El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-04-20
HISTORY HIDDEN
IN NEW MEXICO



Continued from page /. Section p
lection and preservation Of these in
valuable remains of antiquity, but so
/ far removed has 1t been from the great
transcontinental highways of travel
that 1t has been seldom visited or ex-
plotted.
The government has taken every
precaution to preserve these priceless
remains Of a vanished race and to
project them from vandalism and
spollation- Unfortunately many of the
ruins were ransacked and stripped OF
their most valuable contents many
years prior to the enactment Of the
legislation for the preservation OF
American antiquities. The interior de-
partment has been actively engaged
In the work of keeping these struc-
lures Intact and of preventing further
decay and disintegration.
The lettering and crumbling walls
OF the larger ruins have been braced
up and reinforced with steel and ce-
ment, the deep kivas and UNDERGROUND
chambers have been excavated, cleaned
out and restored, and drains culverts
and bitches have been built TO carry
OF the storm waters and 10 prevent
further erosion.
The topography Of the Mesa Verde
proper. IN itself is Of peculiar inter
est Unlike the mountainous regions
IN other sections, the Mesa Verde con
slsts OF a series Of lofty plateaus level
on top and separated by huge narrow
lateral canyons with nearly perpen-
dicular sides. The rimrOck bordering
these canyons forms cliffs of tremen-
dOus height thus presenting a sue
cession of lofty table lands and bold
precipitOus cliffs The scenic effect
Of this remarkable formation is strik-
ingly obtained from the government
highway leading from the northern
boundary Of the park southwark to
the ruins. At the highest elevation on
the main wagon road the panorama is
wonderfully comprehensive of the nat
ural beauties of this region, the view
commanding the MOntezuma valley
ana Ute mountain in Colorado, the
Blue mountains in Utah, ShiprOck in
New Mexico and the Arizona desert.
Requires Horseback Trip.
The headquarters Of the park SUI
perintendent are maintained in the
town OF MancOs, MontezUma county.
Colorado, the nearest railroad pOfnt
to the ruins. The total distance from
the town of MancOs to the government
camp at Spruce Tree House located in
the ruin district, is % miles About
IS miles of this journey mas be taken
In carriages or wagons; for the re-
mainder of the distance the traveller
must saddle up" and ride over the
mesa on horseback At the govern
ment camp sleeping accommodations
in tents may be procured, and good
meals may be had at reasonable and
regulated rates. The average tourist
makes three days trip, on going,
one at the ruins and one returning.
Road is Being Built.
The completion of the main gov
eminent wagon road, now under con
structiOn, win afford q through route
to the ruins for cOnveyances and will
dispense with the necessity for the
present saddle journey.
Located in q region where nature
assumes her most rugged and fantastic
forms, resplendent in wealth Of
scenic beauty and unique in the char
acter Of the curiOsities 1T contains. the
Mesa Verde National park extends to
the traveller novel and fascinating
lnducement Its development and i'm
provement viii place it among the
most important OF our great national
reservations. a position to which IT has
Just claim.