The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-07
ANCIENT AZTEC CITY.
Discoveries of Great Archaeological
 Value,


 Underlying the present capital of the Mexican Republic are the moulded and earth-covered ruins of the ancient seat of the Aztec Empire, says The Chicago inter-Ocean. Recent discoveries prove 1t so.
 Excavations have brought to light sam ples of the art and handicraft of that wonderful people, whose deeds are yelled m mystery, but whose crumbling ruins tell of the existence of a highly cultured, gentle, progressive race, whose cities were the cornerstone of the modern cap ieal and whose uncertain history lends romance and glamour to the contrary. Time and again writers on Mexican ar- ton of the City of Mexico is made up of the ruins of the ancient Aztec city.
 Through the efforts of Capt. Porhrio Diaz. the son of President Diaz, the of the statement, after years of uncer- tainty, has been fully demonstrated by the finds that have been made during re- cent excavations, undertaken under the auspices of Captain Diaz.
 Within the past few months discoveries of the greatest archaeological import ance have been made, which promise to shed much new light upon the ancient this strange and highly cultivated people.
 Captain Diaz has so far made the ma- Jority of his discoveries right in the heart of the City of Mexico. only two squares 
 The First Excavations.
 Some time ago it was decided by the Mexican Government to rebuild the old palace on the corner of Relox and Cor dobanes Street, to furnish suitable quar- ters for the Department of Justice. Sus- picion had been long entertained that the excavation of the foundation of this building might reveal priceless treasures of past age and an extinct and mys- terious race.
 zA l.t. terest in all matters bearing on Mexican archaeology. was, therefore, given charge of the work, and it Is chiefly due to his painstaldng efforts that the exceedingly interesting and valuable discoveries were made.
 When the excavations were begun noth- ing of interest was discovered, and Cap tain Diaz and those under him were greatly disappointed and beginning to think that some mistake must have been made by the archaeological authority who claimed that great finds would be made.
 One day, however, while the workmen were leveling off the patio, or central courtyard of the edifice, previous to put ting down a new pavement, they came in contact with 6 hard, solid foundation, which proved to be flight of stone steps going down into the earth.
 It is probable that they would have covered them up again and levelled ofr the projecting one at the desired height had not young Diaz happened along just in time.
 He immediately ordered the men to go right on digging, cautioning them at the same time to use their tools most care fully. Following a line parallel with the steps, a trench was opened the entire IeI4gtn of the patio.
 Sample of Statuary.
 At the farther end of the trench, scarce ly two feet below the surface, the men struck what appeared to be a round, poi ished rock, around which they carefully worked, pulling the dirt out with their hands, till they had disclosed a monontn welgning several tons. representing llser, lecumDent, ready to spring.