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Kultur Dokumente
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SUPPOSE YOU'VE
MILES ON
YOUR
CAR?
YOU STILL NEED CHANGE OIL ONiY 2TIMES
ABOUT A YEAR. AT FIRST; YOU MAy USE A LITTLE
AKJRE OIL, BECAUSE TRITONS DETERGENT
OIL GETTING COMPOUND CLEANS YOUR MOTOR. BUT
DIRTY? AFTER.THAT; YOULLHAVE A FREER,
CLEANER MOTOR... OF COURSE, EVEN A
TRITON HAS A SPECIAL COMPOUND BRAND NEW ENGINE USES SOME OIL, SO
WHICH HOLDS PlKTIN SUSPENSION. BE SURE" AND KEEP THE LEVEL UP.
BECAUSE TRITON CLEANS YOUR
ENGINE AS >OU DRIVE, THE OIL WAX
DARKEN. BOTTHAT WONT* HURT
ANVTHING- WITH TRITON,
OIL MEANS A CLEAN MOTOR.!
OF CALIFORNIA
FEBRUARY, 1947
V
ttail to tut&uofae
v
toward Fort Defiance, across the multi-
colored badlands where Chaco river makes
its big bend, we stopped for a visit with Joe
Tanner at Tseya. As the door was locked
Frank asked a Navajo lounging about as
Following a clue given him by his Navajo friend, Frank Walker, to the whereabouts of his old trader friend.
Richard Van Valkenburgh took a trail that led deep into the old Apache
The Indian answered, "Gone! They say
stronghold—and there he and his companions found the abandoned
he went south—way down beyond the
workings of turquoise mines which once were an important source of
land of the Apache to dig for turquoise.
the blue gemstone for Indians of the Southwest.
Hola? Who knows?"
By RICHARD VAN VALKENBURGH Turquoise south of the Apache habitat!
That would be in southeastern Arizona.
/ / O M E years ago while Frank It was fairly well agreed that much of Noting the look of skepticism that flick-
^ Walker, my Navajo-Irish friend, the blue gem-stone came from the well ered across my eyes Frank spoke up, "I
and I were visiting the University known Cerrillos mines, some miles south- heard the school fellows talking about tur-
of New Mexico anthropological field west of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Others quoise last night. All day I have been wait-
school at Chaco canyon, New Mexico, the mentioned the Nevada-California depos- ing to tell you of something that they
discussion revolved around the sources its. And there was much speculation about didn't seem to know about.
from which Indians of the Southwest ob- the reputed, but never discovered, mines "When I was 14 years old, that was in
tained turquoise. south of Zufii. 1884, two Navajo named Chino and Slim
Shorty Thome and Gene Yokum, who has lived at Courtland since 1909, climbing
Turquoise ridge. One of the old workings is seen in the upper right.
f z 0 NA
GLEESON-\:/'""«
Etcmltd Pnhistaric
, *- _ r. (Army Heliograph ~ Indian Village
_• "~ -lr~ - - Station in &2
Chiricahua came to my father's ranch at Apache for buckskins, alder bark, and a As we dropped from the divide into the
Cheeto near present Saunders, Arizona. small barrel of Mexican liquor. Then their San Pedro valley we could see, far to the
After feeding them, my mother who was relative called them to him and said, 'You east, smoke spiraling up in the still spring
Navajo herself, said, 'You boys look tired. boys have helped us against the enemy. sky. Sixty years ago this would have been
You haven't been chased by the Apache, Now we are going to take you to some- Apache smoke-signals. But today it was
have you?' , thing that every Navajo likes.' only the peaceful puffing of the locomo-
"They didn't answer, just turned and "As they told it—the Apache camp was tives as they pulled their heavy trains up'
went outside. But after lying around hidden deep in the rocks of a canyon that through Texas canyon into historic Dra-
awhile whispering between themselves had only one entrance. And from there goon pass.
they came back and laid down a buckskin they could look east across a valley to a pass Taking the right fork at the junction
bag on the table as they said, 'There is between two great mountains where the town of Benson we crossed the San Pedro
something good in here. Open it up. Pick Apache said that the soldiers had a fort. river and were passing through the lush
out what you want. You have been good And on top of the range to the north were green lane of cottonwoods planted by the
to us and we want to give you a nice pres- two peaks that looked like men's heads. pioneers of St. David. Founded during
ent' "Taking an old trail up through the the hectic 1880's of Tombstone, this Mor-
"Mother opened the bag. From out of it rocks the Apache guided them to some mon settlement was one, if not the only
poured an assortment of brownish colored great pockets'just under the summit of the peaceful spot in the whole San Pedro val-
rock. Looking closer we saw in it nodules ridge. Going down into these they looked ley.
of turquoise. Some was of good color— around. At first they couldn't believe their At Tombstone we stopped at the Crystal
just the deepness of the sky's blue with eyes. For imbedded in the hard gray rock Palace for an early supper. While Shorty
threads of soft amber. After picking out a were brown veins in which there was tur- visited with old mining friends I took a
few chunks she questioned, 'Where'd you quoise! walk through the historic town. With its
boys get this nice turquoise?' "With rocks they knocked out as much new medical center this shrine to Ari-
"They wouldn't answer. Finally mother of the turquoise as they could. Then they zona's pioneer days is now in the business
got mad and threatened, 'I know you boys. wanted to build a big fire and crack the of healing the sick rather than shooting it
You are the grandchildren of that old rock. But the Apache said, 'No! There are out at the OK Corral.
Chiricahua Apache woman who was a too many soldiers around.' So all they Swinging east off the highway we soon
slave of Old Deschini who lived under brought away were the gemstones in the were traveling over the well graded road
Hosta Butte. You have been running bag that lay before my mother." that covers the 16 miles between Tomb-
around down there with Apache relatives It was not until several months later that stone and Gleeson. To our right, just out
killing people. What if I'd tell the agent at mention of turquoise deposits in Cochise of sight in a low cluster of hills, was the
Fort Defiance?' county, Arizona, recalled this story to me. old Stockton ranch. It was here, in 1883,
"Finally they admitted it. The autumn This was one Navajo story I had not fol- that Deputy Sheriff Billy Breckenridge
before, some Apache who were running lowed through. And remembering what shot it out with Zwing Hunt and his gang.
from the soldiers came to hide with the Frank had always said, "These Navajo Rounding the southern tip of the Dra-
Navajo. Among them was a relative of the stories usually turn out to be the truth," I goon mountains we were soon in the old
boys' grandmother. And when the prepared to take the trail to turquoise. mining camp of Gleeson, boomtown of
Apaches slipped off in the early winter to After hearing the story told to me by the the early 1900's. We stopped to see the
make a raid into Mexico the boys went Navajo, my prospector friend, Shorty oak tree that served the camp as a jail. On
south with them. Thorne, was eager to make the trip with the gnarled trunk there were still marks of
"The boys had good luck against the me. In addition to being a useful compan- the log chain that once held the shackles
Mexicans. They got horses, a girl, and ion Shorty would follow a mirage if in it of those who disturbed the peace and quiet
some cattle. These they traded to the were reported to be some "colors." of the camp.
FEBRUARY, 1947
White men first started these workings
in 1890 when Henry Durant located
claims. Before he completed his assess-'
ment work he sold out to Raskum & Tan-
nenbaum, merchants of Tombstone. They
in turn sold to G. S. Goode who produced
turquoise for several years in the late
1890's.
Some years later Goode sold his claims
to Lynn Shattuck. And during the 1920's
when the demand for the gemstone in-
creased he devoted his entire time to its
mining and sale. In 1926 he sold his en-
tire output of 50 pounds to a trader in
Gallup, New Mexico.
Shattuck made the greatest known find
on Turquoise ridge. He struck a particu-
larly rich stringer which yielded around
80 pounds of the finest quality. And in
this turquoise bonanza there was one stone
that weighed nearly three pounds. Its dis-
posal and whereabouts are unknown to-
day for Shattuck died some years ago in
Bisbee, Arizona.
At the time of our visit there was no
work being done on Turquoise ridge. The
last known stones mined in any quantity
came from the Avalon claim of Kelso &
Petty of Tucson in the 193O's. But just
the week before we had run into a Mexican
miner who was outfitting to start work on
claims down the ridge from the Avalon.
While there are no rich veins left open
for the occasional visitor to pick out a
pound or two of turquoise, there is an
abundance of beautiful rock on the dumps.
This is the grayish country rock coated
with very thin lenses of sky-blue, the sight
of which would gladden the heart of any
rock garden enthusiast.
After spending the better part of the
day prowling the ridge Shorty and I
climbed to the narrow summit. It was not
Above—Shorty Thome, companion of the author, trying to pick up a turquoise until then that I recalled the clue that had
vein in an old Indian working. started this long trail to turquoise. I began
Below—Here are two of 32 bedrock morteros in the old Apache camp at the north to search for the landmarks given Frank
end of Turquoise ridge. Walker by Chino and Slim Chiricahua.
It was not hard to associate Cochise's
Stronghold with that of the Apache camps
but we have been unable to locate them. croppings, Gene gave us a beginner's les- where Chino and Slim Chiricahua stayed.
That prehistoric Indians dwelt in the son in the mineralogy of the ridge. He be- For even after the death of the great
region is without question. For later in the lieves that the best turquoise was obtained Apache chief, this natural rock basin in
day Gene guided us to a vast 13th century by the Indians from their shallow pits long the Dragoon mountains was an Apache
site of the desert Hohckam and rim- before the white men entered the region. rendezvous until the time of the tribe's
country Mogollon. And in Gene's collec- Guiding us into a shaft, one of the deep- surrender in 1886.
tion we examined a small red-o.i-buff est on the ridge, Gene explained that white There was no question in my mind that
bowl, characteristic of the culture, which men's diggings follow an inclined quartz- the mines on Turquoise ridge were those
came from a site just northwest of the granite contact and do not go down to visited by Chino and Slim Chiricahua in
ridge. depths of over 60 feet. After a little prowl- 1884. And then as I looked north to
We visited and explored an Apache ing we picked up a vein in which there was where the Pinaleno range lay as the first
campsite just north of the ridge in which showing a faint stringer of turquoise. landmark in the 300 miles to the Navajo-
there were 32 very fine bedrock mortars. While in this case the stringer occurred Hopi-Zuni country I wondered:
There was no evidence of the litter of in a rather porous vein of light brown kao- The Navajo were down here. And early
spalls and cores characteristic of an aborig- line, sericite, or limonite, the gemstone Spanish chroniclers tell of the trade be-
inal workshop. I suspect that while the also turns up in nugget-like nodules. tween the Zuni and the Sobaipuris of the
Apache guarded the mines jealously, they These brownish veins which carry the tur- nearby San Pedro valley. Could these an-
did little or no digging. quoise appear in fractures and lenses be- cient mines on the ridge have been the
While we inspected the chalk-blue col- tween the grayish quartzite and granite "lost" mines from which the Zuni in the
ors appearing on the copper-stained out- country rock of the region. prehistoric days obtained their turquoise?
