The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-07-05
ANCIENT CITIES OF ARIZONA.

tFrom the Alta CaifornianI
The ruins OF the ancient cities OF Southern Ari-
iona are Just now attracting considerable atten-
tion. Until recently the only information that has
come to the surface has been that obtained from
adventurers who, while passing through that Sec
ton in search OF gold, have jotted down that which
forced itself upon their vision during their hasty
transit Many OF these stories have contained
sucn marvellous statements that they have been
cast aside as cleverly written pieces Of lction, as
the writer's were unknown The murderous
Apaches are gradually giving way before the adj
vance OF civilization; are being hurled back into
their mountain retreats; into eternity and on TO
reservations by General Crook and his soldiers
and that most wonderful country Is soon TO TEEN
with the life and industry OF white men. Arizona
is known to be one OF the richest mineral bearing
countries IN the world, and her valleys contain
remarkably productive soil, under the influence Of
Irrigation.
IRRIGATION CANALS IN PUEBLO vIsJo VALLEY.
Mr.. J. A. Parker, superintendent OF the Mon
tezuma Canal Company whose works are located
in Pueblo vieio Valley, Arizona, has arrived In this
city and from him we have obtained fund ofln-
formation relative to that country. The Pueblo
vieJo Valley lies south OF and bordering on the
CHA River. and between 1t ana the Graham range
of mountains. 1t IL about 400 miles east OF Yuma,
thirty miles north or Camp Grans and sixteen
miles west OF the New Mexico line. This valley is
about sixty miles long and averages Jour miles In
Width ana contains as fine agricul tural and graz
ing land as can be found anywhere. About year
ago four companies commenced the construction
OF irrigation canals at this point and have now
completed IRON three to SIX miles each OF their
works.
CHAIN OF CITIES IN RUINS.
In this beautiful and fertile valley Is q chain OF
wel-marks I'd ruins of ancient cities located about
q mile apart. In some places the walls OF the
houses still show above the surface and at others
the rolling mounds, from ten to forty feet IN
height, covered with earth and vegetation, snow
|
PROSTATE. Mr.. Parker, who Is man pos sessed OF
an lnquring turn Of mind and Is backed by literary
his spare time during the last year in researches
among these ancient ruins. me walls are com.
posed oil rough stone, laid in mortar Excavations
within their limits indicate that all the cities
were
| - DESTROYED BY FIRE
| Among the debris are found pottery household
utensils and human bones: but as yet no warllke
bones show unmistakabie evidence OF having
been burned, and crumhle to pieces upon being
s sss oas used
Indians Tor holding water-wsre found,
would indicate that cremation was practsed by
that extinct people. Axes, hammers and siedges
| which Is much heavier and harder than any now
known Of have been brought TO light. One OF these
| axes, found py Mr.. Parker, was tested BY him. He
cut ROD OF iron in two with IT, and no perceprble
| effect was produced upon the axe BY the opera
ton. This relic has been sent to the Worlds Fair
| ANCIENT POTTERY AND RARE STONES.
Mr. Parker has quite an extensive collection OF
He brought with him to the city several specimens
which ne has presented to the Alta. The vessels
were evidently made OF clay, which Is now OF v dark
gray color and as hard stone. The surfaces are
! nicely glazed and covered with lines and charac-
ha q black surface, covered with yellow irregular
lines and surrounded by similar cnlored border
oil wedge shaped characters. Another piece Is COW
cred with white and black figures the lines being
more regular than In the other piece ana contain
as a "ROman border" outside OF which are SER
rated rows OF black and striped lines, the whole
being surrounded by circular lines OF White and
| black.
lucent stone which looks as II IL had dubbed out
from seeming mass OF the same material. 1t Is
nlnty In character and will cut glass. There are
three smaller stones of the same variety, each con-
tanning a crimson hue, the smaller being quite red
and brilliant. Besides these there are two pebbles
OF ebony hue externally bus which upon being
held up to the light perfectly transparent. one
OF them has been broken in two, and The surface
presented IS as smooth and brilliant as that OF a
LANCE CANAL AND RESERVOIRS.
careful examination shows that there IS q
large canal extending ron the Gila kver, at the
ancient cities, in each OF which Is found large
trlangular.shaped reservoir, and containing ron
three to five acres. These reservoirs have been
reported by parties who have made but casual
examination OF them as the ruins OF old rortihca
laid with stone and are constructed in a very sab
stantial manner. Some OF the reservoirs, wnicn
ia
walls OF masonry extending from side to side.
STRANGE RUINs-wHAT WAS Ir2
On the bank Of the CHA River or about bout ter ten
gular structure-a building fIty-one by dity.sever
feet, built OF adobe. winch is now SO hard that .
wals-a building within buildlns-whch are
separated about ten or twelve leet ant
inches inches thick 't at the base In the walls
up about nine feet aud extending en-
IN inns 10 N.
BEAMS which probably served to brace ant
strengthen the building. The ends OF these tln
bers which are still in fair state OF preservation
show that they were consumed by fire. up to and
in some instances, part way through the wall
standing in one place. The windows are long AM
narrow and seem to nave been placed where the
were needed, and without regard to external sym
metry. The doors are ut the corners. AT the tol
oil the inside wall are several round hoies, aDou
have Been per1ect in those DAYS. as the inner wal
Is still smooth aud of yelow'sh white color
What this building was used for can only be con
ectured, as IL stands In an open space SURROUNDED
by the same class Ol ruins as those above referred
to- IL is probable that 1t was church, or, II tina
people did not worship God, Idols may nave re
ceived alteration there.
Near this building and at other points among
these ruined Cities still standing rows of ceda
posts set on very accurate lines. The upper end
OF THESE posts look old, and have been worn by thu
elements, still they are IN good state OF preserya
ton. The PORTIONS that are In the ground are muc
larger, and are very little anected by age.
OTHER RUINs-wuo WERE THE INHABIrANTs no
The same class OF ruins described above eau pe
found all over Southern Arizona New Mexico ,err
tory, and the northern part OF Mexv n streema
Little nothing Is known Of enc people VINO nd na
GOV that i'm ago the Inhabitants of these places
were summoned or 70 the SOUTH and engaged a ~
batte in which they were sll killed n a aMs,
Americans or Mexcans who visited TIM
section ana, seeing the ruins cohcudet
that they were formerly occupied ny one 0
! the semi Civilized tribes with whom Montezuma
the Mexican King, made war. and perhaps plum
dered their cities and burned thent TINS Is simpl
conjecture II these were the facts, as Montezum
kicked up his troubles about 500 years ago, W
would PROBABLY have had some account 0, ~. An
and household implements In Mexico as have bee
found in the Arizona ruins. -,
, about 1000 or l. 500 years ago, crossed Behrin
strait and made their way down the Pacific coas
: | oi this Continent into the temperate and tori
zones may aud possibly does come nearer 10 oiiel