Prospector

Now retired from active pros- pecting, veteran Arizona miner, Dave Gutierrez, now camps across the street from the mine museum in Jerome, Arizona, and collects small fees from tourists for posing for pictures. The picture by L. D. Schooler of Blythe, California, was awarded first prize in Desert's August contest. Camera data: Rolleicord camera, f. 16, 1/100 second on Plus-X film.

Pictures of the Month

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El Coyote

This desert singer was photographed by Adrian Atwater of Carson City, Nevada, and is this month's second prize winner. Raised from a pup by a local rancher, the coyote occasionally is used as a hunting hound. Photograph was taken with a 4x5 Speed Graphic, Tri-X film, 1/50 second at f. 32.

DESERT MAGAZINE DESERT CRLEIIDRR September 29-October 7—New Mex- ico State Fair, Albuquerque. Early October—Annual Aspen Trail Caravan from Flagstaff, Arizona. October 3-4—Ranchos de Taos, New Mexico, Candlelight Procession. October 3-4—Feast Day of St. Fran- cis de Assissi, Santa Fe, N. M. October 3-7—San Bernardino County Fair, Victorville, California. Volume 19 OCTOBER, 1956 Number 10 October 4—Annual Fiesta and Dance, Nambe Indian Pueblo, N. M. COVER Sunset among the Organ Pipes of Southern Arizona October 5-6—Square Dance Festival, By JOSEF MUENCH Ogden, Utah. PHOTOGRAPHY Pictures of the Month 2 October 7—Annual Colorado River CALENDAR Marathon, 100 mile boat race, October events on the desert 3 Needles, California. PUBLIC LAND Navy Landgrab in Nevada's Black Rock Country October 9-13—Eastern New Mexico By NELL MURBARGER 4 State Fair and Rodeo, Roswell. LOST MINE Lost Jesuit Mine with the Iron Door October 10-14—Graham County Fair, By DONALD PAGE 11 Safford, Arizona. ART Desert Christ Park—A Shrine to Brotherhood October 11-14—Sixth Annual Desert By HOWARD D. CLARK 13 Empire Fair, Ridgecrest, Calif. FIELD TRIP Treasure Trails in Old Superstition October 11-14 — Tri-State Fair and By HAROLD O. WEIGHT 15 Kids' Rodeo, Deming, New Mexico. HISTORY Good Springs, Nevada October 11-14—Cotton Carnival, Las By WALTER FORD 20 Cruces, New Mexico. NATURE Midgets of the Desert World October 12-13—Third Annual Colo- By EDMUND C. JAEGER 21 rado River Cruise, Blythe, Calif. TRUE OR FALSE A test of your desert knowledge 22 October 13-14—Tri-City Sports Car NATURE Wings in Saguaroland Gymkana, Ely, Nevada. By JOHN L. BLACKFORD 24 POETRY October 14—Aspencades from Ala- The Desert Rat and other poems 26 mogordo, Santa Fe, Taos and other EXPERIENCE New Mexico communities. I Remember Maggie By RUBY ROBISON 27 October 18-21—Covered Wagon Daze FICTION and Annual Pegleg Smith Liar's Hard Rock Shorty of Death Valley 28 Contest, Borrego Springs, Calif. GARDENING Plans and Plantings in October for Lovely October 18-21 — Old Timers' Days, Flowers in Spring, by RUTH REYNOLDS . . 29 Hidalgo County Fair and Sheriff's CONTEST Posse Rodeo, Lordsburg, N. M. LETTERS Picture-of-the-Month Contest announcement . . 30 October 20-21 — Annual American CLOSE-UPS Comment from Desert's Readers 31 Legion Helzapoppin Rodeo, Buck- NEWS About those who write for Desert 32 eye, Arizona. From here and there on the desert 33 MINING October 20-21 — Blythe, California, Current news of desert mines 37 Rodeo. URANIUM Latest developments in the Industry 38 HOBBY October 21-27 — Southwestern Cattle Gems and Minerals 40 Festival, Clovis, New Mexico. LAPIDARY Amateur Gem Cutter, by DR. H. C. DAKE ... 45 October 25-28—Pima County Fair, COMMENT Just Between You and Me, by the Editor ... 46 Tucson, Arizona. BOOKS Reviews of Southwestern Literature 47 October 26-28—17th Annual Inter- PRE-HISTORY national Desert Cavalcade, Imper- Mesa Verde, by JOHN L. BLACKFORD—Back Cover ial, California. The Desert Magazine is published monthly by the Desert Press, Inc., Palm Desert, October 27—'49ers Celebration, So- California. Re-entered as second class matter July 17, 1948, at the postoffice at Palm Desert, corro, New Mexico. California, under the Act of March 3, 1879. Title registered No. 358865 in U. S. Patent Office, and contents copyrighted 1956 by the Desert Press, Inc. Permission to reproduce contents October 27-28 — San Diego County must be secured from the editor in writing. Ridgerunners' First State Jeep RANDALL HENDERSON, Editor EUGENE L. CONROTTO, Associate Editor Cruise from Desert Center to El HESS STACY, Business Manager Centro, California. This is a new KVONNE RIDDELL, Circulation Manager organization. For further informa- Unsolicited manuscripts and photographs submitted cannot be returned or acknowledged unless full return postage is enclosed. Desert Magazine assumes no responsibility for tion write Arthur G. Thomas, 1040 damage or loss of manuscripts or photographs although due care will be exercised. Sub- N. Magnolia, El Cajon, California. scribers should send notice of change of address by the first of the month preceding issue. October 31—Nevada Day, 1864 Ball SUBSCRIPTION RATES and Parade, Carson City. One Year $4.00 Two Years $7.0(1 Canadian Subscriptions 25c Extra, Foreign 50c Extra October 31—Annual Chaves County Youth Parade, Roswell. N. M. Subscriptions to Army Personnel Outside U. S. A. Must Be Mailed in Conformity With V. O. D. Order No. 19687 Address Correspondence to Desert Magazine, Palm Desert, California OCTOBER, 1956 Navy Landgrab in Nevada's

Black Rock Country KEEP Why isn't it possible for the Army, Navy and Air Force to so coordinate their training maneuvers that they can use the same gunnery and bombing ranges? Why does each branch of the service have its US own private shooting grounds when, if war comes, they will have to operate as a coordinated unit? These are questions being asked in BOMBING Nevada where the Navy proposes to seize another 2,800,000 acres in the Black Rock country in addition to the huge areas already reserved for aerial gunnery and bombing practice. The Black Rock landgrab will m work so great an injustice on so many people that Desert Magazine asked Nell Murbarger to visit the area and report her findings. Here is her story. By NELL MURBARGER Photographs by the author PUBLIC opinion raises its voice in protest before Con- Map by Norton Allen gress reconvenes in January, the Black Rock country of northwestern Nevada is doomed. When I heard that the Navy was (T) Black Rock Desert Bombing Range. planning to convert the Black Rock- Sahwave Mountains region into a 2,- 2) Black Rock Extension. 846,786-acre gunnery range, I refused 3) Sahwave Gunnery Range. to believe such a thing could be pos- 4) Sahwave Gunnery Range Extension. sible. Previous land seizures by the armed forces had not affected me too much, personally—but this time the shoe really pinched, for the Black Rock is a land that lies close to my heart! My liking for this strange, remote area stems chiefly, I suppose, from the fact that it is still much like the Old West of pioneer times. It has been cattle country for more than 100 years, and great herds of white-faced Herefords, and thousands of sheep, owned by 50 individual ranchers, still graze its open range. Its canyons and mile-high valleys still abound in antelope and deer, and sage chickens, and even a few wild horses. Most important of all, the folks who live in the Black Rock still extend the warm hospitality for which the early West was famous. At one time or an- other I have eaten or slept at nearly every ranch in northwestern Nevada; and until 1949, when the Navy began moving into this region and posting it with Keep Out signs, I don't recall ever having seen a trespass notice in all the 10,000 square miles between Pyramid Lake and the Oregon line. Hunters, campers, prospectors, rock- hounds—any decent person has always been welcome in the Black Rock. And then to learn that the Navy had filed application for withdrawal of this area for use as a gunnery range from which all civilians would be excluded Acreages: (1) Black Rock Desert Bombing range 272,000; (2) Black Rock except at certain prescribed times and extension 1,372,160; (3) Sahwave Gunnery range 547,906; (4) Sahwave under special permit, was not a pleas- extension 654,720. Total 2,846,786 acres. ant prospect for contemplation.

DESERT MAGAZINE Quaking aspens of Lost Creek Canyon make this a There are many scenic vistas in the Black Rock Country delightful oasis which is always an invitation to campers. including spectacular Mahogany Canyon shown above.

Not even in a land as large as the Farm Bureau, Nevada-California Land- of these ranches is owned by my Black Rock-Sahwave Mountains area owners Association, Nevada State Min- friends, Dave and Bernice Iveson, and may a tract of nearly 3,000,000 acres ing Council, The Western Mining it was at their home that I made my be wrested from the civilian economy Council, Nevada Fish and Game Com- first stop on this journey of inquiry. without affecting adversely a large num- mission, sportsmen's clubs in the three Dave and Bernice have a well-tended ber of persons. How many would be affected counties and California, Gov- ranch of 1000 acres of fenced and affected, and to what degree, I did not ernor Charles F. Russell, Nevada State deeded land, in addition to their range fully realize until after I had talked legislature, and both of Nevada's rights on the public domain. Not one with E. R. Greenslet, director of the United States senators. acre of that ranch was handed to them U.S. Bureau of Land Management, for By this time I was convinced that on a silver platter, nor improved with Nevada; and with Joe Williams, di- the Navy's impending grab was as un- money that came easily. Everything rector of Nevada State Farm Bareau, popular with the average Nevadan as they have done to enhance the value of and secretary of Nevada-California with myself. But I still didn't know their property has been accomplished Landowners Association. From Reno, the most important thing of all. the hard way — with long hours of I traveled to Lovelock, where I spent labor, and honest human sweat. another two informative hours talking What did the people most affected with Paul Gardner, secretary of Persh- think about it—the ones who were Included among these improvements ing County chamber of commerce, and slated to lose their ranches and mines, has been the clearing, leveling and publisher of Lovelock Review-Miner. their homes? There was only one way bringing under irrigation of 220 acres to find out. Then I discussed the impending land- of land from which, each year, they grab at length with Nevada's senior Putting a can of water and some harvest bountiful yields of alfalfa, United States senator, George W. Ma- camping gear in my car, I headed for wheat, barley and rye. lone. the Black Rock. The Ivesons have stout barns and One hundred miles northeast of outbuildings, and a comfortable home From these several sources I learned Reno, the oiled portion of State Route set in a grove of big cottonwoods. that there were many straight-thinking 34 trickles to a stop in the gypsum- Across one corner of their front yard persons who regarded the Black Rock mining town of Gerlach, population ripples a small but perpetual stream encroachment as unnecessary and un- 200. This is the taking-off point for of water, from which they irrigate just, and that protests to this effect the condemned area. From here to flowers and shrubbery, an immense had been filed by many organizations Denio, on the Nevada-Oregon line— vegetable garden, and an orchard of of widely differing interests. 176 miles by way of Routes 34 and apricots, apples, pears, peaches, plums, Included among those who had gone 8-A—there is not one mile of pave- currants, and other fruits suited to on record against the threatened seizure ment, one postoffice, or gasoline sta- this high elevation and northerly lati- were the county commissioners of tion; yet this is far from being waste- tude. The stream also irrigates their Washoe, Pershing and Humboldt coun- land. Spread over all this remote area calf pasture, which supports about as ties; the chambers of commerce of are cattle and sheep ranches ranging many wild deer as it does domestic Pershing and Humboldt; Nevada State in size from 200 to 19,495 acres. One animals, Almost any morning, winter

OCTOBER, 1956 I feel that their representatives at least should have come to see me . . ." John is well informed on the sub- ject of Nevada history, and it wasn't long before our conversation drifted around to pioneer times in the Black Rock. fill "Men have been fighting to win this land for 100 years," said John Welch. "First, they had to fight bands of rene- gade Indians who periodically went on rampages, killed settlers and burned their homes. For years, there was the ever-present spectre of drouth — and always there was the problem of inac- cessibility. Even as late as the 1920s, many roads in the Black Rock were so bad it was impossible to get even a truck over them, and it was still nec- essary for us to haul our supplies with

..•••••. freight wagons and 16-mule teams. "But, eventually, we got a good, graveled, all-weather road through the area. We built dams and drilled wells so we didn't have to worry about dry 77z£ Soldier Meadows ranch home of Mr. and Mrs. Wesley Fick, was built years. We cleared land so we could to harmonize with the original buildings erected on the ranch in thel860s. raise our own winter feed; and finally Poplars shading the house were planted 85 years ago. we got our land fenced, and got some decent quarters built . . . And now, they say we're going to lose it all. or summer, it is possible to see deer intercepted them and asked if they "What'll become of us old fellows? grazing less than 100 yards from the were looking for Dave. We're too old to start from scratch front door of their house. " 'We're appraising your property,' somewhere else—where will we go?" Dave was at the "lower" ranch har- said the Reno man. 'The Navy's going It was a proper question, but not vesting hay but Bernice made me wel- to take it.' That was all the informa- one that I could answer. come. Our talk, for awhile, concerned tion he would give. When I asked if On the morning of the second day, everyday affairs—the school progress he didn't want to talk to Dave and I continued on north toward the old and health of their two boys and two learn about our water rights, and graz- mining camp of Leadville. girls, condition of the range, and mild- ing rights, and things of that sort, he It seemed to me that in all the years ness of the winter past. And then I said, 'No.' I had known this land, I had never brought the conversation around to "We still don't have any idea what seen it so beautiful. The air was clear the subject of the landgrab. appraisal he put on our ranch, nor and cool, every hill and canyon was "What do you hear about it?" asked what we can expect. . ." as sharply defined as if it were etched Bernice, her face suddenly reflecting Later that afternoon I talked with with a knife. The sage that blanketed worry and strain. "Can they really Dave Iveson. When I remarked that these mile-high valleys was all aglow make us leave here? This is our home they had a fine looking ranch, Dave with bright new growth. Turkey mul- —we wouldn't know where to go if we agreed. "It looks all right, now," he lein was sending its yellow stalks aloft had to leave here. We've just never said. "But if you don't keep working from the soft dust at the roadside, and given any thought to living anywhere at it everlastingly, a ranch soon begins all the slopes were smudged with the but in the Black Rock country . . ." to run down. That's what is going to blue and red and gold of wild flowers. I knew what she meant. I knew that happen here. I don't feel justified in A flock of 16 sage chickens sprang her grandparents had settled in the putting any more expense on the place, into flight from beside the road; a cot- Black Rock 80 years ago; that her only to have the Navy take it away tontail hopped across in front of my mother had been born there, and that from us ... so I find myself failing to car. Bernice, herself, had been born at the fix the fences, postponing repairs on Then as I topped the hill and started south end of the Black Rock. I also the house and barns. I intended to across the flat near the head of Lead- knew that Dave's father had settled in clear more land this year and put it in ville Canyon—a band of 14 antelopes this vicinity in 1906, and that Dave, crop; but with this threat hanging over feeding peacefully not more than 100 too, had been bora here and had lived us, I'm completely at sea. I don't know yards from my road! There were three here all his life. what to do . . ." fawns in the bunch—the others were "We hadn't heard anything about From the Iveson ranch I drove up mainly does whose young were prob- losing our ranch until one day a Reno the draw five miles to John Welch's. ably still hid-out in the covering sage. real estate man and a Navy man drove John is an elderly bachelor, soft- The trim little animals didn't move into our lower ranch in a pickup and spoken, and scholarly. He lives in a for several moments after I stopped sat in the seat for a couple of minutes, neat, two-bedroom dwelling, and runs the car to watch them; and when they glancing around, and then drove out," about 125 head of stock. finally took their departure, it was at said Bernice. "Next, they came up "The Navy hasn't even contacted an unhurried trot, with frequent halts here, to our home place, and did the me," he said. "Of course, I'm only a to turn and stare back at me. same thing. When they started to small operator, but this is my home My way led past the pertified sequoia ]eave here, without saying anything, I and my only source of livelihood; so forest set aside last year by Nevada DESERT MAGAZINE for preservation as a state park. In- cluded in this strangely isolated grove is one of the largest fossil stumps in the world—a stone giant with a cir- cumference of 47 feet. (Desert Mag- azine; July, 1951.) I wondered how the forest would fare as part of a gun- nery range. I passed the turn-off road to Lost Creek Canyon, where a delightful grove of quaking aspen shades a small clear stream of water. This and Grass Val- ley, nearby, constitute some of the most important range of Bare Ranch Cattle company, a California concern, which holds a permit to graze approximately 2000 head of stock in the land now menaced by Navy seizure. After traveling for nearly 70 miles through the rangeland threatened by seizure, I reached the junction of Routes 34 and 8-A and turned east on the latter road, soon afterward swing- ing southeast toward Summit Lake and Soldier Meadows. Soldier Meadows is a fine old ranch that anyone would be proud to own. In a grove of towering Lombardy pop- lars, planted 85 years ago, sets a great collection of stone barns and outbuild- ings, and pole corrals. These buildings, erected in the 1860s as an outpost of Fort McGarry, seven miles to the north, later became one of the home ranches of the far-flung Miller & Lux empire. One of the old Fort McGarry build- ings is incorporated in the attractive new hqme built recently by Wesley and Theodosia Fick, who purchased the Soldier Meadows property ten years ago and moved here from Holtville, in California's Imperial Valley, where they had owned a tangerine grove. Planned to harmonize with the much Dave and Bernice Iveson, second and third generation ranchers in the older buildings surrounding it, the new Black Rock country, and three of their four children, Leslie, Zelma, and house has thick stone walls, covered Dean. A n older girl was away at Bible school, in Reno. with woodbine, an immense living room fitted with Indian rugs, and a Now, when I have to go to the city for from our investment, the Navy says picture window which looks out on a some reason, I can't get back here fast they are going to take it for a gunnery tree-shaded patio, with roses and a enough! All the while I'm away, I'm range. pool, and the largest planted lawn in thinking about Soldier Meadows—its I remained overnight at Soldier probably 20,000 square miles. The peace and quiet, and the clear, crisp Meadows, and early next morning house is completely modern, with elec- air, and the hills . . ." smarted down the valley toward the tric lights (from a home power plant), The Ficks are the largest resident ranch owned by Vern and Ruth Par- a tiled bathroom, and a deep-freeze operators in the Black Rock country. man. I was traveling, now, through a well filled with home-butchered beef- They have 1000 acres cleared, under land rich in historic memories. steaks and out-of-season fruits. irrigation and in crop, and this year As at other ranches in the Black "I didn't want to come here, at will cut and bale around 1500 tons of Rock country, I found men of the first," confided Theodosia Fick. "I had hay. ("You should have seen our first Parman ranch busy with their summer always lived in densely-settled areas. cutting of alfalfa, this year," said Mrs. haying. Driving into the yard, I had and I was terrified by the prospect of Fick. "It stood breast-high to a tall barely halted my car in the shade of living 23 miles from my nearest white man . . .") At one time the Ficks a honey-locust tree when a gray-haired neighbor, 60 miles from the nearest were offered $450,000 for their ranch, woman called a hearty greeting from postoffice—170 miles from any town but did not sell. the open barn door. where we could obtain more than the "So far." said Mrs. Fick, "we have Ruth was born in the Black Rock bare essentials of life. It wasn't easy put back into the ranch every penny country. Vern Parman came to this growing accustomed to this sort of we have taken out—and more, too. area about 30 years ago and Ruth and isolation, but, in time, I came to ac- And now, just as it was beginning to Vern were married in middle life. To- cept it. And, finally, I grew to love it! look as if we might realize some return gether they acquired a run-down ranch

OCTOBER, 1956 and were building it up and were get- arm of the Black Rock desert, to the won't be permitted to enter the area ting it in good condition when the east. to harvest crops, so where are we sup- Depression struck. With ewes drop- "I don't quite know what I'll do with posed to get our hay? With alfalfa ping from $12.50 to $1.25 each, the myself if they take these mountains selling for $35 a ton, plus freight, we Parmans went broke, lost the ranch, away from me . . ." can't afford to buy it—and at this ele- took a deficiency judgment, and walked With a view toward checkmating vation and latitude, livestock can't sur- off the place with little more than opposition to their projected "grab," vive the winters without being fed. the clothes on their backs. spokesmen for the Navy have pointed "No," he declared. "I won't even But the Black Rock breeds a strong out repeatedly that their intended gun- attempt to range cattle under Navy race of men—and women—and Vern nery practice will not interfere with restrictions . . ." and Ruth Parman started all over cattle grazing in the Black Rock-Sah- With my four-day tour of the Black again, living in a tent, doing all their wave area. Rock ranches completed, I returned own ranch work, and slowly building In my tour of the threatened area, to Gerlach, refilled my gasoline tank up another flock of sheep. however, I asked each rancher, in turn, and water can, and headed for the "We're doing all right now," said if he thought it would be feasible to Sahwave—site of a majority of the the gray-haired Ruth. "Our long years continue ranging cattle under condi- 1751 mining claims including 142 pat- of work are beginning to pay off. But tions laid down by the Navy. ented claims, included within the land- grab. if the Navy takes our place — what From each rancher, in turn, I re- then? Where will we go? We're too ceived the same answer: "No!" This was a different proposition than old to start again from scratch—clear- the Black Rock, since the 1,202,626 ing sagebrush and drilling wells, and In its original proposal to stockmen, acres embraced within the Sahwave building barns, and fencing. We can't area had already been granted to the do it at our age . . . and even if we Navy by the Senate Armed Services were young enough to start over and Committee on June 28, 1956. But build up another ranch, what assur- although that date was nearly two ance would we have that in 10 or 20 weeks in the past at time of my visit, years the Navy, or some other branch I found everyone still in a state of of the military, wouldn't come and complete confusion. take that ranch, too? Where is it all "We understand we're not included going to end?" in the 'grab'," said L. C. Donnelly, I couldn't tell her. caretaker for the Double-0 Timber Nine miles south of the Parman and Mining company property at the home is the ranch operated by aging old placer gold camp of Rabbithole. Grover Jackson and his son, Andrew. "But, of course," he added, "we don't Grover Jackson is a short, wiry man, know for sure ..." with gray hair, a dusty white stubble of The same uncertainty was expressed beard half-masking a wind-weathered by Bob Chandler, lifelong miner and face, and eyes that are still bright and resident in the Rosebud Canyon area vitally alive. He and his forebears since 1947. have lived in the West for the past 107 "I haven't been able to learn whether years. my property is inside or outside the "There's four generations of Jack- Grover Jackson, pioneer rancher of boundaries," said Bob. "I own 10 sons buried in the old graveyard at the Black Rock Country. placer gold claims here, and have Portola," said Grover. "And now I check stubs to show that I've spent hear they're figuring to build a big the Navy offered to desist firing for a more than $10,000 developing them. dam on the Feather River that will week in the spring and another week in I also have four claims of rutile ore flood the cemetery . . . Seems as if the the fall so that ranchers might put carrying 3.95 per cent titanium—4,- government's bound to get us Jacksons their cattle on the range and take them 000,000 tons of it, engineers estimate. —if not one way, then another!" off. Later, in response to a flood of But I'm not in production, and I'm told The Jacksons have a good paying protests, the grace period was increased that the Navy won't pay for any mines ranch, with an abundance of artesian to a month each in the spring and fall, not actually operating ... So I don't water—the three wells they have drilled with Saturdays and Sundays available know where I stand!" flowing 2200 gallons a minute. for inspection of forage and water re- "We took $3500 worth of concen- "It's a good ranch," said Mr. Jack- sources, resupplying salt, branding trates from our tungsten property in son. "Yet, strangely enough, I'll feel calves, and caring for such other mat- only 26 days, recently—yet the Navy almost as bad about leaving these ters as might arise. But, despite these refuses to recognize it as a working mountains as I will losing my ranch! more liberalized terms, I found resident mine," said E. K. Farnham, who, with One of my greatest pleasures in life stockmen of the area agreed that cattle Mrs. Farnham, has spent the past sev- has been prowling over these old hills," ranching, under such conditions, would eral years building a comfortable camp he went on. "I've prospected for min- be impractical if not completely im- and developing a scheelite mine at eral, and hunted deer, and agates, and possible. Porter Springs, near the west base of fossils, and Indian relics. I've traced "They seem to think all a man has the Seven Troughs range. They've out all the old covered wagon trails, to do is to turn a bull and some cows even built a small mill, which the two and located emigrant campsites . . . on the range and wait for the calves of them operate without other help. and emigrant graves." to grow into beefsteaks," said Dave "We thought we were working to- The old man's eyes had been fast- Iveson. "Maybe it can be done that ward a good thing, here," said Mrs. ened hungrily on the rocky Calicos way in the Pentagon . . . but it's not Farnham. "Now, we don't know what bordering his ranch on the west; and so simple under desert conditions, in to expect . . ." now he turned to the color-blotched northwestern Nevada! I wandered on over the Sahwave, Harlequin hills lying across a narrow "For one thing, the Navy says we talking to mine owners and leasers in

DESERT MAGAZINE When the Navy proposed to cease fire for two months in produces sleek well-fed Herefords in summer, but when the year so thai cattlemen could take their stock on and winter comes it is necessary to have great stacks of hay off the range, one of the ranchers remarked: "They seem on hand for feed when the ground is covered with snow. to think that all a man has to do is turn a bull and. some The Navy has not made clear how this kind of ranching cows on the range and wait for them to grow into beef- can be carried on in two months out of the year. steaks." Actually, the natural range of the Black Rock

the old gold camps of Seven Troughs copper-silver-tin ore assaying $30 a Even though the Navy were to pay and Vernon and Farrell, and Scossa ton at 1950 prices—since which time generously for private property con- and Placentas. I visited Cow Creek, the price of copper has tripled. In ad- fiscated, there is no reimbursement to where an estimated 1,000,000 tons of dition, a geologist of the AEC has as- local governments; no means of com- the finest light perlite known still awaits sertedly named this deposit as one of pensating a community for banishing the development that was halted when the four most promising uranium prop- its people and removing from the tax Navy brass began eyeing this region; erties in Nevada. rolls their real and personal property and I drove north to Majuba Moun- Thus, in addition to the human fac- —nor can there be any adequate com- tain, and the Majuba mine, owned by tors I had been Considering—the dis- pensation to a state for the locking-up Floyd Tegnell, of Idaho Falls, Idaho. ruption of lives, and thwarting of hopes of its proven or potential resources. He is said to have paid $175,000 for and plans—I was becoming increas- No better expression of this thought is the Majuba mine and according to ingly aware that there was another possible than that embraced in one reports by competent engineers the important factor involved: That of sentence included in the report on the mine still contains 8,000,000 tons of plain dollars and cents. military landgrab hearings conducted

