Transcriber Note Text emphasis denoted as _Italics_. [Illustration: Abijah Long] vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv THE BIG CAVE _by_ ABIJAH LONG _and_ JOE N. LONG Early History and Authentic Facts Concerning the History and Discovery of the World Famous Carlsbad Caverns of New Mexico. CUSHMAN PUBLICATIONS 2440 East 4th Street Long Beach, California vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv © Copyright 1956 and 1958 by Mrs. Abijah Long, Joe N. Long, Mrs. Lou M. Wood, Mrs. Kaye I. Williams, Ira B. Long, Mac A. Long. _All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the copyright owners, except by a reviewer who wishes to quote brief passages not to exceed 300 words in connection with a review in a magazine or newspaper._ Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 58-13784 Printed in the United States of America First Edition 1956 Second Edition 1958 Third Edition 1961 _We Dedicate_ _This Book to the Millions of Visitors who will Follow our Father's Footsteps as They Come to See and Enjoy the Mighty Wonders of the Carlsbad Caverns._ TABLE OF CONTENTS Foreword 11 PART I THE DISCOVERY _by Abijah Long_ 1. We Move to Carlsbad 15 2. A Big Cave Is Discovered 19 3. A Business Venture Appears 24 4. The First Guano Is Mined 30 5. Life at the Camp 38 6. The Big Cave Is Explored 47 7. The End of the Beginning 53 PART II THE FIRST 60,000,000 YEARS _by Joe N. Long_ 1. The Beginning 59 2. Life Enters the Caverns 64 3. The First Fifty Years 74 PART III THE BIG CAVE TODAY _by Joe N. Long_ 1. From Above 91 2. From Below 107 Bibliography 127 PICTURE CREDITS: