The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1909-02-22

hunf1n8, Dut my real and main inter
est is the interest OF a faunal natural
ist.
In his letter he expressed the opin-
ION that this trip opened the best
chance for the United States National
Museufn TO get a fine collection not
onlysof the big game beasts, but of the
smaller mammals and birds of Afri-
ca, and ought not to be neglected
The President offered to take with
him several professional field natural
lists and taxidermists who should pre-
pare and send back the specimens he
Is to collect, the collection to 60 to
the National Museum. The President
said that as an ex-President he should
feel that that Institution is the muse
um to which his collection should go.
While he wcuid pay the expenses him
self and son, he felt that he had not
the means that would enable him to
pay for the naturaHsts and their kit
and curing and transport of the speci-
mems. for the museum. All he desired
to keep would be few personal tro-
phies OF little scientific value which
for some reason be might like to keep.
He said the actu&l hunting of big
game he would want to do himself or
have his son do.
Seeing the value of the Presidents
diately set to work selecting men 20
form the party. He decided that 8
men should form the Smithsonian In
stitutiors portion OF the party, The
necessary funds for the Supithsonian's
share OF the expense were secured
from source which has not been re-
veafed. it is stated that no part of
these funds was derived from any
goEernmeht appropriation or the in
come OF the Smithsonian Institution
That 1t was advanced by some one in
terested in science there is no doubt
and there have been reports that it
was donated by Andrew Carnegie.
In selecting the four men to accom-
pAny Mr.. Roosevelt the best men in
the scores OF naturalists of the coun-
try were selected. 1t was decided
that Major Bdgar A. Mearns of the
Medical Corps OF the United States
Army who has had twenty-five years
experience as q doctor in the Army,
should have charge of the Smithson-
ian portion Of the party.
AS field naturalist, Mr.. ]. Loring
Alden is probably the most efficient
and experienced man in the party.
OF the party the only one who has
had previous experience In that sec
ton OF Africa through which the ex-l
pedftton VIII journey is Mr.. Edmund
Heller. He was associated with Pro-
feaaM Carl =. Akeley and Mr.. x. D..
G. E3ict in the expedition OF the Field
ColsarahiAn Museum of Chicago, which
m 1900, visited the same portions of
Africa that the Roosevelt expedition
will cover. Mr.. Heller lis a graduate
Of STANFORD University OF California
and is thoroughly trained naturalist
whose $pecial work with this expedi-
ton will be the preparation and pre-
servation sof the specimens Of large
animals. Having gone over the ground
once he is valuable asset to the ex-
pedition.
Kermit Roosevelt, the Presidents
second son. a young man of 19 years,
is to be the Official photographer of
the expedition. His collection OF pho
tographs OF animals and scenes will
be made use of in a scientific way
and as Illustrations for books and ar
tfcles which his father will write
To complete the personnel OF the
expedition Mr.. r. ]. Cunninghame an
was chosen. He is not
ed field naturalist and big game hunt
er and has guided numerous hunting
parties in Africa. 1t was he who was
chief hunter and guide OF the Field
Columbian Museum expedition in Cen
trial 1AfEica- Mr.. Cunninghame for
some months has been employed as
sembling the materials for Mr. Roose-
velt's use. He will act as general
manager OF the expedition. guiding the
party and taking charge Of the native
porters.