8 THE DESERT MAGAZINE
M editatianl
Rocky
By Lois ELDER ROY
Was it gold that lured you here,
Old friend,
Dreaming in your cabin
Of the rainbow's end?
Photo by John L. Blackjord.
Here, upon this rocky ledge
You've staked your claim.
Tall saguaros guard your doorway;
Ocotillos burst with living flame.
Around your cabin, solitude;
A few wild bees
Returning from their pilgrimage.
They, too, seek treasure,
Trailing gold on every breeze.
FEBRUARY, 1947
The new road isn't feasible yet for ten- playgrounds in the West. Here, Charles
derfoot tourists, but a pilot route has been Kelly describes the 194-mile trip from Capi-
opened which eventually will make the tol Reef to Blanding by way of the recently
little-known red rock desert wilderness of installed ferry across the Colorado river at
Southern Utah one of the most popular Cass Hite's old homestead.
Here is an improved section of the new road completed by Art Chaff in.
something about his road. Single-handed the roughest country outdoors, and Art northwest and Lee's ferry on the south-
and alone, without backing from any or- was told to supervise the work. west. Within that circle, enclosing nearly
ganization, and representing a district in That first $10,000, of course, did not half Utah's length, no road crosses from
which there were but two possible votes, last long and Art went back for more. By east to west. There has been no crossing of
he went to Salt Lake City to interview the sheer persistence he got $80,000 and com- Colorado river between Moab on the north
governor and any other state officials who pleted his pilot road on the day set for its and Lee's ferry on the south, a distance by
would listen. After many disappointments official opening. river of over 300 miles.
he found a friend in the person of Ora To understand the importance of this Airline distance between Capitol Reef
Bundy, head of the state publicity depart- new connecting road, take a map of Utah national monument and Natural Bridges
ment, which had been allocated certain and with Mt. Pennell in the Henry moun- national monument, two of the state's
state funds for development of scenic tains as a central point, draw a circle to in- scenic attractions, is about 90 miles; but
areas. Eventually $10,000 was appropri- clude Greenriver on the northeast, Bland- visitors to Capitol Reef have had to travel
ated for building 70 miles of road through ing on the southeast, Richfield on the by way of Greenriver and Blanding, a dis-
Harry Aleson and Ralph Badger at ruins of Indian fortress on the Colorado opposite mouth
of White canyon. This relic first was seen by Major Powell in 1869.
FEBRUARY, 1947 11
the road passed through Capitol Gorge 3.5
miles, a deep slit in the Reef so narrow that
in places two cars cannot pass. Beyond lies
a more open country where the Henry
mountains come into view, with a fore-
ground of painted desert and weirdly
eroded buttes. Continuing across a colorful -
desert, Hanksville is reached at 45 miles
from Fruita. This village, once a supply
station for Butch Cassidy's Wild Bunch,
has a gas station and lunch room but no
tourist cabins. Fill your gas tank here, then
turn south across a wide desert with the
Henry mountains close on your right. In
the broken country far to the left is Rob-
bers Roost, famous outlaw hideout.
At 72.4 miles a small sign reads "Hite
30 miles." Turn left, leaving the older
road, which continues three miles to
Trachyte ranch, a place to remember in
case of difficulty.
Between Capitol Reef and this turnoff
(27.5 miles from Hanksville), the dirt
road is winding and sometimes rough, but
safe for travel except when wet or during
August floods. The remaining 27.5 miles
to Hite are over a new road recently made
passable for cars but in no sense a motor
highway. It soon enters North Wash and
follows that red walled gorge to the Colo-
rado. Some sections are rough, others are
sandy, and in places one must travel down
the dry stream bed. Sand gave me no
trouble although a car coming up grade
might have some difficulty. Rains and ad-
ditional travel will soon compact this sand,
making travel less hazardous.
At 83.7 miles a small tributary gorge
called Hog canyon enters North Wash
from the right. Here a spring furnishes
the only water between Hanksville and
the river. Near this water are Indian
petroglyphs, and just below Hog canyon
is a large cave containing painted designs
and other traces of ancient man.
North Wash rapidly becomes deeper
and wider, providing a better roadway.
Near the river some spectacular buttes ap-
pear. Just beyond them at 93.5 miles the
Arthur Chaffhi, who promoted and built the road to Hite. Colorado comes into full view and if it
happens to be in flood the sight will take
your breath. Here the road turns down-
tance of 291 miles, in order to reach the ness almost unparalleled on this contin- stream for six miles, hugging the walls
Bridges. The new road by way of Hite ent. of what Major Powell named Glen can-
shortens this distance by 100 miles while In order to report on this new route I yon. This magnificent drive alone is worth
adding the attractions of a gorgeous won- attended dedication ceremonies at Hite the trip.
derland previously inaccessible to motor September 17, crossed the Colorado on a
At 99.5 miles Trachyte canyon joins
travel. When brought up to federal stan- ferry and continued east to Blanding.
Since many Desert readers will be inter- Glen canyon, forming a small valley in
dard it will provide a new scenic loop un- which Hite is located. At the left an old log
surpassed anywhere. Travelers may turn ested in the area opened by this connecting cabin may be seen, last survivor of several
east from U. S. 89 at Richfield and drive link, a detailed log of the road might be
built by Cass Hite. Nearby is the stone
directly to Mesa Verde and other Colorado helpful. floor of his original home, later Hite post-
points, or turn south at Blanding to pass From Sigurd, Utah, just north of Rich-
office. On a ledge not far beyond (right)
through Monument Valley to U. S. 66. By field on U. S. 89, Utah state highway 24 is this inscription: "Cass Hite, Sept. 19,
runs 60 miles east to Torrey, where the
this route a National Parks loop will in-
pavement ends. From Torrey to Fruita, A. D. 1883.'' Half a mile from the river
clude Grand Canyon, Zion, Cedar Breaks, headquarters of Capitol Reef national (100 miles from Fruita) I reached the
Bryce, Capitol Reef, Natural Bridges, monument, where my trip started, are 12 home of Art Chaff in.
Hovenweep and Mesa Verde, embracing miles of dirt road winding through an During the afternoon and evening of
in one trip a desert and mountain wilder- area of highly colored cliffs. East of Fruita September 16, over 100 cars and trucks
JGREEN RIVER- • !
FKUITA TO HITE
100 MILES
Cortez
: ' . • ' . • • • .
BRYCE CANYON
fiNAT'L PARK NATURAL BRIDGES
NAT'L MON. ij
FOUR*CORNERS'
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arrived at Hite, with 350 people, largest many other areas, now inaccessible, would first described by Major Powell in 1869-
gathering ever to assemble at this isolated soon be opened to travel. Near this ruin is an inscription of the
outpost. Twenty cars came in from Bland- Ceremonies were concluded on the ferry Powell expedition dated June 27, 1872,
ing bringing the San Juan county high barge, after which Harry Aleson, famous probably made by Frederick S. Dellen-
school band. Charles J. Smith, superinten- river rat, pushed off in a rubber boat with baugh. Other rocks nearby contain names
dent of Zion national park, and his Ralph Badger of Salt Lake City, for a voy- of many early visitors.
charming wife, invited me to camp with age through Glen canyon to Lee's ferry. Crossing White canyon on a bridge the
them under a pomegranate tree in Chaf- Twenty cars had lined up for the river road continues a short distance to Farley's
fin's orchard, where we spent a very pleas- crossing and these were soon being ferried canyon, then turns east, intersecting White
ant evening. over on the barge, accommodating two canyon several miles above. On this side it
Next morning at 10 o'clock dedication cars and powered by a Model A Ford mo- is good and appears safe for travel most of
ceremonies were held with Ephraim P. tor. This place, known as old Dandy Cross- the year. White canyon provides a good
Pectol of Torrey, Utah, as master of cere- ing, was used after 1885 as a ford for roadbed with only minor danger from
monies. Among the speakers was Zeke wagons bound for San Juan county, after flash floods. There is no water on this
Johnson, first custodian of Natural Hole-in-the-Rock crossing had been aban- route and a supply should be carried from
Bridges national monument, famous guide doned as too difficult. A ferry for wagons Hite.
and authority on the San Juan country. was operated at one time, but this occa- At 42.7 miles from Hite ferry a sign
Chief speaker of the day was Herbert B. sion marked the first crossing by automo- reads "Natural Bridges IV2 miles." Ac-
Maw, governor of Utah, who announced a biles between Greenriver or Moab, Utah, companied by Dr. L. D. Pfouts and Dr.
new state policy of building roads to pure- and Lee's ferry, Arizona. W. H. Hopkins, I spent one day in the
ly scenic areas without regard to cities and On the east bank the road runs along a monument; but since these bridges are
towns. This road to Hite, he said, was cliff for about a mile to White canyon, well worth a separate story I will not at-
among the first such projects and he hoped passing beneath ruins of an Indian fortress tempt to des^'ibe them here. Wiley Redd,
FEBRUARY, 1947 13
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There waj «o r<W i/w» North Wash in 1938 w/;<?«fo6<?Julius F. Stone expedition drove
this truck to the Colorado river.
custodian, has a camp just above Owacho- national forest we arrived at Blanding on boat for those who enjoy river trips. There
mo bridge which he and his wife occupy state highway 47. Speedometer reading is no gas station at Hite, but emergency
from May to October each year. He fur- here was 93.8 miles from Hite or 194 gasoline usually can be obtained there.
nishes horses for the 8-mile circuit to Sipa- miles from Capitol Reef. New construction Chaffin has a good machine shop where
pu and Kachina bridges. Courtesies ex- between Hanksville and Natural Bridges necessary repairs can be made.
