The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-08-02
\ yAxDAL PUNISHED.

TIE territorial government Of Arizona
las put into active operation nos. corn-
rre-tahle law PASSED by the legislature at
ifs las. session against vandalism The
wanton destruction OF ancient relics ard
landmarks Is not confined 70 Arizona, but
there are few states which have had the
foresight and public spirit TO provide for
their protection by specific laws followed
by vigorous action
In thar territory. as In other parts Of the
country. are relics Of past civilization or
Of ancient races which are priceless arch
geological treasures. but they are being
recklessly demolished. partly from, a mere
spirit OF wanton destruction and partly
from the thoughtiess curiosity OF relic
hunters. who keep their thetts for tine
and then permit them TO be neglected 10
entire loss.
There Is no more prolific source Of In
formation than the caves and pictures On
rocks which once abounded. yet they are
fast disappearing. The Aztec ruins are Of
exceptional interest. as the sole remain
ing record OF the wonderful people who
Inhabited the American continent in pre-
historic times An Eastern tourist was
recently caught In the act Of destroying
some OF the ancient cave-dwellings near
Walnut canyon. When examined before
a justice the. prisoner was found to have
in his possession a valuable collection OF
relics found IN the cave dwellings which
Ea had Cd hA
was connscated by the court and will be
Eurned over to the United States govern
ment. Under the law passed BY the last
legislature he might have been severely
punished: but as this was the first case
tried under the new law and the prison
er's first effense, he received a severe
reprimand and was discharged from Gus
tody. Future offenders will not be dealt
with so lightly. for the authorities Of that
country at least are determined to do all
they can to preserve the few fine ruins
still remaining. Twenty years ago there
were hundreds OF these ruins. untouched
by man, where now there are scarcely q
score Of them in good state Of preservx.
ton
II is Just such acts Of vandalism that
have robbed the human race OF all the ad-
vantages Of the light which modern re-
search could have thrown upon the past.
Had such heedlessness possessed the peo-
pie of earlier times. We would not now be
rejoicing Ia the possession of the tablets,
papyri, monuments and hierogiyphics
which are SO jealousy treasured in the
museums Of modern nations. The de-
struction through the process Of time and
the decay due to play of the elements
have been enormous. and there is no
doubt that irreparable loss has been in
fiict.d by the vandals of all ages. The
one was inevitable. and the other was due
to the ignorance OF succeeding and in
ferior race, but there Is no excuse In this
age for such stupid indifference to the
value OF what remains.
In this state there are some very inter-
esting relics. notable among which are
the painted rocks Of Yakima, and II is
not too early to make some legislative
provision for their preservation. They
ought to be protected by even more eff
cacious means, but the fear Of punish
ment might deter the less INSCRIPTIONS
and vicious.