The searchlight., 1911-11-17
RESTORING OLD CITY
Monument of Southwest Is Now
in Hands Of Government.
Casa Grande, Near Florence, Arix.,
Repaired as Far as Possible
Built Like Present Day
Cement House.

Denver, Colo.-One OF the most re-
markable of the monuments under
control of the national government.
the Casa Grande. near Florence. Ariz-.
has been restored and repaired as far
as possible and an effort will be made
next year to provide better facilities
for persons wishing to visit it,
Discovered In 1894 by Padre kino.
one Of the missionaries sent TO the
new world by Spain. the Casa Grande
is considered a typical structure of the
aboriginal natives of the southwest.
and il is the only structure mentioned
by the early Spanish explorers that
can be checked and Interpreted down
TO the present day.
II was originally an extensive group
of buildings and no doubt served a
considerable community as a place of
defense against the wandering tribes
OF the desert-ancestors of the war
like Navajos and Apaches. The name
Casa Grande, in Spanish meaning
great house" was applied originally
to the large single structure standing
In the southwest corner Of the area
covered by the entire collection of
buildings. The total area at one time
covered with buildings is about sixty
five acres. Mounds and scattered de-
bris show where the buildings stood
The building known as Casa Grande
was one OF the smallest of the struc-
lures. but for some reason its walls
remained In a much better state OF
preservation than the walls OF the
larger buildings. The walls rise to a
height of 25 feet. The area covered
and inclosed by the standing walls is
43 feet by SO feet Evidently the build
ing was three stories in height. The
main building rose to two stories. but
central tier rose another story.
The construction of this house Is
unique. II is not of adobe. but Is what
is known as "cajon," or puddled clay
nodded into walls. The cajon. in huge
blocks from three to five feet long.
two feet high. and from three to four
feet thick, was manufactured on the
spot. much as cement makers manu-.
facture the material for modern ce.
ment houses Walls made OF cajon are
even harder than adobe. and. as long
as there is a roof on the structure
made OF such material the wind and
rain have little effect. Without a pro-
tecting roof the cajon will wear down
gradually. II is by this process that
most of the buildings near the Casa
Grande have been worn down.
After an extended investigation and
report by scientists In the employ OF
the government. II was decided to
brace up the tottering walls with
brick. Most OF the bad effects OF ero
sion were visible at the base OF the
walls. the falling water from heavy
rainstorms having eaten great holes
close to the ground. The northeast
and southeast corners had fallen. and
large blocks OF cajon were strewn
about the ground. Other walls were
tottering. and II was unsafe to come
near the structure.
Masons were set at work and braced
up the walls with gricks. detractise
somewhat from the appearance of the
building. but preserving the remains
for future generations. A corrugated
iron roof was put over the entire
structure as a last resort. This de
stroys the picturesque effect OF the
ruin, but II practically assures III
preservation for generations to come.