DECEMBER, 1949 35 CENTS a Modern Mounting Set with Sparkling Gens of RUTILE RAINBOW DIAMONDS Is the Answer to Your Christmas Gift Problem

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DECEMBER, 1949 35 CENTS A Modern Mounting Set With Sparkling Gens of RUTILE RAINBOW DIAMONDS Is the answer to your Christmas gift problem. One of these magnificent gems set in a lovely gold or palladium ring will be a gift that will be worn and cherished for years to come.

RUTILE IS THE GEM OF THE HOUR — IT IS NOW A REALITY

After years of experiments, synthetic RUTILE is now available in cut gems of breathtaking beauty. This magnificent substance has been given the name of "TITANIA".

"TITANIA IS QUEEN OF ALL KNOWN GEMS" Titania gems have more fire than the diamond. Be the first in your community to own one of these beautiful new Rainbow Diamonds DEALERS INQUIRIES SOLICITED Everyone to whom you show this new gem will wish to purchase one or more of them. Our SUPERCATALOG tells you of our discount plan that will

1 permit you to own one of these new gems at no cost to yourself. Our new SUPERCATALOG described below gives you all the facts about TITANIA GEMS and ILLUSTRATES mountings especially selected for them. An article tells the story behind this amazing discovery.

The 1950 Revised Edition of Grieger's "Encyclopedia and Super Catalog of the Lapidary and Jewelry Arts"

• $1.00 Per Copy This is a 192-page book 9"xl2" in size. There are at least 60 pages of instructive articles by authors of national fame. There are new articles by EMIL KRONQUIST and LOUIS WIENER on jewelry making. The 15-page article on jewelry casting by the LOST WAX METHOD using the new KERR HOBBY- CRAFT CASTING UNIT is alone worth $1.00. "ROCK DETERMINATION SIMPLIFIED" by Mr. E. V. Van Amringe with illustrations and charts helps you to identify your field trip discoveries. Two excellent field trips are mapped. Everything you need in MACHINERY. TOOLS. SUPPLIES and MATERIALS is illustrated, described and priced for your convenience. VISIT OUR SHOP AND SECURE YOUR COPY OF THIS UNIQUE BOOK Sent Postpaid in U. S. A., its Territories and Canada for only $1.00. READ THESE REMARKS BY THOSE WHO PURCHASED THE FIRST EDITION—"I would still buy it at $3.00 to $5.00 as it contains as much if not more meaty information for the lapidary and jeweler than any of the books on the market selling in that price range. " "It is better than most lapidary handbooks." "It is the only satisfactory catalog of lapidary supplies and materials that I have ever seen. It is superbly illustrated and superbly printed."

JUST PUBLISHED: "THE STORY OF JADE" by Herbert P. Whiflock and Martin L. Ehrmann at $12.50 per copy.

1633 EAST WALNUT STREET PASADENA 4, CALIFORNIA. PHONLSY6-6423 OPEN ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY ONLY 8 30AM-5.30 PM- MONDAY THRU THURSDAY OPEN BY APPOINTMENT ONLY

THE DESERT MAGAZINE DESERT CALENDAR

Dec. 2—San Antonio day at La Loma, New Mexico. Dec. 3—Death Valley Pageant, centennial observance sponsored by Death Valley '49ers, Inc., presented in Desolation canyon, cast of 1,000 people, commemorating trek of the Manly-Jayhawker parties through Death Valley 100 years ago.

Dec. 4—Lecture by Dr. George W. Brainerd: The Ancient Maya Cities Volume 13 December, 1949 Number 2 of Palenque and Uxmal, Southwest Museum, Los Angeles, California. COVER WHITE CHRISTMAS ON THE DESERT Dec. 5-11—Borrego Aviation week, featuring treasure hunt by pilots in By Nicholas N. Kozloff, San Bernardino, Calif. private planes December 10, and CALENDAR glider soaring and spot-landing con- December events on the desert 3 tests Sunday, December 11. Borrego EXPLORATION Valley, California. Valley of the Cathedrals By CHARLES KELLY 4 Dec. 6-7 — Northern district, New PAGEANTRY Mexico Cattle Growers association, Death Valley Pageant 8 Santa Fe. FIELD TRIP We Found Ant Hills Covered with Jewels Dec. 10—Imperial Highway association monthly meeting at De Anza POETRY By EDITH RUTENIC McLEOD 9 hotel, Calexico, California. EXPLORATION Abandoned Desert Home, and other poems . . 12 Dec. 11—Don's Club Travelcade to Goldfield mine and King's ranch, Panamint Pack Trip Phoenix, Arizona. QUIZ By RANDALL HENDERSON 13 Dec. 12—Feast day of Nuestra Senora CHRISTMAS de Guadalupe, Santa Fe, New Test your desert knowledge . 16 Mexico. Pom Poms at Christmas CHRISTMAS Dec. 17-—Opening party at Arizona By DOROTHY L. PILLSBURY 18 Snow Bowl, Flagstaff, Arizona. MINING Shine Smith's Christmas Party 21 Dec. 24—La Posada, Mexican Christ- INDUSTRY mas observance, Armory park, Tuc- Current news of desert mines 22 son, Arizona. Dec. 24—Midnight mass for Papago HISTORY Adobe Maker of Scottsdale Indian people, San Xavier mission. By CHRISTINE B. MacKENZIE 23 Death Valley in '49 Dec. 24—Christmas eve procession HUMOR with cedar torches, Taos Indian By J. WILSON McKENNEY 27 pueblo, New Mexico. NEWS LETTERS Hard Rock Shorty of Death Valley 28 Dec. 24—Dances after midnight mass at Indian pueblos: San Felipe, La- LAPIDARY From here and there on the desert 29 guna, Isleta and others in New Mexico. HOBBY Comment by Desert readers 37 Dec. 25—Indian dances at pueblos BOOKS Amateur Gem Cutter, by LELANDE QUICK . 38 Christmas day and three days following. At Jemez, Santo Domingo, COMMENT Gems and Minerals 39 Tesuque, Santa Clara and others. Deer dance or Matachines at Taos Reviews of Southwest literature 44 pueblo in the afternoon. Just Between You and Me, by the Editor ... 46 The Desert Magazine is published monthly by the Desert Press, Inc., Palm Desert, California. Re-entered as second class matter July 17, 1948, at the post office at Palm Desert, Dec. 26 — Turtle dance, San Juan California, under the Act of March 3, 1879. Title registered No. 358865 in U. S. Patent Office, Pueblo, New Mexico. and contents copyrighted 1949 by the Desert Press, Inc. Permission to reproduce contents must be secured from the editor in writing. Dec. 28-29—American Astronomical RANDALL HENDERSON, Editor AL HAWORTH, Associate Editor BESS STACY, Business Manager MARTIN MORAN, Circulation Manager society meets at University of Ari- Los Angeles Office (Advertising Only): 2635 Adelbert Ave., Phone NOrmandy 3-1509. zona, Tucson, Arizona. Unsolicited manuscripts and photographs submitted cannot be returned or acknowledged unless full return postage is enclosed. Desert Magazine assumes no responsibility for damage or loss of manuscripts or photographs although due care will be exercised. Sub- December—Clarence Ellsworth's scribers should send notice of change of address by the first of the month preceding Issue. paintings of western scenes and SUBSCRIPTION RATES early Indian days will be displayed One Year $3.50 Two Years $6.00 daily. Southwest museum, Los Canadian Subscriptions 25c Extra, Foreign 50c Extra Angeles. Subscription to Army Personnel Outside U. S. A. Must Be Mailed in Conformity With P. O. D. Order No. 19687 Address Correspondence to Desert Magazine, Palm Desert, California

DECEMBER, 1949 77ze.se cathedral-like pinnacles have been carved in sandstone through thousands of years of erosion Valley of the Cathedrals . . .

By CHARLES KELLY which resembled temples and cathe- peculiar hole, believed to have been drals. made by a falling meteor, was located Photos courtesy of Dr. Wayne Smith Dr. Inglesby had a further oppor- there. The mysterious hole showed no and Worthen Jackson tunity to become acquainted with the evidence of meteoric action, but the area a year later when he accompanied party passed through another group of N 1944 a northbound military plane an expedition into this wild section of fantastic formations not far from those was reported missing somewhere Utah to investigate the report that a previously reported. between Bryce canyon and Price, Following Dr. Inglesby's directions, Utah. It was not found until nearly a Frank Beckwith and I visited the east- year later when two men hunting cattle To the cowboys it is just "a ern section of this area in September, came upon the wreckage in a wild sec- bad place to hunt for cows/' 1945. Leaving a rough desert road we tion of Wayne county west of Factory but for the explorer, the photog- drove IVi miles down a dry wash Buttes. rapher and the rock collector floored with gypsum, arriving on the Soldiers in jeeps were sent to recover this recently discovered scenic brink of a deep gully we could not the bodies. They were guided to the landscape in the southern Utah cross. About two miles distant was a spot by Worthen Jackson of Fremont, wilderness promises to open a pink cliff running several miles east Utah. Later, on a return visit to the great field for new adventure. and west, beautifully sculptured into site of the tragedy, Jackson was ac- Here is Charles Kelly's story of what appeared to be architectural companied by Dr. A. L. Inglesby of some of the most fantastic rock forms — pillars, columns, spires and Fruita, Utah. On his return the doctor formations in the Southwest — decorative statuary — resembling the reported that he seen in the distance a and some of the least known. ruins of a thousand Greek temples. On group of isolated buttes or monuments the flat sandy desert half a mile from

THE DESERT MAGAZINE V3^ ^

West Cathedral Valley-— K -^•^^^K=srj: East Cathedral Volley — - J2J \l

Meteor Hole'-

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this cliff stood two large natural struc- ed the following year, is more difficult extending north into Cathedral Valley, tures and two smaller ones, eroded to to reach. Perry Jackson pioneered a about 15 air miles north of Capitol architectural forms resembling great jeep trail into it, but it cannot be Reef National Monument. Where cathedrals. reached by ordinary passenger cars. walls of Entrada are exposed by fault- This section, near Thousand Lake ing it has been eroded into fantastic Leaving our car we hiked across the mountain, is even larger and more forms. Being soft and cemented with sand to photograph them and found spectacular than the east end, contain- gypsum it is dissolved by rain into that on close inspection the likeness to ing more beautifully eroded cliffs and long, flowing lines, often extending man-made structures was even more more cathedrals, spires and pinnacles. from top to bottom, giving the impres- pronounced. We estimated their height Besides these interesting formations, sion of architectural ruins. Unlike at between 500 and 600 feet. Since the area is crossed at right angles by many formations, there are no talus they stand isolated and some distance narrow dikes of volcanic material slopes, the cliffs rising from a flat apart, they can be photographed from known as the "Walls of Jericho." Near desert. The color is a light salmon any angle, depending on light condi- one of these dikes is the "meteor hole," pink, with horizontal stripes of darker tions. 60 feet across the top and about 100 color, in places capped with a stratum Returning to the car after an all-day feet deep, the origin of which remains of white. Where this capstone has dis- tramp, Frank and I sat on the running to be explained. appeared the softer rock below has board to rest. A late afternoon sun il- The two sections of Cathedral Val- been cut into towers, spires, buttresses luminated the two distant buttes. ley, of course, have been known to and intricate natural carvings. "What do they call this place?" cowboys and sheepherders for many Since this wild area has never been Frank asked. years, and a cabin and corrals were thoroughly explored, new discoveries "The whole area is called Middle once built in the western end. But no are constantly being made. On a sub- Desert," I replied, "but this valley has one ever mentioned the scenic values sequent visit to east Cathedral Valley no special name." of the place. To stockmen it was just a I found two more large structures in "The buttes certainly look like great bad place to hunt for cows. So the a beautiful hidden canyon, and Wor- cathedrals," Frank said. "The smaller original discovery so far as the visiting then Jackson has found others in the one looks like Canterbury and the public is concerned, goes to Dr. In- west end. In a flight over the valley larger one like Notre Dame." glesby, and the first color photographs last November with Bill Lane we saw "Yes," I agreed, "they do. Why were taken by Herman Waters. Beck- still more cathedrals which have not wouldn't that be a good name — with and I took the first black and yet been located from the ground. Cathedral Valley?" white pictures. On the road to Emery, north of The cliffs of Capitol Reef are com- Jeffers ranch, is another isolated struc- "Cathedral Valley? Yes, that's good. posed of Moenkopi, Chinle, and Win- ture locally called Solomon's Temple, Let's call it that." gate formations, capped by white Na- well worth a visit, and in Jasper can- So we did and the name is used be- vajo sandstone. The Reef dips toward yon, a short distance further north is cause nothing else seems quite appro- the east into South Desert where the another immense hidden cathedral. As priate. , Navajo is overlaid by Carmel. This in time goes by still others will be found. The western section, which we visit- turn is overlaid by Entrada sandstone, About eight miles east of an aban- DECEMBER, 1949 Pillars of Hercules in West Cathedral Valley doned oil well is a large area criss- quality. North and a little west of tain, then five miles on the oil well crossed by hundreds of black dikes, Solomon's Temple is Jasper canyon, road. This much can be negotiated in with narrow walls standing two or three with a whole cliff of high grade jasper an ordinary car, but the remaining dis- hundred feet high in some places. At in bright colors. tance into west Cathedral Valley can this writing these have never been Although Cathedral Valley is only be made only in a jeep. Turning south photographed. about 15 miles from Fruita by air, it the trail winds through a rough, sandy While this section is primarily scenic, lies in such a rough country that in desert, passing several igneous dikes, rock hunters will be interested in a order to reach it one must travel 70 then drops into a wash, and turns west large mound of selenite crystals just miles by one route, and 50 miles by to the cathedrals. north of the largest cathedral in east another. To reach the eastern section it is Cathedral Valley, where good speci- The long route is by way of Loa and necessary to return to the road and mens can be obtained. In this vicinity Fremont, over Thousand Lake moun- follow it almost to the oil well, then also are found agate nodules up to six tain, turning right at Forsythe reser- turn right down a dry wash IVi miles. inches in diameter, some of very good voir to Jeffer's ranch east of the moun- Eventually a shorter trail will be lo-

These salmon-pink formations can be reached only by jeep Wall Street in West Cathedral Valley cated between the two sections, which only two springs in the valley. Either At present such a trip is only for lie only a few miles apart. way is a long day's trip; two days seasoned desert rats and rabid color The shorter road is from Fruita to would be much more satisfactory. At photographers who enjoy exploring a Cainesville, up Cainesville Wash 3Vi present Perry Jackson, of Fremont, is hidden land of spectacular formations miles, then up a steep dugway on the the only one conducting jeep trips to and brilliant color. When a good road right and through a very broken coun- this area. is built Cathedral Valley will become try above, continuing about 25 miles Since this new scenic section adjoins one of the well known scenic spots of from Cainesville. This road can only Capitol Reef National Monument on Utah. be negotiated in a jeep but it passes the north and east it should be added At this late date not many such through some very wild country, well to the Monument. At present it is dif- areas have been left unexplored and worth seeing. This rough road eventu- ficult to reach but a road could be unexploited. It is a privilege to have ally connects with the oil well road. built through South Desert and on been among the first to visit Cathe- Whichever trail one travels it is almost east to Cainesville, making an out- dral Valley and make it known to the imperative to have a guide. There are standing scenic loop. traveling public.

