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Show PRESERVING AMERICAN ANTIQUITIES. Congress Is being asked by petition to enact a law to provide for tho protection protec-tion of the historic and prehistoric ruins of the United States, The Records of the Past Exploration Society, Washington, Wash-ington, Is furthering the movement, and sending out the blank petitions for signatures. sig-natures. The petitions set forth the Importance Im-portance and desirability of preserving the prehistoric ruins and relics, and preventing pre-venting their being destroyed and scattered scat-tered by curiosity hunters or commercial commer-cial speculators; and tho passage of laws Is- asked to prohibit tho exportation of such objects; to withdraw from settlement set-tlement or private acquisition so much of all lands belonging to the United States ns will aEsure the protection of Its archacloglcal monuments, ruins, pyramids, mounds, tombs, buildings, or other fixed objects illustrative of the history of the primitive races of America; Ameri-ca; that all such relics be declared to belong to the Government and the public; pub-lic; that their removal from their environment envi-ronment he prohibited; that It be declared de-clared a misdemeanor to deface, destroy, or take away any such relics, and that the articles taken bo forfeited to the United Stales; and that permission to meddle with or move such objects be granted only to exports for the benefit of National, State, municipal or Incorporated Incor-porated museums. Probably Jt is better late than never, to take this step. But It Is to be deeply regretted that the action was not taken years ago, when the relics and antiquities antiqui-ties were many and widespread. As it Is, the great mass has been destroyed or scattered, and much Irretrievably lost. There Is no doubt, however, that a good deal Is left that is worth preserving; and It Is worth while to tako hold of the matter, even at this late day. Much could be found and preserved In Utah, and all through the mountain country. Wc urge all who feel any Interest in this matter (and all should feel it) to send to tho Records of the Past Exploration Society, So-ciety, 215 Third street, S. E.. Washington, Washing-ton, D. C, for further Information abqut the movement, and copies of the publication. |