OCTOBER, 1956 9 cessful operation of an air-to-air gun- nery range. As a consequence, many Nevadans feel that before the Navy or any other branch of the military is permitted to gobble still more millions of acres to be ravaged and cast aside, it should be forced to give serious con- sideration to the joint use of this im- mense area of idle, unproductive, tax- free, and now-useless land. Among those subscribing to this be- lief are Nevada's senators, Geo. W. Malone and Alan F. Bible. Following approval of the Sahwave-Black Rock Ranges by the Senate Armed Services committee in the closing days of the 2nd session, 84th Congress, Senators is always a problem on the Black Rock, but Rancher Grover Jack- Malone and Bible forced an amend- son is fortunate in having three artesian wells which flow 2200 gallons ment on the senate floor by which the a minute. Black Rock area was removed from that bill of approval until such time as before the Committee on Interior and ing, home and recreation sites, or the Navy proves its complete inability Insular Affairs of the U.S. House of homestead entry—this due to the as- to utilize the Tonopah range in con- Representatives. serted fact that most of this land is junction with the Air Force and the Forming the closing paragraph of badly contaminated by unexploded Atomic Energy Commission. Not un- that report is this succinct observation: mines and missiles, and that estimated til Congress reconvenes next January costs of decontamination would be may that required proof be submitted "The program for the defense of our and passed upon. nation's human and natural resources from $12 to $18 per acre. should not—and must not—be so con- But, although such contamination Meanwhile, the fate of the Black ducted as to destroy the very resources may preclude other usage, it would Rock country—and all its people— it is aimed at preserving." not, presumably, interfere with the suc- hangs in the balance. The people of northwestern Nevada are not Communists nor pacifists; REPORT REVEALS AMAZING EXTENT OF LAND GRABS nor are they prejudiced against the United States Navy, as an officer of During the 2nd session of the 84th Congress, Representative Claire the Fallon Naval Auxiliary Air Station Engle of Red Bluff, California, introduced H.R. 12185 which would suggested in a public address. They forbid any further withdrawal of public lands for military and naval are good, plain, hardworking Ameri- purposes without authority from Congress. Twelve other similar reso- cans, who believe in God and freedom, lutions were introduced by other congressmen. and the American way of life; and if the defense of our country demands In a report accompanying his resolution, Congressman Engle pre- that they sacrifice their homes and the sented the following facts. properties they have worked years to In 1937, the land owned or controlled by the Defense agencies develop, they are perfectly willing to totaled—including civil functions land—3.1 million acres. make such sacrifice. In 1940, on the eve of World War II, the figure stood at 4.3 million But—before they do so—they want acres. to know for certain that the sacrifice On June 30, 1945, the Defense withdrawals had increased to 25.1 they are making is necessary. million acres. They want to know that capacity On June 30, 1953, at the close of the Korean War the figure had use is being made of the 24,000,000 dropped to 21.1 million acres, including 3.9 million acres for civil acres of Western land now held in the functions. grasp of the military; and they want On June 30, 1955, the withdrawals had climbed again to 25.4 to know that there is absolute need million acres, with applications on file from various Defense agencies for the 9,000,000-odd acres of addi- for an additional eight million acres. tional land sought by the armed forces In other words, the Defense agencies have now posted No Trespass during the past year. signs on a domain greater than the combined areas of Connecticut, Especially, they want to know why New Jersey, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Rhode the Navy cannot make joint use of Island, and are seeking additional lands amounting to nearly the area the nearly 4,000,000-acre Las Vegas- of Maryland. Tonopah Bombing and Gunnery range, Congressman Engle, and Senator Malone of Nevada are making in south-central Nevada—a tract that a vigorous fight not only to block further withdrawals of public land measures, in its extreme distances, 75 by the military, but also to force the various armed forces to coordinate by 85 miles, and is the largest military their training operations so that a considerable portion of the with- base in the United States. Although drawn lands may be restored to the public domain. a major portion of this immense re- serve has not been fully used by the If you are one of those who share the view that the Defense military for more than 13 years, it is agencies have gone too far in their encroachment upon the public still closed against civilian entry, and domain, you can help correct the situation by writing your protest to chances are it will never be returned your representatives in congress. to such economic uses as mining, graz-

If! DESERT MAGAZINE Santa Catalina Mountains of Arizona. Somewhere in this rugged mass the Jesuits are said to have exploited a fabulous gold mine. Photograph by John L. Blackford. Lost Jesuit Mine with the When the Jesuits were expelled from the New World they are said to have sealed off a fabulous gold mine north of Tucson with an iron door—and then obliterated all trails leading to it. The story of that mine and of its rediscovery over 100 years later makes up one of the Iron Door most fascinating chapters of Southwestern lore. two very obvious reasons: first, they By DONALD PAGE had. hopes of returning to the New World; and secondly, they were re- OMEWHERE IN the fastness of Spanish mining camp that lies on a luctant that their successors, the Fran- 5 Arizona's Santa Catalina Moun- mesa in a nearly inaccessible part of ciscans, should find this place. tains a few miles north of Tuc- the mountains. Both mine and camp But why had not the Mexicans re- son, a long lost Spanish settlement and belonged to the Jesuit fathers and at located it? Surely the secret of such a a fabulously rich gold mine are wait- the latter they built a church whose fabulous bonanza could not have been ing rediscovery. bells were cast in gold taken from the so closely guarded that it escaped all Tucson's pioneers heard the tale mine—a mine so rich, native metal was except the obedient slaves who worked from the old Mexican miners to whom chopped from its walls with hatchets. the mine. Why were not the Santa it had been handed down from Span- This Golconda of the New World Catalinas swarming with gold-hungry ish times when the ecclesiastical rule was worked by the fathers until their men after the iron door was locked and of the Company of Jesus was supreme expulsion from this continent in 1767. the trail destroyed? in the Pimeria Aha, or what is now Before their departure,they sealed the the southern part of Arizona. The reason was simple: Apaches. portal of the workings with a great For years the menace of these sav- According to the original story the iron door and then •' destroyed the trail ages had grown until it became neces- mine was located close to an early to the settlement. They did this for sary to forbid women and children to

OCTOBER, 1956 II go beyond musket-shot of the presidio's for mining news of Arizona, and think- Finding no easy way to descend, the walls. Even as late as 1850 Tucson ing to amaze him they told the story men spliced together their pack-ropes was besieged by a war party of 300 of Tombstone's recently discovered and roped down to the floor. They braves. Nor did the danger end with silver bonanza. Instead of marveling continued eastward for 20 minutes to the American occupation of the vil- at this, the old man asked if they had a stream teeming with trout. It was lage in 1856. In the following summer ever heard of the mine with the iron late afternoon so they decided to make Major Enoch Steen's dragoons moved door. To their reply that they had but camp here. After catching trout for to Fort Buchanan and with Tucson placed no credence in it, the Mexican supper they sat on the bank cleaning unguarded, the Apaches became so said that he did, for he possessed a the fish when they noticed shiny par- bold that one Sunday morning in the diary kept by his grandfather who had ticles in the stream's sandy bottom. summer of 1862 or 63 a Mexican was lived in the old Spanish camp and had With their dough pan they panned out chased into the pueblo, slain and actually worked in the mine! The a few dollars in gold. scalped in the Plaza de la Mesilla. His Americans asked to see the book, sev- At daybreak they were on their way, Indian attacker escaped unharmed, eral hundred parchment pages of much still moving eastward. Soon they came waving his bloody trophy overhead. faded writing. to the ruins of the ancient mining set- Under these conditions the only men They studied it intently and found tlement. A short distance away a who left the presidio were Mexican a passage describing the fabled settle- granite building was reposing in a fair troops, generally too few in number ment and directions to it and the mine. state of preservation. It resembled the to explore the locale about which this The Americans became greatly excited, church at Cocospora, Sonora, and the story centers. but even more so after reading this prospectors scrambled over the ruins The tale appears to be the out- entry: "Today I worked with 10 other searching for the golden bells and the growth of an early and long forgotten men, and we took out 400 marcos of treasure store that the diary said was Spanish gold discovery in the Canada gold." This was equal to 200 pounds buried in the temple. But a quick del Oro, a wide, shallow canyon run- —$38,000! search only turned up several stones ning southward along the abrupt west- The old Mexican refused to part bearing Latin inscriptions. ern base of the mountains. A group with his book, the last heirloom of his The search for the mine was re- of mysterious ruins that lie on a small family, but he gave his guests permis- sumed—and here the details are lost mesa east of the lower end of the sion to copy any part of it they wished. from the story. However, it is said canyon may be a link to the lost mine. Several days were spent making trans- that three days later its entrance was Their history has been lost along with lations and then they departed for located. most of the local records of that Arizona. Arriving at Florence they The ancient iron door had rusted troubled period. This silent memento replenished their outfit, but one of away and the bars that once secured of bygone mining activities is a mere them became ill and it was not until it lay on the ground at the mouth of 17 miles north of Tucson's city hall. January 10 that they were able to leave the tunnel. They found the 10-inch The first known record of gold dis- for the Canada del Oro, which, accord- wide vein carried in what seemed to covery in the Canada took place on ing to the diary, was the starting point be a talc-like quartz gangue. The drift June 29, 1843. On that day Colonel for the mine. followed this for 400 feet. The air be- Antonio P. Narbona, commanding a Leaving their horses and burros to came very foul deep within the mine, strong military expedition against the shift for themselves, the men hiked but the men searched on. They found Apaches, camped at a water-hole near eastward up what they described as some ancient iron picks lying on the the northern end of the lower reaches the "middle canyon" which became so floor of the drift where the Spanish of the canyon. There his troopers narrow in places that the tops of its miners dropped them for the last time. washed out a little gold. In 1858 a walls seemed to meet above them. With these crude implements the few American miners worked there That evening they camped near a Americans did a little work on the old for a short time, but fear of the Indians spring and the following day, after five breast. To their amazement each caused them to leave. In May, 1870, miles of hard climbing, reached a point stroke of the old tools brought frag- most of the men and boys of Tucson where the canyon divided. Following ments of native gold tumbling to the were hard at work at the same spot, their explicit directions, they took the floor. each panning between $12 and $30 a right branch and in half a mile came The men put up location notices day, when the Apaches killed several to a cul-de-sac with precipitous walls and were on their way to register their of their number and the diggings again on three sides. claims when they stopped for the night were abandoned. With this as a pro- The men found a flight of nearly at Oracle and told Allis their story and logue, the first American version of the obliterated steps cut in the left cliff- showed him the hundred pounds of old tale appeared a decade later in face and climbed to a shelving rock nuggets in their back packs. 1880. ledge where the steps ended at the In his letter, Sol Allis prefixed the Solomon M. Allis, who later became narrow entrance to a cave. story by saying that prospectors some- United States Deputy Mineral Sur- Lighting candles and unslinging times exaggerate. But, this was the veyor, wrote from Martin and Welden's their Henry rifles, the prospectors en- first time he had heard of anyone ex- Oracle camp high on the northwestern tered the bat-infested cave which wid- ploring that part of the mountains, and end of the Santa Catalinas that two ened into a large vaulted chamber and on the strength of the tale, backed by American prospectors had stopped again narrowed until there was barely the gold, he and several partners were overnight and told him a story that, room to pass. preparing to leave Oracle the next day unknown to him, was destined to be- They were beginning to doubt the to find the hidden valley and locate come the prototype of the future tales validity of their directions when they placer claims—but nothing further is concerning the mine with the iron door. saw the Latin blessing Dominus vohis- known of the venture—or of the two According to the prospectors, in the cum graven in one of the walls. This men who made the rediscovery. fall of the preceding year they had been gave them new hope and they pushed Early in March of that year, Dr. T. working in the Mexican state of Sonora. on. Presently they saw light ahead S. Hitchcock of Tucson, displayed an One night they took lodging near the and at the end of the passage found exceptionally rich sample of gold, sil- town of Caborca with an old Mexican themselves on the face of a sheer cliff ver and galena ore that he said came and his wife. Their host asked them overlooking a valley 200 feet below. from the Mine with the Iron Door. Yl DESERT MAGAZINE Desert Christ Park . . A SHRINE TO BROTHERHOOD

Here is the inspiring story of two men whose deep-felt conviction that it is within the power of man to end hatred and warfare, has led them to give visual expression to the teachings of Christ along these lines. With the desert above Yucca Valley, California, as their back- ground, Ed Garver and Antone Martin have recreated in concrete many of the New Testament's familiar scenes.

By HOWARD D. CLARK Photographs by the author

THE small California with peace rather than war. There had desert community of Yucca to be a way to introduce leaven into Valley is a five-acre jackrabbit the mass thinking of mankind—some homestead dedicated to peace, toler- forceful reminder that a more merciful ance and love. Scattered among the way of solving problems than through Joshua trees and yuccas in several set- bloodshed had long existed but was Antone Martin tings on this sloping, rocky tract are too little used. the sculptured figures of Christ, Peter, "I was afraid of an atomic war," James, John and other Biblical char- recalled the sculptor. "Politicians of these people and their religion teaches acters. Here too is a little chapel made all nations have failed to prevent wars. them precisely those things. But, some- of native stone and several other proj- The only solution is in the hands of where along the line there has been ects in various stages of completion. the people of the world's great religions. failure. The masses have joined in This is Desert Christ Park, growing I personally am not interested in what condemnation and bloodshed on every in displays and reputation without fan- these creeds are—I am satisfied to occasion. Too often enemies will pray fare or lush private or public funds. know that none of them teach the kill- to the same god to destroy one an- It represents the hard work, imagina- ing of one's fellow man. other." tion and faith of two men, Ed Garver, "Politicians deal in power attained How could he influence as many part time minister, carpenter, handy- by inciting age-old hatreds and jeal- people as possible to return to Christ's man, widely known as Eddie, the Des- ousies. If the massed millions of the basic teachings? He thought of writ- ert Pastor; and Antone Martin, artist- world demand an end to killing, ag- ing. Martin is a tolerant, good hu- sculptor. gression, hatreds that breed conflict, mored, quiet man. He is by no stretch It all began in 1947 when Garver, to oppression of those of different skin of the imagination a religious crank. recently ordained as a minister by the or belief, they would have the power His thoughts crowd into fluent, pun- United Fundamentalist denomination to prevent war. There are enough of gent speech—the language of an as- in Los Angeles, brought his family to growing Yucca Valley. Martin's first statue of Christ now overlooks Yucca Valley. It is 10 feet He organized church services and high and weighs four tons. after a year of hard work by him and his congregation, the community had a home - made non - denominational house of worship. During these months Garver filed on a jackrabbit homestead which he intended to use as a perman- ent setting for Easter Sunrise Services. Then he learned of a sculptor who was looking for a place to locate a 10-foot, four-ton statue of Christ which was at that time monopolizing the driveway of his Inglewood home. Garver visited the artist, Antone Mar- tin, and told him about Yucca Valley. Patternmaker at an aircraft plant near Los Angeles, Martin worked on instruments of war with the scientists who created them. This occupation troubled him for he had had a life- time of sensitive awareness of the vio- lence of man against man in thought as well as in deed, and it was his ar- dent desire to dedicate the remainder of his life to work and tools associated

OCTOBER, 1956 13 sions. His chief interest always has been in pioneering groups for worship and then turning them over to others when they reach a going basis. There- fore, he resigned from the local com- munity church last year and organized a new group at neighboring Pioneer- town. To the original statue has been added 15 characters in a scene depict- ing the Sermon on the Mount. These are impressively larger than life size, the 12 apostles each identified by name. At a distance across the grounds, Christ and the woman of Samaria at the well are in normal scale while the isolated group of Christ in prayer at Gethsemane and the sleeping Peter, James and John nearby are again in larger proportion. In an appealing group, Christ faces nine parents and children in the scene: "Suffer little children to come unto Me." "Suffer little children to come unto Me." Currently underway is the most am- bitious production to date, the massive suredly literate thinking man. But, the For permanent protection of the set for The Last Supper. It will take struggle toward writing for publication statue, the non-profit Desert Christ 125 tons of cement and a year's work. was long and complicated, so he ruled Park Corporation was formed with The 13 figures will show on the scale it out. Garver deeding his five acres to it. of nine feet tall at a table 30 feet long. The entire scene, cut in bas-relief in But, there was another medium left Consequently, the company maintains and operates the park as a public serv- the face of a wall, is over three stories to him—sculpturing. Without formal high. training in that art, Martin neverthe- ice. Martin took up a jackrabbit home- less had long modeled finely executed stead adjoining the park and will deed Future projects include an empty prehistoric animals and human figures it over when requirements for title are tomb and the three women who belong in concrete. And, after all, few writ- completed. Another adjacent five acres to that scene as a backdrop for Easter ten or spoken words of our time enjoy has been promised by Fred A. Storey, services. After that Christ and the as long a life as the hard material of one of the founders of the townsite. rich young ruler are planned. reinforced concrete image. With his The original statue was set in place The chapel was designed by Frank hands he would symbolize the concepts just in time for the Easter services of Garske and built by him and Garver. of peace on earth, goodwill toward 1951. Two years later Martin quit his It seats 16 persons and provides a rare men. job in Los Angeles and moved to setting for weddings. Its blue plastic roof is convertible and is removed dur- Martin's first statue of Christ, the Yucca Valley to dedicate the remainder of his life to creating in enduring visual ing Easter services so the people on 10-foot one, was made without prior the heights above may look into the plans for placement. Various religious form as many of Christ's teachings as he will be able to make. church, and the organ music can reach denominations offered to accept it — out to them. Easter morning attend- some even to buy it. But Martin was His productions emphasize Christ's ance has passed the 3000 mark. firmly opposed to inferences of sect lessons of compassion, mercy and un- Desert Christ Park's visiting hours or creed or to restrictions of any kind derstanding which believers and un- are all hours, all days. Graded park- in the approach to his work. believers alike must learn and put into ing space, picnic facilities, water and Eddie, the desert pastor, knew of practice if divergent peoples of the rest room use are free. There are no these restrictions, but had a solution— world are to live together without con- fences on the property line. flict. He is stressing the hopeful, con- his five-acre claim. He invited Martin "If playful children want to climb to look it over and when the sculptor structive side of religion rather than its saddening phases. up on the lap of the seated Christ, by saw it, nestled against the south slopes all means let them," says Martin, "they of the mountains with a commanding Martin receives no pay for his toils. have always been welcome there." view of the expansive, home-dotted In fact his first four figures, represent- Guide service is beyond the means valley below, he agreed that here was ing 24 tons of material, were made available, but Martin, seldom absent, an ideal home for his statue. at his own expense and donated to the cheerfully provides answers and ex- It was his determined^ requirement park. At 68 years of age, he is main- planations. During weekends a volun- that the place remain dedicated to all tained by social security benefits and teer organist usually is on hand to humanity without discrimination. "My lives in a small trailer on the park supply music. statue could not be the property of grounds until he feels he can spare A conspicuous signboard on the any institution. No visitor here need some time to erect a home on his tract. Twentynine Palms highway one block feel that he is conforming to any man- Meanwhile, Garver handles the finan- east of the post office in Yucca Valley made dogma. He is free to scoff—? 1 cial, public relations and business end points the way to the park. From this and you would be surprised at some of the project. Non-sectarian by in- intersection it is a half mile straight who do — churchmen among them," clination and practice, he agrees that north over an unpaved but well- Martin said. the park theme transcends such divi- traveled road. 14 DESERT MAGAZINE Superstition Mountain, the low, sandy ridge at left center of the horizon This photograph was made from the heart of the Borrego Badlands looking southeast into the Imperial Valley of California.

With a sinister reputation far more impressive than its low. Treasure Trails in mysterious form, the sand-covered granite mass on the west side of California's Imperial Valley Su- perstition Mountain — has been Old Superstition... visited by more lost mine hunters per square yard of twisted surface than any other desert area. Strangely enough, the promise of By HAROLD O. WEIGHT his fabulous black gold nuggets some- discovery still remains high with Photographs by the author where among those desolate buttes and the fortune hunting fraternity—far Map by Norton Allen gulches in 1830. And hundreds of men out of proportion to the niggardly since that time suffered and thirsted and often tragic rewards these men LD SUPERSTITION Mountain and burned without solving the moun- have received from Old Supersti- on the western edge of the Colo- tain's secret—if it has a secret. tion. rado Desert in Imperial Valley, Most everyone knows at least one California, probably has played host version of the Pegleg legend—of how nuggets. Hunting the Pegleg was to more lost mine hunters than any a peglegged trapper, crossing the Colo- other mountain its size in the world. a popular and laudable occupation rado Desert between Yuma and coastal among both seasoned desert rats and Not that it has been a very gracious California, came upon three black hills host. More than one prospector paid foolhardy tenderfeet in the '80s, '90s or three buttes or three rises on a and 1900s. Many of the searchers with his life for holding too stubbornly ridge, with the slopes of one of them to the notion that Pegleg Smith found took at least one close look at Super- fairly covered with black-coated gold stition Mountain. OCTOBER, 1956 15 Why was this low sandy rise so at- waybill to Hank Brandt's gold, as set USGS report, The Salton Sea Region tractive? For one thing, it was right forth in Philip A. Bailey's fascinating —it actually is a ridge of granite about beside one of the two principal ancient Golden Mirages, published in 1941 five miles long and one mile wide, run- Indian trails across Imperial Valley and a classic of the Colorado Desert ning from northwest to southeast. from Yuma to the coastal mountains, country. Brown noted that: "It is supposed by a logical route for Pegleg to take. And Brandt, according to Bailey's infor- many to be an old volcano and at the country and the distances fitted in mants, struck it rich on old Supersti- times is said to give off fumes, noises well with some of the Pegleg accounts. tion many years ago. Every spring for and mysterious signs." But, hiking But most luring of all to lost mine eight years he returned and took out several miles along its crest in the hunters, I believe, was Superstition about $4000. When he died he left winter of 1917-18, he found that with Mountain's mysterious and evil repu- $16,000 in raw and minted gold to a the exception of one bed of vesicular tation. From the days of the first man who had befriended him, together lava and one of tuff, both about 200 white explorers, the Indians warned with various directions for finding his feet thick and interbedded with the that old Superstition should be avoided mine. Because these directions are so Tertiary sandstone at the northern and from their admonitions came its detailed and in a country we knew so edge of the mountain, old Superstition name. The mountain made strange well—with clues we thought we could was composed entirely of uniform noises and gave off evil odors, they interpret—it seemed impossible to us gray biotite granite. said, and sometimes it quivered and that anyone who followed them care- Superstition, it is believed, once was shook. And it was the home of an fully and intelligently would not end part of Fish Creek Mountain which enormous serpent that relished human up with a gold mine. It still seems lies four miles due west, but now Car- flesh. that way, though so far we haven't rizo Creek, with its great wash and The early prospectors not only ac- found the mine—or, at least, I don't intermittent stream, runs between them. cepted most of the Indian legends, but think we have. It is certain that Superstition was an added some of their own for the dry Nonetheless the search has been re- island in a pre-human sea—probably (no water has ever been found on it), warding in many other ways. Old Su- in Tertiary ages, when the sandstone hot and deadly mountain—it changed perstition is rich in interest to anyone was laid down to its north and east. its shape frequently, and even its loca- who loves wild desert. We found the And it is possible that it became insu- tion, leading unsuspecting prospectors sandstone and claystone outliers of the lar again in primitive times, when In- on to their deaths. main mass of Superstition loaded with dians were making their house rings With such a villainous character, wonderful concretions, as fantastic and at water level along Fish Creek Moun- how could anyone doubt that old Su- beautiful as any the gods of world- tain. perstition concealed a fabulous treas- building ever put together in playful The exceedingly fine quartz sand ure? or creative mood. which almost buries Superstition's Furthermore the mountain harbors Superstition Mountain is 15 to 20 southwestern face lies in dunes along the ghosts of other lost bonanzas. Lu- airline miles northwest of El Centre its crest and encroaches upon its north- cile and I were attempting to trace out Although often it looks like one great eastern slope. It is believed to have one of these when we first visited Su- dune of sand—"like a cloud of smoke," come from some of those lost sea perstition. We were following the as J. S. Brown described it in his 1923 shores. The dunes, like other features

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16 DESERT MAGAZINE of Superstition, are peculiar, accord- End of the old road to the abandoned county rock ing to Brown. "They are elongated quarry in the southwestern end of Superstition. This is parallel to the length of the mountain. the only road by which ordinary passenger cars can Some are almost serpentine in narrow- safely reach the mountain. ness and sinuosity and apparently shift back and forth over the crest to some extent as the wind changes. Frequently they block canyons draining north or south and create temporarily inclosed depressions." Brown paid a deserved tribute to the wind which brought this sand from miles away and piled it in some cases more than 500 feet above the sur- rounding plain, saying that it "evi- dently had remarkable carrying power." y wVg>::y •• ••.:•.•••••••. In fact, visitors to Superstition, where x high-intensity sand blasting seems a daily occurrence, may consider this an understatement. ••' .< '*•**'• V >'"-., ' • ' r .«• j~. ~'Z"'~'- In the halcyon days of Peglegging, Superstition Mountain was as isolated and unapproachable as any spot on the desert. Today irrigated land in the Tamarack District has crept to within 10 miles of the mountain and farms may eventually surround it. The Navy's El Centro air station is located a few miles southeast of Superstition creasingly rough and with a couple of and it is seeking expansion of bomb- are several petrified palm trees and a soft spots, is still a good one for a pile of old whalebones. Continuing ing and target ranges which already driver with desert experience. block off a great deal of this desert, on this course, your next landmarks To follow Brandt's trail, one must are two dry lakes. The larger one, at but at this writing the mountain is start from the south: "three miles east open to the public. the south, has two big ironwoods on of Coyote Wells on Highway 80, turn its northern edge. This dry lake is A road from the Tamarack District north and cross the washes to a place known as Dos Mesquites Lake. offers the easiest approach to Super- where jade may be found. From here "Cross the lake near the trees in stition—in fact the only one suitable head for a certain dark-appearing cut such a way that the course is parallel for standard passenger automobiles. in the Superstitions. The course leads to an imaginary line into the Supersti- This road leads to an abandoned northeastward across the old Butter- tions. When you have found the cor- county rock quarry at the southwestern ; field route. If you are on the correct rect entrance to the mountain (the end of the mountain and, while in- route, you will find a place where there dark cut no longer is visible as such

Fantastic shapes of some of the big concretions in this part of the desert have led many people to insist that they are the skeletons of prehistoric animals. The author believes some such concretions may have been the "pile of whalebones" which marked the trail to Brandt's gold mine.