East Cathedral Valley looking north from Sculptured Cliff

r -•

•?f. Photograph from C. C. Pierce collection—from painting by Andrew P. Hill about 1880. DEATH VALLEY PAGEANT . .

For those planning to witness the CLOTHING—Warm outdoor clothing own. Directional signs will point historical pageant in Death Valley is recommended and visitors are urg- the way to the camp grounds. A December 3, the following information ed to dress Western style. Weather flashlight and a tarpaulin should be is furnished by Death Valley 49ers, probably will be fine. It could be included in the camp outfit. Air Inc.: cold and windy. mattresses provide added comfort. TIME—Program is scheduled for 2:00 p. m. and will last approximately 2 V2 ACCOMMODATIONS—All space at GARAGE, GAS AND OIL—There is hours. Furnace Creek and Stove Pipe Wells a garage at Furnace Creek Inn, and hotel already has been reserved. No gas and oil are available both there PLACE — Desolation canyon, 4Vz housing accommodations will be and at Stove Pipe Wells hotel. miles from Furnace Creek Inn. Park available in the Death Valley Na- Service will erect directional signs tional Monument for visitors. AIRPLANES — Landing field near as a guide to visitors. Furnace Creek Inn will accommo- date light sport planes. ADMISSION—Free! CAMPING—Elaborate plans are being made for those who will want to PARKING—Well organized automo- camp out Friday and Saturday BUS SERVICE—No regular bus serv- bile parking facilities will be avail- nights, December 2 and 3. There ice is scheduled but charter service able near the pageant grounds. from Las Vegas and Los Angeles will be free water and wood in limit- may be arranged through travel SEATING —Steel -grandstand seating ed supply, also sanitation facilities. agencies. will be available for 6,000 people. Chuck wagon grub will be available A crowd of 10,000 is expected. at moderate cost. Campfire programs PROGRAM — Will include an 86- Seating will be on a basis of first are planned, with group singing and piece symphony in a special suite come first served. Persons having square dancing. Campers should "Death Valley 49er" written and camp stools may find them useful. bring their bedrolls, with plenty of directed by Ferde Grofe. Chorus of A cushion and a blanket will provide blankets. It is suggested they bring 200 voices is rehearsing for event. added comfort. extra water and food and cook their Production manager is Larry Shea. THE DESERT MAGAZINE Close-up of an ant hill showing tiny pebbles of feldspar and lava. We Found Ant Hills Covered With Jewels

Probably the oldest miners in North America are the harvester ants. are equal in beauty and brilliance to In northern Arizona the Navajo Indians gather tiny garnets from ant zircon. The name sunstone has been hills in certain parts of the reservation. And now comes this story of given to those of yellow-wine color southern Oregon where the ant hills are piled high with bits of crystal- with the faintest suggestion of milki- line feldspar—known as sunstones or "Lakeview diamonds.'" ness. In this third attempt to locate the By EDITH RUTENIC McLEOD field, we drove to the village of Plush in Lake county, not far from the Cali- WERE returning from an had made two previous attempts, with- fornia boundary. Plush is said to have agate - hunting trip in central out success. But I knew the stones gotten its name from the broken Eng- Oregon when one member of were there for I had seen many of lish of an old Indian who played poker our party suggested that we spend an them. with the cow hands in the early days extra day in the field and try to find They vary slightly in color and trans- of cattle raising in this region. He the feldspar area where the ant hills parency, ranging from the true sun- knew his cards better than his English, were reported to be covered with tiny stone of yellowish hue with pink sheen and when he got a full hand of dia- sunstones, known to some collectors to the brilliantly clear yellow and tan monds or spades it was always a as "Lakeview diamonds." stones and an occasional one with a "plush." It is not an easy field to locate. I faint greenish tint. The clear stones In Plush we met a woman who had DECEMBER, 1949 9 visited the sunstone field the previous day, and from her we got explicit directions for reaching the area. We followed graded and unpaved roads in a northerly direction and eventually crossed a dam in Rabbit creek and from there it was less than four miles to our destination. The glitter of little sunstone frag- ments around ant hills attracted our attention, and we spent the morning picking up these tiny pebbles one by one. But this was not the best part of the field. Later we continued along BLUEJOINT. a dry wash to a point further north LAKE../

10 THE DESERT MAGAZINE 1 "' ^ Blum •. ^ « ...... > #

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Enlarged sunstones—labradorite feldspar. are an excellent guide for prospectors. mining claims, but "Lakeview dia- the four great faults that extend across The pebbles on the surface disclose the monds" never made anyone rich and southeastern Oregon. To the south character of the country rock. In this the country is abandoned to coyotes, is a low group of hills called the Rabbit particular area some of the hills would jack-rabbits, lizards and an occasional Hills and farther south another group assay as much as 75 percent feldspar band of wild horses. During World named Coyote Hills. The Coyote Hills crystals, the remainder being the nat- War II some of these horses were are chasing the Rabbit Hills north. ive rock, lava. In other places vol- rounded up and sold. Range cattle According to Richard Joel Russell canic cinder, pumice and sedimentary graze in parts of the country. in his book Basin Range Structure and rock prevails. '. The soil is soft and sandy, the only Stratigraphy of the Warner Range, In size the sunstones range from vegetation is sagebrush, greasewood Northeastern California, the rhyolitic one quarter of an inch down. It is and rabbit-bush—no trees, no water, center of the Coyote Hills is the older amazing that the tiny insects could no grass, no flowers. At least there formation and younger basaltic lavas carry a stone equal to its own size. It were no blossoms at the time we were covered them and have since weather- was noted that the larger pebbles were there but there undoubtedly are some ed away from the tops of the hills, around the edge of the hill. flowers and grass beneath the bushes leaving cuestas of basalt around the Evidently the feldspar has weather- in the spring. Yet there are places in rhyolitic center dome, with basaltic ed out from ledges or outcrops of ba- this desert country where one sees the lavas extending out over the plains salt. But these formations have long lovely little evening primrose, its big (our sunstone locality). since been leveled and no indication white, pink-tinged petals open full to The accompanying map is an ac- of their existence remains in the sandy, the heat of the sun, closing towards curate guide to the locality, but if eel- brushy plains. Basaltic outcrops show, sunset. lectors are in doubt they may always however, in the sides of the gully and To the west, very distant, is a long, get accurate directions at Plush. The there is evidence that men have at one blue-gray range of mountains; to the field is limited, but the ants are busy time mined there. In fact they say east, almost equally distant, is Hart day after day mining new gems for this place was once well posted with Mountain and Bluejoint Rim, one of those who come this way.

DECEMBER, 19 4 9 11 Abandoned Desert Home

By EDITH RUTENIC MCLEOD Klamath Falls, Oregon Somebody once lived in this wind-gutted house, Surrounded by sagebrush and restless sand; Somebody's dreams were built about His home in this western desert land. But the end of the cycle of green drew nigh, And the summer sun blazed hot in the sky. His life-giving well and springs dried up, And he drained to the dregs a bitter cup. Drought and demanding want defied, He struggled on though hope had died; As cattle grew gaunt and grain scorched in the sun And the desert laughed aloud "I've won". With twitching fingers the desert tore At roof, foundation, window and door; 'Till in laughing fury it tore apart Not only a home—but somebody's heart. STRANGE LAND By VALDA CAMMACK Tecopa, California Death Valley In Memoriam Can you judge before you know? Can you say before you go? By JOHN WHITAKER NORMAN and DORIS NEVILLS Menlo Park, California "There's nothing here but dying land, Oh rock ribbed tresses of the earth (Victims of an Airplane Crash Struggling brush, blinding sand." September 19, 1949) Once torn from this great deep declivity Have you lived and loved as I, Thrusting your serried peaks ahigh By HOLLIS T. GLEASON Out on this desert where secrets lie? As if to reach the blue infinity Cohasset, Massachusetts Do you know of the beauty that comes Of that vast turquoise and azure dome Mid the whirl of seething waters, with the years, The home of man's Divinity In the echoes of the canyons The little flowers' call for heaven's tears? What did you skattle from, what turmoil Where the wren with notes deep descending Do you know of the strangely colored rock? Within the breast of mother earth Fills the air with sparkling music, Little trails where wild things walk? Would cause you such unrest? We revere the lustrous manhood Do you know the sunset's golden glow, To wrest apart your agate flanks Of our peerless Norman Nevills, On the hidden spring where waters flow? Your marble shanks to twist in torment Boatman of the Colorado, Like the damned, or Heaven's thrice Rider of the San Juan Rapids. Have you seen the earth change with the accursed. rays of the sun, We may view his face no longer, From a rose-casted hill to a blue-purpled What scalding torrents purged thy veins Tawny sinews of his shoulders, one? To scorch the very tissues of your heart? As he plies the heavy oar-blades Think before you say, "I like it not." What great sobs shook your breast Down the surging rock-strewn torrent, Remember the happiness to the knower And tore your body clear apart? As he rides the wild white horses it's brought. With his "Yogi" shout of triumph, And then Hell's flame came up Bringing in his boat to haven DESERT* RAINS To melt and cement thee Nestling safe beside the willows. By HAZEL PHILIPS TREIBLE Into a skeletal flow'r Inglewood, California For man in awe to scan Nor will Doris Nevills greet us The desert stretches past our view Aghast, at thy great tortured majesty! With but a lonely bush or two • e • At the ending of our journey With her sunny smile of welcome To act as shady bowers. THE DESERT AT NIGHT As the boats lodge in their cradles; And on this far-flung sandy space By KATHERINE BUOY KEENEY But the spirits of these true ones Of desert flowers, there's not a trace, To cheer our passing hours. Portland, Oregon Shall live on with us forever In the days and years to follow But gentle falling winter rain Out in the silence of the desert night, Will make the desert bloom again Born of its solitude, the cacti stand In the land of the hereafter. Arms lifted prayerfully. The granuled With myriad, lovely flowers sand That only once a year are found Lies motionless beneath the stars' dim light. Upon this dry and barren ground— The new moon's sickle gleams slim And freed by magic showers. silver-white Warp & Woof As earthward falls a star—a shining DESERT'SPEAKS By PAUL WILHELM brand By TANYA SOUTH Cleft from a starry sheaf by Luna's Thousand Palms, California hand. 'Tis what is closest to your heart To you who find my door—from friend and The watching cacti eye its soundless flight. That forms your warp and woof of home Fate. Exiled from all but dreams—these sands to Its radiance fades ... is lost ... it Not work alone, but, too, the part roam; disappears That dreams and love can instigate. Then, Comrades, come! and find the un- As desert heralds now proclaim the dawn: named thing A serpent swift uncoils its length No outer Influence can guide At edge of your immortal wanderings, and makes Your soul to grasp the greater Laws, The quest forever unattained, your flame Strange hieroglyphics on the sand. One hears Save you within are keeping stride, Shall bare the essence of my lovely name— The chirp of sleepy birds' low antiphon. For highest purpose, finest cause. White Beauty!—burning fire of my sand A pale glow rims the hills . . . soul, the desert wakes! Itself your vision and itself your goal!

12 THE DESERT MAGAZINE Left—Russell Johnson (left) and George Palmer Putnam along the old trail that leads up Cottonwood canyon.

Below—High up in the Panamints the riders found a valley with a fine forest of Joshua trees.

