The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1860-04-04

ASataSt SAoSoSu q otACotA VI lilO puk 20
water, that not only sustains rice vege
tation, but perhaps furnished thousand.
with this necessary element, who ono,
inhabited the present wilderness.
This city was probably built by war
like race, as it is quadrang ular, and ar
ranged with skill, so as to afford tn,
highest protection against an externa
foe, many of the buildings on the QUITE
line being pierced with .loopholes, a.
though intended for weapons.
Several of the buildings are Of vas
size, and built Of massive blocks of darl
granite rock, which could have only beer
wrought to their present condition by a
vast amount of labor. At the present
time the best tempered tools, in the hands
Of the most skillful workmen, could
scarcely produce an impression on the
surface. In one place a pile of ruins ap-
peared to have been intended for three
separate buildings, each about three hun,
dred eetfront, with the intervals between
them occupying one thousand feet.
The middle building is constructed
with great neatness and care, and pom
derous blocks Of the material be fore men.
toned, of nearly cubical form which,
allowing 1,5O0 ounces for the weight of
a cubic foot, would be found TO weigh
more than three tons EACH and could on
ly have been transported from the dis.
tant quarry and placed in their present
elevated positions with prodigious labor.
The walls Of the building are at the pre-
sent time from 80 to 35 feet in height,
while the surface of the ground is strew-
ed with huge masses Of fallen blocks,
which probably have been displaced from
their fallen position by the action of some
great disturbing agency such as a vol
canic eruption, which would lead 10 the
conclusion that they rose to great alti-
tude. This temple as it may be proper
ly termed is entirely destitute of any
partitions, or the appearance of their for
mer existence, and appears to have been
designed by its architects as vast hall
to be used for the performance of solemn
religious rites, or the celebration Of pub
lie feasts.
The pavement is hid from view by a
confused mass Of fallen building materi-
ais, among which are to be found frag-
ments of carving in bass relief and tres-
co work of superior design and execu-
ton, which would justify the conclusion
that these silent ruins could once boast Of
halls as gorgeous y deco ated by the ar
lists hand as those of Thebes and Pal
myra.
rf,t
This series of buildings are all loop
holed in each side. much resembling that
found in the old feudal castle of Europe,
designed for the use of archers.
The blocks of which these buildings
are composed are cemented together by
species Of morter, OF a bituminous
character, which has such lenaciiy that
vast masses of wall have fallen down
without the blocks being de tached by the
shock. The slight examination which
has been made by officers of the United
States army. indicate the presence here
of rare curiosity.
II is impossible, in looking upon the
evidences Of the residences in North
America, in ages that are past, of a pow.
erfu and civilized race, not 70 regret
that they utter voiSes 10 tell US of the
causes that made it prospe rous, and fin.
ally sweptit away into utter oblivion.
Whence came the builders of cities now
dumb ruins, awakening our admiration
OF the art and power of lost race, vet
thwarting all efforts to penetrate the dark
veil that shrouds their history When
Thebes and Palmyra were in their glory,
we cannot but believe that in the depths
OF the American continent a people,
brave in arms and skilful in arts, spread
in mighty numbers from the neigh bor-
hood of the northern lakes to the Isthmus
of Panama. Should any fortunate acci-
dent lift the obscurity that overwhelms
this race. America will doubtless be found
as rich in antiquity as Egypt or India.