Part 2

On July 1, 1890, Mr Mindeleff submitted a report. He described the ruins of which Casa Grande is the type, and also Casa Grande itself. He also made a statement of the condition of the ruin and suggested that the main destruction "was due to the undermining of the walls, and stated that much damage had been done by tourists. He recommended (1) that an area about the ruin be fenced in; (2) that a man be located permanently on the ground to watch the ruins; (3) that the ruins be cleaned out; (4) that the walls be underpinned with brick instead of stone, as previously suggested; (5) that the tops of the walls, after removing several inches to afford a good bearing surface, be treated with a coping of cement. It was regarded that this plan, if carried into effect, would afford sufficient protection against the weather, but a plan for a roof was submitted should such a structure be deemed desirable and practicable. Mr Mindeleff also recommended a number of tie-rods and beams, the replacement of the broken-out lintels, and the filling of the cavities above.

This plan was approved in its general features, but the means provided for its execution were found insufficient. A further complication arose from the fact that a few months later Mr Mindeleff severed his connection with the Bureau of Ethnology and his knowledge became no longer available.

November 20, 1890, the writer was ordered to proceed to the ruin and inaugurate the work of repair, following, so far as practicable, the plans already approved. He left Washington soon afterward and reached the ruin late in December. It was found necessary to make a detailed survey of the ruin and of the group of which it forms a part, and to make plans and sections showing the probable amount of excavation for the use of those who were invited to bid on the work. Furthermore, the amount appropriated was so well known to be inadequate that great difficulty was experienced in obtaining bids, and it was only through the efficient cooperation of the Reverend I. T. Whittemore at Florence and of Mr C. A. Garlick at Phoenix that success was finally achieved. Two bids were received from the former place and one from the latter; but this was not accomplished until March 17, 1891, the date when the last bid was received. In the meantime the writer, having completed his work at Casa Grande, so far as he could, had entered, in January, on an archeologic investigation of the valley of the Rio Verde, in compliance with his orders to that effect.

It was found impossible to execute all the work deemed requisite for the preservation of the ruin within the limits of the appropriation. A selection of items became necessary, therefore, and those which were of most importance were chosen. Even in this, however, it was found that a maximum limit on the amount of work to be done on each item must be set, and this limit was considerably below the amount of work estimated to be necessary.

The first thing to be done was, of course, the clearing out of the rubbish and debris. The item next in importance was the underpinning of the walls with brick wherever it was needed. The third item was the restoration of the lintels and the filling of the cavities above them. The fourth item was the tying in of the south wall, or of the several parts of it, with braces. This was the only feature of the plan which would appreciably disfigure the ruin, but some such device was deemed essential for the preservation of the south wall.

These four items consumed practically all of the amount appropriated, and the other items of the original plan were therefore omitted. The bid of T. L. Stouffer and F. E. White, of Florence, Arizona, covering the four items, was accepted, and a contract was made with them, under date of May 9, 1891, for the execution of the work for the sum of $1,985. This contract, together with the specifications, plans, and other drawings which formed part of it, accompany this report. It was transmitted to the Director of the Geological Survey, and by him approved and forwarded to the Secretary of the Interior June 6, 1891. It was approved by the Acting Secretary June 20, 1891. Finally, on July 20, 1891, it was placed on file, together "with the bids, proposals, and all the original papers."

A time limit of two months was made in the contract, expiring August 20, 1891, but it was changed to four months from July 1, 1891, expiring October 31, 1891. Before the time expired, however, Mr H. G. Rizer, then chief clerk of the Bureau of Ethnology, was ordered to proceed to Casa Grande ruin to examine the work done and, if in accord with the terms of the contract and the specifications, to certify the amount due the contractors. He submitted a report, under date of November 24, 1891, which is appended hereto. He also obtained six photographic negatives of the work as it stood a short time before its completion, and two of these (reproduced in plates CXX and CXXI) have been utilized in the preparation of this report.

Mr Rizer found that a considerable amount of work had been done by the contractors in excess of that authorized, and also that not sufficient work had been done to render the repairs permanently effective. Under the terms of the contract, no amount in excess of that stated ($1,985) could be paid, and payment of this amount was made late in 1891. On January 7, 1892, the contractors filed a claim for extra work on the ruin amounting to $600.40. The work was actually performed, but the terms of the contract were clear, and the claim was therefore disapproved January 28, 1892.

It would have been desirable to have had a supervisor of the work, but as the contract consumed practically all of the amount appropriated no provision could be made for one. It is fortunate, therefore, that the Reverend I. T. Whittemore, who had in the meantime been appointed honorary custodian of the ruin, generously undertook to look after the work without compensation, and on its conclusion the small sum remaining ($15) was turned over to him, thus exhausting the appropriation. In the sundry civil appropriation act for the year ending June 30, 1893, provision was made for a salaried custodian of the ruin, and Mr Whittemore was appointed to this position. Similar provision has been continued from year to year to the present time.

