River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1911-10-19

81 est cities of America, with a
MA university that, like the city or
Buenos Aires, has, from an in
FAINT, suddenly become a giant. Found
ed In 1882 by DR.. Dardo Rocha, the
capital of the province Of Buenos
Aires has grown to be one of the most
important centers of population OF the
republic, not commercially, 1t Is true,
but scientifically. ! say scientifically,
for that which makes La Plata what
1t is to us foreigners, at least, is not
It's halls of government, but its uni
versity. There are many capitals In
Argentina; but there is only one La
Plata. It's population has increased
phenomenally, like that of Buenos
Aires: for it is now not far from 1907
900, in spite of financial reverses
which in the past befell it. It's sumpt-
uous buildings, wide streets, splendid
avenues and beautiful promenades,
render this fairy city on the Rio de
la Plata one Of the finest products OF
modern renaissance architecture.
The university is younger than the
city, for La Plata had existed % years,
when the former was established on
August IL. 1905 DR.. Manuel Quintana
being then president of Argentina.
1t is incredible that within five years
such a magnificent institution, with
such a wonderful group of buildings
should have arisen.
One of the finest ornaments and
most useful auxiliaries of the untver-
sity is the museum. What it took the
older nations of the world scores OF
years to accomplish has arisen in La
Plata as If by magic. The museum be-
longs TO the faculty of Natural Sci
ences, to which are joined the schools
of chemistry, pharmacy, geography,
and the Academy of Drawing.
The old museum of Buenos Aires
had been founded in 1923 by President
Rivadavia, reaching point Of great
Importance under the direction Of DIR.
German Burmeister. AS it was found
impossible to transport to La Plata the
archaeological collection Of this mu-
scum, the province coded 1t to the
nation, to serve as the basis Of fed
eral museum On the other hand, the
archaeological and anthropological col
lections were brought over to the new
capital, as the beginning Of the muse
UNI of the province.
In 1884 Doctor Moreno was chosen
by the governor of the province, DR..
Carlos d'Amico, to establish provin-
cial museum and to be its director. In
consequence of this, he at once do
mated his private library Of 1000 vol
umes. mainly of American authors and
on natural sciences, to the new insti-
museum antedates the university. The
building was at once begun, and with
in five years it was possible to install
the first collections.
The museum building, occupying the
center of a park, is approached
through a stately avenue lined on both
sides with shady trees, forming most
agreeable promenade. The edifice, in
classic style, terminates at both ex-
tremities in a semi-circle, the whole
having an elliptic figure. The central
facade consists of Corinthian porti-
co. with six immense columns resting
on a platform, to which a flight OF
steps leads. The decorations, without
departing from the Greek lines, pos
sess special features borrowed from
archaic American architecture. The
great votaries of science, Arts
totle, Lucretius, Descartes, Button,
Linaeus, Cuvier, Humboldt and many
more are represented by their busts,
while such American savants and ex-
plorers as Azara, d'Orbigny, Bompland
and others are not forgotten.
There are two floors in the building,
the first one being entirely devoted
to the museum, while on the second,
in the center Of the edifice, are the adj
ministration Offices With the library
ON one side and the section of fine
arts on the other, besides other de-
,,artments. | had the pleasure of Wis
fling the museum some months ago.
and the Americanists spent pleas
ant day at La Plata, as the guests OF
the university.
The great intrinsic value of the mu-
scum of La Plata is essentially South
American, by the material it has col
lected for the study Of the fauna and
flora, fossil, as well as actual, of the
austral regions of the western hemfs-
phe-e, but especially for the oppor-
tunities it offers to make a thorough
study of the American man, from the
earliest prehistoric. period. This re-
construction of mans history is art1s-
tically exhibited in the large paint
ings in the lower portion of the ro-
tunda, in which one sees archaic lands,
scenes from Terre del Fuego and Pata-
gonia, as well as of other portions Of
the republic, and reservations of abo-
riginal and savage life.
AS regards man, you have every op-
portunity to study him well and thor
ougnly, from his skeleton to his modes
and habits of life. A section of the
science of man is devoted to anatomi-
cal anthropology. The museum began
with collection of 1000 skulls and 80
skeletons, of which nine-tenths be-