'Cbe Conservative *
points iu this Boca site came from the
above described source.
One specimen is very interesting owing
to its apparent age. The white or
creamy colored flint of which it is com
posed is yellow with age and not a few
spots have deteriorated until holes are
left in the body of the flint ; it looks
very fragile and I handled it with care.
It is about an inch long and has notches
chipped in the head. The Kansas speci
mens have almost invariably a straight
head ; that is there are no notches chipped
in them but a small shank to extend into
the arrow-shaft of wood is chipped for a
head ; in some instances this would cause
quite a pronounced barb to appear on
the arrow if wound neatly on the shaft.
I wish to make mention here of a
very fine specimen of drill found near
Fullerton by ProfessorNickerson of that
place and presented to me. It is brown
flint and so small that it will rest on the
thumb nail and not cover it. The form
is different from anything I ever saw
illustrated and is very perfect in work
manship. The head has notches by
which to fasten it to a shaft. I have
this with seven other diminutive speci
mens which came from the head waters
of the Missouri. They are made of
Obsidian from the extensive beds found
near the National park. These" beds are
worthy of an extensive study which we
may give them in the future. The sub
stance is clear like glass , in some cases
smoked and in others of a red tinge
making the arrow-points made of it very
pretty. I have seen a few specimens
found iu this state which came from
these beds , but I have no such speci
mens.
Indian Axes.
With reference to the axes found on
and near this Roca site , one which is
simply a large sliver or corner of a
glacial boulder with a notch chipped for
a withe to surround it was used doubt
less to obtain water in winter , by cutting
through the ice. One very fine speci
men has no notch out around it and is
the kind called a "skinner. " It is said
that the Indians could take the skin off
a buffalo with one of these skinners very
dexterously. It is six inches long and
almost round , being slightly flattened on
each side while the end is ground to an
edge more or less sharp ; this end has a
blade two and a half inches long and the
other end is chipped so that it may be
easily grasped by the hand. The sub
stance is materially the same as that
used in Ohio for the same purpose , of a
bluish block color and very hard. I am
not sure that the material even is found
here , but there are specimens which
very much resemble it.
The typical ax , those with grooves cut
around them , are quite common ; they
are made of a greenish black substance
and all the specimens I have seen thus
far show that they have been used a long
time ; many are broken in places and the
grooves are out quite regular and very
deep. It must have taken many hours
of diligent application to make one of
these axes. I am not settled in my
opinion with regard to these specimens ;
; hey may have been made here but lam
nclincd to think they were brought
from the east.
Mills in various forms are quite
numerous but on account of the length
of this article I must leave this branch
of the subject for a future article.
Crude Implements.
The implement which is distinctively
a homo product is found scattered
throughout the Nebraska field. This is
the stone which they used to dress skins.
I have many of these "rubbing stones"
made flat and smooth on one side and
sometimes on either side. One which I
have shows the marks of the fingers
deeply worn in the upper part and the
idges while the underside is flattened by
constant wearing. The stones are
selected from the drift deposit and are
of convenient size to hold in the hand.
One may know that these stones are
found on the ground and are probably
not carried from place to place but are
abandoned when the village site is
deserted. These stones are usually the
first evidences one discovers near an
ancient village site , and are found only
near the village site.
The skins are stretched on the ground
and while they are drying and curing
the squaws rubbed the flesh side with
these stones until the stones themselves
are worn flat by constant usage.
Now , to briefly recapitulate , the flints
of the Roca site show that they came
from nearly every direction , either
brought here for barter or were made
here and the different forms show that
probably different tribes made them and
the appearance shows greatly differing
ages for these flints. In fact one can
but conjecture how many different tribes
of people wandered over these beautiful ,
rolling prairies before the white man
came with his burden. From a study
of the conditions I would say that at
least three widely differing tribes have
roamed these hills in the halcyon days
when naught but fresh air and blue sky
contended with the buffalo and plumed
songster for supremacy. This subject is
still in its infancy and one can but
imagine what wonders will be revealed
ere the close of this century.
How many such ancient Indian village
sites there are in the state is a matter of
conjecture. I have rumors of many and
hope to use the spade to some effect
before this year closes. Anyone know
ing of archaeological fields will do the
state of Nebraska a favor by writing a
description of them , and some time
during the coming year wo may be able
to systematically explore them to some
purpose.
In a future article we shall dwell upon
the lodge circles , mills and what is
known of their burying grounds.
E. E. BLAOKJTAN.
Roca , Neb.
MINTS AND MONEY.
I notice that the secretary of
the Omaha Commercial Olub in an
interview in reference to the proposed
mint in Omaha says : "In addition to
.ts proximity to the mines , Omaha is the
: entre of a rich agricultural country
vhich every year requires millions of
lollars for the handling of its crops.
The location of the mint at Omaha
> vould enable the farmers and mer-
hants to reach the source of supply of
money easier than at present and they
ivould then bo using the metal mined in
; he territory contiguous to Omaha. "
No wonder we have populists , fusion-
sts , greenbackers , silver-republicans
and sixteen-to-one democrats when the
active manager of a great commercial
body puts forward such a curious theory
as is contained iu the foregoing extract.
When did it happen in the last thirty
years that farmers or merchants suffered
for the lack of coined money or legal
ender money of some other kind ? Can
the secretary or any other man in this
ommuiiity recall or specify a single
case in thirty years where any man had
anything for sale and could not sell it
because of a scarcity of coined money or
other legal tender currency. Merchants
and farmers have often been without
merchandise and without farm products
and could not get money for that reason ;
or on the other hand the people who
would like to buy may have been with
out capital or credit , and consequently
could not buy ; but neither of these
parties could say that their troubles were
due to a lack of coin or legal tender
money. It is careless and inaccurate
statements of this kind that give rise to
so much agitation and to so many false
theories among our people. The average
man is not expected to be an economic
expert and it is not strange that he is
led astray by such statements , but wo
expect better things from people whose
position should be a guarantee of correct
thinking in matters of finance. The
establishment of a mint here will not
make money easier to be obtained by
any class except perhaps burglars.
The benefit to Omaha of a mint is like
the benefit that comes from the estab
lishment of any large manufacturing
plant. The benefit is in proportion to
the amount of capital invested and the
amount of money spent for wages. It is
not even a benefit to that extent as we
would get no benefit from the expendi
ture of profits. Curious theories of
finance ore passing away. Don't lot us
revive or encourage them by such state
ments as the above.
THOMAS KILPATRIOK.
Omaha , Neb.
