Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1899-01-13
THAT PREHISTORIC CITY.
Awaiting Permission to Continu: the Work
Prof. Longuemare's Views OF II

AiNis avhhtShhAfs 'NNs VI
From Isl Paso Times.
Last sunday morning the Times con.
tanned the news OF the discovery by a
scientist, who since has been found to
be Prof. BersOn, who came here recently
from aexico, Of the ruins OF q prehis-
tOric city under the sand hill OF II. NJ
Mundy's ranch, neal this city. The loca-
tion Of the ruins IL really within me city,
in the Mundy addition, and not q great
distance from the beBks OF the Rio
Grande. Prof. Bsrson, In speaking to q
Times reporter last night Of his discov-
cry, said he had not only uncovered one
Of the corners Of u large building and OK.
tracted a number OF stones from the CO
mented walls, but had also discovered
some writings on some parts OF stones
taken from the shaft he had sunk, and he
was o engaged In transcribiag and
translating the inscriptions. He showed
the Times man several stones In q pile
on which he pointed out the writing. He
said IL would take him several weeks to
complete the %decipheriBg, and In the
meantime he was awaiting permission
from Mr.. Mundy. who Is In the City OF
Mexico, to prosecute the work OF ~excayat-
ting.
Prof. Charles Longuemare, OF this
city, who has spent years In studying
the geology Of New Mexico and fer
retlng out the traditions OF its old
Indian residents. In conversation with
a Tim reporter said that the Rio Grande
Is lined on both sides OF its banks with
ruins VI which the present population OF
Sew Mexico. even among the old Indians,
can give no account. Not only are these
ruined villages and cities, says Prof.
Louguemare, 10 be- found upon the banks
OF tho RIO Grande, but also In other por-
lions OF the territory remote from any
existing river OIL other water supply.
frequently these ruined puebl0s exist In
the mids. OF sand hills In the most arid
portion OF the territory and sometimes
they are situated on the submits OF
almost inaccessible cliffs, miles away
from moisture. No end Of speculation
has been INDUCED In by scientists a. to
tie origin OF these ancient human abodes
and Of the race that inhabited them, and
learned men differ upon the subject.
Prof Longuemare says that the old
traditions Of tho Indians are to the effect
that this section was once covered by a
forest and abOunded in lakes and rivers,
aud That these traditions are confirmed
Oy geological Investigations. He says
there is plenty OF evidence TO show that
the mesas ana mountains Of New Mexico
we're nee covered by heavy timbers, and
that that territory abOunded in lakes, and
Ga { there can DO no doubt but that the
a4i., sands OF the White Oaks country
are .Ae leaving Of Ii great lake which
once stood there.
During a period OF twenty years, hay
Ing 1850 for its beginning, Prof. Tongue
maze believes that u great catastrophe
visited this section and wiped out all
human life in New Mexico or caused the
people 10 ll3e the country. II do not
know" says the professor, whether this
calamity was local or not. IL IL SOME
thing | cannot fathom. But certain IL Is
tina. a people disappeared from New
Mexico and the ruins OF their lost cities
can be found all over the territory. The
reason why many villages and cities
were deserted was because Of the reced-
ing OF the waters. But why the waters
receded and the forests disappeared Is
more than | can attempt TO explain"
Prof, L)nguemare would not DO sur
prlsed in the least should the old ruins
30 found on the hills and mesas around
III Paso. But he holds firmly to the be-
uei that the Indians down at lsleta are
descended from that old prehistoric race
that once inhabited New Mexico. They
followed the recedlng waters and are
still on the banks OF the Rio Grande.
The professor says that this section Of the
country has served both from the rayages
vi floods and volcanic disturbances
In his opinion the Rio Grande was once
a much nobler stream than the Missis-
sippi.