OCTOBER, 1956 [7 from the dry lakes), follow the canyon scantily in many parts of this desert. a curved area in the sandstone which upward until it reaches a small mesa, As for the whalebones—I have heard might mark the beam, and a few fine and then look for another canyon lead- more than one person insist that cer- grained chunks of petrified wood, one ing down the eastern front of the tain concretions are skeletons of pre- of which even looked a bit like plank- mountain. The walls of this second historic animals, and we did come upon ing. canyon are reddish-brown sandstone. some which we likened to whalebones. But I could not find the wall of In this canyon a petrified ship will be But we didn't make the dark canyon purple talc. And since it was so near found. A deep notch where the bow that first trip, since old Superstition sundown, I took a short cut, climbing of the ship lay can be seen. Sandstone gave us a taste of the bad luck she had to the top of Superstition's ridge. Per- has formed around the ancient ship, awarded many an earlier lost mine haps, I reasoned, I would be able to and at present all that remains is the seeker. We were climbing to the moun- identify some of the remaining land- curving line of the ship's beam and tain's base when the engine started marks from above. It was like travel- some petrified pieces of what was once missing badly. We immediately re- ing through a dream world, wandering a very fine-grained wood planking. turned to El Centre through those dunes and pockets of the sand world atop the mountain. But "Having located the canyon of the The difficulty proved to be one grain ship, follow it down to its mouth on when I reached the far edge, dusk al- the eastern front and then turn north ready was settling below and the whip- along a wall of purple talc between ping wind, bringing sand over the some small hills. After passing the mountain crest, was hazing the scene talc stratum, you will find a canyon still more. similar to that containing the ship. I turned back by a different route This canyon is filled with low, stubby and suddenly, in the slope of the gully mesquite bushes. You then will come wall on my left, came upon what ob- to a high bank out of which a big rock viously had been the dump from an protrudes. Turn the corner of this excavation, almost buried by sand. rock sharply, and you will see a big Higher up the gully slope, I saw the ocotillo stalk set in the rocks. The outlines of a tunnel which had been mine is above in a hidden gully." filled almost level with sand. It was so nearly obliterated, that at a casual The "jade" was the easy part. Bailey, glance it would have gone unnoticed. in Golden Mirages, says there is no I walked toward the dump to make a jade on the desert "in the commonly closer examination, and a dry rustling accepted form of a green stone capable almost at my feet brought me up short. of a fine polish." But we long before There, lying half under a rock, a side- had found a green rock of varying winder was pulled back into fighting shades and texture scattered over the stance. desert below Highway 80 that looked so much like China's favorite stone It was very dark now. I was a mile that we called it Yuha Jade. And I from the car with no flashlight, and I might add that a friend recently cut knew that more of the little horned and cabochoned a piece and it had rattlers probably soon would be out several of the cutting, sanding and foraging. So I returned to the jeep. finishing qualities of true jade, and did We had to be home the next day, and take a good polish. Found in a good The man with a hole in his head—a it was already too late in the year to color and without pits, it makes an sand concretion. think of staying for any length of time unusual addition to any rockhound's at Superstition. collection. of fine Superstition Mountain sand that This country is not one which is The trouble is that while I have seen had gotten through to a vital valve in safe even for experienced desert people it nowhere in quantity, it is widely the carburetor. The next day we again in summer. Its heat and dryness can- scattered through this country. We set out for Superstition. This time, not be judged by ordinary standards. found some in the approximate location since we knew the approximate point J. Smeaton Chase, who made a horse- of Brandt's first clue, but whether this we wanted to reach—which, fortun- back trip to Superstition Mountain in was the particular jade Brandt had in ately, was within a few hundred yards midsummer nearly 40 years ago, esti- mind there is no way of knowing. From of the gravel quarry road—we took mated the heat in the sun at 150 de- it we saw a dark opening into Super- another route to the mountain, going grees and the canyon he entered like stition Mountain. But here the old in through the clay and sandstone a furnace. "The glare from the mountain's uncanny ability to change buttes that string southeasterly from ground," he said, "was more intoler- shape and appearance under varia- Superstition's tip. able than the direct blast, and the heat was intensified by the scarifying dry- tions of heat, sun, clouds and wind- That was our undoing, so far as blown sand plagued us. At first we ness. The effect upon the eyes was lost mine hunting was concerned. The acutely painful." saw half a dozen dark canyons. Then, buttes, ridges and gulches were rich while we debated the most likely one, with fantastic and beautiful concre- Not having any desire to become a they all faded from view. tions, and most of the day was spent permanent inhabitant of Superstition, The next time around, we saw one wandering through them in four-wheel- I knew that any additional checking near the southeastern end of the ridge, drive, selecting prize specimens. It of the tunnel I had found must wait in the right compass direction, under was late afternoon when we reached until fall. Besides, I had no way of what seemed normal viewing condi- the area of the dark cut. I located a knowing that this was not just another tions, and set out for it. We didn't reddish sandstone canyon with what worthless prospect hole of the sort that find the petrified palms—though we I judged were the remains of the petri- is scattered over the deserts. The thing did pick up pieces of dark, fine-grained fied ship—a deep notch in the side of to do was again to follow Bailey's di- petrified wood, which can be found the canyon where the bow had rested, rections—both backward and forward

18 DESERT MAGAZINE A corner of the concretion field near the quarry road. This area specializes in sausages, snakes, bread sticks and similar shapes.

—to see if they led to or from the medallions, rhythmic sculptures, weird bar civilians from all of it. However, tunnel. and wonderful animals such as a on our recent trip we saw no sign or So far I have been unable even to double-eared wahoo and small-winged warning along the whole length of the re-locate the little tunnel, so devious wuk. rock quarry road or along either side is this terrain. Perhaps the sand has These concretions are spread over of it, or anywhere in the concretion covered it completely. It is in a posi- a wide area east and south of old field we mapped. tion where that would be possible. Superstition, with different shapes in Along with its lost mines, there is I must admit, however, that my different spots. Many of the exposures another mystery of Superstition—per- searching has not been as diligent as can be reached only with four-wheel- haps its principal one—which we hope it might have been. Almost every drive or on foot. However, on our someday to solve. That is, the reason lost mine hunt to Superstition turns most recent trip we visited several close for its naming. We did not see any into a concretion hunt. They are not to the rock quarry road. One especi- giant serpents, nor feel the mountain as difficult to find, and I believe among ally fine field lies less than a half mile move nor hear it make a sound. them are some of the most remarkable off this road. But Ed Stevens, oldtimer of this I have ever seen anywhere on the A word of caution is necessary re- country who hunted through it with desert. Chase's attention was drawn garding the hills southwest of Super- Indian boys when he was a youth, told to them, despite the heat and he de- stition near the Navy base. When we us: "Some of the old miners claim to scribed them as looking like fragments went through there, the Navy was con- have heard it, or felt it, and I believe of tile, large balls or grotesque shapes centrating its bombing at the mouth of it is true. You know, there is a fault such as children make from lumps of the Carrizo on the old Butterfield road, running through there, and if you're plaster. Later he commented again in what is supposed to be a part of lying on it at night after a hot day you upon the "curious shapes of clay, many Anza State Park, and farther north- can hear it groan and creak -— and of them as perfect as if turned in a west near Borrego. At present its sometimes you can feel it quiver." lathe or cast in a mold." activity has expanded and there seems So if old Superstition should start These are good descriptions, but to be some bombing or target shoot- to move or grumble some night when some of the shapes are more individu- ing closer to the base. There even is you are camped there, we'll appreciate alized. We saw snakes, sausages and talk in the valley of a new range which it if you'll stay around long enough salamis, giants' bones, mozaics, balls, will take the southeastern tip of Super- to find out the reason, and let us bats, button mushrooms, napkin rings, stition Mountain and thus effectively know.

OCTOBER, 1956 19 Cne oj tHe original springs at Good Springs. Lowered water level in area now makes pumping necessary. HISTORIC DESERT WATERHOLES V GOOD SPRINGS, NEVADA ONG BEFORE Highway 91 was Around the surface water at different boom periods in his 44 years established, two sandy ruts Good Springs, Nevada, a com- in Good Springs. Schwartz told me that known as the Arrowhead Trail, munity has entered the cycle of at the height of its prosperity the town but often referred to as the Silver Lake boom and bust a dozen times in had a newspaper, the Good Springs cut-off, linked the towns of Las Vegas, the last half century. And the old- Gazette, and seven saloons. Nevada, and Barstow, California, via timers there are hoping that the Holiday celebrations were so ex- Good Springs. The trail was used by combination of water and mineral tensive most of the residents of Las adventurous travelers less concerned wealth again will swing the pen- Vegas would journey to Good Springs with their own safety than they were dulum upward for them. for the fun. At one time the town had with the saving of 65 miles that the a Federal building in which the post- cut-off made possible. By WALTER FORD office was housed, but it has vanished When David C. Thompson wrote Photograph by the author from the scene. The present postoffice his Water Supply Paper 490-B in 1920 is in a very small cubicle, but undoubt- he was aware of the hazards involved edly large enough to serve the remain- in following the Silver Lake route and J. Fisk, now a resident of San Bernar- ing population. recommended the longer road via dino, told me the name was derived During its early days Good Springs' Searchlight and Goffs which followed from an early prospector named Good. water supply was obtained from surface the railroad most of the way and from Fisk was in Good Springs in 1892, springs and artesian wells, but accord- which help could be obtained in case when there was little more there than ing to Schwartz the water level has of serious trouble. a watering trough where the hotel now dropped 18 feet making it necessary to For west-bound travelers on the stands. Later he operated the Yellow pump the water to the surface. Wind- Trail, Good Springs was the last point Pine and Boss mines, both of which mills and electric pumps have been where food, gas and oil could be ob- were large producers. From 1908 to installed in several of the larger springs. tained before Silver Lake was reached 1916 Fisk was Justice of the Peace, When mining operations were at •—60 miles distant. Walter C. Men- and recalling that in its heyday Good their height, much lead, zinc and plati- denhall, while compiling a list of desert Springs was a typical western mining num were produced here. At present watering places in 1909 for his Water camp, with all the attending diversions, mining operations are at a standstill, Supply Paper 224, wrote: I asked Fisk to cite some of the more but many of the older residents are "Good Springs are on the road to important cases that came before his hoping for another comeback. Schwartz Sandy postoffice, about six miles west court. explained their optimism this way: of the Jean station. There are large "Well," he answered with a laugh, "I've seen this old camp go through a mines in operation near by, and a "you will hardly believe this, but my dozen slumps and she always has come settlement has grown up around them. most serious case involved a fellow out of it. This one is the worst I have The supply of water is large and its who was arrested for wife beating. ever seen, but we may see prosperity quality is indicated by the name." Then, to top it off, they went back again from other sources. Cotton is The water at Good Springs undoubt- together as soon as he was released." being grown north of Good Springs edly was of excellent quality, but con- I visited Good Springs recently and and a huge deposit of picture flagstone, trary to the generally accepted belief, there met Otto Schwartz, another old- which is being shipped out of the state the springs did not acquire their name timer who has lived there since 1912. in increasing quantities, was recently from the superiority of the water. O. He has seen the town pass through 12 discovered near here." DESERT MAGAZINE ON DESERT TRAILS WITH A NATURALIST - XXX Midgets of the Desert World

Canyon Bat reality a member of that very primitive Among the true mice of our deserts, group of mammals called Insectivores. which are all grouped into one large The Desert Shrew's diminutive, pale, animal order called Rodentia, one of Don't despise the tiny four- ashy-gray body is scarcely more than the most friendly is the Spiny Pocket footed denizens of the desert world two inches long, to which is added Mouse. It may be distinguished by its because they are called mice. To about an inch-long, smooth, mouse-like small, near smoky-gray, walnut-sized Dr. Edmund Jaeger these little wild- tail. Like all shrews, it has a long hunched body, with longer coarse hairs lings of the land of rock and sand pointed snout, but unlike most others, among the shorter fur of the back are creatures of diligence, agility this species has prominent eyes and (superficially looking like spines, hence and courage and while they do ears, giving it an even more mouse-like its name). Other clues are its long not always respect the property appearance. It is a fierce beast and tail ending in a brush of hairs and the rights of those who invade their during its waking hours does little else animal's amusing habit of stuffing, with domain, they may prove to be than hunt for food (insects, larvae, and the aid of its fore-paws, quantities of very entertaining neighbors. small rodents) among the grasses and seeds or other food particles into the leaves around and under shrubs and two fur-lined pockets opening just out- By EDMUND C. JAEGER, D.Sc. trees of its low desert habitat. side the lips on both sides of the Curator of Plants George Olin, in his Animals of the mouth. Pocket Mice are agile jumpers Riverside Municipal Museum Southwest Deserts, describes the Des- and when surprised I have seen them ert Shrew as ". . . an appetite on four leap, by means of their strong rear IN HIS Philosophical legs, guided by a keen nose and aided legs, three feet with the greatest ease, Dictionary alludes to the uni- by small but formidable claws and using the long tail for balance. versal fable of the huge moun- teeth." A successful hunter this fero- Often have I had Spiny Pocket Mice tain that after hissing, groaning and cious animal-midget must always be, come in around my evening fire, espe- roaring in labor, much to the conster- for to be without food for more than cially when I have camped near rocks. nation of the people of the countryside, six or seven hours means that it must Sometimes they actually came so near finally gave birth only to a tiny mouse. miserably perish. I have seen a Desert that I could have touched them with To Voltaire this seemed to be a very Shrew but once in all my wide travels my hand were I not fearful of frighten- great and most unbelievably important and then only for a fleeting but most ing them. I find it is a most rewarding accomplishment, for small as the mouse exciting moment. This was some years practice to scatter grain, food crumbs, was in comparison to the mountain, ago while camping among some iron- or oatmeal on the ground about the he realized what a truly marvelous ag- wood trees in a wash to the east of the camp before dark, for these friendly gregate of mechanical, chemical and Colorado River. It was late in the pocket mice, if at all present in the physiological reactions the mouse was evening and the shrew darted into a area, are then almost certain to make for within its diminutive body was har- small hole from among a litter of their appearance soon after dusk and bored that indefinable, complex and leaves. stuff their cheek-pouches, often ridicu- beautiful thing called life. So little is known about this tiniest lously full, with the tidbits I have pro- Not in fable but in reality the des- of all the desert's mammals that a few vided. As soon as the pouches are erts of the world have brought forth, paragraphs are adequate for a full de- filled to capacity, away they scamper unlike the mountain of legend, not one scription of all its known habits. Any in jerky mechanical motions to store mouse but many kinds of mice and observations that you or I may have this food in their burrows or in care- mouse-like animals, some of them so made or might make in the future will fully hidden caches, often several hun- small and secretive in habit that they be a valuable contribution to the dred feet distant. Then in a few are scarcely known to any but the most knowledge of this rare and certainly minutes back they appear, often ap- careful or lucky observers; yet each of unique animal. proaching by diverse routes as if to these creatures plays its small but im- portant part in the great scheme of things, and each is an astonishing and profoundly intricate living machine Desert Shrew well worth knowing and meriting the most careful study. By far the smallest and probably least known of all desert mammals is the Desert Shrew (Sorex crawfordi). Although it looks very much like a tiny mouse, its primitive dentination and insatiable carnivorous appetite, among other things, tell us that the shrew is in

OCTOBER, 195 better hide any clue as to the location small ground squirrels, which seek length and almost half of that is tail. of the food caches. The pockets, no shelter in tunnels much deeper and It has the distinction of being rated the matter how well crammed, are quickly often far more extensive. smallest rodent in the southwestern emptied by sweeping forward move- These gentle, inoffensive and unsus- desert area, perhaps the smallest in ments of the "hands." picious animal hermits are often dug America. Its weight is less than half These small-eared mice are, as a from their burrows or seized in the an ounce, but what a marvelous quan- rule, active only at night. The days open by kit foxes, coyotes, badgers, tum of good life is packed into that are spent in rather shallow burrows skunks, weasels, snakes and owls. I mite of flesh! made in loose soil, usually under a pro- once saw a badger dig in after one; "Few small mammals," says Vernon tective bush, and it is their habit to the job was completed in less than half Bailey, "are more beautiful than these plug the entrance openings with earth a minute! It is fortunate that pocket silky, bright-eyed mice. They are timid as a defense against such enemies as mice have fairly large litters of young and when caught in the hands will snakes, and also perhaps to keep the (from three to six) and that they breed struggle to escape, but make no attempt air within from becoming too dry. at least twice a year, otherwise their to bite or scratch. If held gently they Because of the shallowness of their chances for survival against so many soon become quiet and they may be burrows, which are used as daytime enemies would be small, indeed. stroked as they sit in the open hand." hide-outs, we must conclude that they There is another desert-dwelling The Dwarf Kangaroo Mouse, or are able to withstand greater summer pocket mouse, called Baird's Perog- Gnome Mouse (Microdipodops), so heat than many of the other desert nathus (Perognathus jlavus), which is small that it fits neatly into the cupped rodents, such as the kangaroo rats and little more than four inches in total palm of the hand, looks much like a Pocket Mouse except for size, it being slightly larger. It is a rather rarely seen mammal, confined to certain lim- It is the time of the month to ited sagebrush areas of the far western TRUE OR FALSE relax, get a sharp pencil, settle portions of the arid Great Basin. I down in an overstuffed chair saw my first Gnome Mice by aid of a and start making crosses after the questions below. The law of averages flashlight in the sandy parts of Fish should give you 10 correct answers even if you have never seen the Great Lake Valley in western Nevada. Iden- American Desert. But you'll probably do better than that. A smart desert tification was easy because of this rat will average about 15, and that is a good score. If he gets 18 correct mammal's unusual peculiarity of having he is entitled to sign S.D.S. after his name—Sand Dune Sage. The answers a tail which is noticeably thicker at the are on page 30. middle. The burrows were made in 1—You can tell the age of a rattlesnake by the number of buttons in its sand under the roots of spreading rattle. True False bushes as a protection against preda- 2—Water in the Great Salt Lake has a higher salt content than ocean tors. Like those of the Pocket Mouse water. True False they are plugged with earth during 3—Tortoises found in the desert country are hatched from eggs. True daylight hours. A Gnome Mouse bur- False row that we dug into had a total length 4—The blossom of the Ocotillo is always red. True False of little more than four feet and at no 5—Pinyon nuts grow underground like peanuts. True False place did it extend more than ten 6—Elwood Mead, for whom Lake Mead was named, was former com- inches beneath the ground surface. missioner of the U. S. Bureau of Reclamation. True False There still is much to be learned 7—Roosevelt dam is in the Gila River. True False about the behavior and adaptations of 8—Malachite and Azurite often are associated in the same ore. True the small, seed-eating, arid-land Gnome False Mouse. When next you go into the 9—Tallest native tree of the desert southwest is the palm. True sandy sagebrush deserts of northeastern False California and adjacent Nevada and 10—The foliage of the juniper tree turns yellow when the frost comes in Oregon, plan to camp in Microdip- the fall. True False odops territory and be on the lookout 11—Land acquired in the Gadsden Purchase was bought from France. for them. Perhaps you can add a bit True False of information concerning their elusive 12—Brigham Young brought the first Mormon colonists to Utah before habits. the Civil war. True False 13—An arrastre was a tool used by the Spaniards for recovering gold. Another gentle, small-sized mouse True False denizen of the desert well worth fa- miliar acquaintance is called Cactus 14—Winnemucca, Nevada, was named for a famous Apache Indian chief. Mouse (Peromyscus eremicus) be- True False cause its most preferred habitat is any 15—-According to Indian legend Sipapu is the name of the opening in the area covered with cactus; however, it earth through which the first tribesmen emerged from the underworld. also may be found in many other en- True False vironments. The specific name "ere- 16—Publisher of the Desert Rat Scrap Book is Harry Oliver. True micus" means "of dry lonely places." False Mice of the genus Peromyscus are 17—The Bandelier National Monument is in New Mexico. True sometimes popularly called Deer Mice, False perhaps because of their prominent 18—Ajo, Arizona, is famous for its silver mining industry. True False 19—Asbestos is derived from a species of tree which grows on the desert. Sketches of Desert Shrew and Can- True False yon Bat by Lloyd Mason Smith. 20—Furnace Creek Inn is located in Nevada's Valley of Fire. True ._ . Sketches of Baird's Pocket Mouse False and Desert White Footed Mouse by Edith J. Johnson.

y.7. DESERT MAGAZINE black eyes, unusually large ears, and buffy gray fur of the upper body. Since Desert White-Footed or Deer Mouse. the underparts as well as the feet of these mice are covered with beautiful white fur, they often are called White- footed Mice. Sooner or later the Jackrabbit Home- steaders almost are certain to have the inquisitive and often mischievous White-footed Mouse as a fellow-dwel- ler in their small cabins and no doubt a frequent raider of their food supplies. Look upon this little mouse as a friendly guest rather than as a total nuisance and you will be rewarded by some most unusual and highly interest- ing experiences. Like their relatives, the Pocket Mice, the White-footed Mice have cheek pouches (their gen- meat must be a part of the bill-of-fare spot I have always felt welcome and eric name means "pouched mouse"). of this Deer Mouse, at least. there came to me a sense of belonging They also are adept pilferers of break- Some evening at sundown or just to the fascinating world of the wild fast foods and seeds of all kinds which after, you may notice a small bat swing- when a pocket mouse, a bat or other they carry away to augment their wild ing about above your camp in erratic small animal came to my camp. I now food stores. It should not come as a flight as it goes forth from some rock could no longer feel lonesome and as surprise if they do, as they once did hide-out in the nearby cliffs or rocky I saw my new neighbor never did I fail for me—lay up neat hoards of seeds hills while engaging in its evening for- to marvel and admire the diligence, between the folds of blankets. Several agings for insect food. This is the agility and courage of these "children times they have made their snug semi- Western Pipstrellid, or Canyon Bat, brought forth by the mountain," as globular nests in my closet; once, even sometimes also called the Pygmy Bat. the fable has it. in my bureau drawer, and I was not Of course bats are not rodents; they PUBLIC WARNED OF NEW~ too angered when I later found them belong to the special mammalian order, DESERT LAND SCHEMES Chiroptera, but their bodies, exclusive raiding my cotton comforter for nest- Several new angles are being used lining. Often I saw them at dusk as of the membranous wings, do certainly resemble those of mice. Because of its by desert land locators to bilk the un- they scampered along the upper sides wary and inexperienced city dweller of my desert house rafters and after small size and early evening appear- ance, the Canyon Bat is very easy to who wants to own some of the federal dark I sometimes faintly heard their government's vast desert holdings, Rep- numerous perambulations about the identify; most other desert bats do not appear until it is quite dark and they resentative Cliff Young of Nevada floor underneath my cot as they warned. He said the FBI is investi- scanned the place for crumbs. are generally much larger in size. Even on evenings of quite cold days this gating the new schemes which appear One very windy night a lad who to have become widespread. was camping with me laid his sleep- little bat occasionally may be seen abroad. The new racket is more elaborate ing bag snugly up under a big bladder- than those recently employed which pod bush which grew next to a high The late Dr. Joseph Grinnell tells consisted almost entirely of advertised clay embankment to secure some shel- of one occasion when he saw a Canyon assertions that the government was ter from the strong gusts. I warned Bat appear in flight in the glaring noon- eager to transfer unlimited acres of a him that he might have rodent visitors day sunshine. He noticed it as he was veritable Garden of Eden at $1.25 during the night. Sure enough, that boating down the Colorado River. each. "The bat," he wrote, "dipped down to night he awoke when a White-footed Emphasis in the new racket still is the surface of the water where it Mouse bit him on the nose, perhaps placed on the $ 1.25 an acre cost, but touched and thence flitted back to a recognizing there a tasty bit of flesh for the carefully prepared brochures and crevice in a nearby cliff." a midnight snack. His story I at first other forms of advertising omit the doubted, but there were clear tooth- The Canyon Bat is found through- fact that the government requires an marks to be seen next morning. The out most of the arid country of the applicant for government land to have interesting and surprising thing is that West. Once you recognize it you will personally inspected it before filing. this experience had a sequel, an exact always welcome its appearance above The promoters are eager to relieve repeat just a week afterwards when a your camp. To scientists it is known the applicant of that and other details second lad made his bed under that as Pipistrellus hesperus. Pipistrellus is and for a fee of $10 an acre—$3200 same wind-protecting bush, and was a New Latin word derived from the for a 320-acre application—they will bitten during the night, again on the French word "pipistrelle," meaning locate the land, prepare the applica- nose, probably by the very same mouse! "bat"; "hesperus" is the Latin word tion, including the state water permit, Both boys became fully convinced that for "evening." irrigation plan and all other material If you have become curious about to be submitted to the land office. these little desert denizens I have de- To the man in the city, who usually scribed and if now you desire to ob- does not have a clear conception of serve them at first hand on your next what a desert claim is, $3200 for 320 trips desertward, then I will have been acres, with all the described services well rewarded. To me the desert mice included, sounds like a very attractive and bats are as interesting as any of proposal, but he has no realization of the more spectacular and larger animal all the stumbling blocks that lie in his Baird's inhabitants. On many nights when I path from that point on, Young de- Pocket Mouse have camped in some strange far-away clared.—Reese River Reveille

OCTOBER, 1956 23 Saguaroland, Pima County, Arizona. In the background are the Santa Catalina Mountains. Photograph by the author.

