The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1911-09-28

some miles distant on hill, there
being no rock at all nearer They are
hewn as smooth and even as can be
and all done with stone axes, laid as
even and true as any stone mason can
now do, the mortar pressed smoothly
with the fingers, the prints Of which
we saw. The poles forming the roofs
Of one story and floors of the one
above, are all of size, peeled and in
perfect preservation; look as though
they might have been put there last
year. The fine strips of bark are on
top of the poles Laid crosswlse OF
them. The immense large logs which
support the poles, are also sound
nearly all over. All are spruce tim
Der. No such timber has grown
anywhere in the country since there
has been history of it. Where they
obtained it is another great mystery.
The two paths where they trod, one
going to the quarry; the other COM
ing from it, are still plainly to be
seen from long distance. The sup
position is the building was kings
palace and he had servants to carry
the stone, prepare it and make the
building. 1t covers an immense area
The center was an open court, and the
rooms built around it, all being en-
tered from the court. No other open
ing in any room except inside from
one to another. There was reser-
voir in the center for water. One
room is perfectly round, and is sup
posed from idols and other things
found therein to have been for re-
ligious ceremonies. All the others
are square and all of a size. Their
irrigation bitches are still traced
plainly through the valleys. They
buried their dead under the floors,
which are Of soil. With each one
was buried bowls and other utensils
1t is thought some dire calamity
came suddenly upon the inhabitants,
as the ones not buried are found in
almost every position; some standing.
others sitting, and lying in different
positions. One man had pipe in his
mouth. It seems they were all ex-
terminated by earthquake or some
other dire calamity. Hundreds of the
homes are now leyeled and alfalfa
and other crops growing over them.
Mr.. Brown, of Pennington, told us
of one home he was in of over 1000
rooms. Two others of 100 rooms
each. Our next door neighbor
here, Mrs. Cutting, said they were
leveling their land for irrigation, and
she was digging for relics. She dug
into the bones of a person, which
nearly got away with her and she fled,
but was so anxious for some pottery,
she went back and continued digging.
She found a nice bowl and a cup, but
the cup was broken. Bowls, water
jugs and other pottery is always
found in the graves, all finely painted
and decorated with stripes, flowers,
butterflies or other designs.
This is remarkable country.
Mines of all kinds, crops of all kinds,
a delightful climate, especially for
lung trouble. Indians on three sides
OF us. There are so many things I
want to tell you about but this is too |
long already. I'd like to tell you of !,
Ship Rock, great wonder, the In !;
dian agency near it, the mountains !
rising up apparently from level |
MESA or prairie, and, oh, so many
things. Also the nice place we live in.
but perhaps you will not want to read !
even this, if it gets printed. 1t may
ind the waste basket. I'd like to de- !
scribe Pagosa Springs also, but must
not write any more
Your old friend, /
Amelia j. Meek