tended to us by Wiley and his wife were totaled 70 miles but saved 100 miles be- For those who like to get off the beaten
greatly appreciated. tween Capitol Reef and the Bridges. Turn- path, I know of no road of equal length
Leaving this beautiful spot we contin- ing north I visited Arches national offering so many attractions to the rock-
ued toward Blanding over a road which monument, then returned to Fruita by way hound, color photographer, archeologist,
has been in use for several years and is well of Greenriver and Hanksville. historian or experienced desert rat. A week
maintained. It passes directly between the Within a few years the government is could be spent profitably at Hite. Natural
Bear's Ears, prominent landmark vis- expected to build a standard highway over Bridges alone are worth the trip, with
ible for many miles. From this high point a route already surveyed, shortening this Capitol Reef and the colorful Henry
one may look down into Monument val- road and making it safe for all year travel. mountain country thrown in for good
ley, 50 miles south; to Navajo mountain •The present pilot road will be open nearly measure. In time this will become one of
•dimly visible on the southwestern horizon all winter between Capitol Reef and Hite the most traveled loops in the West. Those
and to the Henry mountains sharply out- but should be avoided during August who made the first automobile crossing at
lined in the west. Toward the northeast floods. Due to high elevation snow will Hite on September 17, 1946, will then
are the Blue mountains, while between is close Bear's Ears pass in winter. Otherwise have the right to call themselves pioneers.
an immense country of highly colored the section between Hite and Blanding • • •
cliffs and canyons. Hidden in those can- can be traveled with reasonable safety. Boy Scouts Will Make '47 Trek . . .
yons are thousands of cliff dwellings. There are no permanent residents along Utah's two ranking Boy Scouts, who are
From Grand Gulch alone museums have this road except at Trachyte ranch and descendants of Utah pioneers, will be
collected truckloads of relics. Many other Hite, so until travel increases it is advisable guests of Sons of Utah Pioneers on their
ruins remain to be explored. Here occurred for two cars to travel together in case of centennial trip westward from Nauvoo, Il-
the last Indian uprising when Chief Posey breakdown. When materials are available linois, along the Mormon trail. Scout ex-
was hunted down and killed. Art Chaffin expects to build cabins at Hite, ecutives will devise programs to select
After passing through part of La Sal furnish horses for pack trips and a motor outstanding boy in each council.
FEBRUARY, 1947 15
Fig. 2—Adventures of the Cuscuta seed. A, the seed magnified. B, the flower sectioned to
show the capsule. C, a seed split to show the embryo. D to J, career of a lucky seed; in
background one that never found a victim to cling to.
(zfateet ai a Botanical
It belongs to a very respect-
x i AM about to reveal the true char- A regular practice in certain phases of
able family, this botanical out-
( I acter of an attractive malefactor that grape culture as followed in France, is to
law called dodder, but sometime
' --* hides a thoroughly despicable na- start new plants by inserting seeds under
in the prehistoric period its an-
ture beneath a golden exterior. Most folks the bark of old stock just above the ground
cestors devised a scheme for
are completely deceived by this vegetable level. The seeds soon sprout and send their
living off the sap produced by
thug. It certainly fooled me and it wasn't roots down through the tissues of the stock
other plants—just as humans
until I came to the desert that I learned the and the young plant lives as a parasite un-
occasionally do. Now it has be-
fantastic story behind the tangled masses til the roots reach the soil when it reforms
come not only a first rate
of yellow threads we frequently see fes- and lives as any decent grapevine should.
nuisance, but a costly parasite
tooning the roadside shrubbery in sum- Several years ago this whole subject of
when it invades alfalfa and
mer. parasitism was investigated by experts at
clover fields. Jerry Laudermilk
Back in Missouri we called the growth the Desert laboratory at Tucson and some
tells us how this thief of the plant
"love-vine" and its uses were extremely strange things discovered about respect-
world carries on its parasitic ex-
limited. According to rural folk-lore, if able plants whose tendencies toward para-
istence.
you doubted your qualification as a cava- sitism come as a shock. Several species
lier you could settle the point by tossing a of prickly pear, Opuntia, including
strand over your shoulder, being careful By JERRY LAUDERMILK the common staghorn cholla, O. versi-
not to look at it again for a week. If it Drawings by the Author color, were made to grow as parasites on
"caught holt" and grew everything was the melon cactus, Ecbinocactus sp. and on
O.K. otherwise your rating as a Lothario higher plant families—ten at least—show saguaro, Cereus giganteus. Even the mes-
was practically zero. cal, Agave sp. could be coaxed from the
a sort of human streak in their makeup
We hardly thought of the stuff, actually and are only too ready to live at the ex- straight and narrow path. But some of the
the twining stems of any of several species pense of some more industrious host-plant. most sensational results were obtained
of dodder or Cuscuta, as being a plant at These retrogressive types have developed when a rather rare Arizona plant, first
all. I knew farmers cussed it up one strand certain peculiar methods for stealing sap cousin to the grapes, called Ivy treebine,
and down another whenever they saw its and so are freed from the necessity of mak- Cissus sp. grew on several species of cactus
yellow blaze in a clover field. with great abandon.
ing their own starch and sugar and other
But I never became seriously love-vine food materials. Some of these vegetable Several conditions were found to favor
conscious until I came to Arizona. One pirates, of which the desert plant, white parasitism. One of the most important was
summer morning I rode into Wickenburg ratany, Krameria grayi is a good example, ability of the cell-sap to pass through the
with a neighbor who owned a piece of al- rob their neighbors through curiously cell walls by diffusion or osmosis; a plant
falfa land along the Hassayampa. It was specialized outgrowths on their roots. with cell-sap of a greater osmotic strength
about ready to cut and the combination of Others such as mistletoe, Phoradendron of might become parasitic upon the cells of a
lavender flowers and silvery-green foliage several species, penetrate the stem-bark of host with weaker cell-sap. The subject is
looked very pretty, especially at one place their victims by way of modified absorp- very complicated to treat properly without
where nature had spread herself artistical- tive structures or "sinkers." It is remark- a great deal of detail, so I will move along
ly and the love-vine ran riot among the al- able how this leaning toward parasitism with the love-vine case.
falfa. The combination of gold, green and crops out among members of some of the There are more than 160 distinct species
lavender made me ache for watercolors best families of the vegetable kingdom. of this plant, which has representatives in
and a sketch block. I said something to this Take for instance the grapes or Vitaceae. all parts of the earth between latitudes 60
effect and my companion's answer came as This old and noble race would seem to be north and'45 south. Cuscuta is a member
a withering look and a complete expose of a shining example of vegetable integrity. of the morning glory family or Convolvu-
this plant's underhanded way of life. His But persons who know something of the laceae where its nearest relations, the bind-
discourse can be boiled down to the state- private lives of grapes are apt to say weeds, grow as perfectly honest if trouble-
ment that "this is one of the ornriest para- "H-mmmm" when a novice brings up this some weeds. But Cuscuta long ago threw
sites in the State of Arizona." He might aspect of the subject. The fact is that grape all self respect overboard along with most
well have added "or anywhere else." seedlings take to parasitism like ducks to of its ability to manufacture chlorophyll,
It is a curious fact that several of the water. the green coloring substance necessary for
FEBRUARY, 1947 17
the markings were without form, resulting
LETTERS...
Bugs of the Desert . . . to investigate we saw a large red racer
in a mere cloudiness; in others they were
gathered in groups producing an effect
somewhat like that of moss-agate; in still
others the marks were in narrow, parallel
bands. Another type was opaque, but mot-
San Fernando, California holding a rattler by the throat. It had tled black and brown. All these were in
Dear Mr. Henderson: coiled around him and was gradually tight- addition to the ordinary jet black variety.
The mention of the desert insect, "Baby ening its coils. Soon the buzzing of the rat- This spot also provides something of in-
Face," on the Letters page of your January tler ceased, and the. racer uncoiled and re- terest for the pebble-puppies. Scattered
magazine, brought to mind the following leased its victim. We examined the rattler about are numerous pieces of pumice, a
incident and I wondered if there could be -—and it was dead. rock so light that it will float on water.
any connection. To confirm a hunch, I made a careful ex- If you choose to enter the road from the
Some years ago while surveying on the amination of the grass in the area, an-d saw west, the junction is posted, and is further
Cascade ranch at the northwest corner of two baby racers glide away. The mother identified by the presence of a large stock-
this valley, we uncovered what we first racer had attacked the rattler to protect her corral and loading chute. In entering from
thought to be a Jerusalem Cricket. The young. this end, be sure there is gasoline in your
coloring was the same and it was a little T. P. TOWER tank, for there is none along the road. And
more than two inches long. Later in the • • • water—but then, you know about that.
day a ranch hand brought us a Jerusalem Another Field for Rockhounds . . . A. W. STEVENS
Cricket and then we noticed quite a differ- Hollywood, California • • •
ence in the bodies and heads of the two in- Dear Mr. Henderson: Gold in Every Badger Hole . . .
sects. The round face of the first one did In the honorable and ubiquitous fra- Encinitas, California
attract our attention although we didn't ternity of rockhounds, I would probably Dear Mr. Quick:
think of a baby at the time. The ranch fore- rate no more than an associate member- Concerning H. E. W. Wilson's article in
man placed them in different bottles to ship. However, on occasion, I do pick up the November number on the Pegleg gold
show them to a man in the Farm Bureau rocks; and on one of those occasions re- deposit, I would like to put in my contribu-
office who was versed in such things. He cently I stumbled onto something that tion. Before the war I was parked with my
reported back that the first insect was might be of interest to others. rock trailer beside the highway between '
called Vinegarones or Sun Spider and sup- In Mono county, California, is a road (a Boise, Idaho, and McCall lake. One of my
posed to be harmless. portion of State Highway 120) that cuts visitors was a gentleman from Caldwell
At the ranch we were told that on the across from U. S. Highway 395 to U. S. 6, who showed me several nuggets that con-
Mexican border there was a similar insect a distance of roughly 50 miles. At its west- formed in every way with the Pegleg gold.
that is supposed to be poisonous. erly end it joins U. S. 395 about five miles They were smooth, not with the erosion of
S. G. CHAMBERLIN south of Leevining. Its easterly end joins
• • • water but more with the result of heat ac-
U. S. 6 at a point about 36 miles north of tion and were covered with a coating of
More Fossils from Afton . . . Bishop. iron oxide, turning the outside almost
Concord, California A few miles of each end have been oil- black. When I asked him if he had redis-
Dear Sir: surfaced; the intermediate portion is covered the Pegleg, he only laughed.
