LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL 



Smithsonian Institution, 

 Bureau of American Ethnology, 

 Washington^ D. C, January 4, 1909. 

 Sir: I have the honor to submit herewith for publication, with 

 your approval, as Bulletin 41 of this Bureau, the report of Dr. Jesse 

 "Walter Fewkes on the work of excavation and repair of Spruce-tree 

 cliff-ruin in the Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado. This was 

 undertaken, pursuant to your instructions, under the direction of the 

 Secretary of the Interior, and a resume of the general results accom- 

 plished is published in the latter's annual report for 1907-8. The 

 present paper is more detailed, and deals with the technical archeo- 

 logical results. 



It is gratifying to state that Doctor Fewkes was able to complete 

 the work assigned him, and that Spruce-tree House — the largest 

 ruin in Mesa Verde Park with the exception of the Cliff Palace — is 

 now accessible for the first time, in all its features, to those who would 

 view one of the great aboriginal monuments of our country. This 

 is the more important since Spruce-tree House fulfills the require- 

 ments of a " type ruin," and since, owing to its situation, it is the 

 cliff-dwelling from which most tourists obtain their first impressions 

 of structures of this character. 



Respectfully, yours, W. H, Holmes, Chief. 



The Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 



Washington., D. O. 



Ill 