During the 100 years which have elapsed since the gold- seekers of '49 faced thirst and starvation in Death Valley many good roads have been constructed and facilities provided for the comfort of thousands of visitors annually. But much of the Death Valley Monument is still inac- cessible to the motorist—and it is for the purpose of making Desert Magazine readers better acquainted with more remote areas of the Monument that this story is written. Panamint Pack Trip . . .

By RANDALL HENDERSON provide meat for the famished emi- Stove Pipe Wells hotel up Cotton- grants. in December, 1849, William wood creek and then over the summit B. Roods stopped beside a There are springs in the Panamint and down one of the forks of LeMoigne mountains, but in 1849 white men canyon. large lava boulder near the base were totally ignorant of the region, of the Panamint mountains on the west The Putnams, George and Peg, with and the straggling emigrants from east an associate, purchased Stove Pipe side of Death Valley, California, and of the Rockies knew not where to look carved his name and the date. Wells hotel in the heart of Death Val- for them. ley two years ago. It was while ex- Roods was a young member of a But the Jayhawkers, the Manly-Ben- ploring in the Panamint range west wagon-train of California bound gold- nett party, the Georgians, the Missis- of the hotel that George discovered seekers who turned south at Salt Lake sippi boys, Captain Towne's company the scenic beauty of the Cottonwood City to avoid the snows in the high and the Wade party—these are the country, with its fine stream of water Sierras, and tried to reach the gold names given by historians to the sep- flowing from a spring near the head of fields by a more southerly route. They arate groups which made up the band nearly perished in the sterile Amar- the canyon. There he hopes to de- of more than 100 men and women and velop wintertime pack trips, using sev- gosa, Death Valley and Panamint Val- children who crossed Death Valley in ley region. eral alternative routes to and from the 1849-50 — finally won their way Cottonwood headwaters, a rarity in Roods and his companions were in through in spite of the hardships. entertainment for Death Valley vis- desperate need of water and feed for I first saw Roods Rock in May this itors. their oxen. Some of the animals had year when I accompanied George Pal- George invited me to join him on a died, and others had been killed to mer Putnam on a two-day ride from two-day reconnaissance that would in-

DECEMBER, 1949 13 canyon shortly after we entered it, we saw the dim figures of some Indian petroglyphs. Being an exposed surface they were badly weathered and could be identified only at close range. Cottonwood is a wide open type of canyon with a sandy floor and not much vegetation. A jeep could make the trip over much of the route we covered the first day. Occasionally the hills would close in and form a precip- itous portal, but even in these rocky gateways there were no great accumu- lations of boulders such as are found in many of the desert barrancas. Desert holly grows plentifully here, and we saw an occasional barrel and beavertail cactus. Other species in flower at the time of our trip were salmon mallow, phacelia, potato flower, Mojave aster and Indian paint brush. Higher up, indigo bush was a mass of purple blossom. The hillsides were covered with boulders, browned by desert varnish, and many outcroppings of basalt were Inscription left on a lava rock on the west side of Death Valley by a passed along the way. This is one of member of the Jay hawker party 100 years ago. the few canyons in the Death Valley area where prospectors have found few elude not only Cottonwood but some For an hour we rode across the level minerals to interest them. of the other little-known canyons of floor of Death Valley, and then began We were taking a short cut across a the Panamint range. This ride—it a gentle ascent of a rock-strewn ba- wide sweep of the canyon, following a turned out to be about forty miles— jada to the entrance of Cottonwood trail over a boulder-covered bench, would take us above the 5000-foot canyon 12 miles northwest of Stove when we heard our first rattler. He level, and we arranged it in May when Pipe Wells hotel. was coiled beneath a bush and as we the wildflowers at the higher eleva- At some point along that ride we did not dismount we got only a partial tions would be at their best. crossed the route followed by the Jay- view of him, but there was no mistak- I drove to Death Valley by way of hawker party 100 years ago this ing the buzz that came from the shrub. Trona and the new highway then under month. It was just a few miles to the Russell thought it was a side-winder, construction but now completed, by southwest that William Roods had and I expressed the view that it was way of Wildrose canyon. When I stopped to chisel his name in the lava too big for that species. We agreed on told Ann and George Pipkin at Wild- boulder. one point—that it was not petrified. rose service station about our Cotton- On the limestone north wall of the Later we saw a 3-foot king snake wood plans, Ann exclaimed: "That's the canyon where the petri- This stone house still stands in the ghost mining camp in LeMoigne canyon. fied snakes are found." Then she explained that one of the prospectors had assured her he had seen stone reptiles along Cottonwood. "Sounds like one of Hard Rock Shorty's tales," George remarked when I arrived at Stove Pipe a few hours later and asked him about the fossilized reptiles. "We will probably see some rattlers—but I am not planning to add them to my rock collection." The sun had not yet appeared over the Funeral Range to the east when we started our trek the next morning. We had a pack animal to carry light bedrolls and food for two days. Rus- sell Johnson, our guide and packer, works for the Rock Creek Pack Train in the Sierras during the summer. In winter Herb London, who heads the outfit, keeps a string of horses at Stove Pipe Wells for guest horseback riding, with packing for adjacent mines on the side.

14 THE DESERT MAGAZINE The spring in upper Cottonwood canyon has been a George Palmer Putnam, author and traveler, who with watering place for prospectors and cowboys for 75 years. his wife Peg now operates Stove Pipe Wells hotel. wriggling up the sandy slope to avoid said to be the first road through the to put my dream into practice. A doz- being stepped on by the horses. Panamints, came this way in the 'seven years ago, with book publishing be- At noon we stopped in the shade enties. Supplies were hauled through hind me, I came to California and of a basalt wall for lunch, and early here to the Gold Belt mining district found a unique home in the Sierra in the afternoon came to the first to the northwest. The road has not at 8300 feet altitude." trickle of water—three miles below the been used for many years and has all "And how about Death Valley?" I spring. From this point on we thread- but disappeared. asked him. ed our way among the cottonwoods Water comes to the surface here in George chuckled. "A friend of mine which gave the canyon its name. seepages over an area of four or five says that I read a book I had written At three in the afternoon we came acres, and we found excellent pasture and believed it." to a dense grove of cottonwoods and for the stock along the creekbed. Anyway, the Putnams ended up willows—and one of the finest springs The elevation at the springs is 3700 owning Stove Pipe Wells hotel. in the Death Valley area. In years feet, and that night we found it neces- "It seems," said George, "that the past this place has served both as a sary to crawl inside our sleeping bags desert attracts a very high type of cattleman's camp and a miner's water- for warmth, despite the fact that the human beings. Most of our guests are hole. Bev Hunter still runs some temperature during the day had been eager, thoughtful people who are in- stock here although it is within the above 90 degrees. terested in many things—not the least boundaries of the Monument. He was George Putnam as publisher-writer- of which is the art of living full and here befare the Monument was estab- explorcr-soldier and world traveler has expanding lives. At the Stove Pipe lished in 1933 and thereby acquired included many interesting assignments we entertain camera clubs, mineral so- certain squatter's rights. in his busy life, and as we relaxed by cieties, artists, naturalists and just plain Two cabins in a bad state of repair the campfire I asked him about some desert enthusiasts—and it is like a con- were unoccupied. In a little cove near of his experiences. tinuous house party." the spring is a well-concealed corral, "Everyone who is not shackled sol- In addition to his former book-pub- said to have been used in years past idly to the city," said George, "at some lishing activities (as head of G. P. Put- by rustlers who found this remote time nurses a dream that he'll get nam's Sons of New York and London), spring a good hideout. A wagon road, away from the pavements. I contrived George is the author of ten volumes

DECEMBER, 1949 15 of his own, as well as collaborating the discovery of Death Valley 100 alties on the book "We", and in the in the preparation of a score of other years ago war he was with the first B-29s, with books. The best seller among his own The Putnam travels haven't been 16 crossings of the famous Hump be- titles was "Soaring Wings", the biog- confined to deserts. George headed tween China and India. "That was at 23,000 feet altitude," he told me. raphy of his former wife, Amelia Ear- three major Arctic expeditions. He 1 hart,'who met death in a tragic flight was identified with many famous "It sort of makes our Sierra seem in around the world in 1936. "Hickory flights (on his office wall hangs a pic- significant." Shirt" is the title of a recently pub- ture of Lindbergh, below it a canceled This globe-trotting desert convert lished novel, fiction backgrounded on cashed check for $100,000, first roy- has had his share of tropic expedition- ing as well, and with all that wealth of varied experience behind him, he has chosen for his home Death Valley for the winter and the Sierra for the Here's the monthly I. Q. test for summer! the desert fraternity. But you TRUE OR FALSE do not have to live among the Next morning we were up at day- dunes and cacti to make a passable score. The questions cover a wide break, and by 6:45 Russell had the range of subjects—history, geography, Indians, minerals, botany and the horses saddled and packed. We climb- general lore of the desert country. These monthly lists of questions are ed out of Cottonwood canyon and designed both as a test of knowledge for the desert student, and as a gained altitude steadily, heading for course of instruction for those who would like to become better acquainted a high ridge to the south. A few miles with the Southwest. 12 tp 15 is a fair score. 16 to 18 is superior. Only out of camp, as we crossed a plateau, super folks ever do better than 18. Answers on page 37. we saw a lone Joshua tree, and then more and more of them appeared. To- ward noon we passed through one of 1—The floor of Death Valley is below sea level. True False the finest Joshua forests I have seen. Although the season was late, some 2—Some of the richest placer gold strikes in the Southwest have been of them were still in blossom. made in sand dunes. True False Russell, leading the way, selected 3—Geronimo was a notorious Navajo war chief. True False easy grades for the horses but our course was always to higher elevations. 4—The Mormon leader Joseph Smith never saw the Great Salt Lake. Going up a sandy arroyo we heard the True False buzz of another rattlesnake. After 38 5—The.largest city visible from the summit of Charleston, Nevada, is years on the desert, I still feel my Las Vegas. True False pulse quicken when I hear that warning signal. 6—A rattlesnake held up by the tail cannot strike. True False The snake was in a thicket and we 7—Papago Indians of Arizona harvest the fruit of the Saguaro cactus could not see it. I wanted to find out for food. True False what species of rattler we were meeting in the Panamints so we dismount- 8—Salt River valley in Arizona gets its irrigation water from the Colorado ed. We poked around in the thicket river. True False but got only a fleeting glimpse of the reptile until Russell got his lariat from 9—Ranchers along the shores of the Salton sea use the sea water for do- the saddle and threw a loop over the mestic purposes. True...... False bush and pulled it away. The mark- 10—The University of New Mexico is at Santa Fe. True False ings were those of the prairie rattler, which is generally about three feet 11—Pioche is the name of a historic mining town in Nevada. True long. This one was about 2Vz feet. False Toward noon we made a steep as- 12—Organ Pipe National Monument in Southern Arizona derives its name cent to the top of the ridge which had from the fluted rocks in that area. True False been our goal all morning. The wind was blowing but we found shelter in 13—The Jicarilla Indian reservation in New Mexico belongs to the a natural park of juniper trees and Apaches. True False stopped for lunch. My altimeter 14—The famous Palm Canyon near Palm Springs, California, is a Na- showed an elevation of 6700 feet as tional Monument. True False we crossed the ridge. Heat waves simmered on the floor 15—Feldspar is a harder mineral than calcite. True False of Death Valley far below—but on the 16—Ocotillo is a species of cactus. True False rim of the bowl the air was dry and cool, and many species of wild flowers 17—Mark Twain once worked on a newspaper in Virginia City, Nevada. were at the peak of their blossoming. True False From the ridge we zig-zagged down 18—The junction of the Green and Colorado rivers is in Utah. True into a rocky canyon which has neither False a trail nor an official name. The ter- rain was so rough we walked and led 19—Woodpeckers sometimes make their homes in Saguaro cactus. the horses much of the way. We were True False in one of the tributaries of LeMoigne 20—The famous Lost Dutchman mine has been found and is now a large canyon. gold producer. True False John LeMoigne, for whom it was named, is said to have been a Basque. His property in LeMoigne canyon ap-

