Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-01-26

self and proposes to carry out plan
OF investigation and research that
promises to prove OF inestimable
value to archaeological work md gain
Cor her another credit in the line or
activity and work for the welfare and
better1nent OF mankind. .
The existence Of the mysterious
Red Paint Indians is positively
known, for their graves have been To-
Gated and explored in several loca-
tons, giving evidence of an ancient
race. apparently ante-datins any
other race known. The State has to
a certain extent benefited by these
explorations, although outside inter
ests have done most Of the work and
. much of the recovered evidence Of
the Red Paint tribe have gone else
where. Matters have now reached a
point where Maine proposes to have
the entire benefit Of such explora-
. lions.
| And very fitting it is that such
work should be begun In the Centen-
NAL year of the State. How very APP
propriate it will be to extend and en-
large the work of the present splen-
! did State museum at the State Capt.
toll and secure all the forth. coming
relics from the sites Of the Red Paint
Indian burying grounds, as well as
10 secure large part Of those al
ready found by others. as is also
planned. as will be disclosed later on
in this story.
Governors Attention Called
It was in September. 1919. that the
attention OF Governor Milliken was
called by A. II. Bridges Of Waterville
to the discovery of what was evil
IDENTIFY an ancient buryins ground Of
Indian people, dating BACK to much
earlier period than anything previ-
ousIy known. The Governor referred
the matter to State Librarian H. E.
Dunnack and Curator T. ~ James,
with a request that they investigate.
They accordingly. accompanied by
! Mr.. Bridges and John 7. kelleher OF
F, Waterville. both much interested in
archaeology, visited the site Of the
| burying grounds, in Winslow. They
I there found that during the year be-
fore, Prof. Warren X. Moorhead OF
! the Andover, Mass. museum had
opened this ground, assisted by Wal
ter B. Smith Of Bangor. one of the
three best informed scientists in the
United States in relation to problems
! connected with Indian burying
grounds. They also found enough to
, satisfy themselves that the claims
regarding the ancient Indians were
| correct.
! Professor Moorhead was personally
interviewed and it was found that he
was greatly interested in the matter,
| there being no doubt in his mind but
that the so-called Red Paint people
are u very ancient. race, possibly Old
err than any other civilization yet
| found in America. He w3s so deeply
interested in this particular matter.
! that he made a special trip to Maine
| and took up the matter with the COM
mittee After going over the case
| with much care, he manifested a
Willingness to undertake. under the
auspices Of the State Of Maine. to
make thorough investigation Of the
! Red Paint people in this State.
i, The committee reported the facts
as developed to Governor Milliken
| and the following order was i'm
| rediatcly passed by the Executive
Council:
Council Takes Action
| Ordered. That the State librarian
and the curator of the State museum
! he authorized in behalf OF the State
! to solicit from owners Of land in this
state upon which in their judgment
tmat be- ioupd relics, implements or
tsotfer. Elatsial of historical and
archaeological value. permission to
enter upon said land and to hunt.
prospect. dig. excavate and pillow for
| such relics. implements or other ma :
| terials with a view of their acquisi-
| ton for the Maine State museum as
| the property of the State.
, That contracts for the above pur-
pose may be entered into with land
owners and executed in behalf of the