Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-01
AR|zONA'S WONDERS
Greatest Museum Of Natural
History in the World.
BUILDERS OF EARLY DAYS
Useless Even to Guess at Age Of
Montezuma's Castle.
KNEW ARTS OF BUILDING
Evidence That Cave Dwellers Were
Well Advanced in Civilization.
People Once Numerous.

BIZ WILLIAM z. CURTIS.
Special Correspondence of The Star and the
Chicago Record Herald.
PHOENIX, Ariz., April 81, 1911.
Arizona is the greatest museum of
natural history in the world. and con-
tains more wonders and freaks Of ma
ture than any other similar area in all
the universe. 1t is fortunate that the
national government is taking prompt
and thorough measures under the laws
OF Congress to protect and preserve
them. Many have already been de-
clared national monuments by q proc
lamation of the President, under the
authority of an act for the preserva-
ton of American antiquities approved
June 8. 1906. and others are in the ma
tional forests, which will prevent their
destruction and desecration. The ma
tfonal monument act authorizes the
President at his discretion to with
draw from entry historic and prehis
toric structures, landmarks and other
objects OF scientific interest SO that
they become forever the property of
the government Of the United States.
Directly north Of the Roosevelt dam,
near Camp Verde, are two remarkable
monuments. one of them known as
Montezuma's Castle and the other as
Montezuma's Well. Both are on Beaver
into Verde river. about thirty miles in
a direct line east OF Prescott and
twenty miles southeast Of Jerome.
Prehistoric Ruins.
What is known as Montezuma's Cas-
tie is an enormous ruin Of those curl
Gus structures left by the prehistoric
race known as the cliff dwellers. 1t is
a veritable castle. five stories high. and
contains twenty large and eight small
rooms, besides a number Of closets and
alcoves evidently used for storage. The
original dimensions are a matter of
conjecture, because large portion of
the walls have fallen and form a pile
of talus at the base of the cliff. What
remains is about 100 feet long and 4S
feet high. with tower about IL feet
square. reaching to the highest roof,
which was originally much higher than
at present.
This curious dwelling was built in
the hollow OF cliff about q quarter of
a mile in length and about 200 feet
above the bed Of Beaver creek
Dr. Miller, president Of the Arizona An
tiquarian Society, in reporting upon this
ruin. says: THE walls of the building
were all of stone and mortar made of
native cement. Time has amply demon
strated the character Of the work and
the workmen. 1t is the general impress
sion that the cliff jewellers were an iEnor-
ant, savage people, but this and many
other structures do not warrant such an
opinion. Whatever their condition or
plane in the scale Of civilization, they
knew how to build a house that would
stand In the outer walls suf1cient
number of openings were left for light
and ventilation. The floors are perha ps
the most curious Of any part of the struc-
ture. Great logs. twelve to fifteen inches
In diameter. were used as joists for the
second, third and fourth floors. Some OF
them were laid on lodges suitable for
and natural cement. These logs were
placed every six or eight feet Then an
other set of logs three or four inches
thick were laid across them. Then came
layer Of willow twigs six or eight feet
in length.