The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-07-19

of the Mesa-dweIers are thick upon the
plateau.
The canyons that split the divide into
tongues and islands of preclpItous rock
are lined with the houses OF the GILL
dwelIers. The sides OF tae canyon are
sheer walls Of yellow sandstone, ranging
in height from 500 to 1,Oc0 feet. AS a rule
the dwellings, stand fifty or hundred
feet below the rim Of the heights, i'll a
sheItering recess overhung by beetinS
masses OF rock.
In a great many instances it is impos-
sible to climb to the houses from the DOL
tom of the canyon and most OF them H1tEc
to be entered from the top OF the c4liIS.
There are no definite roads or trans Ieao-
ing to them, and the difficulties to De
overcome and the dangers 70 be dared III
visiting the cliff houses are many. 1t IS
these difficulties and dangers that show
how necessary it is to build roads and
trails and rest houses so that people with
great enthusiasm and minimum strength
may visit the ruins.
This is to be one Of the first objects OF
the new association. As soon as the iah0
has been obtained good patsh and service
able steps will be arranged SO that 'he
delicate enthusiast may have the same
facilities in his search for knowledge as
the brawny relic hunter, and as the Gill
Palace. and Spruce Tree House are Two
set aside for the park, the association
win not want for attractions TO draw
visitors to this museum Of history
THE WONDERFUL SPOT
The Cliff Palace for instance, is 100
feet long, SO feet high and 50 feet broad 1t
contains 12I rooms on the ground moor
and accommodations for prbably as many
as 1886 persons. The Spruce Tree House,
which is only d short distance from the
Cliff House, is one of the most perfect
and finished specimens Of prehistoric ar
chitecture yet found.
The question as TO the age Of these cliff
dwellings is one of the most interesting
ones before archaeologists to-day. There
are students VINO claim that the houses
prove conclusively that America and not
the East was the birthplace of man; that
before he appeared in Asia he inhabited
the cliffs of this continent.
While il is possible that all this may
yet be proved there is at present little
evidence 20 lead men to Imagine that
these cliff houses date back even so far
as $1,000 or 10000 years OF course. there
is no doubt that they are very DID, that
they were occupied by a people who lived
here centuries before Columbus discover
ed the continent, but it is doubtful if il
can ever be shown that they antedated the
appearance o. man in Asia.
Interesting and important as this Ques-
ton is, the fact that the cliff houses are
not as old as we might wish them to be
does not detract from their value as re-
lies of prehistoric times. for from them
we are able to learn many facts about the
,highlv-cultivated race that disappeared
from the face of the earth so long ago.
We know that they were a peaceable
people. that they lived by agriculture:
that they understood arts and some OF
the sciences and that they had we'll
established laws It is also very evident
that they were compelled to defend them
selves from the attacks of saVake neigh"
bors. and that for this reason they buit
their houses in the cliffs, so inaccessible
that few men could defend them against
the attack of an army