In Saguaroland, as elsewhere. Nature has her own way of keep- ing her world in balance. Here a Wings in Saguaroland... varied number of birds have a happy relationship with the giant cacti, palo verdes and chollas By J. L. BLACKFORD whose dreaded enemies, the gnaw- ing rodents and chewing insects, N THE DESERT'S weird saguaro a deserted woodpecker apartment. So are held in check by the birds. forests, where mighty succulents much at home now is the redoubtable In return for this life-saving favor, replace familiar trees, we find the little nocturnal hunter that frequently Saguaroland's vegetable kingdom woodland's most characteristic inhabi- it does not hesitate to dispossess the provides protected nesting places tants, its most faithful guardians—the amiable flickers from their towering for its winged friends. woodpeckers. Here in the Arizona cacti apartments. Ash-throated Fly- desert the Gilded Flicker and Gila catchers, too, are regular tenants and Woodpecker no longer are pioneers in cavity nesters here. a fantastic land. Their association is In addition to the select company so old that the former's occurrence is dwelling in woodpecker-built bedrooms nearly limited to the range of the giant in green boles of the giant cactus, the cactus. And the adaptation of their noble Red-tailed Hawk constructs his invaluable in keeping the giant cactus wood drilling and nest-hole excavating bulky stick-nest in a crotch of its forest in prosperity and health. activities in this odd cactus country mighty arms. Cactus wrens nest in shrub-level has long since opened saguaroland to chollas of the cactus timberland. settlement by a peculiar fraternity of Ruling the night watch, and proving himself an indispensable member of Mourning doves flock to its fruiting winged inhabitants. groves. Gambel Quail patter across Most typical of the feathered neigh- the rodent patrol, the Horned Owl pebbled pavements, and breed in the bors who occupy the abandoned home- similarly nests in huge saguaros. The palo verde-cacti-mesquite of denser, sites of the woodpecker architects in tiger of the night appropriates old hawk undercover stands. Trilling Night- trunks of the great cacti, are the Spar- and raven domiciles. Both hawk and hawks sweep its evening air. While row Hawk, Pygmy and Elf Owls, owl are vital links in this delicately liquid Curve-billed Thrasher songs Crested Flycatcher and Purple Martin. balanced and intricately interrelated glorify the purple dusk of saguaro- The Screech Owl may not wait for life community. Their skillful work is land.

DESERT MAGAZINE Sparrow Hawk, left, preys on Saguaro- land's insects and small rodents. Horned Owl, below, also is a highly beneficial and valuable member of the giant cactus community. But for the expert work in rodent con- trol of hawk, owl and desert fox, the saguaro forest itself could not survive — un- checked numbers of the gnawing fraternity would insure destruction of all giant cactus seedlings. Photographs by George M. Bradt. Drawing at lower left is of a Gila Woodpecker.

25 By THELMA IRELAND McGill, Nevada He knows no world but desert sand, Mesquite, sage brush and weather. He's lived so long in it his face And hands are tanned like leather. He needs no culture, music, art; His only lure is hope. No television, radio— Is he, or I, the dope? THE DESPERATE LAND By ALICE ERWIN Choteau, Montana There's a desperate land Where the waves of sand Roll out to the sea of sky, THE DESERT LAYS A GENTLE TWILIGHT Where the Navajo walked HAND By JOSEPHINE HENRY And his war drums talked By MILDRED BREEDLOVE Santa Ana, California In the years now long gone by. . . Las Vegas, Nevada. From the turquoise glow For they made a stand The desert lays a gentle hand Of twilight sky In this desperate land— On those who know and understand My spirit finds rest It was given them as their lot, Its vast, uncharted wilderness, Not knowing why. And they live and die When colors hold their rendezvous From the first faint star 'Neath a tearless sky On hills that only silence knew Comes inner light In the land that God forgot. And marked with ageless loveliness. Saying in silence Then I chanced to stray There is no night. At the close of day The softest pink and orchid tones In their world so mean and small— Play endlessly on barren stones PIONEERS In the shifting sand Where desert ranges meet the sky— Of this desperate land On mountainsides and plains below, By LOUISA SPRENGER AMES Was the answer to it all, Where Joshuas and yuccas grow, Indio, California The shadows turn to indigo For there 1 found As afternoon and evening die. By the high road, by the low road, In the desert ground And along the winding trail An armlet of turquoise blue No land was ever quite so fair, They came in high adventure Of a Navajo brave, Or had a greater gift to share With a faith that could not fail, In a common grave In life's short interlude; To the Valley of the sunrise, With a cavalry horse's shoe. No heart could long remain unhealed That wears the desert for a shield To the land of dunes and sage, And sees its loveliness revealed To write a glorious chapter TO EACH HIS OWN In splendor, space and solitude. On a new and glorious page. By GRACE BARKER WILSON They laced the sands with silver Kirtland, New Mexico DESERT SUNRISE And spread the rainbow there, I love the friendly mountains, Till achievement crowned adventure They give me confidence; By NANCY LUCAS In the beauty that we share. But the wideness of the desert Dugway, Utah Proclaims omnipotence. My heart cries out in longing MIRAGE For a way I can unfold By LOUISE WILMSHURST INTO A DESERT PLACE The pageantry and beauty Angels Camp, California In the sunrise I behold. A solitary desert road By LUCY JANE BULLOCK Tall mountains silhouetted Stretched forth, without one tree Long Beach, California Against a rose-gold sky, For respite from the blazing sun— Into a desert place my Master went That echoes bits of color Twas dull monotony. The day had been long, His strength was spent. Where blooming cacti lie. When suddenly appeared a sight The desert sands change color Which took my breath away— Not to a garden fragrant and green, In the early morning glow. A boundless, tossing, sapphire sea, But to a desert place swept fresh and clean While a watchful, circling hawk Great rocks dashed with spray. By winds let loose from the Hand of God, Casts his shadow far below. To circle the earth or rattle a pod. Why should I strive so vainly 1 stared with curious unbelief Out of a desert place my Master came To portray this wondrous sight? Till, mystic as it came, His eyes a light with an unquenchable flame. When God's silence is more eloquent The phantom ocean vanished Not for Himself He knelt alone Than words I'll ever write. And the desert was the same. But for each questing soul He would atone My heart was somehow gladdened With power that flowed from the heart of THE MESA At the brief entrancing sight— God, Elusive desert magic To heal the sick or bring light to the clod. By WHEELER FORD NEWMAN To give my fancy flight. Into a desert place I too would go San Pedro, California His strength to gain, His love to show. Aloof it lies beneath the scourging sun; Sheer-rising, its ramparts spurn the desert RED ROCKS AT SUNSET floor, By KATHERINE L. RAMSDELL Impassively watching dust-devils spin and run, By TANYA SOUTH Tempe, Arizona Dissolving away, to form and spin once This was not meant for me alone— more The stars are gaining new proportion This flaming pageantry has burned Over outcrop and cacti and mesquite, As spheres, and by Supernal plan. In other hearts and days than mine! Down dry arroyo where the smoke trees No longer are they a distortion, What traveler through sere desert wastes stand, Just to light up the night for man. Could pass this way, his soul unstirred By such a rare design? Dancing in crazy homage to the heat Oh, how abysmal, slow and dense Shimmering in waves across a passive land. Rock-ribbed maidens, standing tall, Has seemed man's progress through Skirts laced with juniper and pine, Aloof yet friendly the lonely mesa lies, the years! Waiting for stars to blossom one by one, Vermilion-tinted, flaunting light Be kind to those who do advance. As if to shame the sun. Your beauty Waiting for dusk to soften tortured skies, Do gently by our pioneers. Waiting for peace that comes when day is Haunts the hearts of men-— done. As it haunts mine tonight. DESERT MAGAZINE LIFE ON THE DESERT I Remember Maggie

Woven into the happy memories of her childhood on a Nevada homestead are Ruby Robison's recollections of Maggie, the likeable, hardworking Paiute woman who came each Monday to do the family wash . . . By RUBY ROBISON

The old cottonwood tree in the back- head steadily bobbed up and down yard was bursting into leaf and the over the old washboard set in the tub odor of sage was in the air. Dad had of hot suds, Dick dozed in the shade, been away all day helping a neighbor his hat covering his eyes. He only put down a well and had not as yet stirred long enough to eat another huge returned. We were sitting around the meal at noon after which he chatted supper table chattering about the day's with Maggie in their native tongue. All happenings when we were interrupted leftovers were carefully tied in a bundle by a sharp tapping on a windowpane. and taken home for another meal. There, framed in the window, was No matter how large, how small or the wrinkled brown face, scraggly how soiled the clothes were, the wash- black hair and shining black eyes of ing for the week always cost one dollar. an Indian. His brown lips were mum- This Maggie carefully placed in a small bling, "Gimme wisket! Gimme wisket! black purse she carried in a huge You no savy white man wisket?" pocket in the first layer of her volumi- We sat petrified. No one moved or nous calico skirts. made a sound. Dick was a lazy fellow. Ambition "Gimme wisket! Gimme wisket!" never bothered him. He liked to sleep the deep voice demanded. Then he in the shade. He wore odd combina- pointed to his lips and feigned the tions of clothes—usually cast-offs from chewing of a mouthful of food. neighboring white families. His black Suddenly Mother understood. Catch- hair was shoulder length and he always ing up a pitcher of milk and a pan of wore a battered, broad-brimmed, high- . warm biscuits she raised the window crowned black hat. A colorful silk Paiute woman carrying a burden and shoved the food into the brown kerchief knotted about his neck added basket filled with pine cones. hands waiting there so eagerly. We a gay note to his costume. Dick prized watched him carry it to a rickety spring these kerchiefs and took great pride in WAS the first Indian wagon atop which an Indian woman the shining folds of heavy silk. i had ever known. I remem- squatted cross-legged. Both ate greed- We laughed at our early fear of ber her in every detail—her ily. Indians. These people we called "tame merry giggle; her smiling dark eyes Then he came to the window again Indians" while those fearful legendary under a fringe of long, dark bangs; and handed Mother the empty pan creatures we referred to as "wild In- her parched, brown cheeks etched and pitcher. "Heap good wiskets," he dians." with the lines of laughter; thin, pale mumbled. "Me like 'um white man Sometimes Maggie's sister Minnie lips; a round, dusky face framed by wisket pretty good. Bye-m-bye Mon- came to help with the washing. She a brilliant red scarf knotted under her day come. You pay 'em one dollar. brought her little brown papoose laced chin; wearing a green and tan plaid My squaw Maggie come wash 'em tightly in a buckskin cradleboard that woolen shawl on her straight, ample clothes. Huh?" was intricately beaded in beautiful shoulders; and her worn black shoes And that is how Maggie came into bright floral designs. Maggie told me barely visible below her full, gathered our lives. the bead designs on the cradleboard calico skirts. Sometimes she wore Early each Monday morning she were more elaborate for girl babies several skirts to ward off the cold. and her man, Dick, would arrive in than for boys. A woven hood of peeled their old spring wagon drawn by a willow shaded the baby's eyes from the It was many years ago when we met. starved gray horse. Dick proudly rode glaring sun and a strap of red beadwork I was a small child then and had on the high seat, but Maggie always fitting snugly about Minnie's forehead recently come with my family to a squatted on a soft rabbit skin blanket held the cradleboard firmly on her desert homestead claim only a mile on the wagon bed. back. While she worked Minnie from the Paiute Indian Reservation Their first order of business was to propped the cradleboard against a tree east of Fallon, Nevada. devour huge breakfasts and then Mag- or hung it from a lower limb where it We children were filled with stories gie boiled and scrubbed the dirt out of was gently rocked by the breeze. The of Indian scalpings and war raids, of our clothing. Water was heated in our little papoose slept most of the time. kidnapped white children raised among backyard in a huge black tub resting She seldom cried when awake, but them. We were not anxious to meet on a grate over a small open fire. By gazed about with tiny black eyes. any of our new neighbors. mid-morning line after line of snowy Sometimes I got her to smile and gur- I remember a warm, clear evening clean clothes flapped in the desert gle for me. shortly after we had moved to the breeze. In the summer when we children homestead. Spring was all about us. While Maggie's brightly kerchiefed were home on wash day, we trudged

OCTOBER, 1956 " barefooted up and down the hot irri- loosened the nuts. Then they were long before we drew in sight of it we gation ditch banks hunting fresh ground deftly tossed in a flat woven willow heard loud wailing, moaning and weep- squirrel holes. We poured water down winnowing basket to separate the pine ing sounds coming from it. We had them and drowned out the animals. nuts from the cones. become quite familiar with the blood- These we gave to Maggie and Dick Maggie ground the fresh meats on chilling Indian death wail by this time. who tied them in their food bundle a metate. This meal was cooked in a We found Maggie and all she could and took them home. Maggie said that watertight basket by placing pre-heated tell us was that, "Paiut-ie man kill 'em boiled in a stew or broiled over open stones in the vessel. In addition, bread Dick." We never learned the particu- coals they were "heap good." I was and many other foods were made from lars. content to take her word for it. the pine nuts. Maggie's house had been burned to Maggie also made pine nut soup. Maggie skillfully wove beautiful bas- frighten away the evil spirits and she Each fall when the first frost opened kets embellished with traditional de- had gone to live with her sister. Her the cones on the pinyon trees, she and signs and symbols. Her long slender mournful chanting was not so much her tribesmen camped out for weeks fingers twisted and stitched the speci- in sadness for Dick as it was to keep in the mountains gathering the winter's ally prepared willow shoots artistically the evil spirits from following her to supply of nuts. The men shook them into baskets for cooking, winnowing, her new home. from the trees with long poles and the burden bearing, storage, ceremonial Soon after our visit Maggie returned women and children followed along use and even for playthings for the to our homestead each Monday. Then gathering them in large burden baskets. little papoose. one morning she arrived in a double- This was a joyous time with work A few years after regularly coming seated buggy drawn by two bony brown in the daytime and dancing and feast- to our ranch, Maggie suddenly was horses. A stern-faced brave held the ing at night. absent. Fearing something might be reins. wrong, we hitched old Brownie to the We teased Maggie about her new Maggie roasted the cones in the hot boy friend and she giggled and said, earth over night, being careful that the buggy and drove to her shack only to find it burned to the ground. "Me ketch 'em new man." Bob Austin hot coals of the fire never touched was his name and he also enjoyed them. This opened the cones and We drove on to Minnie's cabin and sleeping all day. Maggie was always broke. She worked hard for us and for other white families in the area but her weakness was the Indian stick game and other Rock Sbotty games of chance. When we asked her where her money went, she would laugh and say, "Me play 'em. Me of Death Valley loose 'em." Easy going and happy— that was Maggie. Hard Rock Shorty was in a wuz no good minin' so we put She told us many Indian tales. One reminiscent mood. He had just him cookin'. He wuz so lazy he'd I remember particularly well. It was gotten the returns on a carload put popcorn in the flapjacks so about her people many years ago. They of ore he and Pisgah Bill had they'd flop themselves over. were camped on the shores of the Car- shipped to the smelter—and the "He was always tryin' some son Sink and nearly dead from hunger. ore was richer than they had fig- way to keep from workin', an The braves had been too busy making ured, so they came down from that wuz how he got his name. war on neighboring tribes to hunt. their camp on Eight Ball Creek He carried a box o' pack rats Then a flock of great white swan to spend a few days loafing around with him from one job came flying high overhead. So large around the Inferno store watch- to the next. He'd taught 'em the was this flock that it hid the sun. ing the dudes come and go. difference between ordinary rocks Circling lower and lower, multitudes A bus load of them had just an' gold nuggets an' they would of the graceful white birds alighted in stopped for cold drinks, and were raid the cabins where the miners'd the lake near the Paiute camp. Hunters sitting on the leanto porch sipping cached their gold and leave 'em soon killed great numbers of them and their soda pop: Hard Rock's rocks instead. Pete got the gold, a great feast was prepared. feelings about dudes were a mix- the miners got the rocks. Messengers were sent to the neigh- ture of scorn and curiosity. "Come December and Pisgah boring tribes, inviting them to join in. "What do we do for a livin' and me decided to spend the All came and after the feast a great up here?" he repeated a question month prospectin' over in the peace dance was held. Everyone sang asked by one of the visitors. Argus range. While we wuz and was happy. The war hatchet was "We work, same as honest away Pete taught them packrats buried. folks do everywhere, except a to bring beans in from the store The white feather of the swan be- little harder. Pisgah Bill breaks room so all he'd have to do wuz came the symbol of peace and pros- down the ore in the tunnel, and sit by the stove and cook 'em. perity between the tribes. Warring I push the ore cart outside and "But them rats didn't know ceased, famine never returned and sack it up. Cain't afford to hire everything. One day they got peace reigned over the land. no help, an' we don't need any. into a bag o' poisoned beans Yes, I remember Maggie—but she Bill's the best drill an' powder BilPd got from the mail order is no more. She belonged to a genera- man this side o' Cripple Creek, house to kill the varmints that tion when the legend of the Great and I can handle more ore'n wuz gittin' his chickens. An' them White Swan was fresh and new. But, three mules. packrats put them pizen beans in its prophecy is still with us. The pass- "Once we tried hirin' a mucker Pete's cookin' kettle. ing years have brought peace and pros- to do some of the heavy work. "An' when we got back we perity to the wide, fertile Lahontan Name was Packrat Pete, an' he buried ol' Pete with his boots on." Valley where once the Paiute Indian roamed—wild and hungry.

20; DESERT MAGAZINE HOME ON THE DESERT Plans and Plantings in October for Lovely flowers in Spring...

Other people in other climes may sit back when October comes when limiting factors ban large scale to enjoy the traditional fall harvest season—but, not the home-on-the- growing, a few flowers may afford as desert gardener. She knows it is time to plan and plant that spring much pleasure as many. garden, for April's magic flower carpets are sown in October. This was impressed upon me by Nora, my next door neighbor, who at By RUTH REYNOLDS 77 took up desert gardening last year by planting a single, small bed of Afri- IS October's bright the garden plot I should not have can daisies. During their blooming blue weather brighter or bluer transplanted lavishly as I thinned. But season she was up with the sun each than on the desert. And at no this I did, setting out plants rather morning to watch them open and out other time do the desert's immensities haphazardly and mulching them with each evening to see their petals close. —the vast skies, the hills and horizons peat moss. Just sharing her joy in them was a pleasant experience for me. But shar- —more brightly and bluely encompass The results were a lot of flowers the home on the desert. And if one ing is always part of the fun of gard- which took more time and work than ening—and a means of learning, too. day the wind should change suddenly, I counted on, and a few lessons learned blowing away the heat of summer and by experience, which I shall enumerate From various gardens shared with ushering in a breath of autumn, how for what they may be worth. me last spring I not only borrowed exuberantly the gardener will go to pleasure but a number of interesting work! All of these plants transplant easily, even poppies, dozens of which I pulled ideas. Traditionally October is a time of up by the roots when the ground was Nierembergia Purple Robe makes a harvest and even the desert garden soaked. They all can stand freezing striking border for a bed of white or may yield some fruits but here tradi- a few times, especially if you rush out pastel flowers such as Iceland poppies. tion is reversed: this is a time for and spray them with water before the Purple Robe is an improved variety planting. And the desert gardener sun thaws them. All benefit by month- with rich, deep violet-blue blossoms cannot wait for or depend upon any ly light feedings of ammonium phos- massed compactly on low growing — exciting change in the weather. The phate worked lightly into the soil about 10 inch high — plants. Grown calendar says it is time to plan and around them. from seed or nursery plants it will plant for spring—the one season when And one thing more: you can have bloom in the spring and may continue the desert garden's flowering potential too many flowers. Mine bloomed so as a perennial. is almost unlimited. profusely in April that it was almost Another attractive edging plant for This year I have resolved to put a full time job keeping the withered a flower bed is parsley. Its green frills more emphasis on planning and less blooms snipped off. This applies espe- go well with all colors. It may be used on planting, or rather transplanting, cially to calendulas as they begin to alone or interspersed with other edging which last year almost proved my un- fade the second day and remain on the plants such as the Sweet Alyssums. doing. stems untidily. Poppy petals never Best low spreading alyssums are Royal With Pete, an able and industrious wither on the stem. They are off and Purple Carpet and the all-America university sophomore, to help me, I away with the wind, to be replaced by award winner, Carpet of Snow. These got off to a fine start—laying off a bed, fresh blooms daily for several weeks. are improved varieties, fragrant and densely flowered. Plants spaced four planting bulbs—narcissus and ranun- Candytuft-gone-to-seed is almost as inches apart will form a ribbon of culas—and annuals including stocks, pretty as in bloom. The flower shape bloom where one is desired. snapdragons, larkspur, calendulas, can- is retained and turns from green to dytuft, poppies—and more poppies. brown after the petals fall. From start A bed of pansies alone may contain The soil was well prepared, spaded to finish this flower is precious. With enough beauty for a springtime, if you deeply and enriched with well com- its small, lacy flower heads —- white, like pansies. Belonging generically to posted manure, except where the nar- lavender, purple—it is as lovely as the violas, pansies are old favorites cissus bulbs went. In their square-yard baby's breath for mixing with bouquets bred to modern perfection. bed, I worked in a scant quarter pound and is often used by florists in the Among the viola tricolors are the of bonemeal and was rewarded with all same way. Every garden should have Swiss Giants with slightly ruffled, three- the lovely and fragrant blooms I could it in abundance, but not as a low bor- inch flowers that come in a wide range hope for. The ranunculas performed der plant. Mine, planted as such, grew of colors including red, salmon, pink, normally — which is more than ade- 18 inches tall. wine red, blue and rose. Coronation quate reward. The annuals came up But I was saying that you can have Gold, an All-America silver award so thickly that there was room for only too many flowers. Now, as Ted would winner, is canary yellow with lower about a tenth of them in their bed. remind me, I seem to contradict my- petals of orange. This was normal too, of course, and self. And so I am, for from either Pansies need a rich, well drained soil if there had been less unused space in viewpoint flowers are rewarding, but and plenty of sun, though a little shade

OCTOBER, 1956 29 is permissible. At this time of year plies to all seeds and bedding plants screwed down. seeds may be sown—if very carefully planted in rows. Olives should remain in the lye sown—in the garden. Later pansies While fall planting is going on— bath from three to five days or until are best grown from nursery plants. perhaps on and on, as the list of things all bitterness is removed. To test, an Sweet peas have joined the ranks of to plant is almost endless, there are, olive may be washed, sliced to the the multifloras—having as many as as I mentioned in the beginning, fruits pit and tasted. When the fruit is free five or six blooms to a stem. There to be harvested in October. from bitterness the lye bath is termin- are Giants and Giant Ruffled; there Those I had in mind were the pome- ated and the fruit must be washed are early flowering varieties for winter granate and the olive. It well may be daily in changes of clean water over bloom and heat resistant varieties for that the olive is the fruit that does best a period of a week to remove all trace later spring bloom. You have only to on the desert where it is becoming in- of lye. To test for lye lay a piece of make a choice according to your needs creasingly popular and where home litmus paper (red) on the cut surface —and plant them. harvesting and processing of olives is of an olive. If it turns blue, lye is still present and washing should continue. A south exposure is best. Even there becoming popular. they may freeze at Tucson's 2400 foot The processing method generally When free from lye the fruit is altitude, unless protected. They often used is one evolved by Dr. Robert H. ready for brining or pickling which is do freeze here but recover to bloom Forbes, Dean Emeritus of the College done in three steps: (1) Make a solu- beautifully, though late. of Agriculture, University of Arizona. tion of four ounces, by weight, of salt Directions for planting sweet peas A condensed version of it follows. to one gallon of water. Let fruit stand always call for a three or four inch Pick the fruit when it begins to three days in this first brine in a cool trench and one is necessary. However color but is still firm. Avoid bruising. place, or refrigerate, to prevent fer- in the desert garden it should be a Wash and pack lightly in wide-mouth mentation. (2) Remove fruit to a trench within a twelve inch trench of jars; fill the jars not more than two second brine—8 ounces of salt to a well enriched garden soil. I never thirds full in order to permit the addi- gallon of water. Weigh olives down plant anything in the bottom of a tion of a lye solution made by disolv- to prevent floating and let stand five trench—always a little way up on the ing 3 tablespoonfuls of a good com- or six days. (3) Remove fruit to a side, so that heavy irrigation does not mercial lye in a gallon of water; pour final brine made of 14 ounces of salt wash away the seeds or cover the this over the fruit in the containers; to a gallon of water. Store the olives sprouting plants with water. This ap- cover lightly with a cloth or lid not in this, in cold storage preferably. Freshen olives in cold water for 24 hours before serving. Utilizing pomegranates is as simple as olive processing is complicated. You can make pomegranate jelly, using fot Desert PboiopQpk... juice obtained by cooking the seeds in With summer behind us and winter ahead, autumn is an interim as little water as possible. You can for high adventure in the great outdoors. Many of the Southwestern sprinkle the shining red seeds over fruit communities stage rodeos, fairs and celebrations besides the desert- salads for flavor and sparkle, use the land's homecoming party for those who love to tramp over its moun- fruit for table decoration. I keep some tains, camp in its canyons and wonder at its never-ending parade of in the refrigerator for the Thanksgiving life and death. table. But I like to leave it as long as Of course a camera is standard equipment on such trips, and if possible on the bush in the garden you are a photographer—amateur or professional—you should enter where I enjoy it most. the best of these desert shots in the Picture-of-the-Month contest. Two cash prizes are given to winners. Entries for the October contest must be sent to the Desert Magazine TRUE OR FALSE ANSWERS office. Palm Desert, California, and postmarked not later than October Questions are on page 22 18. Winning prints will appear in the December issue. Pictures which 1—False. A new button appears every time the snake sheds its arrive too late for one contest are held over for the next month. First skin and that may happen two prize is $10; second prize $5. For non-winning pictures accepted for or three times a year. publication $3 each will be paid. 2—True. 3—True. 4—False. They are rare, but occa- HERE ARE THE RULES sionally a creamy white Ocotillo is found on the desert. 1—Prints ior monthly contests must be black and white, 5x7 or larger, printed 5—False. They grow on Pinyon on glossy paper. trees. 2—Each photograph submitted should be fully labeled as to subject, time and 6—True. place. Also technical data: camera, shutter speed, hour of day, etc. 7—False. Roosevelt Dam is in the 3—PRINTS WILL BE RETURNED WHEN RETURN POSTAGE IS ENCLOSED. Salt River. 4—All entries must be in the Desert Magazine office by the 20th of the contest 8—True. 9—True. month. 10—False. Juniper foliage is always 5—Contests are open to both amateur and professional photographers. Desert green. Magazine requires first publication rights only of prize winning pictures. 11—False. The Gadsden Purchase was from Mexico. 6—Time and place of photograph are immaterial, except that it must be from the 12—True. 13—True. desert Southwest. 14—False. Winnemucca was a Paiute 7—Judges will be selected from Desert's editorial staff, and awards will be made chief. immediately after the close of the contest each month. 15—True. 16—True. 17—True. 18—False. Ajo is a copper mining Address All Entries to Photo Editor town. 19—False. Asbestos is a mineral. 20—False. Furnace Creek Inn is in *De4&tt '?K4$4f£*te PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA Death Valley.

