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Wants University To Search For Prehistoric Remains

Wants University To Search For Prehistoric Remains image
Parent Issue
Day
27
Month
February
Year
1903
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

Dispatches from Lansing mention the introduction of a bilĂ­ in the State Senate by Senator Scripps appropriating $1,500 for the establishment of a chair of American archaeology in the University for the survey of prehistoric ruins in Michigan, an additional $1,500 to be secured from the Smithsonian Institution if the bill passes. The full text of the bill is as follows: 

Whereas, The state of Michigan is known to be one of the richest of the states of this Union in the number and variety of its prehistoric remains, and, whereas, in the march of improvement these are rapidly becoming obliterated, and whereas, from their timely and proper study much valuable knowledge may be gained regarding the ancient inhabitants of this continent; therefore,

The people of the state of Michigan enact:

Section 1. That the board of regents of the University of Michigan be and are hereby empowered to create a chair of American archaeology if they shall so determine, and in connection therewith to conduct a survey of the prehistoric remains of this state; and in the event of their so determining and undertaking such survey the sum of $1,500 is hereby appropriated for each of the years 1903 and 1904 to defray the cost of the same. 

Sec. 2. In the conduct of such survey the board of regents shall have authority, through any professor or agents they may appoint, to enter upon any public or private land in the state for the purpose of such archaeological research, and in the prosecution of such research may make excavations I upon the same. Provided, in all cases. except for objects of archaeological interest, which may be discovered and which shall be deposited in the museum of the said University of Michigan, the land shall be left in like condition in which it was before excavation was made, and no trees, buildings or other property shall be in, any way destroyed or interfered with exception by the consent of the owner of the same.

Sec. 3. The said board of regents shall cause a report to be made to the legislature sitting in the year 1905 of what has been accomplished under the authority of this act, and the board of state auditors are authorized to cause 1,000 copies of such report to be printed for the use of the legislature. 

Sec. 4. It shall be unlawful for anyone knowingly or willfully to destroy, deface or obliterate any mine, mound, garden bed or other relic of a prehistoric race in this state, whether on public or private property.