Art. XXIII. An Address to the People of the Western Country.
Art. XXIII. An Address to the People of the Western Country.
A number of the citizens of Cincinnati have recently instituted a society for the collection, preservation, exhibition, and illustration of natural and artificial curiosities, particularly those of the western country. The first efforts of the managers will be directed to the establishment of a permanent museum, on a scale so comprehensive as to receive specimens of every thing curious which they may be able to procure. In attempting to form this repository, they must of course solicit the aid of their fellow-citizens in all quarters of the extensive region, whose ancient works and natural history they propose to illustrate. The following are the classes of objects that will especially attract their attention, and to which they are desirous, at an early period, of directing the views of the community:
1. Our metals and minerals generally, including petrifactions.
2. Our indigenous animals, embracing the remains of those which are now extinct.
3. The relics of the unknown people who constructed the ancient works of the western country.
4. The various articles manufactured, for ornament or use, by the present savage tribes.
The subjects of the first class are considered by the Society as extremely interesting. Every citizen of the western country must feel the necessity of a speedy developement of its mineral resources. To find beneath our own soil an adequate supply of the various minerals which are now imported at an enormous expense, must be regarded by all as a matter of the first and greatest importance. The managers are anxious to be instrumental in the advancement of this useful work, and earnestly solicit the co-operation of the public. They will be thankful for specimens of all the rare or curious minerals that may be discovered in this country. To every specimen that may be transmitted, a label should be attached, stating either the kind of rock or stratum to which it belonged, or its precise locality. Whenever it is required, the managers will have a part of any specimen which is sent to them, analyzed, and a correct report made of its nature, thus affording to the discoverer a full opportunity of availing himself of all the pecuniary advantages that may attend the discovery.
As objects of scientific interest, the managers intend, as early as possible, to commence the formation of a cabinet of petrifactions. The rocks of few other countries contain a greater number and variety of these animal remains of the ancient ocean, than the limestone districts of the Ohio and Mississippi. They both astonish and confound most of the travellers through this region; and although objects of familiar examination to ourselves, they have not been collected or described by our citizens. An extensive and well arranged cabinet of these extraneous fossils would afford, both to the zoologist and geologist, an exquisite feast. It is hoped that every specimen sent to the Society will be accompanied by a label, stating the place where it was found.
It is the wish of the Society to obtain and preserve specimens of all the native animals of this country. Most of the larger quadrupeds having receded before the unceasing extension of our settlements, are now so rare as to be unknown to all but our oldest emigrants. Measures will be taken by the managers to procure from the general retreat in the northwest, and exhibit to the people in the Ohio countries, a specimen of every quadruped which lately inhabited them; and while engaged in this enterprise, they hope to import from the same distant wilderness, a variety of the animals which are peculiar to it.