31! DESERT MAGAZINE as Jacob Hamblin, Thales Haskell, Ira Watch and others. These men and others used this trail many times and I repeat my question: how can a trail or set of stone steps be re-discovered in 1937 which were not lost by the um&s whites since the 1860s and by the Crossing of the Padres . . . Indians since the crossing of Father Cannonville, Utah Escalante and possibly for a long time Desert: before that? I have just finished reading the Au- WILFORD CLARK gust, 1956, Desert editorial and I am Dear Mr. Clark—As you probably boiling all over inside. Editor Hender- know, Escalante's crossing was in son makes the following statement: dispute for a great many years prior "Incidentally, it was Kelly with Dr. to 1937. Historians knew that the Russell G. Frazier and Byron Davies crossing site accepted by most map- who re-discovered those stone steps makers was erroneous for it was not (the crossing of the Fathers on the substantiated by Escalante's exacting Colorado River) in 1937." diary. The expedition into this coun- Baldwin's Crossing How can you rediscover something try that Dr. Frazier headed and of in 1937 which has not been lost since which Kelly was a member, was by the late 1850s? no means the first to reach the Baldwin's Crossing Reversed . . . If you check the history of the Mor- Padre's crossing, but it generally is Lancaster, California mon missionaries to the Indians you regarded as the first to give the Desert: will find that many of them used the world an authoritative, exact and Enclosed is a photograph I recently crossing in the late 50s or early 60s on undisputable location of the ancient made at Baldwin's Crossing near Se- their trips to and from the Utes, Hopis steps cut in 1776 by the Escalante dona, Arizona. I believe your July and Navajos, east and south of the party. We carried Dr. Frazier's dis- cover of this same scene is reversed. river. Then too, at this time, Mormon covery story in our July, 1940, issue. Sedona is my favorite summer vaca- stockmen brought their cattle and —R.H. tion area and the crossing is a must horses into the range area on the north each time I return there. The rock and west side of the river. They have formation above it is known as "Court been in this area ever since and still Regarding Olive Trees . . . House Rocks." are there. Dozens of cowmen have Richfield, Utah MARIE A. McGUIRE known of and seen and been up and Desert: Our apologies to the Sendonans for down some of these steps (there are the switch. at least three sets) since the 1860s. In the August issue of your magazine Roy M. Youngman writes regarding • o • In 1887 my father and brothers the mess of ripe olives falling on the Wheeler Peak's Glacier . . . brought their cattle into this and nearby ground where Olive trees are grown Tucson, Arizona ranges. As a 10 year old boy in 1897 for shade. Desert: I began riding with my father and The Arizona State College at Tempe Received my August Desert today others in this vicinity and have per- handles this situation by spraying the and feel you did a mighty fine job of sonal knowledge of the location of the trees, when in full bloom, with a chem- presenting the subject of the proposed crossing and of the approach to it. ical that does not change the appear- park or monument in the Wheeler I believe it was in May of 1937 that ance of the tree but prevents any set- Peak area—and Norton Allen made the late Thomas W. Smith, then of ting of fruit. a fine map from my rough one. I think Henrieville, Utah, as chief guide, and By writing to the head groundkeeper this will help the cause along greatly. W. K. Clark of Cannonville, Utah, as There's one thing though that seems horse wrangler and packer, first took of the College, I think full information about this chemical and how to use to be misunderstood. The glacier was Byron Davies to the crossing. This not "re-discovered" in 1955, it was was Davies' first trip there and later, it can be secured. H. W. GORE discovered. Although Eimbeck saw ice in the company of his brother, Am- at the head of the cirque in 1883, he mon, took Dr. Frazier there. District Agric. Inspector State of Utah neither reported it as an active glacier At this same time, T. W. Smith, his nor suspected it was one. The reason late son Clark Smith and Clark were is rather easy to explain. He did not employed on a similar expedition by see into the bottom of the cirque, Dr. W. P. Tompkins of San Francisco, Twentynine Palms, California Desert: where the glacier lies, and it is probable who was on a sight-seeing and picture- he would not have realized that the taking trip. Ruth Reynolds should not be dis- ice was active because it was covered On one of these trips, Clark picked couraged by the letter in your August with too much snow. issue attacking her stand on olive trees. up several lead slugs at the base of one The ice Eimbeck saw and reported, set of steps. The Smithsonian Institu- To me the olive is still unsurpassed and pictured in his engraving, is the tion was unable to identify or classify for beauty and not nearly as messy as neve tongue on the cliffs above the these bullets which supposedly were many other trees. Of course living in- glacier. Many must have seen this fired from some undetermined type of side any orchard as the letter-writer upper ice but no one suspected that cap and ball pistol during one of the did has its drawbacks! an active glacier lay in the hidden river skirmishes between the early I have heard that ornamental olive cirque beneath. We wouldn't have stockmen and the marauding Indians. tree growers have produced a tree that either except that I especially chose Among the early Mormon mission- bears fruit sparingly. September of one of the driest years aries to use the crossing were such men HARRY W. JONES on record, when all the usual snow

OCTOBER, 1956 31 had melted away and left the naked ice Americans against whom we have acted Several months ago I wrote to Sen- beneath. so unjustly. They are a worthy, com- ator Carl Hayden of Arizona urging Old-timers tell me that a glacier has petent people, greatly dispossessed and the same name for the lake and he been supposed to exist on Wheeler from whom we have appropriated answered that when the time comes to Peak for years. However, it appar- much for our growth in culture and choose a name, Escalante will be con- ently was not this one but an icefield material success. sidered. Prior to the last war, several in Wheeler Peak's south cirque. We R. E. OLSON road maps listed this area as the pro- saw this too, but it is now greatly • • • "Lake Escalante" Support . . . posed "Escalante National Monument." shrunken and definitely not active. May I suggest you and your readers Kingman, Arizona So, inasmuch as no one knew or support the name of another great suspected that a glacier existed in Desert: Wheeler Peak's north cirque until 1955, I was glad to note that you support pioneer, Brigham Young, for the lake I feel that it was definitely discovered the name "Lake Escalante" for the to be formed behind the Flaming then, and that we discovered it, not Glen Canyon Dam's reservoir (August, Gorge Dam. Eimbeck. However, it was his tip that '56, p42). JOHN FREDERICK MacPHERSON made me scout for the ice — but I never had any idea I'd find an active enridge, Capt. Lee Hall, General Luis glacier. Torres and Col. Emilio Kosterlitzky WELDON F. HEALD THE (TIAGRZinE —and found time to go to Central • • • America in 1912 where he "built a Who Were the McKellipses? . . . railway, found what is now believed Cucamonga, California CL0S6-UPS to have been the wreck of a Spanish Desert: treasure galleon, and became involved I would like help from your readers Howard D. Clark, a "fugitive from in two revolutions." In 1917-18 he on a question left unanswered on a the big city" has lived on the desert 10 served as a lieutenant in the combat recent trip we took through Death Val- years and his story in this month's engineers. After more adventures in ley. issue, "Desert Christ Park—A Shrine Europe and the Americas, Page be- In the pass east of Lone Pine on to Brotherhood," is from his home came acting Pima County engineer and Highway 190 we saw a cross on the town of Yucca Valley, California. deputy building inspector for the city mountain which we stopped to investi- Clark came to California from Chi- of Tucson, Arizona. gate. Instead of one grave marker we cago during the last war after a num- • • • found two. The graves were very well ber of years in the mid-west in business COLORADO RIVER LANDS kept and bore the markings: and editorial work for magazine and RESTORED TO PUBLIC ENTRY Loranzo McKellips book publishing houses and as a pub- Department of Interior officials an- 1874-1876 licity staff writer and photographer. nounced that 230,000 acres of public Larkin McKellips Following employment as a photog- domain along the California side of Died in Infancy 1876 rapher in Hollywood, he moved to the the Colorado River in eastern San Who were these children? Who is desert where his most active interests Bernardino, Riverside and Imperial maintaining their lonely graves? are in rocks, minerals, prospecting, counties has been restored to possible E. L. WILSON mining, lost mines and Western lore. public entry. Post Office Box 508 He is the author of a book of 21 stories The land had been reserved for 26 • • • entitled, "Lost Mines of the Old West." years for possible use in connection Plea for Human Captives . . . * * * with the Colorado River and Yuma Gary, Indiana Ruby Robison has lived in the Fal- reclamation projects, but now has been Desert: lon, Nevada, area since very early declared surplus to project needs. In the August issue Mrs. Roberts childhood and it is from her experi- The restored lands are steep, rugged indignantly protests against the cap- ences there that she has drawn material and without value for farming except tivity of a fox which she had observed for her story in this month's issue, "I for certain areas in Palo Verde Valley at a desert settlement ". . . it was Remember Maggie." and Palo Verde Mesa. None of the obviously miserable . . . others re- Mrs. Robison is married, has two lands are timbered, but portions may garded the disgusting treatment ... as children and "now that my family is be valuable for manganese, gold and sickening." growing up I have more time to write silver mining. To be sensitive to inhumane treat- —which I enjoy very much." She is The public lands will be open to ment of animals is a commendable vir- a member of the local Sagebrush Scrib- mining location November 17 and in- tue. I applaud every objection you blers, a group from which she has de- quiries or applications should be sent and Mrs. Roberts have made. And rived much pleasure and writing help, to the Manager, Land Office, Bureau this further observation has no refer- she reports. of Land Management, Los Angeles, ence to you whatsoever but to those * * * California. persons who have great sensitivity only Journalist - Adventurer - Engineer About 22,500 acres of privately to animals and none to human beings: Donald Page, author of "Lost Jesuit owned lands are intermingled with the It frightens one not a little to find Mine with the Iron Door" in this restored lands and prospectors were a captive coyote or trapped bear the month's magazine, has lived an event- reminded that they have no trespass object of more anguish than the mass ful life—from his boyhood days in rights of mineral exploration without herding of countless thousands of Mexico; through the Yaqui Indian up- permission of the owners. The Depart- America's first citizens and proud risings of 1910. which he covered for ment also pointed out that while lands owners of the land, to captive reserva- A.P.; the 1910 Madero Revolution, may be entered for mineral exploration, tions—to land the white man deemed which he participated in; and the 1915 they may not otherwise be occupied valueless. Little water, little shade, invasion of Sonora by Pancho Villa. until the Bureau of Land Management little food. In the meantime he became an inti- technicians have classified them as suit- Let our national conscience be stirred mate friend of such border characters able for the intended use of an appli- over the injustices toward our Indian as Dr. George Goodfellow, Billy Break- cant.—Indio Bate Palm DESERT MAGAZINE Indians Seek Big Vote . . . SAN CARLOS—Clarence Wesley, Hete mi Jhete on the Desert ... San Carlos Apache Indian tribe mem- ber and chairman of the Arizona Inter- ARIZONA It will be a playground for children tribal Council is spearheading a drive who will be allowed to climb in and to get more of his fellow Americans to Peyote Ban Contested . . . out of the cab.—Chandler Arizonan vote this fall. Posters stressing the FLAGSTAFF — A predominantly importance of voting and literature on Indian church has contested a regula- how to go about it have been distrib- tion of the Navajo Indian Tribal Coun- Antelope Herds Decline . . . uted to the various state tribes. In cil forbidding the use of peyote on the PHOENIX — Arizona's antelope addition, Wesley has urged leaders of reservation. Suit has been filed by the herds have lost ground during the past each tribe to join him in the project. Native American Church, Inc., which year, but some decrease had been ex- He figures there still are 44,000 In- asserts the tribe's ordinance violates pected and game department officials dians in Arizona who could qualify to the constitutional right of freedom of are not alarmed. Only two areas pro- vote if they would only take an inter- religion. The church claims Indians duced a normal fawn crop and there est.—Yuma Sun have used peyote as a sacrament for was evidence that the antelope herds • • • hundreds of years and that it is harm- have scattered and shifted, making it Hopi Urge IP Court . . . less and nonhabit-forming. The tribal difficult to get a sound comparison regulation holds peyote a stimulant, HOLBROOK—The Navajo County with the findings of last summer's sur- Board of Supervisors has received a to be intoxicating and habit-forming. vey.—Phoenix Gazette It also is banned by Arizona state law. request from the Hopi Tribal Council —Phoenix Gazette • • • for the creation of a justice of the peace district at Keams Canyon. The • • • Small-Tract Land Opened . . . Hopi complained that white residents City Given Steam Engine . . . CAVECREEK—A small-tract fed- and visitors are violating not only res- CHANDLER —After 50 years of eral land opening for two-and-a-half ervation regulations but also state and faithful service, one of the Southern to five acre residential sites two-and-a- federal laws and the Indian courts lack Pacific Railroad's early steam engines half miles south of Cavecreek was an- jurisdiction. At present, justice court has been placed on a large cement slab nounced by the U. S. Bureau of Land cases originating in the affected area in the Chandler City Park. The engine Management. The sites are offered on are handled in Winslow or Holbrook. will stand as a monument to the first the usual three-year lease-option to Federal cases are tried in Holbrook. locomotive power used in bringing purchase terms at $250 to $500 per The affected area has about 20,000 freight to the Chandler area and ably tract, depending upon location and residents, mostly Indians. — Phoenix serving in the growth of the community. size.—Phoenix Gazette Gazette

INSTITUTE FOR REGIONAL EXPLORATION speak to you concerning Kamp-Pack foods. His re- DEDICATED TO FURTHERING KNOWLEDGE OF THE WORLD AND ITS PEOPLE quirements may be for camp foods of a different EXECUTIVE OFFICE. type, since the Japanese diet is different from ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN U.S.A. the American, but there are certain basic food requirements which are the same for any expedition. And your Kamp-Fack products are the best I've ever Dear Mr. Bernard; encountered. This will introduce Dr. E. E. Nishibori, who is Please listen to his problems and offer whatever the logistics-operations leader for the 1956-57 sdvice you can. Anything that you can do for him Japanese Antarctic Expedition, I believe you will will go a long way toward furthering the over-all find what he has to say quite interesting. co-operative effort on the Antarctic Continent. Dr. Nishibori is in the United States to obtain Sincerely and with best wishes, technical advice and help for Japan's project. One of his problems concerns expedition packaged foods for use at the South Pole. I suggested that he Theodore P. Bank II

NON-PERISHABLE LIGHTWEIGHT DELICIOUS FOOD KAMP PACK Ideal for Outdoor Living and Traveling in the Southwest Here is delicious concentrated food in foil that never spoils. licious food for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Sweet Cream Proved in use on year-long safaris in hottest Africa and on Buttermilk Pancakes, Rich Savory Soups, Meat Stews and expeditions to chill Alaska. Won't freeze — won't spoil. In Chili, Hot Biscuits, Stir 'N' Serv Instant Puddings are just a sturdy Kraft envelopes, lined with waterproof flavor-tight foil, few of over 100 tasty varieties. Add only water, stir, (heat) compact, lightweight. Easy to fix in seconds. You'll find de- and serve. Write for Complete Catalog and Order Form BERNARD FOOD INDUSTRIES 1208 E. SAN ANTONIO, BOX 487. SAN JOSE 27, CALIF.

OCTOBER, 1956 33 Land Petitions Killed . . . WASHINGTON, D. C. — The In- THE DESERT TRADING POST terior Department has thrown out 626 desert land applications involving about Classified Advertising in This Section Costs 12c a Word, $2.00 Minimum Per Issue 200,000 acres in Arizona because of lack of an approved water source. De- clared Assistant Secretary Wesley A. REAL ESTATE MISCELLANEOUS d'Ewart: "further adjudication could lead to no other decision unless either BEAUTIFUL 80 acre Coachella Valley GHOST TOWN ITEMS: Sun-colored glass, the Arizona water law is changed or ranch to be sacrificed. Nice ranch house, amethyst to royal purple; ghost railroads desert land applicants in Arizona find 40 acres three-year old asparagus; 26 materials, tickets; limited odd items from acres dates; balance grapes. $100,000 camps of the '60s. Write your interest-— other assured sources of supply for Terms. Ronald L. Johnson, broker, Box Box 64-D, Smith, Nevada. the necessary irrigation." Percolating 162, Thermal, California. water does not comply with legal ir- LADY GODIVA "The World's Finest rigation requirements and any appeal CHOICE HOMESITES and acreage. Salton Beautifier." For women who wish to Sea vicinity. For full information write become beautiful, for women who wish is blocked by the department's action, Pon & Co., Box 46 DA, Azusa, California. to remain beautiful. An outstanding des- d'Ewart said. Each of the applica- ert cream. For information, write or call tions involved 320 acres, and all were 20 ACRE PLACER claim. Level. Near Lola Barnes, 963 N. Oakland, Pasadena based on percolating water as the Ogilby, California. Trade or sell $750. 6, Calif, or phone SYcamore 4-2378. Write to C. R. Robison, 816 Dora Ave., source of irrigation supply.—Phoenix Yuma, Arizona. SECTIONIZED COUNTY maps — San Gazette Bernardino $1; Riverside $1; Imperial • • • BUY NOW, property cheap, in small in- 50c; San Diego 50c; Inyo 75c; other Cali- Javelincts Released . . . active mining town. Fine Climate. Write fornia counties $1.25 each. Nevada coun- Box 222, Chloride, Arizona. ties $ 1 each. Topographic maps of all WICKENBURG — Seventeen jave- mapped areas. Westwide Maps Co., 114 linas have been released along the Has- W. Third St., Los Angeles, California. INDIAN GOODS sayampa River north of Wickenburg FREE "Do-It-Yourself" Leathercraft Cata- in an attempt to establish the animals FIVE FINE Prehistoric Indian arrowheads log. Tandy Leather Company. P. O. Box in the area. They were trapped and $2.00. Perfect stone tomahawk $2.20. Ef- 791-W17, Fort Worth, Texas. tagged during studies made on the figy pipe $5.00. Perfect flint thunderbird javelina by the University of Arizona $3.00. Flint fish hook $3.00. List free. FLUORESCENT MINERALS two three Five offers for only $12.00 Arrowhead, colors liberal chunk $1. Also rock crys- field unit near Tucson. The state re- Glenwood, Arkansas. tals. Bill Seman, Box 600, Clearlake ported that the javelina has become Highlands, California. the most popular game animal with FINE RESERVATION-MADE Navajo and non-resident hunters, and the number Zuni jewelry. Old pawn. Hundreds of JOIN A REAL Prospectors and Rockhounds of javelina permits issued by the Game fine old baskets, moderately priced, in organization. Amateurs welcome. Many excellent condition. Navajo rugs, old and benefits for members. Membership $2.50 and Fish Department has nearly new, Bayeta, native dyes. Two Gray Hills. year, includes publication "Panning Gold." doubled since 1949.—Wickenburg Sun Artifacts and gems. A collector's para- United Prospectors, 701 Vi East Edge- dise! Open daily 10 to 6, closed Mon- ware, Los Angeles, California. CALIFORNIA days, Buffalo Trading Post, Highway 18, Apple Valley, California. WANTED—Leasers to mine turquoise. Ex- Mesa to Get Water . . . perience not necessary. Write to Box RB, Desert Magazine, Palm Desert, California. BLYTHE—The 1956 Small Recla- FIVE ANCIENT arrowheads, $!. Four mation Projects Act, signed into law birdpoints, $1. Three drills, $1. Spear- BUILD YOUR OWN real swimming pool! by the president, assures the bringing head, flint knife and scraper, $1. 24-inch Fun for the entire family! Easy plan and strand beads, $1. Four different strands instructions, only $1.00. Delta Pools, Box of water to 16,000 acres of mesa land beads, $3.50. Have peace pipes, toma- five miles west of Blythe. L. S. Shipley, hawks, beadwork, masks; also African 604, Stockton, California. relics. Paul Summers, Canyon, Texas. secretary of Palo Verde Irrigation Dis- HOBBYISTS, a lovely bottle collection for trict, which will furnish the water, said sale. Approximately 2000 bottles, Vi-inch 5 FINE ANCIENT Tndian arrowheads, $2. up. No duplicates. A few sun purple the $3,500,000 project first approved Flint eagle ceremonial, $2. Perfect Fol- ones. Easily worth $1000, price: $300. four years ago now is certain. The som, $5. Spearhead, $1. List Free. Lear's, J. F. Robison, Box 48, Keene, California. Department of Interior already has de- Glenwood, Arkansas. clared the project feasible and the irri- SPORTSMEN-PROSPECTORS — Complete gation district expects it to have first BOOKS — MAGAZINES portable ultra-violet flash light for use of the uranium prospector—hunter—sports- priority. About 500 acres on the mesa man. Compact, sturdy; operates on flash- now are irrigated by wells.—Los An- OUT-OF-PRINT books at lowest prices! light batteries. Powerful beam causes geles Times You name it—we find it! Western Ameri- fluorescent uranium mineral to glow at • • • cana, desert and Indian books a specialty. 10 feet. Perfect for bead test — $3.50. Send us- your wants. No obligation. In- Prospectors specials: New optical uranium Salton Park Extension . . . ternational Bookfinders, Box 3003-D, detector geigerscope $5.00; uranium radio- SALTON SEA—A total Salton Sea Beverly Hills, California. active ore specimen kit $2.50; uranium State Park shore frontage of 17 miles is bead test kit $2.50; long wave ultra-violet being sought by the Division of Beaches HAVE REAL fun with desert gems, min- bulb $3.00; short wave ultra-violet bulb erals and rocks. The rockhound's how- $3.00. Send cash, check, M.O. and return and Parks. The Division said it planned to-do-it magazine tells how. One year address to: Gordon Pilling, Dept. D.M. to ask the State Public Works Board (12 issues) only $3.00. Sample 25c. Gems 9, 90 Broadway, Patterson, New Jersey. for funds to buy private land around and Minerals, Dept MO, Palmdale, Calif. the sea and south of the present park. PLACER GOLD Nuggets, size Vs-inch 5 The state has been negotiating with the MUMMIES, Jewels, Bars of Gold, Buckets for $1.00; 3/16-inch 2 for $1.00; W-inch of Placer Gold, Historical Data. I've $1 each. Portable dry washer $25. Power government agencies including the rec- handled some of it. Amazing! Thrilling! Washer (lightweight) $125. New DG7 lamation and public lands bureau for Read my book, "Cortez Missed the Bus." Detectron Geiger Counter $100. Nearly outright acquisition of government Edition going fast. Send quickly, only 5 New DR299 Detectron Nucliometer with lands. The purchases would be of pri- dimes for your copy to: P. L. Howland, extra meter, cost $570, sell $300. Ray 1613 West 84th Place, Los Angeles 47, Johnson, 5322 Hilltop Drive, San Diego, vate lands on the sea in Imperial and California. California. Riverside counties.—Indio Date Palm DESERT MAGAZINE Glamis Road Approved . , . Davis Water Released . . . Pool Safety Asked . . . WASHINGTON, D. C.—President DAVIS DAM — Scheduled release GERLACH — Alarmed by the in- Eisenhower signed into law the omni- of Colorado River water at Davis Dam creasing number of deaths by drown- bus military construction bill which to meet heavy summer irrigation re- ing in the natural hot pools near contains a $660,000 appropriation to quirements in Mexico will result in the Gerlach, the local Lions Club has pe- help build the Glamis to Blythe road. lowering of Lake Mohave an additional titioned the Washoe County commis- It will probably be 1960, however, 13 feet between August 1 and Novem- sioners to take action to make the place before all segments of the new route ber 1, making a total drop of about 22 safer. Four persons have lost their between the Imperial and Palo Verde feet in the lake's level for the June lives in the past year in the hot pools. valleys are improved and the road through October period this year. One The Lions Club specifically requested completed, it was estimated. The need of the purposes for which Davis Dam that the county fill in the 40-foot deep for a new road came when the Navy was constructed is to service provisions pool with gravel to a water depth of closed the Niland-Blythe road across of the water treaty between this coun- six feet.—Nevada State Journal the aerial gunnery range in the Choco- try and Mexico, ratified in 1944. Un- • • • der terms of the treaty, this country late Mountains. The government ap- States Trade Wildlife . . . propriation is for construction of a must deliver 1,500,000 acre feet of water annually across the border for CARSON CITY — Nevada has connecting road across the sand hills traded 100 chukar partridges to the between Brawley and Glamis and the use by irrigators in Mexico.—Desert Star state of Arizona for 20 javelinas. 41-mile stretch of unimproved dirt Three of the javelin a boars and five road between Glamis and Palo Verde • • • Death Valley Stamp Asked . . . sows were released by the Nevada Fish will have to be brought up to standard and Game Commission in the McCul- by Imperial County before the entire DEATH VALLEY—State Senator Charles Brown is sponsoring a cam- lough Mountains of Clark County. route will be useful.—Palo Verde Val- • • • ley Times paign to have a Death Valley National Monument, California-Nevada, com- Archeological Survey Completed .. , • • • memorative postage stamp issued by CALIENTE—Archeological survey Land for New Park . . . the Post Office Department early in of the Pine Canyon Reservoir site, 17 LANCASTER — California State 1957. In a letter to Postmaster Gen- miles from Caliente, reveals that no Department of Beaches and Parks has eral Summerfield, Senator Brown em- evidence of early man will be endang- ordered the immediate acquisition of phasized that the State of California ered by the construction of the dam 4160 acres of land encompassing the has approved establishment of a Death- and the creation of the reservoir. The Saddleback Buttes area, for park de- Valley Museum at a cost of $350,000 Corps of Engineers expects to begin velopment. According to Mrs. Jane and that recognition of Death Valley the work next spring. The study was Pinheiro, chairman of a local commit- as a national attraction is at an all-time made to determine if any material of tee which has been working for the high. Issuance of the stamp in 1957 archeological significance would be de- past two years to bring a state park to also would mark the centennial of stroyed by the formation of the lake. the Antelope Valley, 610 acres of the Jean LeMoigne's birth. He was one of the noted prospectors and mining en- land is owned by the Bureau of Land KENT FROST JEEP TRIPS gineers associated with the valley. The Into the Famous Utah Needles Area Management and the remainder is Junction of the Green and Colorado rivers; under private ownership including a year 1957 also coincides with the first Indian and Salt creeks; Davis, Lavander, government surveys made in Death Monument, Red, Dark and White canyons; few jackrabbit homesteaders and some Dead Horse and Grand View points; Hoven- Valley and Shorty Harris, another weep and Bridges national monuments. mineral claims. The area which has 3-day or longer trips for 2-6 person parties a good stand of Joshua trees, is entirely noted Death Valley figure, was born —$25 dally per person. Includes sleeping in 1856.—I nyo Register bags, transportation, guide service, meals. undeveloped at this time, she said, and Write KKNT FKOST, Monticello, Utah. there are no roads leading into or crossing it.—Ledger-Gazette NEVADA Washoe Project Approved . . . • • • SAN JUAN and COLORADO RENO—Final federal approval was RIVER EXPEDITIONS Boundary To Be Fixed . . . given to the $43,700,000 Washoe proj- Enjoy exploration, safe adventure and WASHINGTON, D. C—The long ect, providing reclamation, power and scenic beauty in the gorgeous canyons of flood control development on the Car- Utah and Arizona. Staunch boats, experi- fight to determine the official Califor- enced rivermen. For 1956 summer schedule nia-Arizona boundary was virtually son and Truckee rivers. According to or charter trips anytime write to— ended with passage by the Senate of engineers, it will cause Pyramid Lake I. FRANK WRIGHT a bill to negotiate a formal compact to dry up by the year 2000. Actual construction is not expected to get MEXICAN HAT EXPEDITIONS fixing the state lines along the Colorado Blanding, Utah River, Senator Thomas H. Kuchel under way until next year, because the stated. The compact establishing the measure signed into law by President boundary will not be effective until Eisenhower, provides no appropriation. ratified by Legislatures of both states • • • YOUR TRAVEL DREAMS COME TRUE! and approved by Congress. "The two Land Office Extends Hours . . . Go where you please, stay as long as you like. states have been in conflict about taxing RENO—Liberalized regulations for Explore the byways, relax by a rippling stream the filing, posting and speedier process- ... enjoy the sea, the woods, the mountains - powers, enforcement of fish and game travel carefree with all the comforts of home, ing of documents handled by land laws, water use, and health and safety whether It's an extended vacation trip or a week- because of a lack of precise boundary," offices of the Bureau of Land Manage- end camping jaunt. Write today for free booklet! ment were announced by the Depart- Kuchel said. Historically the middle ment of Interior. The BLM's 15 land of the stream has been the interstate offices will adopt a uniform schedule of line, but the wanderings of the river business hours during which they will have made it difficult to determine be open to the public for the filing of where the boundary was September 9, documents and inspection of records AIRSTREAM TRAILERS Oept. p 1850, when the California Constitu- 12804 E. FIRESTONE BLVD., NORWALK, CALIF. from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each working 110 CHURCH ST., JACKSON CENTER, OHIO tion was adopted.—Los Angeles Times day—Humboldt Star

