Clarksville daily chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1884-188?, 1884-11-05
OUR ANCIENT Cries.
Models OF the Prehistoric PuebIOs of
New Mexico and Arizona.

New Mexico and Arizona.
New York Evening Post
Col. Stephenson, who has for several
years devoted his time to systematic
research into the mode of construction
of the Pueblos of New Mexico and Ari-
IONA, started for the scene of his labors
again lately. He will continue the
work OF last summer, and will make q
general chronological collection illustra-
tive of the arts among the present Pue-
bio Indians. One of the more interest
ing features will be collection of pot
terry, of which. these people make great
variety, skillfully decorated and OF
elaborate and tasteful designs. Much
of this material will be sent by the
bureau to the New Orleans exposition.
The National museum, in which the
Offices and workshops of the bureau are
situated, is being rapidly fitted up for
the purpose for which it was designated,
but there are still odd corners fenced off
from the public gaze. In one of these
divisions number of workmen are en-
gagged under the supervision of Mr.. Vic
tor Mindeleff, constructing a series of
models of seven Pueblos of the province
of Tuscany. These towns are Te-wa, Sc
chom-a-vi, Wolpi, Ma-shong-ni-vi, She
pan-el-e-vi, Shi-mo-pa-vi, and O-ral-be,
which were visited by the Spaniards about
the year 1910, and are still inhabited
by descendants of the Indians whom
Coronado then saw. These models are
being made from the most accurate meas
urements and plans, supplemented by
sketches and photographs of every de-
tail which were secured during the field
season of 1888. The models are all be-
ing made to uniform scale sufficiently
large to show distinctly all the minor
features of the architecture and con-
struotion that have been followed from
time immemorial by those interesting
and secluded groups of men. They rep
resent very faithfully the character of
the masonry in color and texture.
Many experiments were tried before a
substance could DO found that would
properly represent the originals in this
respect, and at last species of papier
mache, the basis of which is tho macer-
ated greenbacks from the treasury de-
partment, was hit upon. The seven
towns which it is the purpose of Mr.. Min
deleff to portray are built upon the mesa
or table lands Of the mountains of Ari-
IONA, all upon the same plan. Walls of
stone cemented with mud support beams
upon which boughs and dried
grass are placed and COW
cred with cement Of mud. The
houses are generally rectangular in
shape, and are built to height of four
or i've stories, In the form Of terraces,
one upon the other. Originally there
were no means of ingress or egress upon
the ground floor, admission being gained
through doors In the second story,
reached by ladder. Recently, how
ever, since the advent Of the white man
among them, some doors have been cut
in the lower stories. The seven models
described are nearly completed and will
be sent to the New Orleans exposition.
All Of the models will be sent to New
Orleans, and when the exposition closes
they vial be returned TO the National
museum. They win undoubtedly attract
q great deal Of attention, as they are the
only ones OF the kind ever exhibited
One Of the models was made last year,
and is one Of the chief objects Of inter
est in the museum to-day. The seven
towns mentioned above are inhabited by
the Moquis Indians They number
about 1900 souls, and are dependent
upon agriculture and ep-raising for
their existence. The government makes
no provision for the Pueblo Indians In
the regular appropriation bills