La Junta tribune., 1916-08-19
MESA VERDE PARK.
One of the Great Attractions of
Southwestern ColOrado-Anci-
ent Cliff Dwcllcrs Ruins.

F. T. Webber, former we'll known
resident of La Junta and the Ar
Kansas Valley is at present located
at Bayfield, and writes an interest
ing letter to readers of the Tribune
descriptive of that particular sec
tioa OF picturesque Colorado as fol-
lows:
Mesa Verde Park in southwestern
Colorado has recently been made ac-
cessible to the public by the build
ing of roads by the government. and
the establishment of guest house
near its its center. The Park is
reached from Mancos on the ID 4 II.
G. railroad and is thirty-five miles
southwest from that point. Auto
mobiles take one from Mancos to
the Park for $40 the person, and
good accommodations can be had at
Spruce Tree House at the Park for
81 per day.
The Cliff Dwellers ruins are In
different canons running into Man
cos Greek. and one contemplating
the trip should have at least three
days for sight seeing. Weeks could
be profitably spent there. The long
er one remains. the more do they
wonder at the ingenuity of this re-
markable race, and at the amount
OF labor which their completed habi-
tations represent
Their dwellings are built In i'm
mense caves in the sandstone forma-
tion that have been ground out by
the elements. Immense recesses un-
der overhansinG cliffs. Their house
es have been built OF sandstone
blocks. symstrtcaiiy shapsd and laid
In mortar. Some OF the dwellings
are three stories high, the roof Of
the cave forming the roof Of the up
per story.
tne largest OF the houses or VII
iaseA tcliff Palace) is built in q
cave about 400 feet long. 100 feet
from floor to ceiling and several
hundred feet above the floor OF the
canon. II contained approximately
200 rooms. Allowing four persons
to the room this would suggest a
population OF 500 souls.
In front OF the rooms occupied as
dwellings is string of Kiyas or
ceremonial houses. there being TWEEN
- at Cliff Palace. They are gener-
ally circular In form and are eXca-
vated in the solid sandstone with
their tops on level with the floor
II the dwellings Most of the Kivas
have circular fireplace near the
center of the floor with stone fire
Green on one side and ventilators
10 furnish air and carry off the
smoke. Nches for the reception Of
small objects are constructed in the
walls and although each Kiya pos
sesses special characteristics, they
all have a general similarity.
There are about 400 OF these vii
lagos In the different canons. all of
which are built on a plan resembling
that of Cliff Palace. Across the
canon from Cliff Palace. on top OF
the Mesa Is n building named by Dr.
J. w. Fewkes. who escayated II. the
sun Temple. as II IL thought to be
a house OF worship. II is presumed
this building was built about 1900
A. ID. II has double walls on the
outside about three feet apart. and
Is divided inside into number OF
rooms. circular. obionH and square.
The Sun Temple IL obiong In shape
l2i feet long by 81 feet wide. and is
the highest example OF Mesa Verde
architecture. Al the southwest cor
ner of the structure is n stone fossil
identified by Mr.. =. II. Knowl,on, OF
the United States National Museum.
ns Tn" FOSSIL lear OF "a PAIN ire" OF
the cretaceous period. The shape OF
the figure on the rock suggests u
symbol OF the sun. and was no doubt
worshipped as such as the ancient
races were sun sorshlpp.rS. II Ia
enclosed on three sides by stone
walls.
The highest part OF the Mesa
Verde National Park In s.b7$ fee,
above sea level. The northern edge
OF the Mesa Ia precipitous bluff
1000 feet above the floor OF Mon.
texuma Valley. From this high
point the land slopes TO the south
giving the tourist n view into -four
states at once. To the north are the
Rico Mountains In Colorado. 10 the
vAA.s sh. ttu. Ae.uusatua lp Ifs.h