The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1910-06-11

lens which have for years been the despair OF
the historian. In fact, Mexico may today very
properly claim the title of The Egypt of Amer
lea Why, indeed, should the archaeologist go to
Egypt when Mexico offers to him such rich and
incxhaustible fields as Militia Monte Alban, Palen-
que, San Juan de Teotihuacan, the ruins of Tx
NAL. and Of chi Chen liza In Yucatan. and many
others which are Just being unearthed?
The museum located at the national capital Is
generally the first place sought out by the thou
sands of tourists who pour into the country each
year And It Is well worth visit for 1t offers Ger.
tain things which no other museum In the world
could offer TO the eyes of the curious
The best brief sketch of Its history is given by
its director, Lie Genaro Garcia himself Il notable
historian and archaeoogist in the Introduction
OF volume /, No /, of the Annals of the National
Museum of Archaeology. History and Ethnology."
a most Creditable publication which Is issued
monthly by the institution, under the direct super.
vision of Lie Garcia, In speaking of the founda.
ton of the museum which he has brought up to
such credtable standard, Lie. Garcia says:
Under the Spanish domination there existed
only small collection of antiquities in Mexico,
consisting, for the greater part of the CodcXes
and native manuscripts which cavalier of Milan,
Italy, Don Lorenzo de Boturini BcnaduCi. Senior
dc In Tore Homo, had been able to collect at
the cost of unhcardot sacrifices, and which were
conhsCated In the most unjust manner by the
Yiceregal government in lIl3. These antiquities
were first kept in the office Of the yiccroys secre-
tary. and aCtorward I'm the library OF the Royal
and Pou0Gca University of Mexico where they
were taken by order of His EXceucucy Antonio
MANIA de nucareu Ursula, ylceroy of New Spain
In one and another place they were greatly dam
aged by neglect humidity rats and thels.
Upon the contamination of MoNicos iudopeu-
denco he national government not only directed
that the existing antiquities he kept at the same
university Int assigned m addition. the sum OF
$3.50. / real ana I Crane" for III salaries of
directing professor OF botany, gardener, and the
expenses Of the garden.
When this appropriation was made the GOV,
eminent did not yet have In mind tho establish.
ment of national museum which. according to
Gen. Lucas Aaman, then secretary OF state aud
foreign relations, in a memorial presented to con,
gress on January II, 1925. was to be matter for
the future. Notwithstanding all this, Don Sehas
tian CamaCho, successor TO General Alumau an
nounced to congress during the latter rart OF the
same year that the National museum had been
established under the most happy auspices. with
keeper intrustcl with its arrangement, safety,
and development" sud with many projects for
"EcieIt,Gc t.ips, discoveries EXCAVATIONS ANA
other operations Nhich were never made The
museum. therefore, had no other end than that
OF the conservation of a few antiquities uncas-
sifed, and in generally bad shape
The museum proper had irS birth by virtue OF
the decree OF November 2l, which ordered its for.
NAL creation and It's division into three branches
Antiquities, products Of natural history and in
dustry, and botanical garden
The chief executive Of the republic proceeded
at once to the organization OF the museum in ac-
cordance with the foregoing decree, and appointed
AZ membsrs of the directive board Messrs, Fable
de la Lave, lsidro Iguacio lcaza, Miguel Busta-
mante, Jose Mariana SANCHEZ Mora, lgnacio Gu.