594 GENERAL VIEW OF ARCHEOLOGY OF THE PUEBLO REGION. 



chief of the Bureau of Forestry, Department of Agriculture. Forest 

 reserves are constantly patrolled by a force of forest rangers, and the 

 policy developed in the General Land Office of making it the duty of 

 these officials to protect ruins from despoliation is continued under 

 the Bureau of Forestry. This is all that could be desired. It may 

 be said that ruins of this class are the most fortunately situated of 

 all, for they are no longer liable to alienation by sale or entry of the 

 lands, and are adequately policed, with little or no expense for special 

 service. Large additions will be made to this class when the pro- 

 2)0sed Jemez, Taos, and Rio Verde forest reserves are established. 



The third class, those on Indian reservations, includes a large pro- 

 portion of the most important sites. The Office of Indian Affairs 

 fully recognizes the obligation to protect the ruins and prevent unau- 

 thorized excavation, and is, moreover, furnished with appropria- 

 tions and clothed with authority to utilize the same for the em- 

 ployment of such additional service as is necessary. Special cus- 

 todians are employed in districts of unusual importance, and this 

 service will doulitless be extended as need therefor is shown. It may 

 be said that all ruins that come under this class are in a position to be 

 adequately protected. 



The fourth class, those on military reservations, are not numerous, 

 and the attention of the War Department has not of hile been called 

 to the necessity of protecting them. LTndoubtedly this Department 

 would take the necessary steps if advised of the desirability of the 

 same, and it doubtless has facilities for effective custodianship with- 

 out providing special service therefor. 



The fifth class, those on public lands, are quite numerous, but not 

 nearly so numerous as has been supposed. The inadequacy of all 

 general archeological measures that liave been proposed heretofore, 

 so far as I have been able to determine, lies fundamentallv in the 

 fact that they have not taken cognizance of the legal definition of the 

 term " public lands." The courts have held the term '' pulilic lands " 

 to signify the Federal lands lying open on the market for preemp- 

 tion or homestead, and that when the (Tovermnent has reserved cer- 

 tain holdings from preemption they ceased to be *" |)nl)lic lands."" 

 Thus limited, class five will probably not include over 15 per cent of 

 all the ruins on lands owned or controlled by the (iovernment of the 

 United States, and on the list of important districts and sites it will 

 be seen that very few fall within this category. These lands, with 

 everything situated thereon, are constantly being alienated by pre- 

 emption, railroad selections, and lieu selections. Furthermore, with 



a Oral oiJinioii rendored by Jud.uf Wellborn in civil suits in southern district 

 of California ajziainst A. H. and L. A. P.l:issin,u;:une. See also United States r, 

 Tygli Valley Land and Live Stoclv ("ompany (7(1 Fml. Hep.. C.".):!). 



