326 REPAIR OF CA8A GRANDE RUIN [eth. anii.15 



Tliis treatment, it was believed, would give a surface capable of 

 elVcctually resisting; atuiospberic iuflueiices and tbe destructive action 

 of tlyinjr sand, and at the same time would not disfigure tlie ruin by 

 inakinu' tlie lepairs obtrusive. 



The broken-out lintels of openings were to be replaced, and tlie cav- 

 ities above them filled in with brick faced with mortar similar to the 

 nnd('ri)inning. 



Tlic soutli wall, which was in a dangerous condition, was to be sup- 

 ported by three internal braces, as shown in the plan, plate cxvii. Tbe 

 longest brac^e or beam was necessarily of wood, as the wide range of 

 temperature in this region, even between day and night, would i)ro- 

 duce 80 much expansion and contraction in an iron rod CO feet long 

 that without some comi)ensating device the wall would be rocked on 

 its base and its rapid destruction necessarily follow. 



• 



EXECUTION OF THE WORK 



Appended to that portion of the sundry civil appropriation act 

 approved March 2, ISSi),' in which certain expenses of the United 

 States Geological Survey are provided for, is the following item : 



Repair of tbe luiu of Casa Gramle, Arizoua: To enable tbe Secretary of the Inte- 

 rior to repair and protect the ruin of Casa Grande, situate in Pinal County, near 

 Florence, Arizona, two thousand dollars; and the President is authorized to reserve 

 from settlement and sale tbe land on which said ruin is situated and so much of the 

 public land adjacent thereto as in his judgment may be necessary for the protection 

 of said ruin and of the ancient city of which it is a part. 



On the llith of April, 1889, there was a conference between the Sec- 

 retary of the Interior and the Commissioner of the General Land Office 

 looking to the execution of the law, and on the IGth of that month the 

 Commissioner submitted a statement on the subject, calling attention 

 to the fact that the approimation would not be available until July 1 

 following, and suggesting that a special agent should be sent out to 

 examine the ruin. This suggestion was approved, and on Ajjril 27, 

 1889, Special Agent Alexander L. Morrison, of the General Land 

 Offlce, was instructed to proceed to the ruins for the purpose of investi- 

 gating and reporting as to what method should be adopted for their 

 repair and protection. Mr Morrison was further instructed to report 

 "all the facts obtainable as regards said ruins of 'Casa Grande,' in 

 order that appropriate action may be taken by the Department for its 

 preservation.'- 



On JNIay 15, 1889, Mr Morrison submitted a report to the Commis- 

 sioner, describing his journey, the location of the ruin, the ruin itself, 

 anil other ruins in the vicinity He stated that danger to the ruin was 

 of three kinds — (1) by vandalism, (2) by elements, (3) by undermining. 

 He recommended the construction of a roof and an underpinning of 



' 25 statutes, p. 961. 



