Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-06-20
PROTECTION
FOR ANTIQUITIES
Request Of Gov. Cutler Brings Re-.
Spouse From Secretary
Hitchcock.
DEPARTMENT WILL HELP.
Capitalist, "a be- Prevented From Loot.
ing san Juan Prehistoric Ruius
And Monuments.

In response TO a request for protec-
ton u Utahs Indian antiquities iu the
san Juan elf dwellings. Gov. cutler
has received the following reply from
Secretary Of the Interior Hitchcock Of
Washington. In which the department
agrees 70 protect the ruins:
Department OF the Interior. Washing
ton. June l5 To the Governor Of Utah.
State Of Utah-Sir. Adverting TO your
communication OF the 25th ult. cnclos-
ing clippings from salt Lake papers
relative to reported intention OF certain
capitalists to Loot for financial gain the
prehistoric ruins and monuments II an
tiquity located on lands Withln the
Navajo Indian reserve and partly on
uurcserycd public lands 100 southeastern
Utah. ] have the honor 20 inform you
that Special Agent Brien II the gen
cral land office having headquarters
al Denver Colo. has been Instructed
90 notify the parties that any attempt
on their part 20 remove. deface or in
lure amy Of such ruins situated on gov
cwmcu land would be vigorously dealt
with ana an parties connected there
Win would be prosecuted 10 the full
extent Of The law. have also directed
the commissioner Of Indian affairs TO
issue appropriate Instructions 10 the
superintendent ~ the Navajo and
southern Ute Indian reservations
lu this connection your attention is
respectfully directed TO an act OF Con-
gress approved June :. 1905 tpublicsNo.
2oO, entitled An Act for the Presefva-
ton OF American Antiquities section
I Of which provides Tor a fine OF not
more than $500 or imprisonment FOR u
period of not more than 90 days, or both
fine and Imprisonment under conviction
for any person who shall appropriate,
eNcayats injure or destroy any historic
or prehistoric ruin or monument or any
object Of antiquity, situated on lands
owned or controlled by the government
Of the United States without permH-
si0u q the secretary Of the department
~ the government having Jurisdiction
over the lands on which such antiqul-
ties ore situated.
till state for your Information that
copy Of your letter OF the 25,h inst
and Of ITS enclosure. also copies 81 re-
ports thereon dated the 9th inst by the
acting commissioner 81 the general lapd
Office and acting commissioner Of m
dian affairs, have been today transmit
ted 20 the chairman Of the committee
ON public lands house Of Representa-
t!yes. that Il NAV consider the prop-ie-
o. ~ including The lands IN southeast
ern Utah on which The ruins IN question
are situated within the proposed Mesa
Verde national park. IN view Of the
proximity o. the ruins thereon. Il Is
understood that senate bin 32i5. en'l-
tied "A Bill Creating the Mesa Verde
National Park" On Colorado. on which
! submitted n favorable report 20 the
senate committee on public lands Jan.
o. 1906 after being amended 20 extend
20 the lands embracing ruins within the
southern Dte Indian reservation, passed.
the senate and was referred "a the
house committee on public lands.
Very respectfully.
J.. A. HITCHCOCK, Secy.