OCTOBER, 1956 3;, If important evidence of Indian life of federal supervision of Indian Affairs 000,000 project to build a solid, dry- had been located, it would have been we have had when after 135 years of land roadbed across the inland sea. imperative that it should be salvaged Indian Administration, Indians face The monster-size barges each will before it would be damaged or de- more problems than ever before. — carry 2000 cubic yards of rock and stroyed by the project, the Park Serv- Yuma Sun gravel every time they shuttle from ice said. • • • shore loading points to deep water in Wildlife Group to Meet . . . the middle of the lake. Their task will NEW MEXICO CLAYTON — Clayton will be the be to dump 31,500,000 cubic yards of Indian Progress Seen . . . setting for the annual meeting of the materials to create, in the next four SANTA FE—W. G. Donley, direc- New Mexico Game Protective Associ- years, a 13-mile long embankment. tor of Indian education for the State ation on October 18-20. Delegates are This will connect 18 miles of existing Department of Education, predicts a expected to discuss a wide range of shallow water fill and replace the famed basic change in the life of the New current topics related to wildlife pro- wooden trestle built by Southern Pa- Mexico Indian within the next 15 years. tection and propagation, ranging from cific 52 years ago. By 1971, he predicts all the state's water resources to game management • • • Indian children will be absorbed into and military land acquisition.—Alamo- Wild Sheep Seen . . . the public schools and will know at gordo Daily News BROWN'S PARK—Wild mountain least the rudiments of the English lan- • • • sheep, thought to be practically extinct guage. In explaining the problems fac- Asks Cloudseeding Ban . . . in Utah, have been seen in the Brown's ing educators, Donley named isolation CIMARRON—At the suggestion of Park region. One yearling ram, be- as one of the biggest. Of New Mexico's engineer-farmer Neal Hanson, the Col- lieved to be one of those planted by approximately 16,800 Indian children fax County Commission has asked local game officials in the eastern end of school age, only 4000 are now in Governor John F. Simms to seek a of the Uintas, was found near Cross public schools. Donley expects to add court order stopping cloudseeding on Canyon in a herd of domestic sheep. 1875 to the total next school year.— the West Coast which, Hanson be- The young bighorn later moved on and Alamogordo Daily News lieves, has robbed clouds of moisture it was assumed that he returned to his • • • which normally would have fallen in native grounds in Lodore Canyon New Mexico. He suggested that Colo- Indian Tribes Organize . . . where about 30 bighorn are located. rado, Texas and other drouth states —Vernal Express GALLUP—Elected leaders of more join with New Mexico in seeking an • • • than a third of the nation's Indians met injunction. He said Washington and Bryce Gains Independence . . . in Gallup during the Inter-Tribal Cere- Oregon each had from 18 to 21 inches monials in a unique experiment in mu- BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL more rain than normal in the last six PARK — Announcement of the ap- tual assistance. Purpose of the meeting years and New Mexico had 21 inches was to work out a united approach to pointment of Glen T. Bean as super- less than normal in that period. intendent of Bryce Canyon National the problems affecting all Indians, and • • • discussion ranged from ways to de- Park marks the coming of age of that Visitor Increase Noted . . . park and climaxes the efforts of local velop reservation resources to more ALAMOGORDO — Visitors to effective political action. Modern tri- interests who long have battled to get White Sands National Monument as the park out from under the wing of bal business corporations, healthy, of mid-July outnumbered those at the prosperous, wholesome communities Zion National Park. Since first desig- same time last year by more than nated as a national park in 1928, and well-educated youth are the goals 5000. The respective totals: this year set down by the Indian leaders. Com- Bryce has been under joint-administra- —157,243; last year—152,167. Pros- tion with Zion.—Garfield County News mented one leader: "There is some- pects seemed bright for a 1956 total thing radically wrong with the kind • • • above last year's all-time record of Zion Improvements Planned . . . 275,000 visitors.—Alamogordo Daily ZION NATIONAL PARK — Sev- News You'll want to keep those enty-six square miles of spectacular • • • red rock canyons recently acquired by UTAH Zion National Park will become a tour- MAPS Giant Barge on Lake . . . ists' paradise when a road building which appear each month in PROMONTORY—The largest ves- program gets out of the planning stage. Desert Magazine—maps which sel ever to sail on the Great Salt Lake The newly acquired territory is Zion will be your guide on many de- was launched at Promontory recently. National Monument, a wilderness re- lightful excursions into the great The giant, drop-bottom barge, almost gion accessible only on horseback or desert playground. as long as a football field, is the first on foot and connected to the park of a fleet of six which will be used by proper by a narrow strip of land along Attractive loose-leaf binders em- Southern Pacific Railroad in a $49,- its southeast corner. An expenditure bossed in gold not only will of more than $3,000,000 to be used preserve the maps, but will be for a system of roads, public camp a beautiful addition to your 1000 TRAVEL SCENES grounds, museums and trails will bring home book-shelf. Each binder the monument up to park standards holds 12 copies. Easy to insert, during the next 10 years. The Park they open flat. Service predicts that the building of SPECIAL OFFER roads into the park from Highway 91 Mailed postpaid for will boost the number of Zion visitors $2.00 To introduce readers of DESERT to our from the present 400,000 a year to 2"x2" COLOR SLIDES for home projec- tion, we are offering a FREE 20 page over a million annually. The Finger catalog and a FREE sample color slide. Travel, Science, Nature, National Parks Canyons of Taylor Creek, the great and the southwest. Write today to — unnamed natural arch and Death Point PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA KELLY D. C HODA will then be among the better known 732 URSULA ST. AURORA 8, COLO. landmarks of Zion Canyon.—Wash- ington County News DESERT MAGAZINE Bonanza, Utah . . . Details of the world's first large-scale privately financed project for the produc- tion of petroleum products from a raw ma- terial other than crude oil were announced MINES ui Ml NINO recently. The $16,000,000 project will con- vert gilsonite into coke for the aluminum El Centro, California . . . Eureka, Nevada . . . industry, and high octane gasoline. Work Nickel in commercial quantities appar- Stockholders of the Eureka Corporation, is being done in three phases: 1. new "wet" ently exists in the Coyote mining area about Ltd., were told of a progressive develop- mining techniques are being introduced at 35 miles west of El Centro, spokesmen for ment program planned for the company's the Bonanza deposits; 2. a 71-mile pipeline a group of San Diego businessmen with Ruby Hill property. Officials said that a is being laid for transporting the gilsonite options on the land reported after receiving long series of difficulties seem at an end. in suspension from Bonanza to Grand Junc- two assayers' reports. Less than four per- Several lead-silver-gold ore bodies have tion, Colorado; 3. at Gilsonite, Colorado, cent of all nickel used in the United States been indicated by drilling and the company a newly-named location near Grand Junc- is mined in this country and if current in- expects to find a good many similar ore tion, the processing plant is being located dication on the Coyote property is borne bodies as the result of the active program on a 1200 acre site. When fully operating, out by core-drilling findings, a highly stra- that will be started.—Nevada State Journal the plant is expected to handle more than tegic mining operation may be launched, • • • 600 tons of gilsonite daily and employ 125 the businessmen added.—Mining Journal persons.—Vernal Express Grants, New Mexico . . . • • • Gardnerville, Nevada . . . Anaconda Company has filed 1800 min- Durango, Mexico . . . At least three tungsten mines near Gard- ing claims in McKinley County. This is Mexican mining experts report that Du- nerville are being reactivated and the mill the largest number of claims filed at any rango's iron mountain—El Cerro del Mer- operated by the Metallurgical Development one time and the biggest filing in the history cado—holds an estimated 600,000,000 tons Co. is preparing to handle their ore. The of the county. Land involved is on the of high grade iron ore, most of which juts activity is reportedly the result of President Fernandez Ranch north of San Mateo. The out 700 feet above the surrounding plains. Eisenhower's approval of the two-and-a-half claims are not the result of a strike, but a The iron mass extends for nearly one mile, year extension of the tungsten purchase act. long range wildcat operation, the company with a width of about 2000 feet. Ore aver- In essence, the new law authorizes and as- reported.—Pioche Record aging 60 percent to 75 percent pure iron, sures a government market for: 1,250,000 • • • is being mined and transported by railway units of tungsten by December 31, 1958, at at a rate of about 1000 tons daily.—Pioche $55 per unit; continuation of purchases of Independence, California . . . Record fluorspar, asbestos, columbium-tantalum.— Huntley Industrial Minerals, Inc., plans • • • Pioche Record to expand its operations by reactivating the Boron, California . . . Blue Star Talc Mine on Big Pine Creek. Plans for the construction of an ore proc- Henderson, Nevada . . . The Huntley firm has been doing consider- essing plant seven miles east of Boron were Titanium Metals Corporation of America able development work at the Blue Star, disclosed recently by Fairmont Minerals, is in the process of acquiring a 15-year stripping the overburden from the talc body, Inc., of Los Angeles, which owns and oper- lease on the local plant properties at Hen- putting in a new road to the mine and ates mining properties near Trona and in derson of the Pioche Manganese Co., in- rebuilding the bridge over Big Pine Creek. Nevada. Total investment in plant and cluding power, water and utility rights. Nearly completed is the firm's new process- property is expected to amount to about Meanwhile, the firm announced that the ing plant at Hot Creek in Mono County.— $100,000.—Boron Enterprise three-millionth pound of titanium metal Inyo-Independent • • • was processed at its ingot melting furnaces • • • at Henderson, largest in the world. Los Angeles, California . . . Window Rock, Arizona . • . A "Declaration of Policy" will be issued Rosamond, California . . . Basic geological information useful in at the American Mining Congress' metal the search for oil and gas, uranium deposits mining and industrial minerals convention Crescent Carbon Corporation of Niagara and ground water in the Four Corners and exposition at Los Angeles, October 1-4, Falls, New York, has applied to the Kern area of the Navajo Reservation is con- organization representatives declared. The County Planning Commission for a zoning tained in a new geologic map released by Congress will attempt a new approach to variance to permit construction and opera- the USGS. The map covers the distribution policy statements with its "Declaration." tion of a graphite processing plant at Rosa- of structures, with text interpretations stat- The statement will be drafted by a nation- mond valued at $250,000. Contractors for ing that there are possibilities for the occur- wide committee.—Salt Lake Tribune the Eastern firm anticipate a March, 1957, rence of oil and gas in some of the under- • • • completion date for the plant. — Mojave lying Paleozoic strata, and several possibly Hayden, Arizona . . . Desert News favorable untested structures in the area. Kennecott Copper Corporation is clearing The map, titled "Geology of Carrizo Moun- a 25 acre site for a smelter at its Ray Mines Austin, Nevada . . . tains Area," may be obtained for one dollar Division adjacent to the company's mill at Hercules Mine near Austin has uncovered from Distribution Section, Geological Sur- Hayden. The new smelter is part of a a wide vein of silver ore, with assays run- vey, Denver Federal Center, Denver, Colo. $40,000,000 expansion program for Kenne- ning as high as 1031 ounces per ton— • • • cott's Ray Mines Division. Besides the approximately $900 a ton net. Silver is the smelter, the improvement program includes basis of Austin's original fame and glory. Window Rock, Arizona . . . extension of open pit mining at Ray. The Length and extent of the vein are as yet program is designed to accelerate output of undetermined. The vein is in Marshall Can- Secretary of the Interior Fred A. Seaton the Ray Division by 20,000 tons by 1958. yon between the famous old Union and has vetoed a proposed 25-year oil and gas —Salt Lake Tribune Ophir mines, both producers of big for- development contract negotiated between tunes.—Reese River Reveille the Navajo Indian Tribe and the Delhi- Kxplore tor Treasure! Taylor Oil Corporation of Dallas, Texas. Find wealth lost or bur- One of his objections was based upon the ied for years! Search for Virginia City, Nevada . . . gold and silver coins, bul- questionable legality of the proposal. The lion, and other valuables Decision to resume mining activities on contract would have embraced 5,300,000 with M-Scope Treasure- acres, about one-third of the Navajo Reser- Metal locators. Used world- the Comstock Lode at Virginia City was wide. Guaranteed. Time announced by Louis H. Seagrave, president vation. The Secretary said the proposed Payment. of Consolidated Virginia Mining Company. contract is in effect a lease agreement and Fisher Research 1-ab., Inc. He said Con-Virginia has decided on an that the Department's Solicitor has ques- Dept. D-l Palo Alto. Cal. active program for development and opera- tioned the authority for such an arrange- tion of its extensive holdings which have ment under existing law. The law precludes been inactive since the government shut the leasing of Indian reservation lands for down gold mining operations in 1942. The oil and gas development without advertising properties have produced gold and silver for competitive bids. The secretary pointed valued at more than $220,000,000. Sea- out that 12 other oil companies in addition MINERALOGY to Delhi-Taylor have been conducting geo- grave pointed out that earlier operators Offers unlimited opportunity for rock collector or Ura- physical work on the reservation during the nium prospector. Make It your career or hobby. We train concentrated solely on high values and ig- past year and that several have indicated you at home. Diploma course. Send for Free Catalog. nored ore of lower values which are of their desire to enter into leases on a com- commercial grade today. — Nevada State petitive basis. MINERAL SCIENCE INSTITUTE Journal Desk 7 • 1S9 E. Ontario • Chicago 11 OCTOBER, 1956 37 URANIUM NEWS Judicial Ruling Milling Problem Blocks More than 20 holes, varying from 10 to 100 feet deep, have been drilled on the Action in Big Ore Find claims, and assays have shown returns of from .10 to .11 percent uranium.—Pioche Cotntnetetel Ote Hart Uranium of Austin, Nevada, re- ported that it has not yet discovered a Record method to profitably process the estimated 2,000,000 tons of low-grade uranium ore it has blocked out. Several prominent uranium Prospector-Teacher Says Hot Requited ht firms have made extensive tests on the prop- erty in an effort to decide the amenability Rundberg Mine Best in U.S. of the ore—the cost of processing it and Marty Hess, instructor of the Mobile the difficulties that will be encountered. Uranium Prospector's School, declared that All agree that the values and tonnage are the Rundberg Uranium Mine near Austin, Claim Ptotection satisfactory if a way can be found to mine Nevada, is the best in the United States. the ore and leave a reasonable profit. Some Following an extensive inspection tour In a decision expected to have far reach- experts have estimated that the value of the of Southwest uranium mines, Hess said, "I ing consequences for the Uranium Industry, ore in the Hart claims is $32,000,000—and have seen nothing to compare with Austin's a district judge in Gallup, New Mexico, has that it will cost $35,000,000 to process it. coffenite discovery — not even in Gilpin ruled that it is not necessary for a claim County, Colorado, the pitchblende district holder to have discovered commercial quan- of America. Ore bodies in the Austin area tities of uranium ore in order to keep others show width, massiveness and consistency on from entering his claims. a regular vein formation that I have not Albuquerque attorney Charles Spann ex- seen in any other continental U. S. uranium plained that the decision made by ludge mine."—Nevada State Journal Clyde C. McCulloh in a suit filed by Ranch- ers Exploration and Development Corpora- tion holds that as long as the corporation The AEC's Grand Junction Operation's "was in possession of the claims upon which Office announced that it has received an it had filed, and was, in good faith, carry- official proposal from a five-company com- ing on a program of exploration and dis- bine for permission to construct a uranium covery, it was not necessary for it to have processing mill in the Grants, New Mexico, discovered commercial quantities of ore at area. The proposal, submitted by United the bottom of each 10-foot pit." Western Minerals Co., Rio De Oro Uranium The firm successfully sought to enjoin Mining Co., San Jacinto Petroleum Corpora- others from entering their claims while tion, White Weld & Co., and J. H. Whitney they were in the process of exploring and & Co., is the second for a Grants mill to be developing them. The attorney explained submitted in a little over two months. Ameri- that the ruling meant that the firm was can Metal Co., Ltd. representing Sabre- entitled to protection against "clandestine Pinyon Corporation, made a similar pro- or adverse entry" during the temporary posal earlier.—Grants Beacon absence of its employees.—Mining Record If you're prospecting for anything ...you need an SENSATIONAL ™SALE Ultra- Violet ON GEIGER COUNTERS AND SCINTILLATORS Mineralight At Big Savings • Factory Guarantee • All New Instruments Discovers valuable minerals other R-C Scintillator Model CAX47P "Pioneer"....$740.00 Value Now $425.00 methods miss completely! Right Complete with plug-in cartridge along with your pick, map and Precision Scintillator Model 111-B $495.00 Value Now $350.00 hiking boots, MINERALIGHT is Victoreen Scintillac Model 645 $495.00 Value Now $350.00 standard equipment for all pros- The high sensitivity of the Scintillation instrument adapts pecting. It doesn't overlook a it for mobile surveying whether by Auto or Airplane thing! Most successful finds of re- The Scintilla-Dyne $249.00 Value Now $165.00 cent years have been aided by Large polished premium grade l"xl" crystal sodium iodide Mineralight's powerful short wave The Uranium Scout de luxe Counter $157.00 Value Now $ 98.00 ultra-violet beam which fluoresces With Bismuth tube and detachable prospecting stick 1000's of minerals and ores. Spots T-A Geiger Counter $159.00 Value Now $ 97.50 outcroppings, follows to main de- Rugged, rain proof, dust proof, built in loud speaker, posit. battery checker, and many other features See Your MINERALIGHT Dealer Vic-Tic Geiger Counter $125.00 Value Now $ 89.50 . . . for demonstration of this invaluable Vic-Tic with six pack, consisting of 6 Bismuth tubes, twenty extra pair of eyes and for information on times more sensitive than a regular counter Now $189.50 "Fluorescence—the Fun Hobby with a Future." CHEMICAL KITS • MORTERS AND PESTLES • GOLD PANS Ultra-violet will open a new world of glowing BOOKS • MINERS' PICKS minerals, help find valuable strategic ores, QUALITY IS ALWAYS A BARGAIN profitable collectors' specimens. Get latest prospecting data and help on complete Open Tuesday Evening 'til 10:00 p.m.—Four blocks south of Olive equipment. Mail coupon for name of Uomfiton

DESERT MAGAZINE U-Mine Bought in 1946 for Enos J. Woodward, a prospector working High Haulage Costs in the Mountain City, Nevada, area, reported $1000 Sells for $25,000,000 that he and his partner, Thomas M. White, have discovered a uranium deposit in the The Happy Jack mine in White Canyon, rodeo grounds at Mountain City. Wood- Utah, was reportedly sold to the Texas ward said that they had staked out 11 claims Industry Seeks Zinc Minerals Corporation. While the sell- in a 3000 square foot area in and around ing price was not disclosed, it was believed the ground.—Nevada State Journal to be between $15,000,000 and $25,000,000. • • o There are 33 whole or partial claims in the United States uranium operators have Happy Jack deed. received $7,145,129 in initial production New Methods for Joe Cooper and Fletcher and Grant Bron- bonuses from the program started in 1951 son of Monticello, owners of the property, by the AEC. A total of 3824 individual purchased it in 1946 for $1000. At that payments were made. Maximum payments time their intention was to mine copper at for production of 10,000 pounds of uranium Up-Grading Ore the site. oxide were made to 738 properties. An estimated 500,000 tons of high grade uranium ore have been blocked out in more Uranium ore treatment on the Colorado than two-and-a-half miles of drifts in the TREASURE HUNTERS Plateau is expected to take on a new form New typs metals detector. Distinguishes during the next several years following mine. During development work, more than metals from black magnetic sands. Ideal for 50,000 tons of ore, averaging .40 percent locating gold nuggets, placer deposits. De- expected rapid cleanup in the months ahead tects metals under salt water. Locates coins, of pending concentrator contracts on the uranium oxide, was mined and shipped.— ^•;;v • > "^k ' "'*"* '-v.-if: jewelry on part of private firms and the Atomic Energy San Juan Record jeaches. Free • • • 'rom false de- Commission. fections. Each The industry is now looking toward real Apex Uranium Co. is investigating possi- '•*•£, i'.tff*!vr«."-«jl unit supplied ble routes for a road over which to haul with two dlf- progress on various up-grading devices sim- 'erent search ilar to those employed by Vanadium Cor- ore from its copper properties 65 miles iolls. Ask for south of Austin. Surveys have been made free litera- poration of America at its Monument No. from the ground and air and it is reported ture. 2 mine below the Utah border in Arizona that the most likely route will go through GARDINER and the chemical leach process which Union the ghost town of Grantsville to Luning, a ELECTRONICS Carbide Nuclear reportedly will use in up- CO., DEPT. 8 distance of 60 miles. At Liming the ore 2545 E. INDIAN graders at Slick Rock, Colorado, and Green- can be loaded on the railroad for transpor- SCHOOL ROAD river, Utah. tation to the mill.—Nevada State Journal PHOENIX, ARIZ. VCA uses a straight sand-slime separa- tion profitably and effectively at its Monu- ment property. Union Carbide Nuclear reportedly is planning a somewhat similar separation, but will probably use an acid leach on the sands following the separation. Other firms are seeking different applica- tions of low-cost reagents on ores which Prospectors' Headquarters might not be amenable to either the VCA or the Union Carbide Nuclear process. GE5GER COUNTERS AND SCINTILLATORS The "Snooper" Geiger counter—model 10S $29.95 Crux of the up-grader problem is to pro- The "Lucky Strike" Geiger counter—Model 10(iC 99.50 duce a concentrate cheaply enough, but of The "Professional" Geiger Counter—Model 107C 119.50 sufficiently high metal content, to beat the The "Special Sclntlllator"—Model 117 ...... 209.50 cost of transportation. The government's The "Deluxe" Scinlillalor—Model 11115 405.00 new buying program has no haulage allow- ance in it for ores.—Robert W. Bernick in ULTRA-VIOLET MINERALIGHTS the Salt Lake Tribune Model NH—Operates on 110 AC only 14.75 Model M12—Operates on batteries only—with battery 40.05 Model SIi-2537—Operates on batteries or 110 AC—without case and batteries 39.50 With No. 303 case and batteries- 01.00 AEC to Use Tonopah With No. 404 case and batteries <;6.00 Base for Ballistics Tests BOOKS The AEC explained the purposes and "Prospecting with a Geiger Counter" l>y Wright. .fiO functions of the test site being constructed "Uranium Color Photo Tone".. 1.00 near Tonopah, Nevada, as a three-year pro- "Uranium Prospectors Hand Book" _ 1.00 gram of ballistics and associated tests of "The Uranium and Fluorescent Minerals" by H. C. Dake 2.00 "Popular Prospecting" by H. C. Dake 2.00 atomic bomb shapes. There will not be any "Uranium, Where It Is and How to Find It" by Proctor and Hyatt 2.50 actual nuclear detonations on the property. "Minerals for Atomic Energy" by Nininger...... _ 7,50 The first test on the new 624 square mile "Let's Go Prospecting" by Edward Arthur. _ ,1.50 test range is expected between October 1 and December 1 of this year. Thereafter MAPS Map and Geology (Uranium and Mineral Districts of California) 1.50 experiments will be held on an average of Map of Kern County (New Section and Township) 1.50 10 days a month, or about 120 days a year. Map Uranium and Minerals (The Nine Southwest States) 1.00 Right of entry, instead of permanent ac- Book and Map "Gems and Minerals of California" by McAllister 1.75 quisition, was requested by the AEC for Rook and Map "Lost Mines and Treasures of the Southwest" 2.00 the Nevada land because it is planning to use the range only for three years. OTHER SUPPLIES Mineral Hardness Test Set ...... - 2.00 In the past similar tests have been per- Radiassay—Uranium Test Kit - - - 14.95 formed at the commission's Salton Sea, Mercury—Detector Fluorescent Screen - - 6.75 California, test base, within a limited por- Seheelite Fluorescent Analyzer - - - - 6.00 Fluorescent Mineral Set—10 Specimens—boxed 2.50 tion of the Yucca flats area of Nevada test Mineral Specimen Boxes (35 named Minerals) 1.50 site, and at various Department of Defense Prospectors Picks (not polished) 3.05 ranges.—Goldfield-Beatty News Bulletin Prospectors Picks (polished) .. .. 4.25 12" Diameter Steel Gold Pan __ 1.25 Hi" Diameter Steel Gold Pan 1.70

