Arizona republican., 1908-04-06

art, and final cause of abandonment is clearly set forth b: Doctor Fcwkes in 1 a c:nal rcoort
 Before the government put a roof ! over the great house as a means of i protection Casa Grande formed most
 imposing and dignified ruin. The
 builders. though having d preconceiv- ed plan of construction evidently knew | little of the laws of proportion as claimed by us. nor of the five manifes- tations that consistency claims for good architecture. Instinctively they followed a primitive and practical idea
 of protection and built in mass rather than ornamental shape and the con- sequence is the ruins are noble and attractive in their decay. In the days
 of their occupancy Casa Gfande and the nearby group of buildings. now recognized as compounds, presented an unusual and attractive appearance. es- pecially the great house. The build : CTS covered the structure with glazed coat of burnt substance which 1 took the color of furnished gold and seen in direct sunlight it was a strik- ing and conspicious landmark. seen for many miles.
 The report Of the earl.- and over
 jealous fathers in speaking of the un- known cities oc gold which in truth were the glazed and polished surfaces
 of the buildings. led to the great ex-
 ploration of Vasquez del Coronado in the year l540. It was then a land of
 silence. dark and forbfdding. which up
 to the time of the explorers lay for many centuries wrapped in a veil of mystery
 The great house numerous other buildings and its surrounding wall. the nearby clusters. the clan houses. the communal well. and ancient can als. will no doubt claim the interest and attention Of the visitor. Per chance should the visitor cass the night in that locality sleeping under the ramada near the ruins, the novel, t. I am sure will te one not soon to be sorcOtten.
 The solemnit.- and beauty of the night the rich and crystalline depths of the heavens from which the twink ling clustering stars in their west ward course keep the silent watches of the night, the howl of coyotes in the darkness a~d loot of the owl in the tower of Casa Grande will lull the sleeper into fanciful dreams, dreams perhaps Cc tie dark limbo or a past when people lived and had their be- ing in the now silent walls and no re- cord left them in the passing. Their aspirations. struggles. and fate holds no smallest niche in recorded history. The crumbling walls are their sole monument and mutely speak Here once v-e dwelt"
 The earnest and jealous work con- ducted by Doctor Fewkes at Casa Grande must be seen to be appreciated and understand the magnitude and thoroughness of the development. Where six months ago were mounds with a cew standing walls now rise houses surrounded by walls and door ways through which the visitor can walk as did the ancient people before the place was deserted And per haps it may interest many who abide in Phoenix and believe in her future development to know that at her very doorstep on the Tempe road is to be seen a large mound A treasure house of antiquity is this mound and no re- cord left or the separations ana StruS- gles Of tfle ancient people.
 It is to be hoped an active interest will be taken by the citizens of Phoe nix in restoring and bringing to light that which will prove to be a large and interesting ruin. having a wall around il. By scientific excavation the mound will develop a type of ruin of no less importance than the great house. the Casa Grande of Father Xii nos tt,n"