16 THE DESERT MAGAZINE ;<

Cottonwood springs is a lovely oasis of cottonwood and willow trees at an One of the signs erected when elevation of 3700 feet. Cottonwood canyon was used by freighters. parently was in its heyday about 1900- nam quotes Charlie Walker as the Valley. Seven miles to the south we 1910. The top seems to have been daddy of the idea. Said Charlie: could see the checking station which about 1905-06-, which was just about "What you're most after when you the Park Service maintains at the the time that Rhyolite reached its peak. go fishing is to have a rest and be away Townes Pass entrance to the Monu- There is a story, not authenticated, from worries. The valley's perfect for ment. But we had one more interest- that John was offered a certified check that. Your fly won't get caught in ing side trip to make before complet- for $35,000 for his property. He would the willows. You won't get your feet ing our trek. have none of it. He wanted cash or wet, or tuckered out chasing along George and Russell led the way nothing. He didn't believe in banks. some danged stream to find a better over the rocky bajada to the place John's life ended near a large bunch pool. And there'll be no fish to clean." where W. B. Roods of the Jayhawkers of mesquite where Salt Creek comes This canyon was once the scene of left a permanent record of their his- out of the hills into the floor of the a mining boom, and a lead property toric journey 100 years ago. Erosion Valley. That location is about the in one of the tributaries is still being has dimmed the lettering, but it is still central part of the Valley, perhaps worked. We saw many runnels and readable. History records that Roods ten miles South of Stove Pipe Wells shafts in the sidewalls of the lower reached the California goldfields, and hotel. Near his body were the skele- canyon, with some old equipment still many years later another quest for tons of his horses. in place. Every niche and cove where gold led him to the placer strike at La There are still many canyons and a cabin could be built above the flood Paz on the Colorado river opposite peaks in the Death Valley Monument channel of the arroyo was cluttered the present Palo Verde valley intake. which have no place names, but I un- with ruins of makeshift dwellings which He was drowned in an accident at derstand the Park Service is filling in once housed a considerable mining Ehrenberg, seven miles downstream these blanks as they gain information, camp. from the gold camp, in 1871. and eventually a good place-name map Here, buried in a little known can- From Roods Rock we followed a of the Monument will be published. yon in the Panamints are the ghost straight course toward the checking I was amazed at the dexterity with ruins of camps unique in the Death station where the horses are corralled, which our horses made their way over Valley region. Because they are ac- and completed the journey back to and among the boulders in the canyon. cessible only by jeep or horseback Stove Pipe Wells by car. "My horse will go anywhere I can these ruins are seldom visited, and Visitors in Death Valley today stay travel without using my hands or the apparently unnamed. I was sorry we close to the hard road and very prop- seat of my pants," Russell told me. did not have time to explore the old erly so, for the quest for mineral wealth The packer said he believed this mine dumps for the galena specimens has brought death to many who were gorge was known to some as Waterfall which no doubt are to be found there. lured off the established trails. But as canyon. However, the name does not Just below this camp we passed a the roads are extended in future years appear on any of the maps I have and the trails improved and riding seen, and we found not a drop of water third and last rattler. It was in a stock more easily obtained, the Pana- on the way down. Despite the aridity hurry to find a hiding place in the mints and other ranges bordering of Death Valley one of the prospectors rocks, and we did not dismount. Death Valley will assume increasing has suggested that it be played up as Then we emerged on the great ba- importance to those who come to this a fishing resort. In his book Death jada that slopes from the toe of the fascinating desert region for winter Valley and Its Country, George Put- Panamints down to the floor of Death recreation.

DECEMBER, 1949 17 Drums of Christmas Pom Poms at Christmas . . .

By DOROTHY L. PILLSBURY I wait for hours sniffing the good In the bleak wintry hills of smell of chile flavored cookery seep- Photographs Courtesy New Mexico northern New Mexico the Span- ing out from village kitchens. Evident- State Tourist Bureau ish-Indian villagers have their ly, as has so often "happened, the ru- own unique rituals for the ob- mor was a false alarm. I am about to HRISTMAS in northern New Mex- servance of Christmas—in which make a dash for home when I hear ico is like no other Christmas Santa Claus plays no part. the wail of a couple of fiddles on the on earth. It comes in to the pom- other side of the plaza. Down the vil- pom of Indian drums and the wail of up and down the Rio Grande will lage street, above the whistle of the fiddles in remote Spanish villages. Ev- start pounding the drums about mid- wind and the bleating of the sheep, ery year I vow I will stay in my snug night of Christmas Eve. The memory comes the sound I've been waiting for adobe house on the outskirts of Santa of those drums and fiddles works a —fiddles, guitars and voices lifted in Fe and keep Christmas according to kind of magic. It is irresistible. an old Spanish hymn. my own customs. There, pinyon logs Led by the vaguest of whispers, I blaze in a bee hive shaped corner fire- find myself on the afternoon before A boy in worn overalls, sheepskin place. I have a good old fashioned Christmas in some Spanish village jacket and wide brimmed black felt Christmas tree and a mountain of tis- tucked away in the mountains. It has hat leads a long-eared burro. So that sue wrapped packages. I vow I will been a wild ride to get there, over you may know that he is St. Joseph, not get mixed up with a lot of Indians narrow icy roads with the wind screech- a carpenter's kit is fastened to his bony stamping their pagan rituals, nor will ing down from the snowy peaks. Noth- little shoulders. On the burro's back I give in to the attraction of Spanish ing seems to be happening in the squat rides the prettiest girl in the village. medieval processions in snow swept little houses huddled cheek by jowl She is wrapped in a bright blue shawl. mountain villages. around the wintry plaza. Sheep baa On her head is a tinsel crown from But I go almost every year. Some- in wattled corrals. A boy brings in which floats a veil made from a window one hears in a round about way that a load of cedar wood on the back of curtain. What with the mile high winds they are giving Los Pastores in Tram- a protesting burro. The air is full of howling around, she has to clutch it pas or Mora or some other village. the fragrance of wood smoke from frantically to keep it from floating off It is rumored that half a dozen pueblos dozens of fat little chimneys. into space.

18 THE DESERT MAGAZINE Roads that lead through snow to . . . Behind the burro come many of the order house togs. A few frayed ban- there any room for Mary and Joseph?" villagers—women swathed like sibyls ners snap in the wind. he asks in Spanish. Always the door in long black shawls, men eclipsed by The boy hammers on first one blue is slammed in his face and the pro- big felt hats, youngsters in their mail painted door and then another. "Is cession trudges on along the snow ... a remote Mexican village tucked away in the hills.

DECEMBER, 1949 in some sly digs at the village drunk or the maiden too free with her charms. As a climax, up pops the devil, himself. He wears black tights with a long black tail to which are fastened packs of firecrackers. They go off from time to time as a kind of emphasis to sonorous Spanish lines. No matter how many times they have heard the pop-pop of firecrackers, the youngsters squeal and duck under their mothers' black shawls. If an actor forgets his wordy part, the audience to a man can prompt him, which they do vociferously. A holy hermit armed with a corn- cob cross comes to the rescue of the shepherds, but he gets nowhere with the devil. It is not until the archangels, Gabriel and Miguel, appear on the scene that the shepherds get under way. The warrior angel, Miguel, with a great spread of chicken feather wings finally runs his shining sword through his satanic majesty. Screaming vile Spanish curses the evil one plunges into a red calico hell and it serves him right. Guitars and fiddles break into hymns of victory as actors and audience and the archangels Gabriel and Miguel move on to a manger scene in the village church. By all rights I should go home, but a glance at my watch shows me that with good luck I can make it across country to my favorite Indian pueblo They usually get started a little before midnight. By now I am so completely bewitched that I don't even remember that I have a warm comfortable home with a deserted Christmas tree beside it. I plunge again into a cold pitch black world. The roads are an indis- An Indian drummer heralds the arrival of Christmas. tinct spider web leading nowhere through snow drifts and faint tracks. heaped plaza. At last, almost at the The calico curtain parts to show Some way I make it and stumble shiv- end of the village, a hospitable door shepherds sitting around a camp fire. ering into an ancient church built by stays open. "Enter, enter," urges the As many of the villagers are shep- Franciscans for the Indians. I push owner, ''my house is yours." herds in real life, they wear their work- open a massive hand carved door. In- The whole procession takes him at ing clothes. But to make sure no one side, it is colder and danker than it his word and crowds into the low ceil- misses the point of their calling, they was outside and almost dark. A pot- inged, thick walled little room. A table carry shepherds' crooks twined with bellied iron stove glows red in a dark with mountainous piles of blue corn garlands of home-made paper flowers. corner, but seems to have no effect tortillas, caldrons of red beans cooked Suddenly appears the Star of Bethle- on the temperature of the room. A with chile, and platters of little fried hem enacted by a coal oil lantern pro- few candles in tin holders waver along pies, invites a feast. Then there is pelled in jerks along a wire overhead. the massive whitewashed walls. singing of a decidedly secular nature No one minds if the Star gets stalled in The floor is hard packed adobe and and the swish of feet in old world its majestic course and a halt has to be there is no stool to sit on. I prop my- dances with the fiddles and guitars called for the services of a villager with self against a damp thick wall in the humming like bumble bees. a pair of pliers. After a great deal of midst of other shadowy spectators. We When night sifts down, black as a poetic conversation the shepherds de- wait and wait and nothing happens. crow's wing, every one shivers his way cide to follow the Star. My bones congeal along that ancient wall. My lungs choke with the mingled across the plaza to the one room adobe From then on for hours, in resound- school house. Here is given Los odor of dank air, candle grease, worm ing Spanish couplets, goes on the old eaten timbers and stale incense. •Pastores—The Shepherds—a mystery struggle between good and evil. Ev- Then faintly comes the pom-pom of play so old it has come down by word erything gets in the way of the shep- drums from the direction of the kiva of mouth from father to son like a herds following the Star. This gives sunk in the bowels of the earth across family heirloom. the village poet a good chance to get the plaza. Slowly the deep rumble 20 THE DESERT MAGAZINE of raw hide drums comes closer and closer. The great door swings open. Eight drummers abreast come pounding into the old church. I have heard that sound a dozen times but it always sends prickles up and down my spine. Forty or fifty chanters bob around the drums and sing Indian chants that make the Spanish hymns I have just heard seem positively modern. A couple of hundred moccasined feet stamp the hard packed adobe in precise rhythm. The drums never stop. Gourds rattle out the tempo like the wash of tide along a pebbly shore. Tawny fox skins fly out behind bronze hips. Green and yellow parrot feathers bob on blue-black top-knots. Candle gleam picks up the raw pig- ment of a blue shirt, a purple or cherry- red shawl. It sparkles on an abalone shell, it glints in silver belts and swaying turquoise necklaces. My mind is in a state of confusion over pagan dances being given in a Christian church. This dance I know is being given to honor the change in solstice, to help the year on its way toward sunnier skies, longer days and seed planting time. I give the usual gasp when the great altar that has been but a blacker shadow in the gloom, suddenly flowers with scores of lighted candles. Indians who but a moment ago have been dancing their ancient ceremonials, drop to their knees. A priest intones the Mass. The trans- formation is sudden and breath taking. Toward morning I return to my own comfortable lodging. Next day I turn up the thermostat and make endless cups of coffee. I am still dazed. My Christmas tree looks silly and I do not know whether Aunt Adelaide gave me that tissue wrapped package or Someone Important. I vow never again! But I know in the bottom of my heart that come another Christmas — come wind, come snow, come black of night—I will be out in it again. My ears hold the pom- pom of Indian drums and the wail of Shine Smith, center, provided gift clothing and food for 900 Navajos at Shonto last year. fiddles as a conch shell holds the roar McLaughin photo. of the sea.

Shine Smith's Christmas Party . . . In the early days of his ministry he dians love him and the Whites respect those who can afford to make contri- was known as the Reverend Hugh him. butions. Used but serviceable cloth- Dickson Smith. But on the Navajo Last year Shine gave a Christmas ing, food, fruit, candy for the chil- reservation where he has been a free party at Shonto trading post in the dren—anything that a Navajo child or lance missionary for the last 30 years heart of the western reservation. Nine adult can use or enjoy is acceptable. he is known only as "Shine." To the hundred Navajos received gifts of Those who would contribute to the clothing and food which Shine had Monument Valley Christmas party may Indians he is a brother, always ready collected from generous Americans. send their packages or money to Shine and willing to do what he can to make This year Shine is planning another Smith, Flagstaff, Arizona. That is all their lot a little easier. He never Christmas party—for the Navajo in the address needed, for Shine is the preaches to them. His is a ministry of Monument Valley. Its success will best known and loved citizen in north- good deeds and kind words. The In- depend entirely on the generosity of ern Arizona.