The letter by Donald Ingalls in the De- graded—and that is all. The soil is sandy Pegleg himself was delirious when he
cember issue about finding petrified dung and the sand has a tendency to be deep in gave his description of the mine, and I am
at Afton canyon parallels an incident that spots. The western portion of the road inclined to believe it. But the story by the
occurred last year. skirts the hills south of Mono lake, afford- squaw, I view with a grain of salt. I give an
In October, 1945, I picked up a silici- ing some interesting views of that most un- example. I was prospecting in Lowery can-
fied bone in Afton canyon. usual body of water—a lake in a desert. yon, Nevada, when an Indian was sup-
Dr. V. L. Vanderhoof, paleontologist of I traversed the road from west to east, posed to have found a gold specimen dug
the University of California identified the and had reached the surfaced portion at out of the hillside by a badger. I treated
piece as being the toe bone of a prehistoric the eastern end when I noticed a scattering that Indian like a long lost son. Filled him
camel. of coal-black pebbles in the lighter colored up with fatted burro until he resembled a
CHARLES W. PARK sand along the road. Their appearance was base drum. Filled him up with—shall we
• • • so striking that I stopped to investigate. say—tea, until he howled at the moon like
When Snake Kills Snake . . . The pebbles had a dull surface and ap- a coyote, and he led me to numerous
Los Angeles, California peared water-worn. Looking about for a badger holes. I came to the conclusion that
Desert Editor: clue as to what they might be, I found one this specimen must have been made up of
Addison Clark's story of his friend Bill, that had been broken. It showed the vitre- ore picked up on top of every badger hole
the king snake, in your Tanuarv issue re- ous lustre and conchoidal fracture that is on that hill. When my supply of tea—and
calls my experience with another killer typical of obsidian. patience—ran out, he drifted on to look
snake, the red racer. Not everyone knows A mile or so farther on I stopped again, for another sucker. So if that squaw said
that a racer also will kill a rattler. this time on a hump that gave a view of the the Pegleg was on the west slope of the val-
The racer is long and slender, very swift road for considerable distance in both di- ley, I would earnestly look over the ground
and graceful—and it has teeth. I know, be- rections. About a quarter-mile ahead and on the north, east and south.
cause I caught one once too far from his to the left was a windmill for watering I have hunted for Spanish mines all over
head, and he cut a gash in my finger. stock. Two or three miles away, also on the central America. They never were bonan-
In 1886 my Indian friend Andreas Tra- left, was a dry lake bed that gleamed pure zas. The Spaniards had a cute little trick of
hulio and I were out on the reservation white in the sunlight. This appears on grabbing an Indian, working him until he
north of Temecula, California. We were some maps as Adobe lake. died, then looking for another. Even with
sitting on a rock waiting for the bucks to On top of the hill the pieces of obsidian mining methods in vogue in those days,
complete an encircling operation in a rab- were larger and more broken, and also in you could work very low grade ore at a
bit drive. There was a commotion in a greater variety. Many of the chips were profit that way.
nearby patch of weeds and when we went translucent with darker markings. In some GEO. W. CHAMBERS
Paliomat
The little jeeps which the army is now selling as In Spanish, Palomar means pigeon house, or nesting place
surplus have made accessible some of the desert re- of the doves. It is a pleasing word, and I can well understand
gions formerly reached only by burros — and why the Sonora white-wings chose this canyon as a retreat for
burro travel is rather slow for ordinary weekend their nesting season. It is a lovely canyon—well-sheltered and
exploring trips. Driving ex-army cars, the author in the spring of the year scented with the fragrance of a hundred
and five companions recently penetrated the desert species of wildflowers. Also, this canyon is all but inaccessible.
wilderness on the gulf side of the Lower California I doubt if its rocks have ever echoed the blast of a hunter's gun.
peninsula—and found a lovely canyon in which It had been 11 years since I last dug my car out of the sand on
they counted 1719 native palm trees, and many a hot May day far up in Palomar canyon. On that occasion I
other things which will interest the clan, of outdoor spent so many hours shoveling sand there was little time left
enthusiasts. for exploration. And now I wanted to go back in my jeep and
really get acquainted with this canyon.
By RANDALL HENDERSON My old pal of the desert trails, Aries Adams, was eager for
the trip. He had never seen Palomar. And when we broached
^ / IFTY miles south of the California-Mexico border is the subject to Luther Fisher of the U. S. Border patrol his ques-
/ Palomar canyon. That is, it is 50 miles by the route a tion was, "When do we start?" Luther also has a surplus army
pigeon would fly. If one tries to go there by car, the jeep—and on such an expedition two cars are safer than one.
distance depends on how many bad guesses the driver makes Our companions were Bill Sherrill, also of the Border patrol,
in detouring sand dunes, impassable arroyos and various other Maclovio Vasquez of Mexicali, and David Larson, amateur
topographical obstacles. photographer.
For there is no road to Palomar. One just follows a Mexican Thanks to the courtesy of Mexican immigration officials, we
woodcutter's tracks in a southerly direction across the great level were able to cross the jeeps and our camping outfit at Calexico
floor of Laguna Salada—and when the tracks play out at the port with little formality. The cars carried extra gasoline, 10
lower end of the dry lake, one keeps on going for another 15 gallons of water, shovels, tow-chains and a box of food—includ-
miles by whatever route seems most feasible. And that brings ing a generous quantity of tortillas supplied by Maclovio.
you to Palomar canyon—if you have followed the right compass Out of Mexicali we took the old Cantu road—built by a for-
reading. mer governor of Baja California to connect the rich delta city of
I have been in Palomar three times in the last 12 years— Mexicali with Tijuana near the Pacific coast. The first 20 miles
and the route becomes more difficult each trip. But I will go were on graded road through the cotton and grain fields of Mex-
there again sooner or later, for that wild canyon in Lower Cali- ican farmers. Then we climbed to the summit of the low ridge
fornia has a fascination it is hard to resist. which connects Mt. Signal with the Cocopah range. From this
FEBRUARY, 1947 19
This ocotillo was found in blossom The senita cactus, Cereus schottii, This elephant tree was photographed
in mid-winter in Baja California. wears long bristles on its stems. on a slope above Palomar canyon.
elevation we could look south across the great inland basin of Beyond Demara's well we had to choose our own route and
Laguna Salada which has been dry for the last six years, and break our own trail. For the road which once crossed the sand
now has a smooth floor as hard as paving. dunes at the lower end of Laguna Salada has long since been
For 18 miles we rolled across this natural roadway—our only covered by blow sand, and-no car has crossed the barrier for
guide being the dim tracks made by trucks of the woodcutters many years. We decided to skirt around the dunes if possible,
who scour the bajada around the old lake for dead ironwood and keeping between them and the base of the Sierra. It was a long
palo verde to stoke the fires of Mexicali. rough detour, but after 15 miles of such terrain as only a jeep
James O. Pattie, trapper and adventurer, nearly perished on could navigate, we finally dropped down a steep slope to the
this great salty flat in February, 1828. He and members of his floor of Palomar arroyo. After leaving the lakebed our travel
party had come down the Colorado river in canoes, trapping had been through a forest of tree cholla, sometimes with the
beaver as they traveled. They expected to find Spanish settle- growth so dense the spiny stems would break off and tumble
ments at the mouth of the river where they could dispose of into the car as we grazed them. With three in the front seat of
their beaver skins. But they found only Indians—the Cocopah the jeep—the back was full of food and bedding—it was impos-
and another tribe which they called Pipi. So they abandoned sible to get through this garden of cactus without some scratches.
their canoes, buried their furs, and with two Indian guides start- But it was a mild winter day with a warm sun overhead. And
ed across the Lower California peninsula toward San Diego on the jeeps plunged along into washes and over steep banks and
foot. With no containers in which to carry water, they suffered through sand and rocks and cactus as if they were enjoying the
critically before reaching the snow-capped Sierra Juarez range conquest of this wild terrain as much as we were.
on the west side of the lakebed. As the only member of the party who knew the location of
"What with the fierce sun and the scorching sand, and our this canyon, I was leading the way. I am sure Fisher, following
extreme fatigue," wrote Pattie, "the air seemed to have ex- my crooked and circuitous trail must have thought more than
tracted every particle of moisture from our bodies . . . We at- once his guide had gone completely loco. But eventually we
tempted to chew tobacco. It would raise no moisture. We took came to the daddy of all the washes—and that was Palomar.
our bullets in our mouths, and moved them around to create This canyon drains a big area of the desert slope of the Sierra
moisture, to relieve our parched throats. We had traveled but a Juarez. Its chasm comes down out of the mountains in a north-
little farther before our tongues had become so dry and swollen easterly direction, and having reached the floor of the plain,
that we could scarcely speak so as to be understood. In this ex- swings due north toward its outlet in Laguna Salada. We en-
tremity of nature we should, perhaps, have sunk voluntarily, had tered the wide arroyo 10 miles below the point where the can-
not relief been still in view on the sides of the snow covered yon emerges from the mountains. The arroyo at this point varied
mountains." from, a quarter mile to a half mile in width. It is a huge water
But Pattie and his companions bore their hardship, and even- course, and yet there was no evidence that any great deluge of
tually reached one of the canyons where water trickled down to water had come down the channel in recent years. On the con-
the floor of desert—as it does today in nearly all the canyons trary, the floor was covered with mature desert willow, iron-
which drain from the Sierra to the desert plain. wood, palo verde, ocotillo, creosote and cholla which grew more
We spun over the hard smooth floor of the Laguna at 40 densely as we approached the mountains. One of those great
miles an hour, and arrived in mid-morning at the little stick-in- storm torrents which come to every desert arroyo sooner or later
the-mud house where Manuel Demara, aged Mexican recluse, —sometimes after a lapse of 50 or 100 years—would sweep out
maintains a well for the small herd of cattle which graze on the much of this growth in a few hours.
bajada between lakeshore and mountains. We followed a dry sandy stream course that wound among
Manuel was not there, but his larder was well stocked with the trees, first on one side of the wadi and then on the other.
food. Long strings of it were drying on the clothesline back of Then suddenly the gently sloping banks on either side of the
the dwelling—a six months' supply of jerky. channel changed to vertical stone walls. Our arroyo had become
FEBRUARY, 1947 21
*I^P
v ^^^g|t> ^./.^^^
;-£ ~ >•
bisnaga. On the slopes overlooking the canyon was an occasional Aries hiked over a ridge to a tributary canyon and reported
elephant tree. The botany of the area was the characteristic he found more palms there, including some of the E. armata
growth of the Lower Sonoran zone—with the mesquites, palo species. I know of but one canyon on the Colorado desert north
verde, ironwood and willow being especially prolific. of the border where palms are found in greater numbers than
in Palomar—and that is the famous Palm canyon near Palm
Springs.
