The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-04-14
UTAH
TO BE EXPLORED
Two Men Leave Salt Lake to In
vestigate the San Juan
Country.

Salt Lake. Utah, April 14.--Explora-
tions into the mysteries Of the San
mountains on the east and the angle
formed by the San Juan rivers, are to
be made by H. L. A. Culmer, an artist,
and Sampel II. Whitaker, under the di-
rection of the Commercial club.
No living creatures, save coyotes and
lizards, make their homes in this 0es-
olate country. Even the scientist has
failed to penetrate into the depths Of
this region, and the geological age of
the rocks has been left undetermined.
Government surveying and exploring
parties have spent years battling with
cataracts in their descent down the
Colorado and San Juan rivers. They
the country and the tributaries Of the
San Juan There they found ruins Of
the habitations of vanished races on
lodges and in caves, whose past his
tory is unknown. The story of the life
the aborigines lived is known only as
! terry, garments, tools and weapons. He
roglyphics and inscriptions are
scratched on the cliffs, but have never
been translated. 4. ...a
The side canyons extending into this
| unknown region and presenting, perpen-
dicular faces thousands Of feet :, in
able. No streams flow. from this re
gion, and the scarcity Of water adds to
| the difficulty of exploration.
What records of the cliff jewellers are
hidden in this territory are still to be
learned. It is evident that they built
region, as they did in the surrounding
valleys and cliffs. A report comes from
the cowboys who have risked their lives
in roaming about in the Elk mountains,
that villages and bowers can be seen in
the distance on cliffs. Great natural
bridges are also reported.
Tradition Of the Moeuis. 49,.
A tradition has been handed down for
centuries among the Moqui Indians in
Arizona. It was told to an explorer by
an old chief thru an interpreter. He
said: -.
"Formerly the aborigines inhabited
all this country as far west as the head
waters Of the Sar Juan, as far north as
Of the Colorado and San Juan, and south
thruout Arizona. They lived there
from time immemorial and cultivated
the valleys. Once they were visited by
strangers from the north, supposed to be
the ancestors of the present Utes, who
fell upon them and devastated their
farms. To save their lives they built
store their grain and defend themselves.
These strangers worshipped the sun,
and soon drove the inhabitants from
their homes and across the cherries up
lands. For many moons they fought
until the hollows in the rocks were
filled with the mingled blood of con-
que1rors and conquered. Victory was
Jxyif I, hn al 4
their foes back out of the country.
They moved gradually further south
into the deserts of Arizona. and there
built new homes.'' 49, Il = &
The Moquis still occupy the haunts of
their forefathers on almost unapproach-
able cliffs .
It is into the wilds of this country
that Mr.: Gunner and Mr.. Whitaker in
tend to 60. Their researches will deal
with not only the cliff jewellers, but also
the mineral resources supposed to be
there. The Commercial club is not onlv
interested in opening up the treasures
OF the country, but believes the entire
tract should be set aside as national
park. ~. . - = ".
The discoveries already made in the
southern part OF the state are extensive,
ana mating unearthed IN the cliff
dwellings are among some of the best
specimens ever found. In the burial
places of the. aborigines .mumlmies have
been dug up in large numbers, and some
are IN the Desert Museum at the Uni
Verslty OF Utah. The evidence of
mound builders extend as far north as
Utah lake and train of ruins can he
traced clear into the region of the San
Juan. #.s,, 49, = >>,->.'' w go Aoe't :
Mr.. Culmer and Mr. Whitaker will
proceed from Moab to Monticello. Here
the trail crosses the head Of Devil q
canyon and then follows Hallet's can
yon to Bluff City, situated in valley
surrounded by tablelands, once the river
bed OF the San Juan river. s'i|. =
| Valley Filled With Ruins.
This valley is filed with ruins. and
with the naked eye -sixteen-room cliff
house can be seen from the center of The
city. Farther down the valley are the
ruins OF watch towers, and mounds have
been opened containing mummies and
reilcs. The homes of residents of Bluff
City are decorated with implements of
flint, war clubs, water jugs, carved and
figured. and rush mating. The whole
valley bears evidence that it was once
cultivated by the lowland villagers and
cave dwellers. -. " -
The unexplored region lies northwest
OF Bluff City. j. A. Scorup of Bluff
wy, WIFI IHree or -FOUR OCnor men some
what acquainted with the country, will
| Join this expedition. These men are
familiar with the section said to contain
natural curiosities and remarkable
ruins. They have beheld from a dis
tance some of these ruins but most of
this country is only known to them by
rumors. ~ r. ~. j.. z.#..e IS 49,. :"
| The trail mapped out by the guides
crosses the Butler Wash and up ~the
comb ridge to the headwaters of Comb
creek near the Orejas Del Oso on the
summit of the Elk mountain. Al base
of supplies will be established in that
neighborhood, and they will work their
way from that point until they reach
the Cataract canyon of the Colorado
river, and then extend their explora-
tions farther south.
In the valleys and canyons of the Rio
Rancos, Rio McElmo, Hovenweep and
Rio Chiefly, branches of the San Juan
river, are the largest ruins in the United
States. These rivers rise in Colorado,
Arizona and New Mexico, but cross the
boundary Of Utah before flowing into
the San Juan. For miles along the lat
ter ruins Of the cliff jewellers are found.
The masonry work on some Of the
ruins is perfect. The stones are cut to
uniform size and perfectly smooth.