It is to be regretted that the necessities of the case, imposed by the limited amount appropriated, compelled the fixing of a maximum amount of work so far below the amount necessary that the repair of the ruin is incomplete. Had it been possible to carry out the plans, it is believed that the ruin would have stood unchanged for many decades, if not for a century. Should further provision be made for the continuation of the work, it should include an item for the fencing of the area covered by the ruins or of the reservation, and possibly an item for the construction of a roof.

It is not clear that a roof is absolutely necessary, but it is certain that it would be very undesirable. The region where this rain occurs has probably less rainfall than any other part of the United States, but it must not be forgotten that while rainstorms are infrequent they are sometimes violent, and what damage they do may be done in a few hours. All the items for the repair of the ruin, except that pertaining to a roof, were so devised that the ruin was not materially disfigured or changed, and were they fully carried out the ruin would present much the same general appearance as before. It is important that this appearance should be preserved as far as possible, but it can not be maintained if a roof is erected over the walls. As four years have elapsed since the completion of the work, it should be possible now to determine whether atmospheric erosion has played a material part in the work of destruction.[1]

[Footnote 1: See the letter of the Director of the Bureau of American Ethnology to the Secretary of the Interior regarding the examination of Casa Grande by Mr W J McGee in the supplement to the present paper.]

In the original plans and in the specifications which formed part of the contract (although this section was not operative) a plan for a roof was included. Such a structure, if erected at all, should be made as inconspicuous as possible and should be supported entirely from within the building. The system of framing employed might safely be left to the contractor if he were made responsible for the strength of the completed structure.

RESERVATION OF THE LAND

The final step in the execution of the law quoted was taken June 22, 1892. On that date the recommendation of the writer to the Director of the Geological Survey, referred by him to the Secretary of the Interior and by the latter to the President, was finally approved, and it was ordered that an area of land sufficient for the preservation of the ruin, and comprising in all 480 acres, be reserved under authority of act of Congress approved March 2, 1889. This area is shown on the map reproduced in plate CXXV, the base of which is a map accompanying the report of Mr H. C. Rizer.

The letter of the Secretary of the Interior recommending the reservation of the Casa Grande tract, with its indorsement by the President, is as follows:

Department of the Interior, _Washington, June 20, 1893_.

Sir: I have the honor to recommend that the SW. ¼ SW. ¼, SE. ¼ SW. ¼, SW. ¼ SE. ¼ section 9, NW. ¼, NW. ¼ NE. ¼, SW. ¼ NE. ¼, NW. ¼ SW. ¼, NE. ¼ SW. ¼, and NW. ¼ SE. ¼ section 16, all in township 5 south, range 8 east, Gila and Salt river meridian, Arizona, containing 480 acres more or less, and including the Casa Grande ruin, be reserved in accordance with the authority vested in you by the act of March 2, 1889 (25 Stat., 961), for the protection of the ruin.

The Director of the Bureau of Ethnology requests that the reservation be made, and the Acting Commissioner of the General Land Office knows of no objection to such action.

Very respectfully, John W. Noble, _Secretary_.

The President. [_Indorsement by the President_] Executive Mansion, _June 23, 1892_.

Let the lands described within be reserved for the protection of the Casa Grande ruin as recommended by the Secretary of the Interior.

Benj. Harrison.

The limits of this reservation are laid down on the plat of the survey of said township in the General Land Office, and the reservation is now under the control of the Secretary of the Interior.

SPECIMENS FOUND IN THE EXCAVATIONS

In the course of the excavations a number of specimens of archeologic interest were unearthed. These were all preserved and on the conclusion of the work were forwarded to the National Museum in Washington, in compliance with the terms of the contract. Following is a list showing the collection number and also the Museum number.

