434 MESA VERDE 



The buildings are constructed of carefully squared rock, each of 

 which must have been brought some considerable distance up 

 steep ladders or along the narrow trails which lead to the towns. 

 Water was had in some cases by small springs or seeps within 

 the rock ; in others it was brought in earthen jars, carried, pre- 

 sumably on the heads of the women, from the springs far down 

 in the valley. The foot and hand holes cut in the rock still 

 show the path by which the dwellings were reached, but in places 

 these terminate on overhanging cliffs, where it is obvious that 

 ladders must have been employed. 



These ruins have been an object of superstitious dread by the 

 Utes and other Indians living in the neighborhood and have not 

 been disturbed by them through centuries ; but with the advent 

 of the white men destruction has come, and many of the finest 

 have been wantonly pulled to pieces or injured in the search for 

 relics. In particular an estufa or council chamber situated 

 below the surface of the ground and the only one remaining in 

 perfect condition was partially pulled to pieces in order to take 

 some of the logs of the roof to exhibit at the World's Fair at 

 Chicago. Various individuals have made a business of collect- 

 ing the pottery from these ruins, rifling the graves and selling 

 the material thus obtained to tourists or to collectors of curios- 

 ities. Several museums have sent exploring parties into the 

 vicinity and have obtained material for exhibition. Although 

 these ruins are presumably the property of the National Gov- 

 ernment, little, if anything, has been done to preserve them, and 

 the National Museum possesses comparatively few objects from 

 this localit} 7 . It is a matter of regret that these interesting ruins 

 are not being preserved, as even from a commercial aspect they 

 would have an ever-increasing value to that part of the State in 

 attracting tourists from all over the world. In spite of the dif- 

 ficulties of access, it is estimated that at present 75 parties a year 

 visit the more important of these cliff-houses. The trip is made 

 from Mancos, a town on the Rio Grande Southern railway, a 

 day being spent in reaching the ruins on horseback, another 

 day or more in visiting the ruins, and the greater part of one 

 day in returning to the railroad. It might be practicable to 

 construct a wagon road, but no steps of this kind should be 

 taken to facilitate travel until ample protection is provided to 

 prevent the defacing and injury of the buildings by careless 

 visitors. 