DECEMBER, 1949 21 Goldfield, Nevada ... The old Jumbo mine, which back in 1914 produced $2,500,000 worth of gold but has been worked only intermittently since, may soon be back in Aguila, Arizona ... Eureka, Nevada ... operation. Work has already started The new 200-ton mill being built by Carrying out a recommendation of to put the old Jumbo Extension into the Associated Mining Company at Ira B. Joralemon, one of the nation's shape to be worked. Martin C. Duffy Aguila is expected to be in operation leading geologists, the Eureka Corpor- is owner of the property. — Goldfield by the first of 1950, according to A. L. ation, Ltd., plans to seek ore above News. Poarch, general manager. The plant the 2,250 level of the ill-fated Fad • • • will mill copper, gold, silver and some shaft sunk by the company with disas- Goldfield, Nevada ... lead and zinc—mostly from the Bul- trous results in property near Eureka. Although approved earlier by the lard mine 12 miles northeast of Aguila. The geologist's report incorporated a Senate, the O'Mahoney price incentive Associated has the mine under lease.— four-stage development program plus bill, designed to help small mines in the Wickenburg Sun. an explanation of the factors that caus- West, was killed at least until next ed flooding of the original shaft.— session of congress when the house • • • Eureka Sentinal. Big Bear Valley, California ... failed to pass the measure. Support- • • • ers of the bill in the house hope to Tanned and healthy at 98, Prospector Kelsey. California ... bring it up for a vote early next year. Jim Erwin still hopes to find his pot of El Dorado county and Placerville, its The measure provides that the govern- gold in the rugged San Bernardino ment shall match dollar for dollar with mountain country. An old-time In- leading city, are buzzing with news of dian fighter, Erwin came to Big Bear another gold strike at the now famous the mining operator in paying expenses valley in 1884, is believed to be the Alhambra mine near Kelsey. The lat- of underground work. — Goldfield oldest living resident of the area. He was est big strike has been estimated at News. a foreman at the old Lucky Baldwin $100,000. The Alhambra always has • • • mine. He still walks five miles to his produced large quantities of high grade Aztec, New Mexico ... mining property, has spent the last 65 ore, in many cases almost pure gold. Bringing in of a new gas well west years in San Bernardino county. — It is a shallow mine. The property is of Aztec has centered interest on an Battle Mountain Scout. controlled by a Hollywood group, area that has long been neglected, but O. H. Griggs is manager.—California lease hunters are out in force now try- Mining Journal. ing to tie up holdings. The big gasser Mariposa, California ... • • • was brought in by Southern Union at Rifle, Colorado... 5,280 feet. The company has two Discovery of radioactive ore of un- more tests underway. The producing known quantities in the heart of the In an experimental run recently made well is said to have an extremely wet Mother Lode country famed in the by the bureau of mines 29,835 tons of gas flow.—Aztec Independent. 1849 gold rush has been reported by oil shale were mined at a cost of 32.9 Dr. Frank Tiffany, atomic scientist. cents a ton at a test mine near here. In • • • Dr. Tiffany said he found a uranium announcing results of the operation Hinkley, California ... vein in the High Sierra country which James Boyd, director of the bureau, A new perlite crushing plant is un- is adjacent to Yosemite National Park. stated that excellent progress is being der construction near Hinkley, Califor- He said the ore would run as high as made in the development of a low- nia, where perlite from nearby deposits eight percent. The find was on govern- cost method of extracting oil from the is to be crushed before being shipped ment property. Samples of the ore country's mammoth oil shale re- to ovens near Los Angeles for roasting. have been sent to the Atomic Energy serves.—Vernal Express. The plant is being built by Fred San- Commission.—Battle Mountain Scout. • • • tschi and associates. • • • • • • Reno, Nevada ... Silver City, Nevada ... Winnemucca, Nevada ... Nevada's old-time mining men are Discovery of an important gold- Noted for its output of fire opals, the waiting with some skepticism for con- silver vein on the 800-foot level of the Rainbow Ridge opal mine in Virgin firmation of a reported big new strike Keystone mine near Silver City has Valley, owned by Keith Hodson of in Alaska. First news of the strike been reported by W. J. Henley, presi- Mina, is again in operation. The fa- came in mid-October when a fisherman dent and manager of Dayton Consoli- mous Roebling opal in the Smithsonian stated he had found pea-sized nuggets dated Mines Company. Ore taken Institution at Washington, valued at in his fish trap near Fishwheel. Pros- from the drift averages $34 a ton. The $250,000 by collectors, was found at pectors and camp-followers already vein is directly below the ore body the Rainbow Ridge in 1919, was sold are flocking into the area, although being mined on the 700-foot level.— at that time for $1,500.—Los Angeles only a small quantity of gold actually has been taken from the gravel so far. Humboldt Star. Times. • • • • • • • • • Winnemucca, Nevada ... Goldfield, Nevada ... Goldfield, Nevada ... A mill with capacity of 50 tons of Expansion in the Deep Mines opera- Dodge Construction company has ore daily is to be installed next spring tion, involving a seven-day week mill- taken a 10-year lease on 14 placer at property of the Winnemucca Moun- ing program and reopening of another claims owned by Joe Andre and Tex tain Mines, officials have revealed. This shaft, has followed a recent visit to Rodgers. located originally in 1936 and decision followed operation of a pilot Goldfield ©f Fred Searls, president of worked intermittently since then. Pay mill for three months. The main Win- the Newmont Mining Corporation. dirt goes down from four to 20 feet nemucca Mountain property is said to Activity in the Goldfield area is soon with no overburden, and assays have contain a series of veins carrying gold, expected to be on a scale not seen for run from $1.50 to $28 a yard.—Gold- silver and copper.—Los Angeles many years.—Goldfield News. field News. Times.

22 THE DESERT MAGAZINE It is a back-breaking job, but no one has yet invented a machine which will make good Adobe Maker adobe bricks of clay and straw and water — and as far as Juan Castillo is concerned he doesn't care if they never invent one. He is quite of Scottsdale content to go along with the traditional methods — and he has raised a family of 12 children with the income of his trade.

By CHRISTINE B. MacKENZIE MY ADOBE HACIENDA, there's a touch of Mexico." There'll be more than a touch of Mexico if you build your adobe hacienda in or near Scottsdale, Ari- zona. In all probability your adobes will have been made by Juan Castillo and his crew of Mexican brick makers. They are the only 'dobe makers in that area and business always seems to be rushing. It is a time honored trade, for some of the earliest structures in the Southwest are built of these mud bricks. Juan and his family live on the edge of his adobe pit just outside of Scotts- dale. He has been making adobes in this community for 20 years. He is a good brick maker as the numerous structures in nearby communities, built from his blocks,- can attest. And he must be a good business man, too, for he has a wife and twelve children to support. Juan was a truck farmer in New Mexico before he migrated to Arizona. He cannot remember just why he got tired of truck fanning. He shrugs his shoulders and say plaintively, "Maybe not 'nough money, don't know." It certainly wasn't because he was afraid of hard work, because adobe making is not a job for a lazy man. In any case, he and his wife, Gre- goria, travelled westward and settled on Indian School road, a few miles outside of Phoenix. The place, known Juan Castillo and the tools of his trade — shovel, pickaxe, hoe and wooden as Old Man Lynn's ranch, had good mold for the bricks. clay for adobe making. He and his partners must have made a lot of The pit itself is roughly a large cir- and the wet mud worked on the lower adobes there, for when they finally cle, approximately 150 yards across. level. moved on they left a wide pit into It slants down easily at the near edge Stacks of dried adobes run off at which excess irrigation water is now so that a truck can drive into it for odd angles like walls with no place drained from the surrounding ranches. easier loading but the other three sides to go. Simple tools lie where they have It is now a pretty little lake with cot- are almost perpendicular and show the been dropped the day before and the tonwood trees swaying along the shovel marks where the workmen have wheelbarrow, the only modern addi- ditches at its edge. evened them off. tion to this ancient job, sets rakishly The Castillo family moved on, over The floor of the pit is kept very on its side. to the other side of town where there smooth and hard for the bricks are But shortly, the place takes on a was another good source of adobe clay molded on this surface and it must be more active look. Juan and his helpers, and better still, an abundant supply of even and level. The good clay goes Jesus Murquiga and Eluterio Gonzales, clear water to be pumped into the pit down ten or twelve feet before the first have arrived. The night before they as needed. Their house, nondescript layer of gravel. He worked over the had piled loose earth along the bank in shape, is built of course of adobe. whole area, so that it is about six feet of the second level and run a lot of The younger Castillos, their dogs and deep and is now starting another ex- water over it. It is now a mucky mass, kittens spill out of it into the warm cavating layer of three to four feet. evenly dampened and moist. One of sunshine. The bricks are made on the upper level the men starts chopping into it with a

DECEMBER, 1949 23 grubbing hoe. Soon the other man wheels up a load of straw thickly and odoriferously laced with horse manure. The animal content in the straw is important and it must be produced by a horse, for the resulting product when dried into the bricks acts as a better binder. "Not cow," says Juan briefly in his difficult English, and shaking his head disapprovingly, "No good!" He gets the needed straw and manure from a nearby horse stable, in never ending supply. The amount of straw used in pro- portion to the clay is not large, about two or three wheelbarrows full for enough mud to make a couple of. hundred blocks. Not that the Mexicans ever measure any of their amounts. Far from it, they just seem to know when it is right. The whole pile is chopped through many times and then left to stand for awhile until some of the moisture drains out. Usually the actual molding goes on in the afternoon. One man acts as molder and another keeps him supplied with the moist mud mixture. The painted mold is made of light lumber. Strips of surfaced lumber 4 inches wide by 1 inch thick are nailed into forms, 18 inches wide and 4 feet long. They are subdivided to make several adobes at a time. The bricks come in various sizes depending on their use in interior or exterior walls. They are all 18 inches long and 4 inches thick and can vary from 6 inches to 12 inches in width. The helper wheels up a load of mud, enough to fill the mold once at each trip. He dumps it into the mold and his partner squeezes this hard into each compartment with his knuckles making sure that the mud fills the corners. He wets his hand and smooths over the top. Then he scrapes about the top edges with his fingers so that the mold is free to be lifted up. As one of the Mexicans said, this is an important operation that can also break your back, as the wet clay takes a lift of about 50 pounds each time in order to get the mold off. By now, the man with the wheelbarrow is back with another load and the process is repeated, until row on

Top— Juan Castillo as the "mud- der" is mixing clay, manure and straw to a thick consistency in the adobe mud pit. Center — He dumps his load into the wet wood forms. Bottom — He wets his hands and then finishes off the top of the bricks by hand. 24 THE DESERT MAGAZINE row of adobes are laid out in the sun to dry. A crew of two men can turn out about 500 bricks a day and profits are shared equally. But Juan will remind you, it's a little early in the story to be talking about profits. The adobes must dry in the sun for several days before they can be piled in great stacks to bake longer in the hot, searing rays. Then they are lifted again onto the truck to be delivered at someone's building site miles away. It is back breaking work. Juan is thin and wiry, his dark skin leathery from the sun. His back muscles must be hard as granite from his years at his job. His older children, seven of the family are boys, help in the pit from time to time. The oldest boy, Joe, quit high school in Scotts- dale a year ago to drive the pick-up truck which delivers the bricks. His brothers help with the stacking and sometimes in preparing the clay. Folks who see this process for the first time invariably wonder why the job cannot be made easier with labor saving equipment and machinery. Jesus Corrall, the local building con- tractor, and spokesman for the Mexi- can community in Scottsdale, explained it like this: "Every once in a while," he said, "a would-be adobe maker will venture forth with a sure fire method for making good adobe blocks. The most popular belief among new- comers with an inventive mind is that the present adobe makers stick too much to the old methods. These post- war enterprising young men arm themselves with makeshift machinery and start out to become adobe magnates. After long delays and a lot of hard work, they decide that perhaps they should try some other occupation. "Adobe making," Corrall continued, "is strictly for men of brawn and pa- tience, men who are satisfied with the simpler things in life. In this occupation there is the risk of rainy weather, floods, cattle walking over the fresh adobes, lack of water, lack of custo-

Top — The mud is pounded into the forms with his fists, and any surplus removed.

Center—The wood forms are then removed and the bricks left to dry. After a few days they are turned on edge to complete the drying process. Bottom — This partially completed home on East Camelback road near Scottsdale shows how adobes are used in construction. Peeled pine poles are used for lintels and ceiling beams, protruding through the wall.

DECEMBER, 1949 25 mers, delay in payments. A man stays ous buildings in the Southwest can One excellent example of this type in business sometimes because he is testify. Even a heavy driving rain of construction is the Vivian Webb left very much to himself." doesn't bother well-dried adobe, par- chapel recently completed after ten Juan Castillo still works only when ticularly if it is protected with wide cor- years of work on the campus of Webb it pleases him, and if you order nices and eaves. To be sure, a badly School for Boys near Claremont, Cali- adobes from him, you'll get them when built drain which releases a little riv- fornia. This beautiful building clinging he gets around to it. He doesn't work ulet of water may cut a trench in the to the hillside from which the mud for in rainy weather because the adobes bricks. But you don't have to call in the bricks was dug, was a school pro- won't dry. He doesn't work in cold an expensive expert to repair it. Just ject. weather, because it's unpleasant to dig a little mud out of the garden and Every boy attending the school, laid handle the cold clay. Sometimes he start patching. one brick in it for sentiment's sake, and doesn't work in the heat of summer The ultimate proof of the durability many of the students worked on the days, although he and his crews might of adobe structures is the most famous building just for the fun of it in their work awhile in the cool of the nights one of them all, Casa Grande in the off hours. It was designed and super- during the hottest parts of the year. Casa Grande National Monument, vised by Mr. Webb, the headmaster of Usually, he doesn't labor on special maintained by the National Park Serv- the school. Here again, a Scottsdale Mexican fete days either. And best of ice. This massive structure, 32 feet in man had a hand in helping, for Henry all, it never seems to worry him height, was originally thought to have Robertson, a former pupil and later whether he's working or not. been built by the Hohokam tribe, the teacher at the school, assisted Webb I asked him about his competition. primitive residents of Arizona. Later greatly in the project. Juan shook his head and hesitated be- research has proved that it was actually No doubt Mr. Robertson has fore answering. Eventually he guessed the work of a tribe of Pueblo Indians watched Juan and his crew working in there was another family of adobe called the Salados who lived formerly their adobe pit many times. And well makers "about 50 or 75 miles away." in the upper stretches of the Salt River he might, for they are producing a But obviously it doesn't bother him. valley. They were forced by drouth and building material which is truly typical There's more business than he can take enemy attacks to move onward. They of the Southwest. Adobes cannot stand care of in his own area, Phoenix, eventually settled, built a fortified vil- the expansion and cracking of northern Scottsdale, Tempe and the surrounding lage, and constructed the Casa Grande frosts, but in the warm desert sunshine communities. adobe. they bake harder and become more He sells his brick in the 12 x 18 It is four stories high, and despite durable as the years pass. size for $66 a thousand, plus hauling the fact that it was built about 1350 charges figured by distance. A con- A.D., enough of the structure still tractor gets $85 a thousand for laying stands today to recognize its original FRANCISCANS OBSERVE 50TH them. At an average distance, the cost shape. Even the original plaster, a fine, ANNIVERSARY AT MISSION for adobe construction comes to about evenly applied caliche, is still clinging Franciscans monks at St. Michaels $180 a thousand. Twenty years ago, it to the interior walls, although it has mission on the Navajo reservation near was $30 a thousand. long since been washed away from the Fort Defiance recently observed the roof, floors and outer walls. Adobes are laid with a mortar of 50th anniversary of the founding of the mud, frequently right out of the yard The still sturdy Casa Grande should missionary outpost. where the building is being erected, convince even the most skeptical of the Fr. Berard Haile, who came to St. unless it happens to be too sandy. permanence of adobe as a building Michaels soon after it was founded, Heavy cross beams for doors and win- material. told the history of the mission to the dows are installed as the brick laying Actually, however, its history can be 1,000 visitors who were present to take progresses, the rest of the wood work traced even farther back than this. The part in the Golden Jubilee celebration. being added later. Egyptians and Babylonians knew how The venerated padre is a leading au- The exterior of the building is usu- to make mud bricks dried in the sun. thority on the Navajo language, having ally left as it is, or it can be stuccoed Spanish invaders of the New World, perfected an alphabet to meet the and the missionaries who followed unique requirements of the language. and painted. The interior walls can be them, brought the art of brick-making • • • left in their natural rough state, but to the Americans — and learned later are often smoothed down with slip, a that primitive Indians had been using CATFISH FARM NEW INDUSTRY mixture of clay and water. They can adobe construction long before Colum- ON INDIAN RESERVATION also be painted over with goat's milk bus crossed the Atlantic. The word or skim milk, which helps to keep What is said to be the world's largest adobe is from Spanish, meaning "to catfish farm is being installed along the them from sifting dust down on the plaster." floor. Some people even plaster and Colorado river near the old placer paint them. Juan Castillo's method of brick mak- mining camp of La Paz, according to ing differs very little from those early P. H. Hill, president of the Arizona In any case, adobes provide their Fish Farms, Inc. own insulation, and if you change your days. It suits him and his customers. mind about the shape of a window, But it should be mentioned that there Sixty 10-acre rearing ponds, of which for instance, it's easy enough to knock are modern improvements even for 38 are completed, are being excavated adobe bricks. with bulldozers on land leased from out a few more, muddy up the chinks the Colorado River Indian agency. r«ad proceed with your building. For instance, instead of using straw and manure as a binder, the bricks can Already 150,000 baby catfish have Visitors to the West who see these be made with a mulsified oil binder, been planted in the ponds, which are picturesque adobe homes dotting des- manufactured commercially. Made in designed to provide fish for the market. ert landscapes, invariably wonder how this fashion, adobes are waterproof According to Hill the best size for mar- they will stand up to weather and and can stand any amount of rain and ketable fish is one and one-half pounds. changing seasons, particularly the short sun. They get harder all the time. This Under normal conditions Hill said the periods of heavy rain. block is used in the damper parts of fish would grow a pound a year after They stand up very well, as numer- the Southwest. they are hatched.

