44 MAJOR JOHN F. LACEY 



There is still another line of work that greatly inter- 

 ested him, the preservation of the prehistoric ruins on the 

 public lands. He became interested along this line about 

 the year 1901, and in order to get as comprehensive a 

 knowledge of the subject as he could he accepted an in- 

 vitation from Prof. Edgar L. Hewett to visit the ruins of 

 the cliff dwellers and cave dwellers in the Pajarito region. 

 This trip led to the introduction and passage of his bill 

 for the preservation of aboriginal ruins and places of 

 scenic and scientific interest upon the public domain, un- 

 der which the petrified forest, the Olympic range, elk 

 reserve, and about two hundred places of ethnological 

 interest have been designed as monuments and preserved 

 to the public. This also led to the establishment of the 

 School of American Archaeology. 



In describing the Rito he says : 



In going into the Rito I stood upon the rim of the caiion in the 

 twilight. A rainy mist hung over the mountains. The camp- 

 fires were already burning and the scene was one of surpassing 

 beauty. In this sequestered valley, where once happy thousands 

 made their homes, only the ranch house of Judge Abbott is evi- 

 dence of present occupancy. 



As we reluctantly left the valley in the morning the sun was 

 shining and the bluest of blue skies arched over the mountains 

 and canon walls. 



The Rito is full of interest for the lovers of the beauty of out- 

 door life. A visit to its caves and ruined buildings can be well 

 followed by another to the Jimez Mountains, and the Zuni, Taos, 

 Acoma, and the other living pueblos will reward the curious 

 traveler. In this high altitude the deep breathing of the dryest 

 and purest air will give health and strength for the battle of life 

 in the hard grind of everyday work in this modem, everyday 

 world. 



In describing the petrified forest, he said: 

 Ages ago, so long that it makes one dizzy to think of it, these 

 trees were alive and growing in the Southwest. They were con- 



