed with victory, ha,
in ing vindicated the bewildering remote
&c ness Of the CLEANSING skull" An
in there the matter rests. Nebraska ha
no more money to employ experts an
"a indeed. all the bone experts appear I
he be already lined up on one side c
of the other.