Transactions of the Regional Archeological Symposium for Southeastern New Mexico and Western Texas: 1983 Page: 80
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Beginning in 1875, Bullis filed claims on key sections of land
throughout the area. One of these was the section including Meyer's Spring.
When the cattlemen began to establish their ranches, they had to lease from
Bullis because his sections contained the water supplies. At one time, he
controlled most of the surface water in Pecos and Terrell counties. The
rock houses could have been built in this period as a ranching headquarters.
Some records seem to indicate this. Bullis remained in the military,
however, and could have visited his property only infrequently. (Bullis
eventually rose to the rank of Brigadier General before his retirement in
1905. Camp Bullis near San Antonio is named for him.)
There is one structure at the site that testifies both to the continued
presence of Bullis at the spring and to his foresight. In the canyon located
some one-quarter mile to the northeast of the other structures, there is a
rock water tank. This functional and remarkable feat of construction was
also measured and photographed by the Junior Historians. All significant
features were recorded. (See Figure 2)
An inscription cut into the upper left-hand corner of the north wall of
the tank reads: "Erricted by Major John L. Bullis, 1901." By that date,
the military presence on the border was considerably diminished. It is
possible that Bullis still had some troops under his command in the area.
He may have undertaken the construction on his own.
The sides of the tank measure thirty-two and thirty-seven feet. The
front (north) wall is some sixty-five feet in length. The south wall of
the tank is formed by the natural cliff face from which the spring flowed.
Stone steps and ledges were cut into the cliff wall and smoothed so that
one could walk directly to the spring and drink as it gushed from the earth.
(See Figure 3)
The spring opening is in the middle of this natural wall. Generally
dry now, the spring flows intermittently after considerable rainfall. Most
of the water the tank now holds comes from this infrequent source. The tank,
however, is still fully capable of holding water. The walls are so well-
fitted to the cliff face that the tank seems to grow naturally from the rock.
There are no leaks or cracks.
A three-foot walkway of mortar runs along the top of all three walls.
It has a smooth, even finish. Along.the front of the north wall, there is
a drainage channel which contains a valve system for draining the tank.
The north wall is about eight feet in height. The side walls decline
in height as they approach the cliff. The stones of the walls are squared
into rectangular blocks and cut to fit closely, with only a finger's width
of mortar between the blocks. The stones are dressed in rough finish that
is, nevertheless, done in a fairly regular manner. The tank is an impressive
engineering feat, whomever its builder.
Whatever his architectural abilities, Bullis's military accomplishments
are more clearly documented. Using sub-posts such as the one at the spring,
Bullis and his Scouts inflicted defeat after defeat upon the Indians. They
frequently crossed the rugged terrain around Meyer's Springs known as Dryden
Flats. It is a landscape of sharp, steep rock-lined canyons and jagged
upthrust mountains. On more than one occassion , they crossed the border on
"hot trails" and fought pitched battles in the mountains of northern Mexico.80
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Transactions of the Regional Symposium for Southeastern New Mexico and Western Texas: Index to Volumes 1-57 [1965-2024] (Book)
Index to the proceedings of the regional archeological symposium including separate lists by subject, title, author, and volume along with subject categories, a map of regions, and Texas county abbreviations.
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Transactions of the Regional Archeological Symposium for Southeastern New Mexico and Western Texas: 1983, book, 1984; United States. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1661464/m1/88/?rotate=90: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Southwestern Federation of Archaeological Societies.