On my first trip to Palomar 12 years ago, it was more acces-
sible than today. At that time I crossed Laguna Salada and then
23
Indio, California . . .
Ownership of West's biggest iron ore deposit,
GAid . .
the Iron Chief claims in Eagle mountains, is in
litigation. The 2700 acre tract with estimated
100,000,000 tons of ore was recently sold to
Kaiser interests for $1,132,811, by Edward T.
Wasinghton, D. C. . . . Mojave, California . . . Foley. Charging that Foley was coerced and that
real value of property is $9,000,000, Foley's
President Truman expects the atomic control Diatom plant at Rosamond has been taken partner Harlan H. Bradt, president of Riverside
commission to operate through existing agen- over by Gypsum Incorporated. New operators Iron and Steel company, has refused to relin-
cies, according to a letter to Senator Elbert D. plan to produce hard wall plaster, wall board quish the land. Foley filed suit to validate sale,
Thomas of Utah. This means that United States and gypsum lathe under copyright name, while Bradt filed cross-suit aimed at halting it.
bureau of mines will probably handle develop- "Roseite." Company is said to own 12 gypsum Deposit, 12 miles northwest of Desert Center,
ment and mining of uranium, according to Sena- mines in California, Arizona and Nevada. Pro- is said to yield ore that can be put directly into
tor Thomas, who sought the information while duction of perlite board, an acoustic wall board blast furnace. Kaiser plans open pit mine simi-
urging action on a uranium project in southeast- using diatomous material, and gypsum soil con- lar to that in Minnesota's Mesabi range, with
ern Utah which has been idle since creation of ditioner also is planned. Plant is expected to em- 100 employes producing 3500 tons daily.
atomic control commission. ploy 150 men on 24-hour basis. Former opera-
tors were Hall company of Santa Ana. • • • •
• • •
Fillmore, Utah . . .
Salt Lake City . . .
Deposit of high-grade pumice in foothills
Assured iron ore reserves in Iron and Granite Boise, Idaho . . . southeast of Sevier lake is being worked again
mountains and Twin Peaks regions of Iron after lapse of 57 years. Utah Pumice company,
county were estimated at 350,000,000 tons by W . C. Roberts, 86, of Boise is offering a gold headed by Byron A. Ray, has built a spur track
Paul T. Allsman, chief of Salt Lake mining mine to anyone who will go out and find it. and 3V2 mile highway, and resumed shipments
branch of United States bureau of mines. Speak- Roberts told reporters that years ago, when last made by Ray's father in 1889. Outcropping
ing before Utah section of American Institute herding sheep in Camas county, about five
miles north of Corral, he picked up a rock. A covers 40 acres of patented land to unknown
of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers, Alls- depth. Test pits indicate minimum of 250,000
man added that assumed ore in same district later assay showed $800 gold per ton and sub-
stantial silver values. Roberts still thinks he cubic yards of pumice. Pumice is used in light-
brings probable reserve to 500,000,000 tons. weight concrete, abrasives, plastics, acoustic
Ownership of reserve is estimated at 40 per cent might locate spot where he picked up the rich
ore, if he could camp out there a few days. But plasters, and manufacture of vinegar.
each by Columbia Steel company and Colorado • • •
Fuel and Iron corporation, the balance belong- he is getting old and feels it his duty to tell the
ing to many interests. public of the rich deposit. Sigurd, Utah . . .
Large gypsum plant will be constructed at
Sigurd by United States Gypsum company, with
operation scheduled to start in the spring. Plant
will be located on 920 acres containing exten-
sive deposits of superior quality gypsum, said
THE COST OF LIVING HAS JUMPED! to have enough tonnage to last 100 years. Ac-
cording to William L. Keady, company presi-
dent, plant will manufacture plaster of all types,
THE USE OF ELECTRICITY HAS JUMPED! gypsum tile, sheetrock, rocklath and sheeting.
• • •
BUT YOU'LL FIND THAT . . . Bishop, California . . .
Operations at Monte Christo mine, Mam-
moth, were suspended for winter after a heavy
snow slide killed two mine staff members and
FEBRUARY, 1947 27
Divorces in Nevada will be taxed, marriage Newspaper 98 Years Old . . .
license fees doubled, if recommendations of
COUNTY MAPS . . . taxation committee of Nevada association of
SANTA FE—Advocating election of General
MINES, Paved, State Improved, Inferior Ulysses S. Grant as president, the first issue
EOADS, TRAILS, R.R.s., GAME REFUGES, county commissioners are accepted. Committee
of the Daily New Mexican, oldest daily news-
CREEKS, SCHOOLS, RANGER STATIONS, is attempting to find means of meeting expected
CAMPS, LOOKOUTS, ELEVATIONS, NAT'L paper in the Southwest, was published on July
$2,000 000 deficit. Increased taxes on gambling
FORESTS, LAND GRANTS, C O U N T Y 14, 1868. Publishers'of the New Mexican claim,
were also suggested.
LINES, POWER LINES, CANALS, DITCHES, however, that the lineage of their paper goes
TOWNSHIPS. All Counties $1 except as list- • • • back to Santa Fe Republican, first weekly in
ed: Tuolumne, Santa Barbara, Plumas, Placer, New Mexico territory, which published its
Modoc, Madera, $1.50; Tulare, Tehama, Siski- The Godchaux ranch comprising 15,773
you. Imperial, $2; San Diego, Riverside, Men- acres in Paradise valley north of Winnemucca, first edition with a September 10, 1847 date-
docino. Kern, Humtroldt, Fresno, $2.50 ; Trin- has been sold to Henry F. Bennett of Reno for line. The New Mexican, starting its 98th vol-
ity, Shasta, Mono, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, ume in November, published excerpts from
Lassen, Los Angeles, $3. $60,000.
Also Oregon, Idaho and Washington • • • early editions.
County Maps.
Las Vegas Morning Tribune has been pur- Return to Tribal Ownership . . .
WORLD'S MINERALS chased by James H. and Charles K. Dooley and
James W. Scott, all of Southern California. DULCE—Apaches of Jicarilla reservation in
2417 San Pablo Ave. Oakland 12, Calif. northwestern New Mexico have returned to
New owners will rename paper Nevada Courier,
and publish five times weekly. tribal ownership more than 300,000 acres of
land which had been allotted by government to
• • • individual tribal members. Only about 43,000
Governor Vail Pittman has purchased weekly acres of 745,509 acre reservation are still held
THE HOTEL Ely Record from Congressman-elect Charles H. by individuals. Jicarilla Apaches are mostly
AT THE ' Russell. Pittman already owns Ely Daily stockmen, and prefer having grazing lands held
Times, but will publish newspapers separately in tribal ownership and used in common. In-
PALMS and continue their present policies.
• • •
dian service is encouraging such action. In the
past, government forced allotments upon In-
Fallon Standard, celebrating its 43rd birth- dians who were not trained to earn their livings
day, offered life subscription to person who had on small areas of land.
FIREPLACE- subscribed longest. It found two, Mrs. W. W.
ADOBES Sanford and A. W. Lofthouse, had been on the Celebrate Matachina Dances . . .
• • • subscription list since first issue, December 12, BERNALILLO—Jemez pueblo celebrated the
1903- Lofthouse was the one who gave the paper acquisition of a new image of the Virgin on
ALL SPORTS its name. Guadalupe day, December 12, with traditional
Matachina dances. Governor Manuel Chewiwi
announced that the event would become an an-
NEW MEXICO nual fiesta at the pueblo. After church services,
OPEN image of the Virgin was carried into pueblo
ALL YEAR Franciscan Receives Award . . . plaza. Matachina dances began-at 11 o'clock and
MESCALERO—Father Albert W. Braun, lasted through the day. The Turquoise clan
peace-time padre to the Apache Indians has re- danced with violin accompaniment and the
Gateway to Joshua Tree Monument ceived the Legion of Merit for his devotion to Pumpkin clan with drum accompaniment, the
American soldiers on Corregidor and in Japa- two alternating.
ROBT. VAN LAHR, Mgr. nese prison camps. Father Albert, who served in
For reservations write or call at the first world war, laid aside his Franciscan
29 Palms Inn, Twentynine Palms, Calif. robes before Pearl Harbor to become chaplain
Navajo Vets Offered Education . . .
or Call any Travel Bureau or Automobile Club with 1600 New Mexico men of 200th Coast GALLUP—Navajo veterans of world war II
Artillery in the Philippines. Between wlars who have not completed the eighth grade, can
Father Albert erected, with occasional help attend day schools for as few as six hours a
PALMS of a few Indians, beautiful St. Joseph Catholic week and receive subsistence payments for it,
mission. The mission, overlooking the Indian according to Dr. George A. Boyce, director of
INN . agency and planned as a memorial to soldier Navajo schools. Veterans can attend during
dead, was dedicated in 1939- day, evenings or weekends, with teachers au-
thorized to give individual tutoring. Course of
study will be worked out according to each
person's needs, and will include English, read-
ing and writing, arithmetic and other standard
into the heart oi subjects. Maximum subsistence for married vet-
erans attending 25 hours or more per week will
BY BOAT t h e Southwest's
most scenic can-
yon country with
Norman Nevills be $90 a month.
DESERT HOLLY
SMOKE TREE
Rooted plants oi these and other desert
trees and shrubs now available at
RANCHO MIRAGE NURSERY
wild it Yourself
Between Palm Springs and Indio on
Rancho Mirage plaza, beside the PALO
VERDE DRESS SHOP.
EVERYTHING FOR THE Send for booklet showing how to make your own bricks of
Cemadobe and build an attractive low cost home yourself. Amaz-
SKIER ing discovery in soil stabilization. Bricks of earth and cement.
