The Placer herald., 1860-03-24
Ancient American Cities.

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venture carries our people into the western
wilds. The remains of ruined cities and vast
piles Of buildings are not confined to the
area of Central America, but are found in
New Mexico, and perhaps may vet be
brought to light even further North
An interesting article has recently been
published by the Fort Smith Times, in re-
gard to the ancient remains of the city Qui-
vera, situated in a level plain some ninety
miles northeast Fort Stanton, New Mexi-
co, and about seventy from the high isolated
peak which the Mexicans call The Captain
that we condense for our antiquarian readers.
The plain upon which lie the massive rel
les of once gorgeous temples and magnificent
halls, slopes gradually eastward towards the
river Pecos, and is very fertile, crossed by a
gurgng stream of the purest water, that not
only sustalns rich vegetaton but perhaps
furnished with this necessary element the
thousands who once inhabited this present
Wilderness
The city was probably built by a war|ike
race, as it is quadrangular, and arranged
with skill to afford the highest protection
against an exterior foe, many of tho build
ings on the outer line being pierced with
oopholes, as though calculated for the use
OF weapons.
Several Of the buildings are of vas. size,
and built of dark granite rock, which could
only have been wrought to their present
condition by a vast amount of labor. At the
pres mt time, the best tempered tools, in the
hands Of the most skillful workmen, could
scarcely produce an impression on the sur
face. In one place pile of ruins appears to
have been intended for three separate build
ings, each about three hundred feet front,
with the intervals between them occupying
one thousand feet
The middle building is constructed with
great neatness and care, of ponderous blocks
of the material before mentioned, of near
y cubical form, which. allowing 1900 ounces
as the weight of a cubic foot, would be found
to weigh more than three tons each, and
could only have been transported from the
distant quarry and placed in their present
elevated position with prodgous labor.
The walls of this building are at the present
time from 80 to 35 feet in height, while the
surface of the ground is strewn with huge
masses of fallen blocks, which lave probably
been displaced from their former position by
the action Of some great disturbing agency,
snch as volcanic eruption, which would
lead to the conclusion that they once rose to
a great altitude. This temple (as it ma,
properly be termed) is entirely destitute Of
any partitions, or the appearance of their
former existence, and appears to have been
designed 10y its architects as a vast hall to DO
used for the performance of solemn religious
rites or the celebration of public feasts.
The pavement is hid from view by a con-
fused mass of fallen building materials,
among which are to be found fragments Of
carving in bass relief, aud fresco work of su-
perior design and execution, which would
Justify the conclusion that these silent ruins
could once boast of halls as gorgeously deco
Dated by the artists hand as those of Thebes
or Palmyra.
This series of buildings are all loop holed
in each side, much resembling that found in
the old feudal castles of Europe designed for
the use of archers
The blocks of which these buildings are
composed are cemented together by species
Of mortar of bituminous character, which
has such tenacity that vast masses of wall
have fallen down without the blocks being
detached by the shock. The slight examin-
alton which has been made by officers Of the
United States army Indicate the presence
here Of objects Of rare curiosity.
1t is simpossible, in looking upon the evi-
dences Of the residence 10 North America, in
ages that are past, Of a powerful and civilized
race, to regret that they utter no voice to
ftell us of the causes that made it prosperous,
and finally swept away into utter oblivion.
Whence came the builders Of cities now
dumb ruins, awakening our admiration Of the
arts and power of lost race, vet thwarting
all efforts to penetrate the dark vale that
shrouls their listory9 When Thebes and Pal.
myra were in their glory, we cannot but be-
lieve that in the depths Of this American
continent people, brave in arms and skill
ful in atrs spread in mighty numbers from
the neighborhood of the northern lakes to-
the lsthmus of Panama. Should any for
tunae accident lift the obscurity that over.
whelms this ancient race America will doubt
leis be found as rich in the antique as Egypt
or India.
Irs OBJEor-The Helper resolution WAS
introduced by the Democrats in Congress for
the purpose Of keeping up the slavery agta.
ton, and for no other object. Detroit Trib.
une
Brown can make his bloody forays. Hell
per can plan the isng of the blacks to cut
the throats of all the whites. The Black
Republicans can endorse it ALL But the
Democrats alone are to blame for agitation
if they speak of these facts. This is Black
Republican Plaindeaksr.
A lady friend Of ours SAYS the first time
she was kissed, she felt like big tub Of roses