26 THE DESERT MAGAZINE Death Valley in '49 . . . By J. WILSON McKENNEY Art sketch by Grim Natwick

wo LEAN WEARY MEN stood in ragged travel-soiled is studded with accounts of men who won their struggles buckskins, staring breathlessly at a distant group of with animalism to emerge serenely with the stature of 7wagons on the floor of Death Valley. They could noblemen. Such is the magnificent story of Death Valley see no movement around the wagons. Thoughts which in '49. Among records which came out of the epic mi- had plagued the men for endless days crowded this mo- gration of gold-seekers to California, the chronicle of the ment of suspense. Were their friends dead? Had the Manly-Bennett party looms large with the heroism of two Indians massacred the entire party? Had they tired of unselfish men: Manly and Rogers. waiting and struggled on afoot? One of the men fired a All accounts which came from the lips of pioneers warning shot. many years later dwelt on the hardships, the privations, Lewis Manly and John Rogers stood still, too faint the struggle and fear and ugly desperation of men caught from anxiety and emotion to step forward. Had their undefended in torture. While Manly did not exclude these arduous mercy mission been in vain? Their unspoken elements, he expressed a triumphant optimism, confidence question was soon answered. Suddenly a man came in the triumph of will, and a tenacity of purpose which from under one of the wagons, stood up and looked rose above the forces clutching at him. He rose as ma- around, then threw his hands over his head and shouted jestically as Telescope Peak rises above the sink of Bad "The boys are here! The boys have come!" The suspense Water. was over. A great train of 107 wagons, 350 people, and 500 head Out of the stories of tragic misadventure in Death Val- of livestock had started southwestward from Salt Lake ley during the winter of 1849, the account of the Manly- City, bound for the California gold fields. Greed and Bennett party's selfless chivalry and honor stands domin- impatience led to rapid cleavage as parties broke away antly above the record of smaller men who fled in panic to push forward eagerly. The Manly-Bennett party, led before the spectre of thirst and hunger in an unknown by Asabel Bennett, was one of the smaller groups left desert. far behind. It would have been enough for brave men and women Manly had served as a scout for the main party, had to struggle on through the weary days, tortured by need traveled on foot most of the time to scale mountains, had for food and water, uncertain of their route, and deserted located water holes and watched for Indians. Toughened by those who were able to travel faster. But this tiny by a life on the frontier, he was an experienced hunter group waited patiently for five painful weeks, confident and guide. He had fallen in with Mr. and Mrs. Bennett that "our boys" would return to deliver them from death probably because he was attracted by their three coura- How five men, two women, and four children spent geous little youngsters. over four months in an unguided journey across deserts Christmas 1849 had passed and the new year was and mountains from southern Utah to Los Angeles is approaching when the party crossed Death Valley and dramatically recounted in William Lewis Manly's book "Death Valley in '49", written in 1893. Manly's narrative is modest and his basic facts remained unchallenged by his contemporaries. History of exploration and achievement in the West

'"[hey could see no movement around the wagons. Had Indians massacred the entire party?

DECEMBER, 1949 27 reached the base of "the great snow-capped mountain." The four horses died on the return trip but a little There, in an exhausted group, it was decided that help desert burro carried its great pack almost gaily to the must be brought from "the settlements". desert camp and back to the green valleys. Manly re- Guidance was needed even more than food. They peatedly wrote his praise of the sturdy animal, calling it were lost but instinct drove them constantly westward. a mule. To the tear-brimming eyes of the Bennetts and It was this urge which caused the numerous splits and Arcanes, it was the most beautiful creature in the world. added toil and misery. They scaled a half-dozen ranges With the children loaded into grotesque pocket bags rather than turn to north or south. Not a wagon that on the back of Old Crump, a steady ox, the party started entered the Valley was brought out, yet every one could soon after Manly and Rogers returned. The guides voiced have been saved if they had gone south far enough. constant encouragement as they climbed a southern toe of It was decided that the two strongest men would go the Panamints. Pausing on the highest ridge, they looked forward on foot while the rest waited "not over ten days". back over the long narrow valley they had crossed and The selection was natural. Manly was 29 years old, the the wisp of smoke which marked the remains of their most fit. John Rogers was a large strong boy from Ten- wagon. In chorus they spoke the thought uppermost in nessee, steady and taciturn. They quickly packed most of their minds: "Good bye, Death Valley". Although history the dried meat from a lean ox in their back bags and shows that only one man of the entire '49 party actually walked out of sight, waving back to their friends. perished on the floor of the valley, the forbidding name How they nearly died of thirst but came at last into stuck. green valleys near where Newhall now stands is a tale A century has passed . . . plans laid in March by Death as exciting as the wildest fiction. The warm-hearted Valley 49ers Inc., developed during the summer into a Californians whom they met provided them with beans, spectacular centennial celebration commemorating the bread, beef, and horses. They turned back to the desert achievements described by Lewis Manly. A pageant will without rest. be presented this month in Death Valley which will seek Manly and Rogers might have chosen to remain in the to reenact parts of the fantastic story. green Paradise they had found. Probably there would If this year's glamorized pageant should escape total have been no survivor of the little party they had left authenticity, it will at least be a reminder that Death behind, to accuse them of cowardice. They had no blood Valley did not always boast paved highways, sign-posts, bonds which drew them back to the helpless people ma- and luxury hotels. rooned in the wastes. They were single men who had The modern traveler who experiences the mystic veil ridden with Bennett by accident. But their code would of enchantment which broods over the Valley will gain a not admit desertion for a moment; their only concern was new appreciation of its mystery and beauty. Certainly that they had already consumed 16 days to cover the Manly and Rogers a century ago had little mind or heart 250 miles which still separated them from completion of for the enjoyment of Nature's masterpiece, which the their mission. visitor today may explore without anxiety or danger.

The DESERT INN Hard Rock Shorty You'll enjoy the desert moie ... at Desert Inn, luxury resort of all Palm Springs. Life as you like it, carefree and informal ... in a 35-acre garden estate. Famous of for western hospitality, comfort, and wonderful food! 41st season under original owner- Death Valley ship and management of Nellie N. Coffman, Earl Coffman and George Roberson. "Yep, that popcorn growin' experiment o' Pisgah Bill's made a lot o' trouble," Hard Rock Shorty was saying to the tourists who had sought shade under the porch at Inferno store. "Billi had a Swede from Minnysota workin' fer him the summer he planted the corn. Name was Hanson. One day Bill sent him out to shuck a load o' that corn, up in Eight Ball crick where Bill had his patch o' garden. "That was one o' them sizzlin' days in July, 132 degrees. On the way back the Swede decided to climb under the wagon and cool off a bit. He went t' sleep, and while he was there a hot blast hit that corn and it started poppin'. "Guess he'd been dreamin' about them Minnysota blizzards, fer when he wope up he was buried seven feet deep in popcorn. He thought it was snow—an' froze to death before he got his senses back. We like to never got him thawed out enough to bury proper."

PALM SPRI NGS c A I F O R N I

28 THE DESERT MAGAZINE Navdjos Facing Hardships ... HOLBROOK— Outlook for the Navajo Indians of Arizona and New Mexico this winter is not good, according to Navajo Assistance, Inc., with headquarters in Gallup, New ARIZONA dicated he will attempt to get money Mexico. The organization cites these Indian Aid Measure Vetoed ... appropriated to start major features of circumstances: the program next year pending the time WASHINGTON—One of the most that new legislation can be written.— Educational opportunities are even highly controversial Indian measures less than last year's woefully-inade- ever to come before congress — the El Crepusculo. • • • quate facilities. Another reservation $88,000,000 Navajo-Hopi rehabilita- school has been closed instead of re- tion bill—was vetoed by President Tru- Annual Stock Show... man after long hearings in committee PHOENIX—New dates, January 4 opening some of the eight previously and extended debate in both houses. to 7, have been chosen for the annual closed. Navajos are allegedly denied Phoenix Stock show, which will fit in the relief benefits to which they are The Navajo Tribal council itself op- entitled. Off reservation employment posed the bill, and President Truman just ahead of the Denver show and is admitted he had been "greatly influenc- thus expected to attract a record num- opportunities are not favorable. In- ed by the attitude of the Navajo In- ber of Arizona and out-of-state exhibi- dians are not permitted to increase dians." Section 9 of the proposed bill, tors. Phoenix merchants will under- their flocks of sheep although Navajo- which would have brought the two write the show.—A jo Copper News. land had exceptionally heavy rainfall tribes under jurisdiction of state laws, • • • this summer and the grass is good.— was the main point of contention. At Wage War on Coyotes ... Holbrook Tribune-News. present the Indians are governed by SAFFORD—An attempt to exter- • • • federal and tribal laws. minate coyotes in southeastern Arizona May Build Katchina Village ... Broader aspects of the program, is underway because the wily desert which authorized money for education, dwellers are allegedly a menace to WIN SLOW —Construction of a water and range development, irriga- stock. State and federal agencies and Katchina Indian village as a tourist at- tion projects, roads and hospitals, met the San Carlos Indian Agency will traction in Winslow is being planned. with almost unanimous approval, but unite in a poisoning program. Exter- Articles of incorporation have been opponents claimed that the "many seri- mination of coyotes was attempted drawn up by a group backing the ven- ous defects" of the bill as finally ap- three years ago, but they are back in ture. First steps will be to obtain land proved out-weighed the merits of re- even larger numbers now. — Graham and begin construction of the "vil- mainder of the bill. Truman has in- County Guardian. lage."—Holbrook Tribune-News.