SKIS Attractive; heat and cold resisting. Easy to make. A Godsend to
SKI BOOTS anyone who needs a home. Now being used by hundreds of
SKI CLOTHING satisfied home builders. Acceptable to loan agencies. Complete
instructions in attractive, easy-to-understand booklet entitled
VAN DEGRIFT'S "Cemadobe". 50 illustrations and 40 chapters. Money back guar-
SKI H U T antee of satisfaction. Send $1.00 to Cem-Adobe Company,
717 W. 7th Street Box 8 1 , Dept. DM-126, West Los Angeles Station,
LOS ANGELES 14. CALIF.
Los Angeles 25, California.
FEBRUARY, 1947 29
MONTANA AGATE . . .
Sawed slices in packages $5.00 per package.
Sawed slices mixed gem materials $5.00 per
package. No culls in these packages. Montana
Agate, rough, good cutting material, $1.00 to
$2.00 per pound. Montana Agate, fine to
choice, $3.00 to $10.00 per pound. Rough
Montana Sapphires, mixed pale colors, choice
gem but not large, cut about half carat, each
50c. Finished Montana Agate cabochons $1.00
mmsm
and up. Precision facet cutting. All work and
materials guaranteed or money refunded.
FLATHEAD HOBBY MUSEUM
Highway 93 Rollins, Montana
By LELANDE QUICK
I have referred to the lack of lapidary schools each meeting. If a society always can see rough
where interested persons can learn the craft as a material and finished material displayed at every
vocation rather than a hobby activity. It seems meeting and hear something of both, it will be
that such a school now is operating in a small an active society. To this end it is therefore wise
way at Loveland, Colorado. Lenore Markwitz to include a provision in the by-laws that every
of Berthoud, Colorado, writes that she stopped member must at some time during the year dis-
there and that "the owner was exceedingly gra- play evidence of his current work in order to
cious and, I believe, would be a congenial in- remain a member. There should be no rule about
structor. He must be a proficient one for the applicants having lapidary machinery. Get them
workmanship of the pieces made in his shop interested and they'll get equipment. When they
was exquisite. He had two or three veterans get equipment teach them how to use it and
working there under the government plan and then insist that they show evidence of their
6" HIGH-SPEED TRIMMING SAW. All cast learning the business. His course covers jewelry work.
metal. No wood. This saw saves time and ma- making and all phases of lapidary work and he It is not necessary for a small group to have
terial. Saw operates at 2000 R.P.M. Priced at has both a short rudimentary course and a long the specialized committees of some of the larger
$47.50 without motor, F.O.B., Los Angeles, one." I received a communication from the
Calif. This price includes saw-blade, bell: and societies. A library, a hospitality committee, etc.,
pulley to give you the correct speed. Requires owner of the school, M. J. Stickles, in which he always can be added as the need becomes ap-
^4-horse motor. Shipping weight approxi- confirms the foregoing information and invites parent. The more members serving in some of-
mately 60 pounds. correspondence from interested people. It ficial capacity the better working organization
therefore appears there are two schools quali-
Highland Park Lapidary Supply fied under the government school plan to teach
you have—and doers keep the ball rolling. It is
the drones that kill off many organizations. A
1009 Mission St.. South Pasadena, Calif. veterans, who will accept others for a course in person who has served in some active capacity
gem grinding, metalcraft and jewelry making. always is a more loyal member than one who has
They are Science Park Lapidary and Metalcraft remained on the side lines.
school at Loveland, Colorado, and New Mexico
State Teachers college at Silver City, New Mex- As time goes on I am more inclined to the be-
ico. lief that a combination of gem and mineral
The Sartwell Gem Drill • • •
study is necessary to a group in a small com-
munity, because of the lack of purely lapidary
Groups in Centralia, Washington, and El subjects that can be covered. After a time you
Paso, Texas, have requested advice in organiz- will find that you have covered all phases of
ing lapidary societies. Having organized three lapidary procedure in lectures and demonstra-
lapidary societies in the past year, I believe the tions. Then you will be loath to start all over
plan I use is good. Some interested party should again unless you are constantly adding novices.
secure publicity, through the local press and When a society reaches a point where all mem-
lapidary pages of mineral magazines, that such bers are proficient in the lapidary art you have a
an organization is contemplated. Interested peo- sterile society. Interest lags unless there is a
ple should then file their names so that they well balanced program of kindred subjects, such
can be notified when an organization meeting as jewelry making, geology and mineralogy,
will take place. After the accumulation of 20 to that tie in with the lapidary art.
30 names, a dinner meeting should be arranged First activity that should be planned is a field
at a local restaurant and notices sent to those in- trip. When people get out together and lick
terested, followed by additional press publicity. rocks in field or desert, a mutual understanding
Do your own drilling with this inexpen- develops that is never matched in the meeting
sive gem drill. Shipped complete with all As each guest arrives he should be asked to room. Novices particularly have to get the feel
belts, drills, grit cups, wax and grits. register his name, address, occupation, items of of the outdoors to be bitten by the rock bug,
lapidary equipment he possesses and particular which usually develops a fever that never leaves
$29.50 F.O.B. lapidary interests. A chairman should carefully a person quite the same. There are too many un-
(Less Motor) peruse this information. After the dinner and a satisfied souls and neurotics in America, who
discussion of the hobby by himself, he should would be happier folks if they could hold a rock
appoint an organizine committee to select a slate in their hand some place away from their daily
Eilroy was here and got his ADAMITE. of officers, a meeting time and place, and report scenes. It would call from their subconscious
Have you obtained your specimen of at a future meeting. Since organizing committee things related to their forebears of thousands of
this Rare Green Mineral? members usually predominate on any slate se- years ago. While they wouldn't understand this
A once in a lifetime chance to obtain a lected, it is important that the committee be se- new feeling, they would find that subsequent
choice specimen for only lected from the list with regard to their occu- trips would develop an understanding that
pation. The venture is certainly destined for an would affect their thinking and feeling for the
ONE DOLLAR early success if the list includes an attorney, a better.
Larger pieces in stock. stenographer and an accountant, for then you
have a perfect officer set-up for the first year. If any one is interested in joining the pro-
posed groups in Washington and Texas they
Mail orders filled promptly. After permanent organization is effected the should communicate with Ralph Waldo at 712
president should appoint a committee to draw "E" street, Centralia, Washington, and D. T.
Open Daily 9:30 a. m. to 6 p. m. up a set of by-laws. He should appoint an excur-' Harris at 2401 Pittsburg street, El Paso, Texas,
Sundays 1 to 5 p. m. sion chairman, usually called a field trip chair- respectively.
man. I think the word "excursion" is a better • • •
one as it includes trips to museums, picnics, etc.
LONG BEACH There should be a vice-president whose duty it The catalog containing lapidary instruction,
MINERAL & LAPIDARY is to act as chairman of a program committee. mentioned in December Desert Magazine, is no
SUPPLY CO. This is the most important job in such a society, longer supplied by the Lapidary Equipment Co..
for if an officer cannot originate programs of a Inc., of Seattle. They have a free catalog, but
1850 E. Pacific Coast Hwy. lapidary instruction has been divorced from it
lapidary nature there is no good reason for at-
(101 Alternate) tendance. Another chairman should head the and is supplied for 25c or furnished free with
Phone 738-56 important mineral sales and display committee an order for equipment. However, they have
whose purpose it is to see that gems in the rough supplied the instruction booklet to more than
LONG BEACH 4, CALIFORNIA 100 inquirers who wrote me about it.
are for sale and finished gems are displayed at
LAPIDACAO BRASIL
(THE BRAZILIAN LAPIDARY) FOR GRINDING SANDING POLISHING LAPPING
Specializing in unique specimens and cutting Performs each operation in the correct and convenient position as though on a
materials from Brazil including Ruby Mica, separate machine designed for that purpose.
Euclase, Phenacite, Brazilianite, Itacolomite, Spindle instantly converted from horizontal to vertical position. Simplifies all
Itabirite, Jaeutinga, Canga, etc. lapidary operations . . . eliminates need for several machines—saves costs. Takes space
Also fine selection of specimens from Corn- only 20x30 inches. Equipped with precision ball bearings. Ruggedly built for a lifetime
wall and Cumberland (Eng.), Australia, S. of service. Pans, covers, wheels, drum sanders, cabochon sanders, polishing buffs and
Africa, Nigeria, Iberia, West Indies and other accessories available.
Canada. Write Today for Descriptive Circular!
Equipment. Orcutt Faceting Head and Lap.
Prices on application.
FELKER MANUFACTURING CO.
KILIAN E. BENSUSAN World's Largest Manufacturer of Diamond Cut-Off Wheels and Equipment
861S Columbus Ave. San Fernanda, Calif. TORHANCE. CALIFORNIA
FEBRUARY, 1947 31
BEADS, BUTTONS. Cut from your own gem
materials. Drilling, any size or quantity. For
GEM MART ADVERTISING
7c a Word
RATE
Minimum $1.00
fine gem cutting try us. Lapidary work since
1904. H. M. Samuelson, 1012 El Camino
Real N., Salinas, Calif.
GRIEGEH'S
S L A B S . . . GEMS AND MINERALS
SHATTUCKITE — Exclusive Arizona Gem-
stone. Pure blue 50c sq. in. Mixed with red 1633 E. Walnut Street
or green 35c sq. in. PASADENA 4, CALIFORNIA
ARIZONA GEM PETRIFIED WOOD—From
Petrified Forest area. Very colorful. 25c Business hours 9:00 a. m. to 5:30 p. m.
sq. in.
Prices Include Luxury Tax and Postage Closed All Day Sunday
Money Back Guarantee
Phone SY 6-6423
Gorham's Gem Shop, Box 645, Ajo, Ariz.
FEBRUARY, 1947 33
Marie Lackey, oil geologist, lectured on oc- Earl Knie talked on turquoise, birthstone of
currence and formation of agate in Southern the month, at December meeting of Pomona
California at December meeting of Santa Valley Mineral club, held in chemistry building
Monica Gemological society. Charles Heaton of Pomona college, Claremont. President Fred
retraced his recent auto tour through the north- Kroger told of experiences on a summer vaca-
ern states, eastern Canada and New England, tion trip covering Nevada, Utah, Wyoming and Oi a Rockhound
describing many mineral localities visited. Es- Montana. Most of the time was spent collecting
telle Tesk reported on her recent visit to Calis- near his old home at Phillipsburg, Montana, By LOUISE EATON
toga. where for many years he had engaged in min-
• • • ing.