THE PROSPECTOR'S CATALOG All prices F.O.B. Los Angeles We are pleased to announce the advent of a new Minerals Unlimited Catalog, specifi- Add 4% Sales Tax if you live in California cally designed for the amateur or profes- Member of American Gem & Mineral Suppliers Association sional prospector. If you are interested in Geiger Counters, Mineralights. Blowpipe Sets, Gold Pan or any of the other equipment necessary to a field or prospecting trip, ALLEN LAPIDARY EQUIPMENT COMPANY send 5c in stamps or coin for your copy. MINERALS UNLIMITED, Dept. D 3632 West Slauson Ave., Dept. D Open Monday evening until 9:00 Los Angeles, Calif. 1724 University Ave., Berkeley, California

OCTOBER, 1956 MIRACLE OF ROCKS IS DELVERS SHOW THEME The Delvers Gem and Mineral Society of Downey, California, plans to present its Sixth Annual Show September 29 and 30 OCTOBER SHOW DATES October 13-14—Searles Lake, California, at Simms Park Auditorium in Bellflower. Gem and Mineral Society's show at Trona. Show theme, "The Miracle of the Rock" is ANNOUNCED BY CLUBS October 13-14—Napa Valley, California, to be carried out through the displays of The following gem and mineral societies Rock and Gem Club's fall show at fair- five guest exhibitors: Jesse Hardman, Dor- grounds. othy Craig, Jack Schwartz, Veryl and Jim are planning October shows: Carnahan and Archie Meiklejohn. October 5-6—Humboldt Gem and Min- October 13-14 — Hollywood, California, eral Society's third annual show at Redwood Lapidary and Mineral Society's ninth annual In addition there is planned the regular Acres, Eureka, California. show at Plummer Park, 7377 Santa Monica displays of current lapidary work and min- Boulevard, Los Angeles. eral collecting by the members of the soci- October 6-7 — Long Beach, California, October 20-21—Orange Belt Mineralogi- ety, plus an enlarged version of "Rock- Mineral and Gem Society's annual show at cal Society's 10th annual show at Orange hounds"—the display of photo enlargements National Guard Armory Drill Hall. Show Grounds, San Bernardino, California. covering field trips, lapidary work and per- October 6-7—San Fernando Valley, Cali- October 20-21—Seattle, Washington, re- sonal rock trips. fornia, Mineral and Gem Society's show at gional gem and mineral show at civic audi- Victory-Van Owen Recreation Center, North torium. ORANGE BELT SOCIETY SHOW Hollywood. October 20-21—San Francisco, California, SCHEDULED FOR OCT. 20-21 October 12-13—Whittier, California, Gem Gem and Mineral Society's show at Scottish and Mineral Society's annual show at Whit- Rite Auditorium, 1290 Sutter St. The 10th annual admission-free Orange tier Quad Shopping Center. October 27-28—Pajaro Valley, California, Belt Mineralogical Society's show is slated Rockhounds rock and hobby show at YMCA for the Orange Show grounds in San Ber- building, Watsonville. nardino, California, on October 20-21. October 27-28 — Lockheed Employees Plenty of free parking is promised for the DIAMOND BLADES Recreation Club Rockhounds show at Bur- event which is scheduled to run from 10 bank, California, Recreation Center. a.m. to 10 p.m. on both days. .Heavy-Duty Super Stand. In addition, these early November show Non-competitive displays will be prepared Sup.-Chgd. Chgd. Chgd. dates were announced: by members of the society. Many won blue $ 9.90 $ 8.80 ribbons at the recent state federation show 12.65 11.50 November 3-4—Montebello, California, 16.75 15.40 Mineral and Lapidary Society's show at in Fresno and included in the showing will 24.50 20.40 Taylor Ranch House. be spheres, cabochons, slabs, bookends and 40.25 32.30 28.20 other types of lapidary and jewelry work 44.00 35.90 31.90 November 3-4 — Sacramento, California, 72.15 47.50 39.70 Mineral Society's show at Turn Verein Hall. plus geode, mineral, nodule, shell and fossil 85.70 57.10 43.80 collections. 302.50 72.30 56.50 • • • 138.30 Hugh and Lottie Thomas have scheduled 200.85 LONG BEACH ROCKHOUNDS colorful slide shows of field trips. Lapidary State Arbor Size PLAN OCTOBER 6-7 SHOW equipment demonstrations also are planned. Sales Tax in California "Nature's Jewels" is the theme chosen Allow for Postage and Insurance for the 12th annual Long Beach, Califor- "OUR BRAGGIN' ROCKS" IS Covinglon Ball Bearing Grinder nia, Mineral and Gem Society's show, MONTEBELLO SHOW THEME scheduled for October 6-7 at the Long «uid shields arc Beach National Guard Armory. Theme of the November 3-4 Montebello, California, Mineral and Lapidary Society's furnished in " Special attraction will be a puppet show H and price Third Annual Rockhound Roundup will be nges to suit dealing with a typical rockhound field trip "Our Braggin' Rocks." The show is sched- requ I re- complete with chuckwagon, prospector and uled for the Taylor Ranch House, 737 No. ts. Water burro. Jewelry designer Susie Cowling of Montebello Blvd., where the paintings of imd grit proof. Palm Desert will demonstrate the art of California artists will be displayed as an making jewelry during the show and also added attraction. COVINGTON 8" TRIM SAW there is planned a working lapidary exhibit, the fluorescent display of Hazel and Walter Among the outstanding exhibits planned and motor are coin- Grindle and many other displays. is the collection of gemstones carved in pact and do not • • • China owned by Col. C. M. Jenni, and Sol splash. Save blades Shalevetz's rare crystal groups and tourma- and clothing with Announcement was made by the Texas lines. this saw. Federation of Mineral Societies that it will Show hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on hold its state show in San Antonio on November 3 and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., No- BUILD YOUR OWN LAP May 3-5 of next year. vember 4. and SAVE with a COV- INGTON 12" or J6" I-ap Kit. We furnish every- thing you need. Send I'or new free lapidary catalog.

COVINGTON Petrified Wood, Moss Agate, Chrysocolla Multi-Feature l(i" Lapidary Turquoise, Jade and Jasper Jewelry Unit Does everything HAND MADE IN STERLING SILVER COVINGTO\ Bracelets, Rings, Necklaces, Earrings 12", 14" 4 or 18" W and Brooches Power Feed Diamond SPECIALLY SELECTED STONES WITH Slab Saws CHOICE COLORS AND PICTURES

SAVE Write for Folder With Prices BLADES USED BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT ELLIOTT'S GEM SHOP Send for New Catalog, IT'S FREE DEALERS WANTED 235 East Seaside Blvd. Long Beach 2. California Across from West End of Municipal Covington Lapidary Eng. Auditorium Grounds KEDLANDS D, CALIFORNIA Hours 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Daily Except Monday

40 DESERT MAGAZINE GRIEGER'S RELEASES SILVER CALIFORNIA FEDERATION MODERN, ENLARGED STORE ANNIVERSARY SUPER-CATALOG ADDS NEW MEMBER CLUBS FOR COMPTON ROCK SHOP One of the most complete and informa- Eight gem and mineral societies with a Construction is underway on a modern tive "wish books" for lapidary, gems and total membership of 284, were admitted to new home for the Compton Rock Shop of minerals hobbyists has been placed on the the California Federation. They are: Can- Compton, California. The seven-year-old market by Grieger's, Inc., of 1633 E. Walnut yon City Lapidary Society of Azusa; Estero lapidary, mineral and prospecting supply St., Pasadena 4, California. The large vol- Bay Gem and Mineral Society of Morrb house will be increased in floor space by ume supply house's Encyclopedia and Super- Bay; Lakeside Gem and Mineral Society; two and a half times and a 40-foot glass Catalog of the Lapidary and Jewelry. Arts La Roca y Mineral Society of Dos Palos; wall case with special lighting arrangements is a 25th Silver Anniversary presentation Palm Springs Lapidary Society; South Bay will house mineral displays. and was printed at a cost estimated at three Lapidary and Mineral Society of Hermosa Owners of the Rock Shop, whose new times the asking price per issue. Beach; South Gate Mineral and Lapidary address will be 1405 South Long Beach Here is a self-contained catalog of jewelry Society; and from Oregon, Mt. Emily Gem Blvd., Compton, are Mr. and Mrs. William making tools and supplies; jewelry parts; and Mineral Club of Brookings. landiorio. lapidary-jewelry books; tumble polished gems; cut gems; gem cutting machinery and supplies; blank mountings; jewelry metals; ultra violet lamps; preforms; rough gem stock—plus numerous instructive articles on such helpful subjects as jewelry settings, how to make belt-buckles for gem displays, silver soldering, jewelry making at home, jewelry enameling and many others. All items offered for sale are illustrated and eight different colors of ink were used in the printing of this book. Grieger's has pioneered the wide selec- tion-low price merchandising of lapidary and jewelry supplies and this is reflected in the handsome, 224-page book. A first edition of 10,000 copies will be sold for $1.50 paper bound and $2.50 cloth. A second edition is planned and prices for EXCITING it will be advanced to $2 paper and $3.50 cloth. Half of the first edition was sold prior to ON JULY 15™ WE RELEASED release which attests to the volume's mount- 7he New 1956 Edition of our Encyclopedia ing interest and value to hobbyists through- out the land. Encyclopedia-catalog orders and Super Catalog oftheLapidaty&JeweliyArts may be placed with Grieger's or Desert Crafts Shop, Palm Desert, California. Cali- Over 8 TONS OF PAPER were used to YOU CANNOT BUY A COPY OF fornia purchasers should add three percent print the first 10,000 copies of this book. sales tax. "GRIEGER'S ENCYCLOPEDIA A LIMITED NUMBER OF THESE ENCY- CLOPEDIAS ARE AVAILABLE. WHILE AND SUPERCATALOG OF CHRYSOBERYL RANKS WITH THEY LAST THE LAPIDARY AND THE MOST PRECIOUS STONES YOU MAY PURCHASE JEWELRY ARTS" One of the strangest of all minerals is for 1948 or 1950 at 5 or ten times the chrysoberyl, which, in its various forms, THESE AT: supplies some of the most lovely and dur- $ 1.50 for paper bound copies. original cost of $1.00. Most of the peo- able as well as most expensive gems in the $2.50 for DELUXE BOOK BINDING. ple who still have these books will not world today. It is composed of oxide of beryllium (20%) and aluminum (80%) sell them at any price. with a hardness of 8.5, slightly below that ONCE THIS FIRST EDITION IS SOLD THE Here are some actual letters we of corundum which is next in hardness to PRICE WILL ADVANCE TO AT LEAST received from customers who pur- diamond. Chrysoberyl always is found in $2.00 for paper bound copies crystals in its original state, appearing nearly $3.50 for DELUXE BOOK BINDING. chased our 1948 Encyclopedia always in pegmatite dikes and often asso- which was 164 pages ciated with beryl from which it is distin- Over 5000 copies were SOLD PRIOR TO guished by its higher density and luster. In July 15th, 1956. "It is the finest and by far the most out- the United States it is found in Colorado, standing catalog of its kind that I have Maine and Connecticut. GRIEGER'S ENCYCLOPEDIA contains ever seen, and I run across many cata- One of the varieties of the gem stone is 224 pages 8 V2" x II" in size. EIGHT dif- logs from firms all over the country." cymophane. The stone contains tiny, needle- ferent COLORS of ink were used to print like inclusions which require microscopic Thomas A. Warren—Los Angeles inspection to detect and which give the certain sections of this book. stone a marked chatoyance when cut in THIS IS THE LARGEST and THE FINEST "Far better than anything else ever high cabochon shape, to which the name Couldn't put it down until I'd gone thru chrysoberyl cat's eye or oriental cat's eye has CATALOG EVER TO BE PUBLISHED. been applied. The chatoyance takes on the it cover to cover. Won't be good for any- effect of a bright streak of silvery light WE OFFER YOU: thing else until I've read it thoroughly which seems to move over the face of the My order will follow." gem. GEM CUTTING MACHINERY and Another variety of chrysoberyl, alexan- SUPPLIES • JEWELRY MAKING TOOLS Lester Burmeister—Wisconsin drite, carries marked hues of red and green. and SUPPLIES • BLANK MOUNTINGS "I do not see how you expect to sel This very valuable gem generally is cut in • JEWELRY PARTS • JEWELRY METALS books when you put so much technica some form of faceted shape, which brings • BOOKS • ULTRA VIOLET LAMPS out its latent fire and reveals the character- information in your catalogs on how to TUMBLE POLISHED GEMS • PREFORMS istic which makes it so valuable and desir- pursue one's hobbies." able. In the light of day it has a bright • CUT GEMS • ROUGH GEM STOCK or deep olive-green color, but under rays of and INSTRUCTIVE ARTICLES. C. W. Stimson—Seattle, Wash artificial light it changes to a soft columbine red, resembling the color of ripe raspberry. 1633 E. Walnut St. The gem is a most lovely, interesting and expensive one.—El Paso, Texas, Mineral GRIEGEITS, Inc. Pasadena 4, Calif. and Gem Society's The Voice MAIL ADDRESS: P. O. Box 4185, CATALINA STATION, PASADENA, CALIF.

OCTOBER, 1956 41 GEMS A-PLENTY: Beautiful baroque gems, large variety, tumble polished all over, ADVERTISING RATE $10.00 for one pound (about 100 stones). 12c a word . . . Minimum $2.00 10 lbs. of top grade gemstone prepaid for GEfll mflRT $7.00. Wholesale price to dealers on ba- roque gems and gemstone in the rough. Satisfaction guaranteed on every sale. GEMS OF THE desert, tumbled polished FIRE AGATE—ground to show the fire, San Fernando Valley Gem Co., 5905 baroques. Mexican lace and carnelian you finish it. $2, $3 and $5 each. B&H Kester Ave., Van Nuys, California. agate, Death Valley jasper agate, rose Rock Shop, Box 537, Granbury, Texas. BEAUTIFUL seven gem bracelet, specify quartz, petrified wood palm, black fig, gold, silver, with agate, rhodonite, or many others. General mixture, $6 pound. OPALS AND SAPPHIRES direct from assorted stone drops. $3.00 pp. Santa Mexican agate slices and various cuff link Australia. Special—this month's best buy: Rough opals to cut ring and pendant Cruz Mountain Gems, P.O. Box 924, Los preforms. Slabs and findings. Earring Gatos, California. size tumbled turquoise $8 pound, larger stones; one green fire opal; one transpar- size $ 1 ounce. Price list. Golden West Gem ent jelly opal; one blue opal; one white- IMPORTED PERSIAN turquoise seven Co., 7355 Lankershim Blvd., North Hol- red opal; one black opal; one boulder nugget necklace, matching earrings, $6.95. lywood, California. opal. All six stones for $15. Free air- Large 50 carat Lariat tie, turquoise, $4.95. mailed. Send personal check, international Cuff links with tie bar set, turquoise, $4.95. JACK IS BACK and as a starter offers 12 money order, bank draft. Free 16 page Cabochons 5c carat up. Turquoise Jim, pounds of beautiful mineral specimens list of all Australian Gemstones. Austra- 1225 N. Anita, Tucson, Arizona. $8 prepaid. Write for new lists. Jack lian Gem Trading Co., 49 Elizabeth The Rockhound, P.O. Box 245, Carbon- Street, Melbourne, Australia. FLUORESCENT MINERALS two three dale, Colorado. colors liberal chunk $1. Also rock crys- ROCKS—opposite West End Air Base, ag- tals. Bill Seman, Box 600, Clearlake McSHAN'S GEM SHOP—open 5 to 9 p.m. ate, woods, minerals, books, local infor- Highlands, California. except Mondays and Thursdays. Rocks, mation. Ironwood Rock Shop, Highway gems, cholla cactus wood. Mile west on 60-70 West of Blythe, California. NATURE'S READY-MADE spheres! Solid U.S. 66, Needles, California, Box 22. white iron pyrite (marcasite) "cannon- COLORADO MINERAL specimens, cut- ball" concretions from the Hell Creek HAVE REAL FUN with desert gems, ting and tumbling materials. Send 2 cent layer. Most perfectly round, almost base- minerals and rocks. The rockhound's stamp for list and terms. Dealers please ball to marble size. 2, 4 or 8 for $1.00 how-to-do-it magazine tells how. One write for wholesale list. John Patrick, pp. Science unable explain how formed. year (12 issues) only $3.00. Sample 25c. Idaho Springs, Colorado. Carl Malinak, Box 711, Miles City, Mont. Gems and Minerals, Dept. J10, Palmdale, California. GENUINE TURQUOISE: Natural color, FOR SALE: Beautiful purple petrified wood blue and bluish green, cut and polished with uranium, pyrolusite, manganite. Nice VISIT GOLD Pan Rock Shop. Beautiful Cabochons •— 25 carats (5 to 10 stones sample $1.00 Postage. Maggie Baker, sphere material, gems, mineral specimens, according to size) $3.50 including tax, Box 7, Hackberry, Arizona. choice crystals, gem materials, jewelry, postpaid in U.S.A. Package 50 carats (10 baroques, etc. Over 100 tons of material to 20 cabochons) $6.15 including tax, to select from. John and Etta James, postpaid in U.S.A. Elliott Gem & Mineral GREEN GARNETS, OLIVINE proprietors, 2020 N. Carson Street, Car- Shop, 235 E. Seaside Blvd., Long Beach CONFUSED BY COLLECTORS son City, Nevada. 2, California. Mineralogists list the varieties of chryso- lite under the common term "olivine." To American jewelers it most usually is known as peridot. For many years lapidaries were in the habit of calling chryso-beryl "oriental 17th Annual International chrysolite," and in consequence the two stones (green garnet and olivine) have been confused despite the fact that chrysolite is much the softer of the two and often shows marked differences in color and luster. DESERT Peridot is yellowish green, resembling a light tourmaline with a dash of yellow. Oli- vine is the name associated with the brighter yellowish emerald green stones. Hardness is 6.5 to 7; cleavage, distinct; fracture, con- CAVALCADE choidal brittle; luster, vitreous; color, typical olive green, brownish, grayish red and black. The approved tint of peridot resembles that revealed by looking through a delicate Three Thrill-Packed Days — October 26-27-28. 1956 translucent green leaf. Hyalosiderite (Job's Tears) is a highly ferreous variety of this Imperial Midwinter Fairgrounds • Imperial, California stone, its specific gravity attaining 3.57 and its color is a rich olive green. Olivine is a constituent of meteorites. Imperial Valley's historical cavalcade presents in colorful pageantry of the desert Southwest- The sources of supply of this somewhat Indians, Spanish explorers and padres. Mountain men, stage coaches and freighters—and then puzzling mineral are doubtful. Small chryso- the coming of the engineers and homesteaders, and the great battle of 1905-6-7 against the lites of good quality are found in the sand with pyro garnets in Arizona and New flood waters of the Colorado. Mexico.—Pick 'n Shovel • • • Parades • Art Exhibit • Mineral Display • Chuck Wagon Breakfasts Eight Seattle, Washington, gem and mineral clubs with a total membership of and on Friday and Saturday nights at 8:00 will be presented the 500, are making plans to present a show Cavalcade Pageant with 250 costumed players and 150 head of live- on October 20-21 at the civic auditorium. Among the outstanding displays scheduled stock. The musical numbers include many fine singers and players are the portrait cameos of Raymond Addi- from Mexico. son of San Jose, California; crystals from the collection of Arthur and Ellen Foss; carved figurines from Northwest gem ma- Reserved seats $5.00. General admission $1.00 terials collected by Adolph Keitz; replicas of the world's most famous diamonds; heir- loom jewelry owned by Mrs. Pearl Bell; For reservations write: DESERT CAVALCADE ASSN., prehistoric artifacts; polished fossil wood fireplace made by Charles Wible of Tacoma; IMPERIAL, CALIFORNIA desert fire agate carved into miniature fig- ures by Olive Colhour of Beaver, Washing- ton, and many others.

42 DESERT MAGAZINE DRY POWDER POLISHING COLLECTORS SHOULD NOT WOODRUFF ELECTED HEAD FORMULAS FOR SLABS IGNORE VALUE OF NON-GEMS OF AMERICAN FEDERATION Have you thought of collecting geological Harry L. Woodruff of Washington, D.C., Harry Ohlsen of the Long Beach, Cali- was elected president of the American Fed- fornia, Mineral and Gem Society, uses two specimens other than fossils, gem stones or the usual mineral forms? eration of Mineralogical Societies at the polishing formulas on flat slabs. His polish- recent St. Paul, Minnesota, Convention. ing equipment consists of a 10-inch alumi- During the movement of rock masses Also elected were Vincent Morgan, vice num convex disk with the center raised one- along fault planes, the masses are usually president of Boron, California; Hazen Perry, eighth inch above the perimeter. Over this of such immense size and weight that the secretary, of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Helen disk is placed a layer of one-quarter inch movement of one face over the other takes Rice, treasurer, of Hillsboro, Oregon; and sponge rubber and on top of the rubber is place under enormous pressure. As a result, Ben Hur Wilson, historian, of Joliet, Minors. fastened a piece of No. 8 canvas. the faces become smoothed and striated. Elected at the same conclave were the This disk is mounted on the end of a Frequently, the faces are left with an enamel- following officers of the Midwest Federa- shaft one inch in diameter which is passed like polish. This surface is known as slick- tion of Mineralogical and Geological Soci- through a three-step pulley. The disk runs enside. Some of the surfaces cover a con- eties: Ester Hemingway, president, Madi- at speeds of 300 to 1725 rpm. The harder siderable area and the stria are deep furrows, son, Wisconsin; Vernon Morris, vice the rock, the greater disk speed needed to but the collector will be more interested in president, Iowa; Bernice Wienrank, secre- polish it. A fractured face or an opal face the small cabinet specimens. They may be tary-treasurer, Chicago, Illinois; and Ben sometimes needs a slower speed to prevent found in many places. Hur Wilson, historian.—Minnesota Mineral popping or fractures arising from friction Another interesting phenomenon of earth Club's Rock Rustler's News and heat. movements which leaves a record, is fault- One of his polishing formulas consists of ing. It is possible to find cabinet specimens SULPHATE SOLUTION MAKES the following dry powders: nine tablespoons which show it. UNIQUE CRYSTAL DISPLAY carborundum buffing powder grade A-l After a flood or even the drying of a fine; three tablespoons of tin oxide; and one rain puddle, soft, muddy sediments in dry- Here is an easy way to make a crystal tablespoon "F.F.F." carborundum grit. To ing shrink and crack into polygonal blocks, ornament at home: this mixture is added enough water to get much like those left after a housewife's Dissolve separately in tumblers of warm the consistency of cream. starch dish has dried out. Should these be water, a half ounce each of sulphate of exposed to sun and air, the blocks will alumina; sulphate of soda; sulphate of po- For more difficslt material to polish he harden. During dry seasons, wind-blown tassium; sulphate of iron; sulphate of zinc; uses 12 tablespoons of cerium oxide and sand or silt sometimes fills the cracks with and sulphate of magnesium. one tablespoon of "F.F.F." carborundum. After each is thoroughly liquefied, pour Carborundum, when added in small amounts, sediments which are harder than the mud. Thus, the polygon blocks are preserved even them together into a dish that will allow gives the polishing formula enough bite to the mixture to evaporate freely. The dish remove minute sanding scratches. though the area may again be flooded. After a series of deposits has hardened into must not be disturbed or agitated and must Ohlsen paints the disk canvas thoroughly rock, the layers again may be exposed show- be kept free from dust during the process. with the polishing compound and then al- ing the mud-cracks on the bedding planes. Just prior to setting the dish aside, stir the lows it to dry before starting to polish. One It also is possible for rain drop marks to mixture with a glass rod. application will last for weeks, and he rec- be preserved in this manner. As evaporation takes place, the solution ommends applying the paste with an old Frequently on the bottom of puddles or will begin to shoot out crystals, each mineral shaving brush. giving forth its distinct type.—Emilie Wells along shore lines, water covers ridges in in The Trilobite During the polishing operation, he paints the sand which were formed by the rippling the face of the rock several times with a water. Often these ripple marks are pre- thin coating of the polishing compound. served in much the same manner as are Too much polishing compound defeats its mud cracks. These make interesting speci- EARRINGS own purpose, he warns.—Mineral News mens. • • • As a glacier flows, boulders and pebbles MIX OR MATCH which are frozen into the bottom are dragged KIT ROCKY MOUNTAIN FEDERATION heavily over the bedrock floor. These ELECTS JAMES F. HURLBUT boutders and pebbles often have faceted Dozens of possible coloi combinations. Kit includes sides which are striated and scratched. one pair of pendant cages! James F. Hurlbut was named president While not spectacular, they too make worth- with ear screws and seven pairs of inter- of the Reeky Mountain Federation of Min- while additions to any collection. changeable settings in glowing gem colors: eralogical Societies at that organization's Turquoise • Jet • Coral • Amethyst • On the desert, windblown sands cut and Sapphire • Ruby 0 Emerald. recent Rapid City, South Dakota, conven- carve rock surfaces into various forms. Peb- tion and show. No Skill or Tools Necessary bles in such places are frequently faceted 4tf Q5 Postage and tax paid Serving with Hurlbut will be Charles into angular forms commonly with triangu- "• *** (no C.O.D.s please) Horvath, vice president, and Miss Muriel lar cross sections. These are known as Colburn, secretary-treasurer. All three offi- dreikanter and also will look good in your THE TRIBAL CRAFTSMEN cers are from Denver, Colorado, and the cabinet.—Pebbles '.O. Box 5012 Phoenix, Arizona 2400-member federation plans its 1957 con- vention and show for that city. — Sooner Rockologist • • • Sardonyx is composed of alternating lay- MOTEL CALICO ers of onyx and carnelian, and usually is Is located in the center of the rockhounds' and photographers' rendezvous cut as a cameo, that is, carved in relief or 9 miles east of Baratow, California, on Highway 91 at Daggett Road. as an intaglio thus allowing the background From Motel Calico it is and figure to be of two different colors. 3.5 Mi. to Knott's Calico Ghost Town (Minerals, Silver, Lead & Gold) Sard is a reddish carnelian and like all 3.5 Mi. to Jasper Peak (Bed Jasper) varieties of agate has a wide distribution.— 4.5 Mi. to Mule Canyon (Petrified Palmwood and Colemanite) Contra Costa, California, Mineral and Gem 8.5 Mi. to Tin Can Alley (Desert Koses and some Sagenite) Society's Bulletin 10 Mi. to Agate Hill (Colored Agate) 15 Mi. to Fossil Beds (Sea Fossils) 25 ML to Manix & Alvord Mts. (Palm Wood) 35 Mi. to Pisgah Crater (Tumbled Gems) AFRICA ELICS 40 Mi. to Lavic (Liavic Jasper & Moss Agate) AUTHENTIC MUSEUM SPECIMENS FROM NI- GERIA, WEST AFRICA, $1.00 PER SET OF SIX. Come and enjoy our smog free desert atmosphere PIGMY SPEARHEADS, 3 FOR $1.00. BUY DI- Two people $5.00 & $6.50 a night Four people $7.00 & $8.00 a night RECT FROM THE SAFARI TRADER. DELIVERY Pets $3.00 Extra FROM N.Y. STOCKS IMMEDIATELY. RARE CAMEROONS MASKS $18.50 (12"). BRONZE Tiled Kitchens available—Electric ranges and refrigerators. You rest LEOPARD (4") EATING WILD DOG $8.95. in quiet, insulated, individually heated units. Informative Brochure R. T. WATERS mailed on request. 1383 East 26th Street, Brooklyn 10, New York Phone Barstow 3467 "A.A.A." Approved Box 6105, Yermo, California

