GENERAL VIEW OF ARCHEOLOGY OF THE PUEBLO REGION. 591 



tection to be afforded until all data of iiiiportaiiee to science have been 

 investigated and all artifacts in connection therewith removed to 

 museums for permanent preservation. 

 Preservation is to be secured : 



(1) Through Congress: Under special legislation creating mitional 

 areheological reservations or parks and general legislation establish- 

 ing a system of custodianship and administration over all areheo- 

 logical remains on the lands owned or controlled by the (Tovernment 

 of the United States. Up to date but one measure looking toward the 

 preservation of antiquities has ever been passed by the National Con- 

 gress, and this provided for the preservation of a single building — 

 Casa Grande, in Arizona. As early as 189G a general bill was pre- 

 pared and presented to the National Congress and similar measures 

 have been introduced since from time to time down to the 58th 

 Congress, but none have passed. 



(2) Through Executive Departments: By the exercise of ])owers 

 inherent in such departments under the Constitution and (leneral 

 Statutes. With the single exception al)ove noted, all that has been 

 accomplished by way of })rotection of anti(|uities has been by this 

 method. It is exceedingly fortunate that, as will be seen further on, 

 so much can be provided for incidentally in connection with the ad- 

 ministration of our great economic, Indian, and military interests, 

 thus involving but little additional expense. 



By virtue of section 441, United States Revised Statutes, the care 

 and custody of the pul)lic lands is vested in the Secretary of the 

 Interior, and section 453 declares that the Connnissioner of the (gen- 

 eral Land Office shall perform, under the direction of the Secretary 

 of the Interior, all executive duties in any wise respecting such lands. 

 There can be no question that this statute places upon the Department 

 of the Interior and the (xeneral Land Office the obligation to ])rotect 

 the areheological remains that are upon the public lands as definitely 

 as it does any other values thereon. 



In the exercise of the power thus conferred a })olicy has developed 

 in the General Land Office and Office of Indian Affairs, under the 

 Department of the Interior, that is highly connnendable as far as it 

 goes. This policy utilizes forest supervisors and rangers, special 

 agents, Indian school superintendents, Indian agents, additional 

 farmers, and police in the protection of ruins in connection with and 

 as one of their regular duties for the avowed purpose of j^reserving 

 them for scientific investigation. It establishes the liberal ])()licy 

 that any competent scientist who desires to place tlie matei-ial se- 

 cured in a public museum will l)e authorized by the Department of 

 the Interior to examine ruins, but that no ])ers()n will be permitted 

 to excavate them for tlie ])ui-pose of ac(iuiring specimens for ti'affio 

 or private gain, and that willfid destruction of historic and prehis- 