• • • Wun uv the most pleasurable experi-
Annual Christmas party was held at the De- ences that cumz to seasoned rockhouns is
cember meeting of the Seattle Gem Collectors Sequoia bulletin, official publication of Se- to watch sumwun what's just bin bitten
club. A large turnout of members enjoyed the quoia Mineral society, quotes the following by the rockitis bug cavort on a field trip.
program. article from the Dinuba Sentinel: "A 62 pound, He sees desert wunders with new eyes
jagged stone formation, found at Sutter City, an feels a moment uv nostalgic longing
California, is believed to be a souvenir from the to be a neophite himself again. Then he
tail of Giacobina-Zinner comet. The stone, remembers all the good speciments he's
CHOICE MINERAL SPECIMENS, roughly a cubic foot in size, was still warm accumulated an is satisfied to enjoy the
Fluorescent and Gem Material when found by Mrs. E. E. Metzger. Rock re- sensation thru the novice's eyes.
mained warm for six hours after found. There
CATALOG are no similar rock formations known in the
Mama rockhouns finds that it's prac-
FRED ROBERTS JR. tically impossable to be good hostesses
1106 W. Newmark Ave., Monterey Park, Calif. Kilian Bensusan, of San Fernando Valley an rockhouns at the same time. The
Mineral and Gem society, placed on exhibit at can't talk rox in wun room while they
their recent North Hollywood mineral show an trys to cook beans and bacon in a nuther.
interesting Brazilian black tourmaline. Lower Either dinner is late or part uv it is for-
• Instant indentification of half of tourmaline crystal, about one inch in got. It's never the rox that gets neglected.
• fluorescent minerals diameter, was solid, but the upper half had dis-
integrated in such a way as to show how a large
• new beauty in collections tourmaline is formed. Upper half is a mass of Seems as tho folkes's notions an view-
rfth MINERALIGHT loose needles, each needle on the outside of the points is sumtimz influenced by their sur-
crystal coinciding with a striation on solid half roundin landscape. Space an wide hori-
below. Bensusan calls specimen his "mineral zons tends to make peepul tolerant, while
shaving brush." kramped quarters where yu gotta look up
• • • instead uv out for distances indooces nar-
Yavapai Gem and Mineral society, Prescott, row thinkin. Too bad sum uv the present
Arizona, held a Christmas party at its December world-agitatin questions can't be pon-
meeting, with guitar music by Wally Duncan, dered in the desert.
an hour of story telling and a fine display of
minerals. Moulton B. Smith reported on min-
• Make field trips profitable — find new eral exhibits at the state fair. E. E. Michael was
deposits in the field — see added appointed membership and field trip chairman. Prof. C. L. Mills showed colored slides of a
beauty in your mineral collection Mrs. Michael became chairman of refreshment trip through northern Canada at December 5
under Ultra Violet light. ..these a re a few committee. meeting of East Bay Mineral society, Oakland,
of the uses of MINERALIGHT. • • • California. Christmas party with pot luck sup-
Write for Bulletin No. D - 1 0 0 - Bill Wedel was scheduled to show pictures per and Santa Claus with gifts came December
k See your Mineralight dealer. at December 3 meeting of Sequoia Mineral so- 17. A surprise field trip furnished fun for all
ciety, held in Parlier high school. A rock sale who went. No cutting material was found, but
PRODUCTS, I n c . was planned to add money to the treasury. Dora many mineral specimens were obtained from
Anderson, popular member of Sequoia group, is old copper pockets. In ruins of an old smelter,
stationed at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, over- members found bricks which had been brought
5205 Santa Monica BWd.,Los fcneeles 27,Cali1
seas replacement depot, on her way to the from Wales around Cape Horn in sailing ships,
Mediterranean area. then packed inland on mule back.
• • •
Kern County Mineral society enjoyed a
Christmas celebration and dinner at Bakersfield
Inn. Mineral gifts were exchanged. Several
H e r e ' s t h e Gift Y o u ' v e B e e n L o o k i n g F o r . . . members gave reports on November field trip to
Boron, which yielded a quantity of good ma-
Enjoy Travel and Adventure at Home. See the world through the new terial.
TRU-VUE. Positively life-like third dimension pictures. • • •
Long Beach Mineralogical society installed
It's fascinating — entertaining and educational officers at their December 11 Christmas potluck
. . . you insert a roll of film . . . trip the lever dinner party: W . L. Mayhew, president; Flor-
. . . a picture appears before your eyes . . . trip ence D. Gordon, vice-president; Jane Fisher,
the lever again . . . and you have another and secretary; Fritz Schmidt, treasurer; Milo Potter,
another. The world passes before you in pictures
. . . and such pictures . . . they startle you with Frank Balfe, Jay Wilson, directors. Meetings
their brilliance . . . they amaze you with their are held second Wednesdays at Belmont recrea-
three dimensional qualities . . . because the people tion center, 4104 Allen. Visitors are welcome.
in them almost come to life . . . and you declare
you could reach out and touch them.
Tru-Vue is no larger than an ordinary pair of
opera glasses and it is much lighter. It is molded
in beautifully finished bakelite. Has scientific
lenses of the finest quality. Each roll of film
contains fourteen pictures. Rolls can easily be
Cabochon G e m s . . .
Calif. Residents Add 2 >/2 % State Tax
changed in an instant. 350 different rolls from FEBRUARY SPECIAL—Wyoming jade,
VIEWERS, $2.00 which to select. medium to light green, finest gem qual-
FILMS 35c EACH WRITE FOR FOLDER ity in 15mm rounds and 18/13 mm ovals,
also 14/11 mm ovals, all suitable for
ring and earring sets. Price $1.50 each.
Luxury tax extra. Also same sizes and
ELLIOTT GEM SHOP prices in Tigereye of best quality.
Open Every Day and Evening Except Monday
! Jergins Arcade Village Entrance Subway at Ocean and Pine W. J. KANE. Lapidary
LONG BEACH (2) CALIFORNIA 1651 Waller St. Phone Evergreen 4039
MAIL ORDERS FILLED ANYWHERE IN U. S. A. SAN FRANCISCO 17. CALIF.
FEBRUARY, 1947 35
NEW GEM. MINERAL SOCIETY
ORGANIZES IN TUCSON
1HE DESERT TRADING POST
Classified advertising in this section costs 7 cents a word, $1.00 minimum per issue
Tucson Gem and Mineral society was organ-
ized December 3, 1946, with 28 members. Con-
stitution and. by-laws were adopted by unanim-
ous vote at a later meeting, and officers for 1947
elected. President is Sam Turner of U. S. geo-
WILL TRADE, Turquoise mine of five claims, logical survey; vice-president, J. A. Watwood;
INDIAN GOODS secretary-treasurer, Mrs. M. O. Gastlelum, 1701
about 200 acres for good clean house trailer,
WE ARE AGAIN RECEIVING real hand-ham- late model. T. J. Nicely, Box 927, Tonopah, S. 6th avenue, Tucson, Arizona.
mered Indian jewelry from the reservation Nevada. • • •
all made by top silversmiths. For our rock Captain and Mrs. Kennedy of Redlands, for-
customers we have bought another collection FOR SALE: Redwood doors with antique hard- mer Minnesotans, spent a few mid-December
of rock, making this one of the largest col- ware, Pioneer trunks, framed pictures, books, days visiting below sea level rockhounds in Im-
lections of rocks and minerals in this part of prints, lithographs, etc., musical antiques, perial Valley.
the country. Our collection of rugs, baskets twelve hundred flower pots, all sizes, palms, • • •
and jewelry is still large despite the shortage. all sizes for transplanting, Pioneer and Gay Many real beryl emeralds seem to be coming
Come in and see us. Daniels Indian Trading 90's costumes. Write P. O. Box 790, Red- from Brazil at the present time, but most of
Post, 401 W. Foothill Blvd., Fontana, Calif. lands, Calif. them come from Colombia, where they occur in
massive calcite or limestone. Some stones are
INDIAN ARTIFACTS. Arrows, Spears. No WANTED: Graduate nurses, between ages 35 transparent, of fine gem quality, while others
Catalog. Write Herbert Lewis, Builder of and 50 for 25 bed private general hospital. In are opaque. Colombian mines were known to
fine Indian collections, Box 4, Strafford, Mo. mountains, good salary and full maintenance Indians hundreds of years before coming of
rotate night and day duty. Apply: Director of Columbus. It was the eager search for emerald
4 VERY FINE ancient Indian Arrowheads Nurses, Placerville Sanitarium, Placerville, mines which led to early exploration of interior
$1.00. 4 tiny perfect bird arrowheads $1.00. Calif. of northwestern South America.
1 Ancient Stone Tomahawk $1.00. 2 Flint • • •
Skinning Knives $1.00. 1 Large Flint Hoe A REVELATION: Pelican Joe's formula for Ben Hur Wilson was scheduled to speak on
$1.00. 2 Spearheads $1.00. 10 Arrowheads preparing and seasoning fish to be smoked. It "Effects of Glacier Action" at December meet-
from 10 states $1.00. 20 Damaged Arrow- eliminates all objectionable flavor the wood ing of Marquette Geologists association. No-
heads $1.00. 10 Fish Sealers $1.00. 10 Hide might give and only retains the smoke. Short- vember auction of polished material and speci-
Scrapers $1.00. 4 Perfect Saw edged arrow- ens the time of smoking to 3 hours or, wi* mens brought $66.75 to club treasury.
heads $1.00. The above 11 offers $10.00 this seasoning any smoke method can be used.
More healthful and tasty. Used on the west • • •
Postpaid. List free. Lear's, Box 569, Galves- Gem Collectors of Utah December 17 meet-
ton, Texas. coast for years. Now just released to the pub-
lic. Sample fresh smoked fish and instructions ing in Newhouse hotel featured a special annual
how to prepare and season, both for $1.00. display of more than 250 precious and semi-
MISCELLANEOUS Pelican Joe, 6456 Atkins St., Encanto, Calif. precious stones. Alfred M. Buranek, geologist,
P. O. Box 332. discussed tourmaline, beryl and kunzite. New
INCOME TAX returns prepared by expert with officers elected were C. L. Pettit, president;
33 years experience, minimum fee $3 until Sears Roach, vice-president; Mrs. Stella Pettit,
SEND $1.50 for Handmade Shell Brooch. Beau- secretary; Mose Whitaker, treasurer.
