The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1900-12-09

ROCK FORMATION ALONG ARIZONA RAIL
ROAD.
tiflc relic hunters and amateur archie
ologists, and they are carting away and
scattering broadcast prehistoric weap-
ons, utensils, jewelry, skeletons and
pottery that should be secured by ma
tlonal statute from their profane touch.
The mystery Of long dead ages and
peoples broOds over much Of south
western America, and the tale Of It's
prehistoric peoples Is not even guessed
at Evidence there is. however, In
plenty that this region was once inhab-
ited thousands of years ago by q dense
population of skilIful and intelligent
farmers. They left behind them traces
OF their agricultural ability In the
shape Of irrigation works. with canals
and water gates. In many parts Of this
country also have been found agrIcul-
tural implements. Pottery abounds.
together with polished woods. stones
and shells and finely woven cloths.
showing conclusIvely that manufacture
was not unknown In America thou
sands of years before Columbus sailed
from Spain
There is evidence that southern Arr
Eona once held in place OF the frontier
towns that now dot It's surface no less
than II aboriginal cities, with popula-
tons ranging from 10000 to $1,000. by
all standards Of archaeological research
there could scarcely have been less
than half million OF people here. This
is probably far below the real number.
for doubtless many traces Of these
primitive people or peoples have been
lost There is probably no region OF
the world. not even excepting the sites
OF famed historic cities. that would so
richly repay scientific Investigation.
The remains OF the large cities lie in
q plain between the Salt and the ella
rivers. The plain Is about As miles In
every direction and Is overgrown by
the rank desert growth. The presence
of the houses underneath the soil is In
dicatcd by mounds, many hundreds OF
them. of varying shapes. They vary In
height from one foot to about %. Bro
ken pottery, the utensils OF the ancient
people, lies scattered around. ready to
be picked up and sold to the tourist as
souvenirs. A trade has grown up In
relics of these prehistoric people. and
they bid fair to he scattered far and
wide. beyond the hope of redemption.
Everybody takes hand at II and goes
forth to dig up something old to sell to
the tourist from the east
In some parts Of Arizona powders
and stones inscribed with hieroglyphs
have been found. The prehistoric races
evidently knew how to communicate
their thoughts in writing. but 1t is an
open question whether moderns viii
ever be able to read them. The origin
of these prehistoric peoples may re-
main forever clouded In mystery and
doubt though scientists who have ex-
amined the ruins advance various by
potheses. OF positive evidence outside
of the ruins themselves there Is little
or none. 1t is said that the Chinese
claim that one of their explorers found
ed colony on our side of the Pacific;
but. on the other hand. the Indians
have traditions of a bearded white
race" And the Chinese are neither
white nor bearded.
The United States has been culpably
negligent Of the Arizona ruins While
European nations spend vast sums on
investigating every trace of their an
Client history we have done little or
nothing to throw light upon past that
probably extends farther back than
that Of any other people Visiting ar
chaologists from Germany and other
countries have expressed surprise that
the United States should allow such
fertile field Of research to lie fallow.
Several years ago somebody bad a
spasm OF virtue In this respect. and the
ruins of a temple at Casa Grande
were preserved for future generations
by creating a national re"rvafion
around them. At least as mn should
be done for the remains OF the prehis-
torlc cities. 10 save what Is left Of their
relics from the ruthless hand Of the
vandaIs who are rapidly despoillng
them. The supply Of relics cannot last
forever. = CHARLES E. ROBINSON.