The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1860-03-23
VOLUME XI. NO. IL.
Ancient American Cities.


turo carries our people into tho Western
wilds. The remains Of ruined cities ghu
vast piles OF buildings arc not confined To-
the area of Ctntral Amtrca. but arc iounu
10 Now Mexico. and perhaps may yet DO
brought tn light oven further north.
An interesting article has recently been
published by the Furt Smith Times III re-
gard 10 tho nnccut romans Ot tho city Qhiv-
ers. situated in luvUl plain somo ninety
milos northeast of Fort Stanton. Ne" Next
co,and about sovonty from tho hiIlI, Isolated
peak which the McxIcans call The Captain, :
that wo take tho liberty OF condGnsng Tor
our antiquarian readers.
Tho plain upon which lic tho massive
relics OF once gorgeous temples aud mag
nificunt halls slopes gradually towards tho
the river Pecos. and is very terIllc. crossed
BY gurglGg stream of tho purest water,
that not onlv sustalus u rice vegetation, but
perhaps furnished with this necessary Gle
ment tho thousands who once inhabited tho
present wilderness.
The city was probably built by warlikc
race, rs it is qnadrduguar, and arranged
with skill to afford tho highest protection
against an exterior foe, many nf the build. |
ings on tho outer limo being pierced With
locpholes, as though calculated for tho use
of weapons.
Several of tho buildings arc Of vast size,
aud built of massive blocks Of dark gran.
ite rock, which could have only been wrought
to their present condition by Il vast amount
of labor. At the present time the best tenn
pered TOOLS in tho hands of tho most skill
fui workman. could scarcely produce M i'm.
preston on the surface. In one place pilC
of ruins appear to havo been intended for
three separate buildings, each about three
hundred feet trout. with tho intervals be-
tWe0n them occupying ono thousand feet.
Tho middle building is constructed with
prea: uratpcss aud caro-. aud pondcrOus
blocks Of the material before mentioned. nt
n nearly cubicll :urm. which. allowing 800
ounces of tho weight of II cubic foot, wnnld
be found to weigh moro than three tons each,
and could only havo boon transported from
the distant quarry and placed in their pres
ont elevated positions with prodgious labor
Tho walls OF this building aro at tho pres.
ont timu from 80 to 3j teut in hoight, white
tho surface of ground is strGwCd with huge
masses of fallen blocks. which have probably
been displaced from thUir former position
by tho action OF somo great disturbing agcn
Cy, such asa volcanic eruption, which would
load to tho conclusion that they once r"so
to Il great altitude This tcmplo (ts it may
properly DO termed) is entirely destitute of
nnv partitions. or tho Appearance of their
former existence, aud appears to have been
designed by its architects AS u vast hall to
no used for the performances nt solemn ro.
ligious rtos, or the celebration Of public
feaj's.
The pavement is hid from Wow hy a con
fused mass of fallen building materials
nm0ng which aro to DO found fragments ot
carving in bass relief and frcsco work oI
Superior design and oxccutinn which would
Justify the conclusion that these silent ruins
could once boast OF halls rs gorgcousiy dec
Grated by tho artists hand us those Ul
Thebcs aud Palmyra.
This series OF buildings nrc all loophnled
in zach side, much resembling that found
in tho old fcuda castles of Europe, designed
for tho use of archers.
The blocks Of which thuso buildings are
composed are conontcd together 10y spc.
cies of mortar, Of bituminous character
which hns such tonacty that vast masso. oi
wall hGvo fallon down without tho block
being detached by tho shock. 1'ne slight
examination which has been made by pill
cors ot tho United States army Indicate the
presence here ni objects Of rare curiosity
II is impossible in looking upon the owl.
donces of tho lesiduuco in North America
10 ages that aru past, of n powerful and civ.
iliZed race, not to regret that ihcy utter III
voice to tell us OF the causes that mado II
prosperous and fnaliy swept it away lntc
uttor oblivion. Whence camo the builders
of cities now dumb ruins, awakening ou
admiration Of rhc art aud power of u los
race, yet ,hwnl ting all efforts to ponctra',
tho dark veil that shrouds their history
When Thobes and Palmyra were in thr
glory, wo can not but believe that in tht
depth of tho American continent II people
brave in arms and skilful in arts. spread il
mighty numbers from tho nuighbOrhood o
tho northern lakes to the Isthmus of Pana
ma. ShauId any fortunate accident hit th,
obscurty that overwhclms this race, Ameri
ca will doubtless DO found AS rich in tho an
tiquo as Egyp; or India.