The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1877-06-14
cries among the Ruins of South
western Colorado.


Very many of the people Of Central
and Western Texas contemplate visit
this spring and summer to Southern
Colorado. The railway companies
have agreed to define at an early day
special half rates for the round trip to
Denver and Cheyenne and Pueblo. A
Rocky Mountain tourist tells that
"McElmO Canyon is one Of the widest
and most romantic canyons upon the
globe; but of all its manifold attrac-
tons is the fact that that part OF
Southwestern Colorado was once
densely peopled with human beings,
the ancient ruins of whose abiding
places stand on all sides to be viewed
with the solemnity and awe one must
feel at the uncOverIng of POmpeIi.
Commencing explorations in the park
like valley of the Mancos, between the
Mesa and the mountains, the low
benches which border the stream upon
either side bore faint vestige OF having,
at some very remote time, been Gov
cred with dwellings, grouped appar-
emily in communities. A little careful
investigation revealed foundations OF
great square blocks, also of single
building and of circular enclosures, the
latter generally with depressed centre,
showing excavation for some purpose.
The greater portion OF the mound-like
ruins were so overgrown with artemi
sia, pinion pine and cedar as to be al
most entirely concealed from casual
observation. Sure Indicate ms OF their
proximity, however, was the vast guam
tity of broken pottery which covered
the ground in their nelghborhood-cu-
riously indented, painted and glazed
ware, unquestionably of early Mexican
origin. NOT piece could be found
larger than a silver dollar, and
all evidently broken up and scat
tered about since the demolition Of
the homes OF the maker. catering
the canyon at its upper end, grouped
along in clusters and singly, were indi-
cations of former habitatious, very
nearly obliterated, and consisting most
ly, in the first four or five miles, Of
similar mounds TO those already re-
ferred to, and accompanied always by
the scattered broken pottery. Among
them one building vas found OF
square and csrefully-laid sand stone
one face only exposed, of three or four
courses above the mass Of debris which
covered everything. This building
/ lay within few yards Of the banks of
the stream, was apparently about ten
feet by eight, the usual size, as near as
could be determined, Of nearly all the
separate rooms or houses in the larger
blocks, there being no houses larger,
and many not more than five feet
square. The stones exposed were each
about seven by twelve inches square
and four inches thick, those in their
original position retaining correct an p
giles, but when thrown down worn
away and rounded by attrition to
shapeless boulders. Being 90 exposed
to the elements, the cementing materi-
al which bound the masonry together
was entirely worn away upon the sur
face, but upon tearing away few
courses it was found binding the rocks
together quite firmly. It was not,
however, anything more than clay
cement. Further up the canon, runs
were found on all sides, the great ma.
jority consisting Of heaps Of debris,
with always q central mass considers
bly, higher and mora massive than The
surrounding lines of subdivided
squares. Square buildings, not more
than eight feet square, were often
found standing alone apparently; nc
trace Of any other being detected u