March 1st, then $5.00. Send all Forms W-2, tiful designs on circle or heart shape with
with names of wife and dependents, if any. safety clasp pin. Money refunded if not sat-
John Wesley Davis, I6IIV2 Donaldson St., isfied. L. E. Cook, 1933 Fulton St., Fresno,
Los Angeles 26, California. California. MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTIONS. Do your buy-
ing by mail with help our free Guide. Effi-
DESOLATE DEATH VALLEY in gorgeous LOCATION WANTED bv silversmith, lapi- cient, safe, economical. Established 1928.
color. See advertisement page V>. Desert dary, desert furniture and other crafts. Have Home Subscription Agency, Brookfield, 111.
Color Slides. complete outfits. Experienced Indian trader
and curio dealer. Must be on desert. Address DEALER & COLLECTOR; World-wide Fire-
COMMERCIAL LAPPING and Polishing on arms publication. $1.00 yearly; Foreign
flat surfaces. Finishing of bookends and pol- Box B, Desert Magazine.
$2.00. Dealer & Collector, 71HR, Flushing,
ished rocks for fireplaces a specialty. Send for New York.
estimate. Joseph R. Mathieu, 1230Vi Boyle YOUNG VETERAN wants job as a Guide or
Ave., Rt. 1, Box 841, Fontana, Calif. to assist in Expedition. Have Seamans papers.
Write Robert Wallish, 3522 W . 12th Place, LIVESTOCK
FOSSILS—Geological supplies, Geiger count- Chicago 23, 111.
ers, thin sections, picks, hammers, etc. Omaha KARAKULS. Producers of Persian Lamb fur
Scientific Supply Co., Box 1750, Omaha 4, BOOKS — MAGAZINES lire easy to raise and adapted to the desert
Nebraska. which is their native home. For further in-
CAMP A N D TRAIL INCIDENTS OF PIO- formation write Addis Kelley, 4637 E. 52
PANNING GOLD—A side line hobby for NEER LIFE, by W. Irven Lively. A desert place, Maywood, California.
Rockhounds and Desert Nomads. You book by a desert author, who has lived for
should know how to pan gold, recognize gold fifty years in the Southwest. It has the real REAL ESTATE
bearing gravel and valuable quartz ledges. tang of the Desert. If you like poetry, you will
The places you go are where rich virgin like it; if you do not like poetry you will BUSINESS, HOME, RANCH. 20 acres fine
ground is found. Send your name for new read it and forget that it is poetry as you be- Ariz, land, furnished 6 room frame stucco,
folder on panning gold, with pictures—list come absorbed in its narrative and descriptive elec, water, cows, pigs, chic, equipt. Wonder-
of mining books and equipment for prospec- thrills. $1.50 postpaid. Address W. I. Lively, ful dry climate. Complete latest lapidary
tor beginners. Old Prospector, Box 21A37, Route 6, Box 1111, Phoenix, Ariz. equipt. Will teach business and guarantee
Dutch Flat, Calif. market. Illness forces sale. Full price
HAND WROUGHT COPPER, in all types of COLLECTORS the world over read The Earth $7,900.00. Terms. A real bargain. Lapidist,
metal arts for the home. Many desert gems Science Digest. If you like earth science, you Box 851, Buckeye, Arizona.
cut and polished or rough. Inlays for the fire- will like The Earth Science Digest. One year
subscription, $2.00 — Sample copy 25c. $2500. FULL PRICE. Forty acres mountain des-
place and barbecue. Send for a list of our ert, not farm land. No well. Hauled storage
special items. Valley Crafts Shop, 14135 Ox- Write: Dept. D., Box 57, Omaha 3, Ne-
braska. water. Secluded, scenic canyons. Beautiful
nard St., Van Nuys, Calif. view, 4000 ft. Five room 900 sq. ft. fur-
CACTI AND SUCCULENTS—From the des- WILDCRAFTERS MAGAZINE — Woodcraft nished house. A-l condition. Newly painted,
erts of the world. Don-Rita brand. Eiy ap- and Outdoor Living Lore. 5 years only $4.00. 6 years old, 20 miles N. E. Victorville. House
pointment only. Write us your needs and we 1 year $1.00. 35c copy. Spring issue free when alone worth price. L. A. 8250. 4927 Beck
will try to help you. Michael Donnelly Cacti subscribing. Reasonable advertising rates. Ave., Bell, Calif.
Gardens, 334 Lowell St., Daly City, Calif. Wildcrafters World, Rt. 1-D, Alton Sta., Ky.
For Imperial Valley Farms—
BINOCULARS — Cleaned, repaired and col- COLLECTORS CATALOG — National Geo-
limated, all makes by Factory Trained man. graphic (1888-1947), Arizona Highways, W . E . HANC OCK
Fast Service. Write, tell me your trouble for Desert Magazine, and other items. Send 10c. "The Farm Land Man"
estimate. THE GUNSHOP—12 W . Roose- Jack Hellar, P. O. Box 2507, Los Angeles 53, Since 1914
velt St., Phoenix, Ariz. Calif. EL CENTRO CALIFORNIA
FEBRUARY, 1947 37
between I/ou and. Me
By RANDALL HENDERSON
/IN THE Wonders of the Colorado Desert, George Whar- Mexicans do not like the odor of creosote. They call it hedion-
\J ton James wrote: dilla, meaning "little bad smeller." But I find that most folks
"Yet it is true that the desert is not for everybody. He who have dwelt on the desert for many years share my fondness
who loves comfort and ease more than knowledge and power; for creosote. It is fresh and clean and pungent.
who is afraid of hardship, solitude, heat, and general discom- When the scent of creosote is in the air the plants of the desert
fort ; who values the neatness of his appearance and the cleanli- are busy storing up the nourishment that will give them strength
ness of his apparel more than filling himself with experiences and vitality for months of drouth. The desert world is a thrifty
strange and novel, and coming in contact with some of the most world. And thrift is still an important virtue.
wonderful things of Nature, had better remain away. Buried in the desert sands are billions of tiny seeds, and bulbs.
"The desert will flout him. Its winds will toss his well- If conditions are just right, they will sprout and produce gor-
combed locks astray and disarrange his dainty apparel; its geous blossoms. But the rain must come at just the right time of
storms will beat upon him and make him fear the deluge, as well year. It must fall in a certain way, and there must be the proper
as wash the starch out of his collar; its alkali and bitter waters amount of water. It requires slow gentle showers in December
will nauseate and disgust him, and its sands make his bed a place or earlier to bring out the best flower display. Old Mother Na-
of unrest and mourning. ture has her flower business under good control. A little rain
"Its lack of all native foods (except in a few favored locali- will bring certain limited species of blossoms in February and
ties) will offend his epicureanism, for to live on 'condemned' March. If the rains are heavier, there will be wider variation in
foods is not agreeable to a pampered palate. Here are no smok- the flower show. If enough water comes—and falls gently
ing, lounging, or writing rooms. Out-of-doors has to an- enough to seep down eight or ten or twelve inches to the dor-
swer for every purpose, and scores of pages have I had to write mant bulbs of the desert lily, then we have the promise of a gor-
on my knee, or on a box, or even my suit case converted into an geous wildflower exhibit in the months ahead.
extemporized writing desk. Yes, Mother Nature is a good manager. Take those creosote
"No! No! Pampered and feasted sons and daughters of cities, bushes for instance. On your trips to the desert have you ever
don't come to the desert. It is not for you. You have deliberately noted how creosote grows—the wide spacing between plants?
chosen your mode of life. It shuts you out from much of what is The soil is seldom rich enough to furnish nourishment for a
great and grand and educative and real; but having thus shut jungle of them—so they spread out far enough to enable each
yourselves out, don't try to break down the barrier. If you do plant to have the proper feeding ground for its roots. They never
you will have a hard time and return home wearied, disgusted crowd each other.
and disgruntled. Far better read the desert through the eyes of And that is what I mean when I suggest that we could use
those who, while appreciating what your life has to give to the some of Nature's managerial skill in regulating the affairs of the
hungry soul, prefer the larger fuller, realer life of contact with human family. It is quite obvious that many of our social and
uncontaminated Nature." economic and political ills are the penalty of too much pushing
James' comment reflects very accurately the desert of his day, and crowding by some of the individuals and groups and nations
for his long tramps across the arid wastes of Southern Cali- which occupy the earth.
fornia were in the period before automobiles, good roads and But there is reassurance for those whose faith in the ultimate
motor courts had taken the sting out of desert travel. Today the destiny of man enables them to view life in its larger aspect.
desert country is visited anually by millions of motorists who Most of the troubles of mankind are of man's own making.
spend weeks and months in this arid region without even While humans crowd and push each other around, the God of
glimpsing the hardship:; described by the author. Nature who still regulates the lives of the desert lily and the
creosote, remains the patient and wise—the supreme Ruler of
And yet those who spend their desert days in luxurious hotels
the universe.
and on smooth surfaced highways never get to know the real
desert—the desert beyond the beaten paths, where the pav-off After all, we humans with our clever gadgets and our sophis-
for physical effort and discomfort is found in terms of spiritual ticated ideas have come but a little way along the road that leads
strength and courage, and renewed faith in the ultimate sur- to true culture. In this stage in the evolution of our species the
vival of that which is right and good. acquisition of property has become one of the chief goals of our
* * * effort. But as humans progress—as they acquire a better under-
standing of their role on this earth, the false god of physical
As this is written, late in December, rain is falling on the wealth, like the golden images of the ancients, will be discarded
Southern California desert. Out on the mesas the air is laden by a more enlightened generation of men whose main quest will
with creosote—the resiny sweet scent: of the Larrea divaricata be for Truth and Beauty in human character. And then there
that permeates the atmosphere when there are showers. The will be peace on this earth.
FEBRUARY, 1947 39
SWEET DESERT GRAPEFRUIT
"Salton Sea" brand, grown by our good neighbor, To Points West of To Points East ol
To California Mississippi- Mississippi-
Fred Hill, on light sandy Coachella Valley soil — the Points Missouri River Missouri River
l
best in the world for Grapefruit—and packed especially A Box $5.25 $6.40 $ 6.60
for us. Sweetened by long hours of warm winter sun- Full Stan-
shine the most perfect fruit is selected to bring Desert dard Box 8.00 9.85 10.10
brightness to your breakfast table. (Delivered Express Charges Prepaid)
H. C. NICOLL, Owner
Valerie Jean date Shop THERMAL, CALIFORNIA