The evening times., 1900-04-24

Mr.. Shafroth of Colorado, from the Com
mittee OF the House on Public Lands. 10
which committee was referred the bill for
the preservation OF the prehistoric monu-
ments. ruins. and objects on public lands,
has presented a favorable report. There
is situated in the States of Colorado and
Utah and in the Territories of Arizona and
New Mexico a large number of monuments
and cliff dwellings, which are the work
of prehistoric man.
These monuments and cliff dwellings in
dicate that highly civilized race hun
dreds of years before the discovery Of
America occupied this portion of the United
States, and built pretentious dwellings.
castles. forts. and palaces ia that region
Of the United States
The character Of the buildings and OF
the pottery and utensils used by them in
dieate that they were much superior
race to the Indians, who afterward inhab-
tied that country. The report recites:
These ruins are OF the greatest interest
10 the students of archaeological science.
great many books have been published
with reference 10 the ruins in that portion
of the United States, and the subject is
not only one of interest to students
here, but also to scientists of the entire
world.
These ruins are located a considerable
distance from the railroad, and up TO this
tine have not been ruined or destroyed,
but they are being visited each year by
more people, and consequently the de
struction Of them is taking place more and
more each year.
che various archaeological societies are
very much interested in the preservation
of these ruins, and the only practical way
they can be preserved is by creating reser-
vations of the land surrounding each ruin,
and providing penalty for any destruc-
tion of the same.
THE bill referred to has seen drawn by
the committee. after obtaining suggestions
from the EthnOlOgical Bureau of the
Smithsonian Institution and from the In
terror Department OF the Government.
The bill proposes TO set apart and re-
serve from sale reservations upon which
monuments, cliff dwellings, cemeteries,
mounds. forts. or ony other work or pre-
historic or aboriginal man 10 the extent OF
not exceeding 800 acres to each reserva-
tion. and provides that each reservation
shall be surveyed. II places these reser-
vations under the care Of the Secretary OF
the Interior. who shall make rules and
regulations relative 10 the same.
1T permits the excavation and investi-
cation of the ruins by the Smithsonian
Institution. and by reputable museums,
universities. and colleges. II provides a
penalty for any injury, destruction, or car
rying away Of any aboriginal antiquity,
monument or ruin.
ut provides that the severing OF any
prehistoric object from the reservation and
carrying II away shall not give to the hold
er any lawful right or title thereto but
the Secretary of the Interior. with his dis
cretion, is given the authority to recover
the same.
1T provides that the Secretary OF the In
terror may acquire such parts OF reserya-
tiOns as may be owned by any person for a
sum Of not exceeding s.. so per acre.
1.-The committee is Of the opinion that
the bill will preserve The prehistoric ru-
ins and that the excavation and investi-
CATION OF the same by archaeological stu
dents will be of great benefit to that
branch OF knowledge