OCTOBER, 1956 'So METHODS FOR SEPARATING Screen your samples through mesh sizes deposits and on sloping areas it is exposed MICRO-FOSSILS FROM ROCK 35, 80 and 120. The finer material which and oxidized to a dark brown. Parts of passes through the small screen is made up some pieces that are revealed to the wind- Students of the earth sciences will be in- of broken fossils, clay, dust and rock. The blown sands have a fine sand-blast polish. terested in the collection of forminifera, middle sized and coarser screens will yield Most interesting feature of this fossil minute fossils which in the main are the fossils and rocks. wood is the fact that while the trees were remains of marine animals, and whose cal- The former further is separated from the standing in the ancient forests, they were careous shells are perforated with tiny holes. latter by floatation. Solutions for this work worked on by woodpeckers. From the size They are found in a wide variety of shapes are expensive and toxic. One of the best and shape of the holes in the wood, it is and sizes, which adds to the hobby's interest. for the home hobbyist, however, is tetra- evident that at least four species of wood- Most of these micro-fossils, however, are brome-ethane to which acetone should be peckers are represented, among them the incased in shale or sandstone and to free added until the specific gravity of the solu- forebears of the large ivorybill and pileated them it is essential to crush the rock. tion is lowered to a point where a piece of woodpeckers and the California woodpecker. The best way to do this without special feldspar no longer can float in it. There are over 20 varieties of woodpeckers equipment is to place the rock in a large The specimens then are placed in a sepa- in the U.S. today and their holes or excava- vise and apply pressure slowly and uni- ratory funnel with this floatation solution. tions are as distinct as the nests of various formly. Such pressures will cause the rock Decant the bottom materials which contain other species of birds. to crack away from the shells and not silicates, filtering and collecting the liquid After polishing a cross section of 30 pieces through them as it would if broken with a for reuse. The top layer of fossils, after of this fossil wood and using 30-diameters hammer. After the rock is crumbled to the filtration, can be washed with acetone, dried magnification, I find it all to be of the same size of coarse gravel, it must further be and classified. genus. It resembles Ocotea Lauraceae, now removed from around the fossils by other It is emphasized that extreme caution growing only in the tropics. Also there is means. should be used in the handling of the a small tree known as Malosma Laurina With sandstone, where cementation is chemicals herein named, and it is advisable which is native to the mountainous areas of less adhesive than in other stones, heating that the hobbyist have a working knowledge Southern California and Lower California. over a low fire often will pry the rock of the chemical apparatuses used in this work This tree more closely resembles the fossil away. Moisture in the cracks forms steam before attempting the separation processes. wood in cross section and is known as over the flame, and this causes the rock and —Ventura, California, Gem and Mineral Laurel Sumac. A million years ago, under fossil to separate. Society's Rockhound Rambling a more favorable climate, it entirely is pos- In shale it is not that easy. Sodium hy- sible that this sumac grew much larger than droxide, in the amount of roughly half the it does today — Martin Murray in the weight of the specimen, in solution with COLORADO FOSSIL WOODS Orange Gulch Gazette twice as much water, must be added to the SHOW WOODPECKER SCARS crushed rock. Care is needed in this opera- Colorado River fossil wood only is found STEPS IN THE POLISHING lion, for sodium hydroxide solution will in a few limited areas in the high terraces OF GEM STONE RHODONITE heat up and this concentrated lye may boil of the Colorado River from Parker, Ari- over and cause serious injury or damage to zona, south to the gulf of California. It Here is the shaping, grinding and polish- clothing. originated in the late Pliocene and early ing procedure for rhodonite: The gravel should be gently boiled in this Pleistocene age when drift wood accumulat- After the stone has been marked out, mixture in a metal beaker for a half day ing in backwater lagoons became water- shape it on a trim saw. Rough shaping or and then washed and dried. If oil is present, logged, sank and petrified. Drifting sand grinding is done on the 100 grit wheel with wash the gravel in hot benzine. of the desert now covers most of these enough water on the wheel to keep the stone from over-heating. After the stone has been shaped by 100 grit, switch to the 220 grit wheel where the stone is ground to the more exact shape GRIEGER'S FABULOUS TREASURE CHEST OF and size desired and the 100 grit wheel JEWELRY VALUES marks are removed. The stone is then ready for the sanding KEY CHAINS operation which is done on dry sanding QUALITY cloth. The first sanding of rhodonite should BRACELET CHAINS LOW PRICES be on an eight-inch drum using 220 grit LARIAT CORDS cloth or on a 'disk-sander, which works VARIETY BELL CAPS just as well. The 220 sand will smooth out SEND FOR OUR BAROQUE RINGS any grinding marks left by the 220 grit LATEST BARGAIN grinding wheel. At this point, the operator BAROQUE CUFF LINKS should start using a magnifying glass to BULLETIN FOR A BAROQUE STONES check the stone for large scratches or small RING MOUNTINGS LISTING OF flat spots. If there are any, return to the last operation and rework the stone. LUCKY CLOVER MANY OF THESE ITEMS. After the 220 grit sanding, sand on a EARWIRES well-worn 220 grit cloth on the drum or disk. This will better prepare the rhodonite for the next sanding which should be on a 400 grit disk. After the 400 grit, use a well-worn 400 grit disk then go to the 600 SAVE $ $ $ grit stage. A used 600 grit is better for the final sanding than a new one because it will not cut or scratch the work. These SEND FOR OUR LATEST BULLETIN OF BARGAINS sanding operations should take two or three minutes each. IT'S FREE When the sanding is completed, the stone is ready to be polished on the buff. Especi- ally well suited for rhodonite is a No. 6 NEW DEALERS: IF YOU ARE NOT ON OUR MAILING LIST, send canvas stretched over a maple disk with a for dealer information. piece of quarter-inch hard felt between the canvas and the wooden disk. GRIEGER'S, INC., are the LARGEST SUPPLIERS OF JEWELRY Use a polishing powder of your choice applied to the center of the buff with a small PARTS, GEM CUTTING EQUIPMENT, JEW- brush. Before you do any buffing be sure that the canvas has been dampened evenly ELRY TOOLS, GEM STONES & PROSPECT- all over or you are liable to scratch the ING EQUIPMENT. stone. The buff should be damp enough so the polish will work in the spacing in the Form K9-4 canvas and show a dry area from a few (OVER 10,000 ITEMS TO SELECT FROM) moments contact with the stone. Polishing GRIEGER'SINC. • Mailing Address: P. 0. Box 418S • CATAUNA STATION, PASADENA/CALIF. should not take more than five to seven minutes.—Walt Biggs in the Verdugo Hills, Store Address: 1633 E. WALNUT ST. • PASADENA 4, CALIF. California, Gem and Mineral Society's OUR STOR£ IS OPEN EVERY DAY 8:30 A.M. UNTIL 5:00 P.M. — CLOSED ALL DAY SUNDAY Rockhound News and Views

DESERT MAGAZINE A number of liquids for coating a flat gem surface have been described. These are usu- ally referred to as a "temporary" polish, AMATEUR 6BM CUTUR and include various liquid plastics, Dakes varnish and others. Ray Lulling has called attention to the By DR. H. C. DAKE, Editor of The Mineralogist utility of Scotch Tape as a temporary polish. The tape may be used to cover any flat For various special jobs, the gem cutter in this tool is limited to about one and one- gem surface which has not been polished, will find the flexible shaft hand grinding half inches. and would eliminate the frequent and an- tool of considerable value. The flexible When the diamond points and wheels shaft we refer to is the type having a pencil were first introduced, sales were limited and noying wetting of the surface to better size hand-piece, similar to those in wide prices ranged from about $5.00 to $12.00 bring out the color and pattern. According use by dentists, jewelers and engravers. It each, making them a costly item. Now with to Lulling, Scotch Tape is especially effective is quite obvious that for fine work a pencil mass production, prices have been greatly in iris agate, being applied in a single layer thickness hand-piece is needed. The thick reduced. Used with care as they should be, to both sides of the thinly sawed agate. The and bulky hand grinders are all right for each point or wheel will give a remarkably tape will serve to bring out the iris agate certain jobs, but not so well suited for close great amount of service. colors in a most effective manner. and delicate work. It is like trying to write a fine and neat script with a pencil or pen Relatively few gem stones will show one inch or more in thickness. Try it once. asterism or a "star" when cut cabochon. These flexible shaft hand-pieces are read- While asterism is generally not looked upon ily available from supply firms, and at rea- as a criterion of identity, its presence serves HIGHLAND PARK sonable prices. Two styles are available. In as an aid in determination. one the flexible shaft is attached to the Six-rayed stars are seen in sapphire and THE LAPIDARY'S armature shaft of an electric motor. Jf you the steep cabochon surface must be cut at use this type of shaft, better results will be exactly right angles to the principal or c STANDARD OF VALUE had for most work if the motor's speed axis of the crystal, otherwise the star may ranges from 3400 to 3600 r.p.m. The nor- be lacking or appear off center in relation BUY THE BEST mal speed electric motor, as used in the to the cabochon surface. The "star" in FOB LHSS lapidary shop, is generally around 1750 sapphire does not appear on facet cut gems, Congo l)ia Blades — Sizes r.p.m. To operate the flexible shaft, the since the material must have a certain de- Range from 4" to 24" in motor need not be bighpowered, one-fifth gree of opacity to present a star. Only Light, Standard, Heavy or one-sixth horsepower or less will suffice. cutting will reveal asterism. Pink colored and Extra Heavy duty. sapphires may also show asterism. These Flexible shafts of this type, complete with are usually termed star rubies. motor and hand or foot operated switch, Highland are also available, and these range in price Some garnets also show asterism, gener- from $16.00 to $25.00 or more, depending ally a four-rayed star. A few six-rayed star Park on accessories. garnets have been reported in the literature Trim Saws on gemology, but these are quite rare. In Most of these flexible shaft operated cutting a garnet crystal for possible asterism, 3 o m p a c 1 a n d liandpieces will take small size mandrels no special orientation need be made, as the ugged for long and a great host of points of this kind are star will appear at a number of points. The lasting service. ^4 -**'***' readily available. These include hundreds garnet crystal may first be cut into a sphere, E-4 Trim Saw of sizes and shapes of silicon points and and the best positions of the "stars" noted. wheels, diamond points and wheels in many The sphere may then be divided, and two sizes, steel drills (called burrs by the den- star cabochons obtained. A Leader tist), felt polishing buffs, etc. Some massive quartz may also show as- In Its Field Equipment and tools of this kind are terism, but generally not as pronounced as invaluable in executing fine jewelry work. in sapphire and garnet. Asterism is to be Highland Park Power-feed One can hardly expect to do cameo carving found more rarely in spinel, topaz, emerald Slab Saws. Sizes range without the aid of this tool. With the dia- and perhaps a few other species. from 12" to 24". Metal mond points, holes may be drilled in various # * * or Luclte hood. hard gems, provided the material is not too The following suggestions pertain to the thick. Or in the case of thick work, the use of diamond impregnated grinding hole may be worked from both sides. wheels: Diamond points of this kind do not cut (I) Use hardest grade and most durable clearance, as in the case of a regular dia- bond type that job will stand without the Highland Park Combination Unit mond drill, hence there is a limit to depth wheel overheating. (2) Be sure the spindle Available in all sizes. Perfect Combination Unit for Lapidary work. Handles sawing, of hole. Soft gems, like turquoise, calcite and inside flange run true, and that the grinding, sanding and polishing. Excep- and malachite are worked with steel drills wheel speed is correct. (3) Grind wet, tionally quiot operation. or burrs, available in dozens of sizes and using plenty of good clean coolant. (4) styles. Avoid excessive pressure or downfeed, and The hand-piece will also prove invaluable do not overspeed your diamond wheels. to those who wish to carve objects from (5) Do not let your diamond wheel get various gem materials. The points for use in overheated. (6) Do not grind steel with the hand-pieces referred to here are avail- diamond wheels. (7) Save your diamond able from lapidary supply firms, dental sup- wheel stubs, and also grinding swarf or ply houses and jewelry supply firms. The sludge, and ship to manufacture for possible grinding wheel or buff size that may be used salvaging the diamond. B-10 Combination Unit Arbors oi all sizes—Tumblers, two models. Wet and dry belt Sanders—Lapidary units BLANK MOUNTINGS BENSUSAN'S BRAZILIAN LAPIDARY in two different sizes. for 13814 Ventura Blvd.—Phone STate 9-9924 32 MODELS TO CHOOSE FROM The most complete line of lapidary machin- AGATE JEWELRY Sherman Oaks, California ery offered by any manufacturer. See these WHOLESALE Agent for: at your local Highland Park dealer or write Frantom Slab Saws, Cabochon Units for free literature. Rings — Ear Wires — Tie Chains Sapphire Facet Units & Supplies A Product of Cuii Links — Neck Chains Air Float Mineral Concentrators Bezel — devices — Shanks Ultra Violet Light Products Solder — Findings Detectron Metal Detectors & Counters HIGHLAND PARK Send stamp for price list No. 4 Classes in: Mineralogy, Geology, Gem Cutting, MANUFACTURING CO. O. R. JUNKINS Faceting and Jewelry Making. 1009-1011 Mission Street 754 N.W. Alpine St. - P.O. Box 1233 Equipment, Findings, Tumbled Gems, Silver, South Pasadena, California NEWPORT, OREGON Rings, Publications, Mountings & Tools

OCTOBER, 1956 ™ dM

By RANDALL HENDERSON

Y OLD FRIENDS and neighbors in the Imperial process could be speeded tremendously if at least half Valley of California, where Desert Magazine was of the scientists now working on gadgets designed to born 19 years ago this month, have changed the provide profit and luxury for the human race could be dates and locale of the International Desert Cavalcade— diverted to problems of teaching folks how to live—how and I want to pass this information along, for the Desert to make wise use of the gimmicks which science already Cavalcade is one of the most informative and entertaining has created. pageants among all those presented annually in the South- The 436 auto casualties over the Labor Day weekend west. were not due to lack of know-how. They were due mainly This year's Cavalcade is to be October 26-27-28, with to undisciplined emotions. the colorful historical pageant scheduled for the evenings * * * of October 26 and 27 at the Mid-Winter Fair Grounds. AH honor to my friend and neighbor, Harry Oliver, In past years the Cavalcade fiesta was held in March. editor of the Desert Rat Scrapbook. Harry has been Sponsored originally by the Calexico community, the awarded a plaque in recognition of his crusade against Cavalcade association has now been enlarged as an Im- roadside litterbugs. perial valley-wide organization, and a new script for this As a campaigner for clean highways Harry well de- year's program was written by Ed Ainsworth of the Los serves the award, but at the next meeting of the Grizzled Angeles Times. Order of Desert Rats, 1 am going to try to have him Reservations may be made by writing to Desert Caval- expelled from the organization. He showed up this week cade, Imperial, California. in a pair of those shorts, which have become so fashion- The hardships—and the faith—of those courageous able as summer attire for males on the desert. Just men and women who blazed the trails across the Southern imagine an old prospector trudging across the desert land- California desert at a time when there were no roads and scape with his shanks exposed to sun, rocks and thorns— few waterholes, will become very real when you have in shorts! spent an evening watching the Desert Cavalcade. * * * * * * It was 19 years ago this month—October 20, 1937— One of my visitors recently was a prospector who had that the first issue of Desert Magazine came off the press. come to the Southern California desert to find a deposit We had only 600 subscribers then—600 subscribers and of rather unusual rhyolite. He had a specimen which 1 a lot of faith. Today the pressrun has increased to 32,600 recognized, and I was able to help him in his quest. —and the faith has been more than justified. Our conversation turned to uranium, and the progress We never aspired to make this the biggest magazine being made toward the use of fissionable ores for com- in the U.S.A. Our steadily growing circulation has been mercial purposes. Finally he said; "Yes, it is true the based on reader interest and loyalty, rather than on high- scientists and the inventors have been able to produce pressure promotion. That is the way we have wanted it just about everything that will contribute to human com- to be. fort and wealth—but don't you hope that some day they We edit Desert for thoughtful people—for folks who, will get around to the problem of teaching folks how to at least for a few hours each month, would like to get live?" away from the world of hurry and worry and confusion I knew what he meant, for I have long felt that the —and into closer association with the peace and beauty tragic failure of our educational system is that it deals and simplicity of natural things. The warm sunshine, the mainly with the intellect of the student, and almost com- clean air, the uncrowded spaces of this desert land are pletely by-passes the equally important faculty of feeling. good tonic for humans who have lived too close to the They teach the mind and ignore the emotions. How few conflicts of a civilization in turmoil. students come out of the schools with the ability to rec- I must admit the desert is becoming a little more ognize within themselves, and the honesty to confess the crowded each year—but there still remain a hundred passions of anger, jealousy, hate, greed, ruthless ambition, thousand canyons, mesas and mountains in this vast arid intolerance and fear. And what a penalty we all pay for land where you and 1 may go, and in the seclusion of a that ignorance! wilderness terrain that is seldom visited by human beings, I think we are making some progress along the slow commune with the Great Spirit from whom comes the and difficult trail toward emotional maturity, but the strength for courageous living.

46 DESERT MAGAZINE NEW WORK PRESENTS POETRY OF IRENE WELCH GRISSOM The west that Irene Welch Grissom BOOHS^SObWViiSf knows and loves is described in her recently published book of verse, HOUSEWIFE RELATES YEAR'S of the desert doesn't show on the Under Desert Skies. It is sensible ADVENTURE IN COPPER MTS. smelter report . . . and I knew just poetry, uncluttered with long passages, Olga Wright Smith had little reali- as surely, that some day not far away, thought-twisting descriptions or gush- zation of what was in store for her I was coming back." ing symbolism. when she gave up her comfortable Published by University of New There are poems that give refresh- apartment in Cleveland, Ohio, and as- Mexico Press. Halftones. 259 pages. ing interpretation to the common things sumed the role of cook and house- $4.00. on the desert—the Joshua trees, palo keeper for two miners—one of them verde, desert palm, mescal, burros, her husband—in the great arid Lechu- PAST. PRESENT AND FUTURE creosote; there is poetry that reflects guilla Desert of southwestern Arizona. OF URANIUM AGE DESCRIBED the challenging struggle of men against "We won't need a house out there," If you are wondering what this ur- aridity; and there are simple poems her engineer husband told her. "We anium boom is all about, when and with universal messages. won't need overcoats or fuel. All we'll how it all started, and where it is likely need is a brush shade to keep off the to lead, read Fred Reinfeld's Uranium The author has written three novels, sun. It almost never rains." and Other Miracle Metals. This work an autobiography, and several books should appeal to a wide readership, of verse and for many years she has And so Olga and Cap went to Ari- from junior high school students to zona to help his father develop what been a liberal contributor of poetry experienced uranium prospectors hard in various publications, including Des- appeared to be a rich copper-gold at work on the Colorado Plateau. strike in the Copper Mountains. They ert Magazine. arrived in January and remained a The author tells his story in simple, Published by the Caxton Printers, year at the claims. easy to understand language and his information is quite complete. Of par- Ltd., Caldwell, Idaho; with pen and For Olga, a former Iowa school ticular interest is the dramatic story ink etchings by L. D. Cram; 118 pages; teacher, the move brought a major of the atomic race in the early '40s $2.50. problem of personal re-adjustment, and and the scientific achievements since the manner in which she met the chal- the bomb was perfected, particularly Books reviewed on this page are available at lenge is delightfully told in her book along the peaceful-uses line. Desert Crafts Shop, Palm Desert Gold on the Desert, published by the Published by Sterling Publishing Co., University of New Mexico Press. Add three percent sales tax on orders to be 215 East 37th St., New York 16, New sent to California Her husband had told her they York; scores of photographs and draw- would be without most of the comforts ings plus color plates; Index; 128 and conveniences she had always pages; $3.50. known. But he could not anticipate • • • for her the loneliness, the fear of rep- Prehistoric People of the Northern tiles, the rigors of desert sand storms Southwest is a little booklet which or the oppressive heat of the summer briefly, but thoroughly, describes the days. She learned about these things coming of man to the Southwest and the hard way. There were days when the growth and decline of the various she felt she could no longer bear the cultures in this area with special em- loneliness of the long days when her phasis on the Basketmakers. The men folks were down in the shaft or author chooses clear and simple lan- up on the mountainside working at guage to tell his story and the hair- their claims. But she was too loyal, splitting controversies anthropologists and perhaps too obstinate, to quit. and archeologists dwell on are omitted. Gradually, she learned to share the Written by Joe Ben Wheat, curator men's enthusiasm when the ore-bucket of anthropology at the University of brought up beautifully colored speci- Colorado Museum, the 38-page book- RATTLESNAKES mens of blue rock specked with gold. let includes maps, photographs and THEIR HABITS, LIFE HISTORIES Eventually, she became acquainted bibliography. Published as Bulletin with other denizens of the desert— No. 12, it may be purchased by mail AND INFLUENCE ON MANKIND the many species of birds which find order from the Grand Canyon Natural By LAURENCE M. KLAUBER sanctuary in the remote desert moun- History Association for 50c per copy tains, the wildlife that is never seen plus a charge of eight cents for postage A 2-volume compendium of everything by the mere casual visitor or the trav- and handling. scientifically known about rattlesnakes, eler on the desert highway. And she found comic characters in her secluded together with the folklore that has grown desert camp—the curious lizards, the up about these dangerous, fascinating dancing mice, the cat that needed as- Looking for a PUBLISHER? reptiles. The author, for 35 years Consult- ing Curator of Reptiles, San Diego Zoo, bestos shoes, and McGinty, the burro Oo you have a book-length manuscript you would like to have published? Learn about has had extensive experience with rat- who signalled with his ears. our unusual plan whereby your book can bi* published, promoted and distributed on a tlers in field and laboratory. professional basis. We consider all types of At the end of a year when the time work—fiction, biography, poetry, scholarly and religious books, etc. New authors wel- 2 vols. 1530 pages, 238 illus. $17.50 came for departure, she felt only regret come. For more information, write for valu- able booklet D. It's free. that it was necessary to go. Due to UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRESS fluctuations of the market, the mine VANTAGE PRESS. INC. Address: Berkeley 4, California «2.->8 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood 28, Calif. had not yet won them a fortune, but Main Of the: N'ew York 1, N. Y. Olga had learned that "the real gold

OCTOBER, 1956 47 Square Towcr Square Tower House on Colorado's Mesa Verde was once a cliff dwelling of 50 rooms and six kivas. Dominated by its remarkable four- storied tower, it perches upon a rock shelf sheltered by the narrow overhang above. Yet roofs of its kivas are still par- tially in place, while mud plaster on walls of those secret, 700 year old clan "club" rooms frequently is intact.

:/., ¥ •

PUEBLO PANORAMAS VII MESA VERDE By JOHN L. BLACKFORD

Cliff Palace Peaceful farmer Indians who built Square Tower House in a Mesa Verde ravine chose the site for safety from enemy raiders. It gave security, but offered no immediate outlook other than toward opposite ledges of the rocky, tree-clad gorge. Yet when nut-gathering in the bordering pygmy forest above, or from nearby miniature cornfields, they beheld this distant impressive sight of famed Cliff Palace in its mighty, rock-roofed canyon niche. Occupation of Square Tower House lasted from primitive habitation in 200-300 A.D. until the Great Drouth of 1276-99.