in the reports of Messrs. Jackson and
Holmes, members of the U.S. Geographical and Geological survey of the
territories under Dr. Hayden for 1874 and 1876.

In the south-western portion of Colorado is a range of mountains known
as the San Juan. Stretching from their base west to the Sierras is a
great plateau region, drained by the numerous tributaries of the San
Juan River. It would, perhaps, be more in keeping with the facts of the
case to say "had been drained some time in the past," for this is now
such an arid, semi-desert country that the majority of the streams
are dry, or have but scattered pools of water in them, during a large
portion of the year; and yet, at times, great volumes of water go
sweeping through them. This whole plateau is cut up with long, canyoned
valleys, presenting, in effect, the same surface features that we have
already described in New Mexico. Yet this precipitous, canyon-marked
section of country is literally filled with the crumbling ruins of a
former people. The situation in which they occur is in many cases very
singular, and the whole subject is invested with great interest to us,
because we see in them the remains of a people evidently the same as the
Pueblo people to-day.

One of the most extensive ruins in this section is situated at Aztec
Springs. This, it will be seen, is about midway between the Rio
Mancos and the McElmo. Mr. Holmes found the site of the spring, but it
contained no water. He was told, however, by those familiar with the
locality that there had been a living spring there up to within a few
years. It was evidently a place of considerable importance once. Mr.
Holmes describes the ruins as forming the most imposing pile of masonry
found in Colorado. They cover an area of over ten acres. This includes
only the ruins around the springs. But all about this central portion
are scattered and grouped the remnants of smaller structures. So that
nearly a square mile is covered with the ruins of this ancient pueblo.
Most of the stone used was brought from the Mesa Verde (Green Plateau),
a mile away, and must have been a great work for a people so totally
without facilities.

Illustration of Ruins at Aztec Springs.----------

It will be seen that immediately to the right of the Springs is a large
rectangular ruin in better preservation than the rest. This now "forms
a great mound of crumbling rock from twelve to twenty feet in height,
overgrown with artemisia, but sh