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DECEMBER, 1949 29 Tombstone May Be Restored ... TOMBSTONE — Seeking to recap- ture the appearance of the 1880's, leg- THE D€S€RT TRADING POST endary Tombstone may be restored to Classified Advertising in This Section Costs 8c a word, $1.00 Minimum Per Issue look like it did in the days when it was a booming mine town of the old West. INDIAN GOODS FLUORESCENT TURITELLA and other type Plan is to make the city a showplace, Paperweights, $2.50 each. Exclusive pattern. with emphasis on exteriors of build- DEAR CUSTOMERS: Sorry we have no catalog. Letter Openers $2.50 to $3.50. Clay Ledbetter, Because we handle Indian Artifacts and each 2126 McKenzie, Waco, Texas. ings, many of them actually built be- piece is distinctive, cost would be prohibitive. We have lots of old and new rugs, baskets, THE IDEAL GIFT: Three dimension, cactus fore 1890.—Tombstone Epitaph. jewelry and ceremonial things. Plenty of framed desert landscape, 6x8x2, $3.00; 8x13x2, rocks and minerals, gold specimens and nug- $5.00. The "Special" 10x20x2'/2, $10.00. • • • gets. We also have Chimayo blankets, coats Christmas specials, cactus covered wagon, and purses. We will be glad to ship. Tell us beautiful shade, regular $7.00, $4.95. Three Tackling Big Problem ... what you want and send the money. Daniel's dimension landscape, 5x6x1'/2, $2.00. Arizona Trading Post, 401 W. Foothill Blvd., Fontana, minerals, high color, 12, $1.00. All postpaid. WASHINGTON — Formation of a California. Diorama Studios, 1225 North Anita, Tucson, Ariz. new organization to work for a "com- FOUR VERY FINE ancient Indian Arrowheads, plete solution of the Indian problem" $1.00; 4 tiny perfect bird arrowheads, $1.00; KARAKULS—Producers of Persian Lamb fur 1 ancient stone tomahawk, $1.00; 2 flint skin- are easy to raise, adaptable to any climate has been announced by Will Rogers, ning knives, $1.00; 1 large flint hoe, $1.00; 2 or altitude. For further information write spearheads, $1.00; 10 arrowheads from 10 Addis Kelley, 4637 E. 52nd Place, Maywood, Jr., former California congressman. states, $1.00; 20 damaged arrowheads, $1.00; California. Rogers is part Cherokee. The organi- 10 fish sealers, $1.00; 10 hide scrapers, $1.00; CACTI AND SUCCULENTS—From the deserts 4 perfect saw edged arrowheads, $1.00. The of the world. Don-Rita brand. By appointment zation is called American Restitution above 11 offers $10.00, postpaid. List Free. only. Write us your needs and we will try to Lears, Kirby, Arkansas. help you. Michael Donnelly Cacti Gardens, 334 and Righting of Old Wrongs, Inc. It BRAUN'S INDIAN TRADING POST: I wish to Lowell St., Daly City, California. will be known as Arrow. Purpose is to dispose of my entire stock of authentic Indian LADY GODIVA "The World's Finest Beautifier." avoid political controversies, work to- goods. Every piece desirable. Stock consists of For women who wish to become beautiful, for concho belts, many pieces of pawn jewelry, women who wish to remain beautiful. An ward an overall program. — Yuma rugs, old and new, baskets, pottery and bead outstanding desert cream. For information, work. Correspondence invited. Ivy F. Braun, write or call Lola Barnes, 963 No. Oakland, Daily Sun. 1318 No. Highland Ave., Hollywood 28, Calif. Pasadena 6, Calif, or phone SYcamore 4-2378. • • • HAND MADE MOCCASIN: Soft "Buck Tanned" COLOR SLIDES—Travel, Nature, Geology, etc. leather trimmed with nickle silver conchas set Free list (with sample 30c, three for dollar). Apaches Profit from Timber ... with turquoise color stone, wool shearing Kelly D. Choda, Box 5, Los Alamos, New insoles—for indoor or outdoor wear. Women's Mexico. FLAGSTAFF — The White Moun- sizes 4 to 9, $5.95, Men's 6 to 12, $6.95, pre- 20 OLD WESTERN outlaw photos, $1.00. 20 dif- paid, cash with order. Satisfaction guaranteed. ferent Old West, Pioneer, etc. photos, $1.00. tain Apache Indian tribe is making Make ideal Christmas gifts with name em- 10 different battle of Wounded Knee 50c. bossed in gold on sole if desired at no extra 5 different Lincoln 25c. Lists 5c. Vernon Lem- good use of money it receives for tim- charge. Photos on request. Mohave Gem ley Store, 302 Dallas Ave., Mena, Arkansas. ber cut on the reservation, according to Shop, Kingman, Arizona. SILVERY DESERT HOLLY PLANTS. One dollar each postpaid. Greasewood Greenhouses, RFD, R. D. Holtz, superintendent of the BOOKS — MAGAZINES Barstow, California. Fort Apache agency. During the past MINERAL KODACHROMES. Colorful pictures fiscal year the tribe was paid more MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTIONS for all publica- for sale or rent. Over 400 different. Show tions at publishers' prices. Courteous, prompt them at clubs. Informative script supplied. than $20,000 per month for trees har- service. F. G. Voltmer, 10211 Seabury Lane, See rare minerals in full color. Catalog free. Los Angeles 24, California. Scott Lewis, 2500 Beachwood, Hollywood 28, vested on the reservation forest. Tim- BOOK OF CACTI for the amateur collector. California. ber harvest is carried out under a sus- Describes and classifies over 500 varieties, GENUINE TURQUOISE NUGGET Bracelets, over 200 photographs. Subjects on care, their Necklaces, Earrings, with one nugget attached tained yield plan. Only mature trees culture how to plant in rock gardens and $1.20 each with federaal tax included. Post- are cut and the annual cut is based on pots. Sent postpaid $1.00. Discount to dealers. paid. Average size of nuggets % to 1 inch, Published by M. Nowotny, 1401 Broadway, excellent color. Extra nuggets 50c, 75c and the estimated annual growth. This San Antonio, Texas. $1.00 according to quality and color. They are assures a perpetual supply of trees URANIUM PROSPECTOR'S Handbook, $1.00; all polished with eye and jump ring ready to non-technical, complete, Dept. T., Craft- use. Make ideal Christmas gifts — positive from the tribal forest and perpetual in- Connor Publishing Co., 601 S. Vermont, Los money back guarantee. Mohave Gem Shop, come for the tribesmen. They are us- Angeles B, California. Kingman, Ariz. BOOKFINDERS—Scarce, out of print, unusual ATTENTION URANIUM PROSPECTORS: "PAY ing the money to develop stock water books quickly supplied. Send wants. Clifton, DIRT" INFORMATION about Utah, Colorado, on the reservation, for construction Box 1377d, Beverly Hills, California. Arizona latest Uranium strike area. Send for PANNING GOLD FOR HOBBY OR PROFIT. informative, colorful non-technical prospectus and maintenance of range fences, to Prospectors and beginner prospectors. We about Uranium deposits and where to look. will mail you our new 36 page booklet "What Geological and geographic data of those areas maintain a tribal police force and for The Beginner Needs To Know" for 25c coin by a rancher-prospector who located and work- relief of indigent Indians who are not or stamps and include catalogue of Mining ed Uranium claims. Includes topographic Books, Supplies, Maps Of Where To Go, Blue- sketches, directive maps, climatic information covered by social security.—The Coco- prints Of Hand Machines You Can Build, and other vital text pertinent to staking nino Sun. Geiger Counters, M-Scopes, Mineralights, claims, field equipment with additional refer- Mineral Specimens, Over 200 items. Old ence to mining regulations. "Pay Dirt" ex- Prospector—B-331, Dutch Flat, California. perience for only $1.50. Write: Knox Tracey, P. O. Box 1066, Vallejo, California. DESERT LOTS: $129 to $179. Why pay more? "GOLD PANNING FOR PROFIT." Healthy out- FRED AND JESSIE PORTER welcome you to 60 cycle electricity and water available. Lots door hobby. Beginners' big illustrated instruc- SHOOT!!! your pictures of "Ghost Town of are % block south of Highways 60, 70, 80 tion book—$1.00. Miners' gold pans, $2.00. Calico" and mountains in miniature, at the on Main St. in Evelyn Subdivision, in fast Prospectors' powerful magnifying glass, $1.00. "POW-WOW" Trading Post, Hiway 91, Yermo, growing Superstition Village. 14>/2 miles east Package black sand and real gold, $1.00. Calif. The hub of Rock-hounds Paradise. of Mesa. (Trailers Welcome). Wm. Hughes, Desert Jim, 627 Lillian, Stockton, California. Crystals, cutting material in rough or slabbed. Rt. 2, Box 594-A, Mesa, Arizona. PALM SPRINGS PICTORIAL: 21st Annual Issue, Uranium, highly fluorescent, and specimens. PALM SPRINGS: Good 2 bedroom house in 45c by mail, or ask your newsdealer. Pictorial, Miniature cactus, gifts and souvenirs. Palm Springs close to stores and postoffice. 465 No. Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, FOR SALE: or lease, Griffe mine on Clarke Only $3,750.00. Write to W. J. Bauman, 4925 California. Creek, 3 claims along the south end, corners Axtell St., Los Angeles 32, California. Malhure and corner line Mormon Basin which PALM SPRINGS and the desert. Articles, pic- I think carries Granolite. Opportunities for HURRY! WILL SACRIFICE 1 acre with beau- tures, information. Sample 45c. Subscription someone with ability to develop and mill the tiful 2 bedroom home, furnished. Large 2 $3.50 a year. Villager Magazine, Palm Springs, output. A. O. Weatherman, 1603 Baker St., car garage, all utilities, insulated walls and California. ceiling. Elevation 2650 feet. All year climate Baker, Oregon. perfect for arthritis, asthma, sinus and T. B. GEOLOGIC & SCENIC COLOR SLIDES, 2 sam- KODACHROME SLIDES ON APPROVAL. Gla- 17 miles from Palm Springs on the 29 Palm's ples, catalog, $1.00. Heald-Robinson, 112d cier, Banff, Jasper. Mtn. Goats, Mtn. Sheep, highway. First time advertised. $9,800. Write Lemon, Monrovia, California. Bears. Moose, Deer, Lakes, Mountains, Sun- Carl Bable, Morongo, Calif., Box 95, or drive sets and many others to select from. Round out. out your series from our collection. Also MISCELLANEOUS ether Western National Parks. Douglas ONE ACRE or more homesites with water to Whiteside, Yosemite National Park, California. irrigate developed garden, etc. Grand view of THE NEWEST THING to come out of the des- ocean, healthiest climate in U. S. $850 per ert. Graceful bowls made of Desert Ironwood, acre. Lots with water in Mutual Water Co. the most beautiful and hardest of woods. You in Ocotillo Desert Resort, $250. Business op- will be amazed at the beauty of grain and REAL ESTATE portunities on highway 80. Send for circular. color in this wood. Make excellent gift DESERT SUN HOME: At beautiful Palm Desert. John C. Chalupnik, Ocotillo, via Plaster City, items. Special introductory offer: Approxi- Near the new Coachella Valley School. Deep Calif. mate size; 8 in. wide by IVi in. deep only well water, natural gas and electricity. This $100,000 WHITTIER, CALIFORNIA, home. High, $4.50 postpaid. Satisfaction guaranteed. Stocks is a dream home with view windows, fireplace, scenic, privacy with gardens, grandeur. No limited temporarily. Order early for prompt car port and insulation. Priced to sell at fog or smog. Will trade for Palm Springs Xmas delivery. Desert Wood Crafts, Palm $9,950. Carl Henderson, Realtor, Box 201, income. Owner: 735 Avalon Road, Whittier, Desert, Calif. Palm Desert, California. phone 413446.

30 THE DESERT MAGAZINE Search on for Meteorite ... Organ Pipe Controversy ... CALIFORNIA WINSLOW—Dr. H. H. Nininger of AJO—Proposed conversion of Or- Park Officials Visit Salton Sea ... the American Meterorite museum is gan Pipe National Monument into a MECCA—While no official endorse- seeking information on a reported national park, provided for in a bill ment was given, members of the Cali- meteor believed to have been seen by introduced in the house of representa- fornia State Park commission on a re- Mr. and Mrs. Roy Kilmer, Greenville, tives by Congressman Harold A. Pat- cent visit to this area indicated their Texas, as they were driving west a few ten of Arizona, has raised a contro- interest in the plans of Coachella miles east of Holbrook recently. Kil- versy. Size of the area to be included, valley people for the establishment of a mer is an experienced amateur astron- effect upon grazing privileges which state park along the shore of Salton omer. He judges the meteorite should cattlemen now enjoy and the possi- sea. At a dinner given the park com- be found in western Arizona or south- bility of obtaining more funds to de- missioners at Desert Inn in Palm ern California. Any who may have velop roads in the scenic region are Springs, they were also urged to take sighted the meteor are asked to get in points being considered by those on steps for the protection of the native touch with Dr. Nininger.—The Coco- both sides of the issue.—Ajo Copper palm trees found in many of the Cali- nino Sun. News. fornia desert canyons.—Indio News. • • • To Restore Historic Building ... PRESCOTT —Fort Misery, with a history as intriguing as its name, is to COUNTY MAPS be restored and preserved on grounds For Schools, Hunters, Fishermen, Public Offices, and Travelers Rngr. Sta., Elev., Nat. Forest, Pwr. Lines, Canals, Boundaries, etc. of the Sharlot Hall museum in Pres- Sizes: 20x30 to 73x100 Inches cott. It housed the first supreme court CALIF: with Twnshp., Rng., Sec, Mines, Roads, Trails, Streams, Lakes, R. R., Schools, Alameda, Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, Contra Costa, Del Norte, El Dorado, in the Arizona Territory. It is a Glenn, Kings, Lake, Marin, Mariposa, Merced, Napa, Nevada, Orange, Sacramento, San chinked-log cabin, is- to be furnished Benito, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Sierra, Solano, with all available relics—pictures, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Sutter, Ventura, Yolo, Yuba—each $1. books, furniture, documents, seals, Tuolumne, Santa Barbara, Plumas, Pla- Fresno, Kern, Riverside—$2.50 - $5. cer, Modoc, Madera—$1.50 Los Angeles—$1 and $3. personal souvenirs—that can be gather- Tulare, Tehama, Imperial—each $2. Siskiyou $2 and $4. ed together. Residents are asked to San Diego, Mendocino, Humboldt—$2.50 jny0 county, $15; E or W/2 $7.50; San volunteer donations.—Holbrook Trib- Trinity, Shasta, Mono, San Luis Obispo, Bernardino, 73x110, $15; No. or So. Vi une-News. Monterey, Lassen—$3. $7.50; NW., SW., NE. or SE'A, $3.75. Also Oregon, Idaho and Washington County Maps 2417 San Pablo Avenue—TEmplebar 2-3870 Plans for Man-Made Lake ... WORLD'S MINERALS OAKLAND 12, CALIFORNIA PHOENIX —The National Park Service already has definite plans for development of a $200,000 picnic, bathing beach, boating and fishing re- FROM[ PALMS TO YOU sort on Lake Mojave, which will be created next year by construction of ^^^^ Fresh Davis dam on the Colorado river. The ^g \ California resort development is to be in the Katherine mine wash, about four miles \ DATES by road from site of Davis dam. Over- all plans include resort facilities at |M \ CONNOISSEUR'S Willow beach below Hoover dam and 1 CHOICE at Eldorado canyon in Nevada, in ad- B Extra fancy, palatable, rare dition to the major project at Lake ^& dates, four varieties, packed Mojave.—Mojave County Miner. H> in a brown and white striped JP^ gift box. \ 3 lbs. - $3.95 5 lbs. - $5.95 Keep Your Back ^tfjtt&M Qk, SUN-LOVED DATES fc; A fancy Deglet Noor date Copies of desert ^^ packed in the same attractive JW. box. for Quick Reference •L 3 lbs. • $3.45 5 lbs. - $4.95 Attractive loose-leaf binders in Spanish grain leather, gold- Bk HONEY-DROPS embossed, are available for pP' ' Economical, all-purpose dates I for between meal snacks, those Desert readers who want • cooking and children's lunch. to keep their back copies for the • 3 lbs. • $2.25 5 lbs. - $3.00 maps and travel information they contain. Each binder holds P^pp"" All prices postpaid. 12 issues. Easy to insert, and |P^^^ Mail order today. they open flat. 1 ppP^^^ Send for complete (older. Mailed postpaid for BOX 535. INDIO. CALIF. $1.50 THE mAGflZIDE mm^pc/imriy UA1£5 PALM DESERT. CALIFORNIA

