Shiner gazette. [volume] (Shiner, Tex.) 1893-current, 1910-01-20

the wonderful Monumental
park region on the southwest
ern border of Colorado and in
Utah this season, are enthusiastic in
their praise of this mysterious and
comparatively unknown land that will
in all probability come under the pro-
lection of the United States govern
ment very soon.
There is law which enables the
and natural formations that are OF
public interest. Under this law the
government is now protecting the pet
rified forest of Arizona, the cave dwell
ings of New Mexico. the cliff dwellings
Of Colorado, and many other points
of interest in the southwest, and the
natural park region of Utah, though 1t
embraces an immense territory, will
come under the same sort of protec-
ton, and no doubt will be visited by
thousands of tourists when its won
ders become more fully known. - = =
) This region, which Includes the
most remarkable natural rock forma-
tons in the world, is in part of the
world which is almost as rarely Wis
tied as the heart of Africa or Labra-
dor. 1t Is part of the great Colorado
plateau, and has been Stunned by
white men because of its inhospitable
aspect. On this great plateau, scanned
by countless gorges and aroyas, are
many unread pages in Natures book
Of mysteries. The country is travelled
over by an occasional prospector, or
perhaps cattle man penetrates 1t in
search Of stray steers. Last year a
party of scientists from the University
of Utah explored a part of the mys-
FERROUS land, and this year some stu
dents from the new archaeological
school at Santa Fe are delving into the
rich treasures of antiquity contained
in the countless UNEMPLOYED cliff ruins
which are to be found in the canyons.
But as rule the plateau land basks
in silence through the lonely years,
and the rush to the west, which has
had the effect of quickly settling the
rich country surrounding the natural
park region, has had no effect on this
mysterious desert.
The most remarkable features of
this strange part of the country are
the formations in rock which have
been carved by the wind and rain of
the ages. Here Nature has carved
most fantastic forms, which have been
looked upon with awe and generation
by Indians, and which are regarded
with the same mixed feelings by white
men who look upon them. Here one
comes upon immense natural monu.
ments, some of which are more than
five hundred feet high, seemingly
carved by giant sculptor out of the
sandstone. One of the most remark.
able of these Is called "Moh Castle"
near the San Juan river-an immense
castle-like formation nearly five hun
bred feet high. Around the frowning
battlements of this natural fortress
have been found the ruins of many
cliff dwellings. evidently the "Moki
CastNs" was a fortress in every sense
of the term. Paths leading from the
cliff dwellings to the top of the forma
ton would indicate that the house.
holders gathered at the summit on
many occasions to repel invaders
Stones could easily be rolled down on
the heads of persons trying to scale
the summit, and few men ON the tor
of this wonderfully carved castle
could have held an army at bay.
There are indications, too, that the
cliff dwellers were not the only ones
who were called upon to defend theii
lives in this strange desert land. Or
the San Juan. where this remarkable