REPORT OP THE SECRETARY. 43 



plants used, but in the mystic properties imparted to them by the sor- 

 cerers or professional "Medicine men." 



During the year one of the Bureau assistants visited Casa Grande, 

 in Arizona, with a view to determining the best method to give eftect 

 to the act passed by Congress for preserving the ancient ruin. The 

 preservation from the hand of the vandal and the effects of time and 

 exposure of the more important Indian mounds and ruins which are 

 situated within the national domain, is one that may well receive at- 

 tention. The land upon which many of them are situated is of little 

 value for economic purposes, and the comparatively small outlay re- 

 quired for their restoration, when such is necessary, and for their pres- 

 ervation, is small when contrasted with their historical and archaeologi- 

 cal value and their popular interest. 



No phase of tribal life and society presents a more curious and inter- 

 esting study than that exhibited by the Pueblo Indians, who, in many 

 respects, were far in advance of less sedentary tribes. Study of one of 

 them, Sia, was begun during the year, and other Pueblos will be visited 

 and studied in succession. 



Further details respecting the work of the Bureau will be found in 

 the report of its director, Major J. W. Powell, given in full in Appen- 

 dix I. 



NECROLOGY. 



SAMUEL SULLIVAN COX. 



I am called upon to record here the death of one of the most public- 

 spirited and versatile members of Congress that have served upon the 

 Board of Regents, the Hon. Samuel Sullivan Cox, a member of the 

 House of Representatives, who was born at Zanesville, Ohio, Septem- 

 ber 30, 1824, and first elected a Regent on December ]9, 1861. He died 

 at his home in New York on the 10th of September, 1889. 



At a meeting of the Board, held on the 8th of January,. 1890, a com- 

 mittee was appointed to prepare resolutions on the services and char- 

 acter of Mr. Cox, consisting of the Secretary, Hon. Joseph Wheeler, 

 Dr. Welling, and Hon. Mr. Lodge, and they subsequently reported as 

 follows : 



To the Board of Regents : 



Your committee report that the Hon. S. S. Cox was first appointed a 

 Regent of the Smithsonian Institution December 19, 18G1, and that he 

 tilled that office, except for intervals caused by public duties, to the 

 time of his death. 



While he was not a regular attendant at all the meetings of the Board, 

 he was ever ready to advance the interests of the Institution and of 

 science, either as a Regent or as a member of Congress; and although 

 such men as Hamlin, Fessenden, Colfax, Chase, Gartiold, Sherman, 

 Gray, and Waite, in a list comprising Presidents, Vice-Presidents, 

 Chief-Justices, and Senators of the United States, were his associates, 