National Museum number | |Bureau of Ethnology number | | | | Article | Number of specimens | | | | | | | Remarks --------+-----+---------------------+------+----------------------------- | | | | 155088 | 595 | Fragments of large | Lot. | Plain red on both sides. | | earthenware vessel. | | 155089 | 596 | Large bowl. | 1 | Red outside; black, polished | | | | inside; restored. 155090 | 597 | Large vase. | 1 | Decorated outside; restored. 155091 | 598 | Pottery fragments. | 14 | Decorated. 155092 | 599 | Pottery vase (toy). | 1 | Small, dark brown. 155093 | 600 | Pottery bowl (toy). | 1 | Small, black. 155094 | 601 | Pottery disk or | 4 | | | spindle. | | 155095 | 602 | Pottery toy | 1 | Dark brown. | | (mountain goat). | | | 603 | Adobe. | 2 | Lumps; 1 showing impression | | | | of cloth, the other of a | | | | human foot. | 604 | Small shells. | Lot. | | 605 | -- do -- | Lot. | | 606 | Small shells(lonus?)| Lot. | | 607 | Small shells (cut | Lot. | For use as pendants. | | and perforated). | | | 608 | Small shells, beads,| Lot. | 1 string and 2 fragments. | | and pendants. | | | 609 | Bone awls. | 3 | | 610 | Bone fragments. | 6 | Partly charred. | 611 | Chalk, obsidian | Lot. | | | chips, and brown | | | | adobe. | | | 612 | Charred wood, 2 | 4 | | | nuts, and a | | | | corncob. | | | 613 | Charred textiles, | 2 | | | cloth. | | | 614 | Wooden joist | 3 | 3, 6, and 9 inches long; | | fragments. | | 4 inches diameter. | 615 | Reed. | 1 | 12 inches long. | 616 | Stone axes. | 7 | And 3 broken, grooved. | 617 | Pounding stone and | 2 | Of sandstone, with | | fragment. | | ring-shaped handle. | 618 | Stone pestles | 2 | One 12½ inches long, 1¾ | | | | inches diameter; one 9½ | | | | inches long, 1¾ inches | | | | diameter; also a fragment | 619 | Stone mullers. | 4 | | 620 | Stone hammers. | 6 | 1 pitted. | 621 | Stone mullers, flat.| 6 | 5 broken. | 622 | Stone mortar, flat. | 1 | 6½ by 12 inches; 2 inches | | | | thick. | 623 | -- do -- | 1 | 13 by 22 inches; 6 inches | | | | thick. | 624 | Stone, polished. | 1 | 22 inches long, 6½ inches | | | | diameter; restored. | 625 | Stone hoes or | 2 | | | chopping knives. | | | 626 | Limestone ornament. | 1 | Carved; fragmentary. | 627 | Small stone vessel. | 1 | Serpent carved on the | | | | outside. | 628 | Stone arrowhead. | 2 | 1 of obsidian, very small, | | | | and 1 of flint; also a | | | | broken specimen.

Specimen number 627 B.E. was not obtained from the ruin itself, but was found in that vicinity by Mr Whittemore and presented by him.

EXHIBITS

I. CONTRACT FOR REPAIRING AND PRESERVING CASA GRANDE RUIN, ARIZONA

_This contract_, made and entered into this ninth day of May, eighteen hundred and ninety-one, between Theodore Louis Stouffer and Frederick Emerson White, both of Florence, Arizona, as principals, and Augustine Gray Williams, of Florence, Arizona, Andrew James Doran, of Florence, Arizona, as sureties, of the first part, and the United States of America, by Cosmos Mindeleff, acting for the Secretary of the Interior, of the second part:

_Witnesseth_, That the said parties of the first part do hereby contract and agree with the United States of America, as follows: That for the consideration hereinafter mentioned they will at their own expense and risk perform and execute the work upon the Casa Grande ruin, described and specified in the specification hereto annexed and forming a part hereof, in the manner and with the conditions specified, items of said work to be as follows:

Item No. 1. Clearing out the débris: To excavate and remove 350 cubic yards of earth and débris, or less, as specified, amount of excavation not to exceed 350 cubic yards.

Item No. 2. Underpinning walls: To underpin the walls as specified, requiring 750 cubic feet of brick masonry, or less, amount of masonry not to exceed 750 cubic feet.

Item No. 3. Filling in cavities: To fill in cavities and openings as specified, 500 lineal feet of 2 by 4 inches squared lumber and 800 cubic feet of masonry, or less, whole amount of filling not to exceed 825 cubic feet.

Item No. 4. To brace the walls as specified in the annexed plan and specifications.

Items numbered five and six of the specifications hereto annexed, together with the plans, specifications, and conditions pertaining especially and only to them and not to the other items, are omitted.

The said parties of the first part further contract and agree to deliver over the work, completed and finished, to such person as the Secretary of the Interior may designate, within two months after receipt of notice that this contract has been approved by the Secretary of the Interior.

_It is further stipulated and agreed_, That should the parties of the first part fail to complete the work within the time specified, or should they deliver work which is not in accordance with the plans and specifications hereto annexed, only such sum shall be paid for the work as may be agreed upon by the said parties of the first part and the Secretary of the Interior; and it is further stipulated and agreed on the part of the parties of the first part that if the work is not completed in the time specified and according to the specifications hereto annexed they will pay to the United States a sum not exceeding fifty dollars for each and every week after the time specified, such payments to be deducted from the amount due for work done: _Provided_, That the Secretary of the Interior, or such person as he may authorize to do so, may extend the time for the completion of the work.

