Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1905-08-12
PAJAR|TO
CLIFF HOMES
Wonderful and Highly Interesting
Prehistoric Ruins In Abund.
anCe
MAGNIFICENT SCENERY
Within Twenty-Five Miles Of Santa Fe
Which Could Be Comfortably
Reached by Wagon Road.

Professor Edgar l.. Hewett, of the
u. S. Bureau of Ethnology, where he
holds an important position, and who
is an authority on the archaeology
and history of New Mexico, in his
talk before the Board of Trade in this
city last night said in part:
There are three centers of interest
in Pajarito Park These are the
Puye, the Pajarito and Rito de los Fri
joles. The first includes the numer-
Gus cliff dwellings and Pueblo ruins of
Puye, Shufinne, the Chupadero and
adjacent canons and mesas. The
best known and most visited portion
of the Park at present, because it is
easily accessible by wagon road in
three hours from Espanola. The Sec
ond group, that of the Pajarito, is
reached by wagon trail from San IL
defonso. This group is the least
Known of either of the three and in
cludes the vast clusters of cliff dwell
ings and Pueblo ruins of Pajarito,
Otowi, Tsaukawi, Sandia, Navawi and
adjacent canons and mesas. The
scenery of this section is magnificent
and the ruins of surprising interest.
Some 800 specimens, including pot
| terry, and implements of clay, stone,
bone and wood, have been sent from
| this section to the u. S. National
Museum during the present summer
by Mr.. Hewett, and as yet one can
scarcely see where the excavations
I'VE been made.
The third section of interest is the
extreme southern part of the district
and may be called the Rito de los
Frijoles group. This region was
made known by the great pioneer Oh
American archaeologists, Mr. Bande-
| lier, in his reports to the American
Institute OF Archaeology, and in his
interesting novel THE Delight Max
ers," destined to be much more widely
read in the future as people come to
know the cliff dwellings from personal
inspection, and learn that the works of
Mr.. Bandelier give an accurate pic
ture of the old cliff dwelling life.
This :ccSion includes the ruins of
Kuapa and Pueblo Viego (old CochitD
in Canada de Cochiti, the cliff dwell
ings and La Cueva Pintada (the
Painted-Cave) in Canada de la Cuerta
Colorado, the ruins of Haatse on
Mesa Capulin, the stone Pumas and
Pueblo of Yapashi on Potrero de las
Vacas, the stone Pumas Zone now de-
stroyed) of Potrero de los IdOlos, the
Pueblo ruins and cliff dwellings of
Rito de los Frijoles and many other
interesting places.
When we consider the magnificent
scenery of this section and add to it
the intense human interest attached
to it, we have probably the most
beautiful and interesting spot in New
Mexico, and one of the most interest
ing on the American continent. This
section can now be reached only by
horse trail from Cochiti, or from San
Ildefonso by the burro trail down
White Rock Canon.
The three districts described are on
government land and under with
drawal from all entry pending Con-
gressional action on the bill creating
the Pajarito National Park. This
measure has been kept constantly be-
fore Congress by Congressman Lacey
and ex Delegate Rodey at every session
for four or five years, but has never
yet reached vote. There is now no
opposition to the bill either at home
or abroad In fact, historical societies
20 rtu
it most enthusiastic support. 1t is
merely question of securing vote
on ,..e bill amid the many large ques-
tions which are absorbing the atten-
ton of Congress.
The Rito de los Frijoles group is
not included in the bill as the lines
were last drawn. 1t would be a great
loss to omit it. 1t is but twenty miles
in an air line from Santa Fe and
could probably be reached by wagon
road from this place in twenty-five
miles, a drive of about four hours.
1t is hardly to be questioned that the
author of the bill, Mr.. Lacey, and the
commissioner of the general land Of
flee would include this portion with
in the National Park boundaries If re-
quested to do so by influential persons
and organizations of Santa Fe. Then,
| if made tributary to the Capital City
by a good carriage road, it would give
to this place one of the unique pleas
ure grounds of America. But it is
more than local matter. 1t is a ma
tional matter and it is certain that
the government will do its part toward
making this spot accessible to the
public. The policy of regarding such
places as national property and for
national use. is absolutely fixed. Fur
thermore. it is eminently state or
territorial matter. What could be
more commendable than for New Mex
leo to make accessible to the thou
sands of travellers ard pleasure seek