The Raymer enterprise. (New Raymer, Weld County, Colo.) 1910-19??, 1919-07-31
d has queer old odor thru the

and is said to have had 20 units or
clans OF people living here.
This evening we had the fireworks
which had been sent out ahead by
the News and Times. All the sky
rockets. Roman candles, flower pots,
spaiklers. crackers, etc., that would
be delight to any bunch OF young
sters. gave us as much enjoyment.
Sc.ae Of the men, well acquainted
with the surroundings took red light
powders over TO the Spruce Tree
House. From the other side Of the
canyon the view was wonderful, the
cliff house lit up, with red, white,
and green lights. Probably this was
the first time lights Of this kind had
ever been used In this ruin. The
view was one so immense that 1t can
never be forgotten.
Early the next morning we drove
over to what is known as the Pea
body or Square Tower Cliff House, so
called because it has the only square
tower ever found in a dwelling OF
this kind. On the trail leading down
to the ruins. rope is kept by means
OF which the person swings himself
around a cliff. This is only q be-
ginning, for the next obstacle en-
countercd Is called the eye Of the
needle. This is a long passageway
between huge slabs Of rock some
rs feet long. 10 feet high, and
space varying from 6 or inches to
IL inches in width. 1t is necessary
to walk sideways thru here, climb
ing over some large rocks enroute.
Two or three Of our party had a
distressing time as they were not
what could be called slim. Mr.. Mer-
rick, was particularly anxious that
we should go thru for he had a bet
up that half OF the party would not
go thru All but three did. and they
would have, had they not been troub-
led with sprained ankle and high
heels. This house is very striking.
In that It has never been cleared Of
debris and has one kiva on which
the original roof is partly in place,
showing the ingenious method Of
CONSTRUCTION.
From here we went to the Sun
Temple which ruin was erected for
religious purposes. The structure Ia
in the form Of the letter D with the
fiat side toward the south. It has
no roof, the. walls are of-red stone,
and are double. about four feet thick
and from four to ten or eleven feet
high. When this was .excavated In
1915 large red cedar tree was
found growing out Of the wall. This
was cut down and found to have
$50 annual rings and this tree might
have sprouted some time after the
temple was built.
This park is one OF the few large
tracts Of land in the U. S. which has
been set aside from the public to
preserve the antiquities which are
found there. No other national park
contains more mysterious remains Of
a prehistoric people.
This morning, Sunday, we return
ed by the same road which we had
travelled over the day previous, to /
Mancos and Durango.
Monday morning at . o'cloc:; We
were on the platform and the autos
on fat cars all ready for a train ride |
thru wonderful expanse Of country. |
1t can be easily seen that 1t Is won-
derful country over which an aut, or
wagon road cannot be built Only
a narrow gauge railroad. This road
followed the Las Animas river. and
In lodging the immense rocks of the |
mountains, made some curves which |
were nearly horseshoe. The men, |
bers Of our party were privileged |
guests, for we were allowed to sit on |
the car steps and one was even stem
ride with the engineer. Just the
other side Of Silyerton, the train
stopped 80 that we might all climb |
the mountain to pick columbines At
the end OF Is minutes we came IL kl
with our arms full.
We came into Silverton about |
noon. This Is a town Of about 1000. |
1t is not pretty place, the surround
ing mountains being bare Of trees
and covered good deal with min
ing shafts. The cars were unload |
ed and after getting some necessary |
supplies. such as gasoline for them
we went on to the north. At beau |
tiful green place we stopped to eat |
the lunch which had been made up |
at Durango for US. This afternoon
we drove over what Is known az the
Switzerland Of America, the mcst
wonderful country one could ever
want to see. Red mountain stretch
ed out along our right and 1t was