_And the United States of America_, by the said Cosmos Mindeleff, acting for the Secretary of the Interior, do hereby contract and agree with the said parties of the first part that for the aforesaid work, performed and executed in the manner and under the conditions aforesaid, there shall be paid to the said parties of the first part the following sums:

For item No. 1. For clearing out the débris, as specified and as above limited, sixty cents ($0.60) for each cubic yard.

For item No. 2. For underpinning walls, as specified and as above limited, one dollar ($1) for each cubic foot.

For item No. 3. For filling in cavities, as specified and as above limited, one dollar ($1) for each cubic foot, including lumber.

For item No. 4. For bracing walls, as specified, two hundred dollars ($200). _Provided_, That payments for the work here contracted for shall be made only after the inspection and approval of the work by such person as the Secretary of the Interior shall designate.

It is an express condition of this contract that it shall have no force or effect until it is submitted to and approved by the Secretary of the Interior.

It is a further condition of this contract that no Member or Delegate to Congress, or any other officer or agent of the United States, either directly or indirectly, himself or by any other person in trust for him, or for his use and benefit, or on his account, is a party to or in any manner interested, in whole or in part, in this contract, or in the enjoyments, benefits, profits, or emoluments arising therefrom.

(Signed) Theodore Louis Stouffer. [SEAL] Frederick Emerson White. [SEAL] Augustine Gray Williams. [SEAL] Andrew James Doran. [SEAL]

Witnesses as to Stouffer, White, Doran, and Williams:

(Signed) Frank C. Kebbey, _Clerk District Court, Second Judicial District, Territory of Arizona_. Cosmos Mindeleff, [SEAL] _Acting for the Secretary of the Interior_.

Witnesses as to Cosmos Mindeleff:

(Signed) Jeff Hunt. Chas. B. Eaman.

AFFIDAVIT OF CONTRACTORS

Territory of Arizona, _County of Pinal, ss:_

Augustine Gray Williams and Andrew James Doran, subscribers to and sureties in the contract hereto annexed, being duly sworn, depose and say, each for himself, that he is worth the sum of two thousand dollars over and above all debts and liabilities which he owes or has incurred, and exclusive of property exempt by law from levy and sale under execution.

(Signed) Augustine Gray Williams. [SEAL] Andrew James Doran. [SEAL]

Sworn to and subscribed before me this ninth day of May, A. D. 1891.

[SEAL] (Signed) Frank C. Kebbey, _Clerk District Court, Second Judicial District, Territory of Arizona_.

Territory of Arizona, _S Ct:_

I, Joseph H. Kebbey, associate justice of the supreme court of the Territory of Arizona, certify that I am personally acquainted with Augustine Gray Williams and Andrew James Doran, sureties, and that in my opinion they are good and sufficient to the amounts in which they have bound themselves in the foregoing contract.

Florence, Arizona Territory, 9th May, 1891.

(Signed) Joseph H. Kebbey, _Associate Justice Supreme Court, Arizona Territory_.

II. PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE CASA GRANDE RUIN, ARIZONA, 1891

(_Attached to and forming part of contract_)

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

All the work upon this ruin is to be carried out in such a manner as to interfere as little as possible with the present condition and appearance of the building, and the contractors will be held responsible for any injury to it.

The work is to be carried on under a supervisor, acting for the United States, who shall have power to reject any materials it is proposed to use in the work which are not in his judgment equal to those specified, and he shall have power to have torn down any work done which he has reason to suspect is not such as required by the specifications, but if such work shall prove upon inspection to have been well done the contractor may make a charge of the amount which would have been allowed for that part of the work had it passed inspection.

When the work is completed it must pass the final inspection of the supervisor, or such person as the Secretary of the Interior may designate for the purpose.

1. CLEARING OUT THE DÉBRIS

The débris now filling up the interior is to be removed down to the floor level, or the original ground level. The débris covering an area measuring 10 feet from the exterior walls of the building in every direction is also to be removed. This work is to be carried on in conjunction with the underpinning of the walls, and is to be dependent upon the progress of the latter, the work being done as required by the person holding the contract for the underpinning. All proper precautions must be observed during the progress of the work to prevent any injury to the building, the walls being properly braced and supported before excavation is commenced. The contractor will be held responsible for any injury to the building. Any objects found of archeologic or other value properly belong to the United States and must be deposited in the National Museum. The material removed from the building and from the area about it is to be removed to a proper distance, not less than 100 yards from the building. Proper drainage channels must be provided to keep the excavated area permanently clear of water.

2. UNDERPINNING WALLS