DECEMBER, 1949 31 FULL COLOR 2x2 Deer Know Season at End... Big Death Valley Season ... KODACHROME SLIDES BRIDGEPORT—You can't tell out- FURNACE CREEK RANCH — door people that deer don't know when Prospects indicate a record season in Yours on Approval! the hunting season opens and closes. Scenic Views- Flowers- National Parks Death Valley. Starting with the cen- Now, through the WEST-VIEW COLOR SLIDE When the legal hunting season was on tennial pageant scheduled for Decem- CLUB, YOU can select the Kodachrome slides you would like to own after viewing or projecting them recently hunters swore there were very ber 3 in Desolation canyon, the valley in your own home. Membership in the Club is FREE and involves no obligation other than remitting for few of the elusive wild creatures in this is expected to be visited by more people those slides you wish to keep, and returning the others. region. But once the season closed No minimum purchase required. than ever before during the winter sea- West-View slides are reproduced from gorgeous, full- the nimble beasts literally swarmed son. Resorts, ranches and hotels in color photographs taken by such famous color photographers as Josef Muench, Hubert Lowman and over U. S. Highway 395 in the Bridge- the unique desert valley, surrounded by Fred Bond. Write today for your first approval set of slides. port area, causing two night accidents towering mountains, are prepared for a No obligation. first week-end after they ceased to be host of guests.—Beatty Bulletin. WEST-VIEW legal game.—Inyo Register. • • • I Avenue (Dcpl. D) Santo Monica, Calif. • • • Public Land Sale December 7 ... Colorado River Flow Boosted ... TRONA — First townsite sale in five BLYTHE—To meet increased de- years on public lands in the United "EVERYTHING FOR THE HIKER" States will be held December 7 at mands for power, discharge of water at Trona, Interior Secretary J. A. Krug Hoover dam on the Colorado river has SLEEPING BAGS has announced. Approximately 225 been increased and as a result flow lots in Pioneer Point and Argus will AIR MATTRESSES through Parker dam is up more than be offered at public auction. Any citi- SMALL TENTS 3,000 second feet a day. Low land zen over 21 years of age may bid on in the river bottom has been flooded one of the lots at the auction. Pre- and many other items and water level at Blythe has been re- emption rights are given persons who ported as about a foot higher. Work have already settled on lots and made VAN DEGRIFT'S HIKE HUT on strengthening the Palo Verde irri- some permanent improvements. Lots 717 West Seventh Street gation district weir is being carried on average 50 by 140 feet, are appraised LOS ANGELES 14. CALIFORNIA by the Bureau of Reclamation.—Palo at minimum prices of from $50 to Verde Valley Times. $450, depending on location and other factors.—Trona Argonaut. SLEEP IN YOUR CA R IN LEVEL COMFOR1 • • • Duty-Free Limit Raised ... CALIFORNIA CAR BED Transferable front seat unit provides CALEXICO—Americans who visit luxurious AIRFOAM innerspring comfort: Mexico may bring back $200 in for- FOR DRIVING—as a sturdy seat. eign goods free of duty under a new FOR SLEEPING—as a double bed. customs regulation now in effect. The No Cutting . . . Easily Installed traveller who returns through a Cali- NEW! CUSTOM CRUISING SEAT Marvelous new twin front seats convert- fornia port of entry must have stayed ing at a finger-touch to single OR double bed reclining seats or chaise longue in Mexico 24 hours to qualify for the $200 exemption. If he returns through comfort. Described in Newsweek, Popular Mechanics, Science Illustrated, etc. Easily Texas, Arizona or New Mexico, no Installed. time limit is enforced. The $200 ex- Factory Installation Mail Order Shipments y nstallatio CALIFORNIA CAR BED CO. AXminster 3-4700 emption is allowed only once every 31 2725 W. 54th St.S , LosA Angeles 43 — Write for Brochure "P" days. The former limit was $100. Travellers out of the country 12 days or longer may bring back $500 instead HERE'S MORE HOUSE of $400 previously allowed.—Calexico Chronicle. . . . FOR YOUR MONEY • • • Built for Desert Bathers ... INDIO — Coachella valley's dream of a good highway to the beach at Oceanside—95 miles away—moved a step nearer realization in October when a 35-car caravan came over the route in celebration of recent improvements along the route. Plans for the road were launched many years ago by the Coachella Valley - to - Ocean Highway HOMES of DISTINCTION association, and a more recent organ- Built With Call for Estimates — Plans Available ization, the Ocean-Desert Highway as- Investigate now. Year 'round comfort, low sociation has given added impetus to heating costs. Cool in summer. Low cost the project.—Indio Date Palm. maintenance. Build with "Precision Built" concrete, pumice and red cinder blocks. Desert GOLDEN SUN ALL WINTER HOMESITES for Health, Guest Ranches, cinder blocks for desert homes. small ranches for eggs, fryers, good land for alfalfa, A-l water at low lift. Million dollar TRANSIT MIXED CONCRETE CO. a month payroll soon at AIR BASE 40 minutes away. Pictures, maps of this high desert 3464 E. Foothill Blvd.. Pasadena 8, California area mailed free if you write CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, Box CR, LUCERNE VAL- SYcamore 3-8133 RYan 1-6329 ATlantic 2-5104 LEY, San Bernardino Co., California.

32 THE DESERT MAGAZINE New Hard Rock Drilling Mark ... NEVADA New Highway Boosted... MOJAVE — John Lewis and Frank Caves Closed for Season ... WINNEMUCCA—Plans for devel- Parons of Boron are the new world's ELY — The Lehman Caves Nation- opment of a new overland route from champion hard rock drillers. They al Monument has been closed for the Nevada to the Shasta Cascade wonder- won the honor in a drilling contest at winter season, from November 1 to land, the Redwood empire in California the annual Gold Rush Days in Mojave. March 15, 1950, according to Supt. and the Pacific Northwest, are being It took them just five minutes and one Max R. Wainwright. During the past pushed by an organization called the second to set up their jack hammer travel year number of visitors to the Winriemucca-to-the-Sea Highway as- equipment, drill 36 inches into live caves increased 43 percent. — Ely sociation. Driving force is the Hum- rock, and completely dismantle the Record. boldt County chamber of commerce, nine separate pieces of equipment. The members are being recruited all along operation normally takes 45 minutes the route.—Humboldt Star. under actual working conditions.—Mo- News for Philatelists ... jave County Miner. VIRGINIA CITY—Paul Smith, na- "OVERLOOKED FORTUNES!" tionally-known cachet director, is to In the Rarer Minerals create and sponsor a Death Valley Cen- There is other mineral wealth in "them tennial cachet. The pictorial, histori- thar hills" besides gold and pretty rocks! Gasoline Mileage Test Run... There are "overlooked fortunes" in the many cal cachets are to be cancelled and newer and rare minerals, such as Colum- LOS ANGELES — Annual Grand bium, Tantalum, Vanadium, Molybdenum, Canyon test run for stock cars, spon- postmarked by Death Valley post Uranium, Nickel, Cobalt, Bismuth, Didymi- office. Collectors who want this cachet um, Selenium, Rhodium, Osmium, Rutheni- sored by the General Petroleum cor- um, Platinum, etc., to mention just a few poration, has been scheduled to start should write to Paul Smith, Cachet Di- of the 35 or more rarer elements and their 300 or more commercial ores which the aver- at 3:00 a. m. Wednesday, February 15, rector, Virginia City, Nevada. age prospectors and mineral collectors are walking over in the hills today and mine from Flower street near the General owners, large and small, are throwing upon Petroleum garage in Los Angeles. The their waste-dumps unidentified! Many more valuable than a gold mine: Cassiterite $600 route is from Los Angeles to south Nevada Population Gains ... a ton; Columbite or Samarskite $1,000 a ton; Bismuth ores $2,000 a ton; Tantalite or rim of the Grand Canyon via Death WINNEMUCCA—Showing a gain Microlite up to $6,000 a ton, etc. Now you Valley, Las Vegas, Nevada, and of nearly 50 percent since the 1940 can learn how to find, identify, and start cashing in on them! Send for FREE copy Hoover dam — a distance of 751.3 census, Nevadans this month awoke to "Overlooked Fortunes"—it may lead to miles.. The run is sanctioned by the the fact that their state's population has knowledge which may make you rich! contest board of the American Auto- increased from 110,247 in 1940 to DUKE'S mobile Association. Performance of 164,000—latest census bureau esti- RESEARCH LABORATORY stock cars will be measured in ton- mate. Only California and Oregon miles per gallon. have surpassed that percentage in- Box 666. Dept. B crease.—Humboldt Star. HOT SPRINGS. NEW MEXICO

Indian Land Act is Law... PALM SPRINGS — Legislation af- fecting land of the Agua Caliente band QUALITY DATES at WHOLESALE PRICES of Mission Indians, who hold a 31,000- acre reservation much of which is within the city limits of Palm Springs, has from KERSTEN RANCH been signed by President Truman. It is legislation long sought by city officials of Palm Springs and civic lead- Kersten's DATES ers, since it will permit widening of Indian avenue in the desert resort city. • Fully ripened on tree At the same time the bill protects In- • Hand picked one at a time dians in Palm Springs, as the deed for • Packed under the highest American sani- ownership of property involved re- tary standards mains with the government, land can- • Not processed by cooking or use of not be sold without consent of con- chemicals gress. A 60-foot easement for wid- • Fresh fruit, wholesome and delicious ening Indian avenue is principal item in the bill for which city officials worked. The measure was introduced Bargain Quality Pack by Congressman John Phillips, Ban- Finest Deglet Noor ning.—The Desert Sun. DATES DATES Only $1.50 for Big 5-Lb. Package Desert City Improvement... BARSTOW — Residents of this des- 2 1-2 Pounds Only $2.75 " ert city will vote January 6 on a pro- Postpaid in U. S. A. Postpaid in U. S. A. posed bond issue to help finance a Finest Dates Grown $300,000 extension and improvement Packed in Special Boxes Packed in Special Boxes program for Barstow's sewer system. for Safe Delivery for Safe Delivery The bond issue would provide $150,- 000 of the total, $100,000 will be raised by special assessment districts, remainder is expected to come from the Write Kersten Ranch, Indio, California state.—Barstow Printer-Review.

DECEMBER, 1949 33 Pinyon Nuts Not Plentiful... 55 cents a pound, in past seasons they by the Reno Shopping News, a free- FALLON—If conditions in this area have been as low as 10 cents. Indians distribution weekly, which made the are typical, the supply of pinyon nuts gather the nuts for their own use also, claim in a recent copyrighted story. is below normal in the Indian country nearly every family reserving 200 or The state made gambling legal in 1931, this year, although reports from Ari- 300 pounds for winter food. — Fallon there has been no strong organized op- zona and New Mexico earlier indicated Standard. position to it since then.—Humboldt a bumper crop was expected. The • • • Star. Paiute and Shoshone Indians have not Railroad Having Troubles . . . • • • been bringing in many nuts yet, buy- CARSON CITY—The historic Vir- The number of sheep raised in Ne- ers report, but quality is high. In- vada has been dropping steadily since dians this year are getting from 50 to ginia and Truckee railroad is having new troubles right in the midst of liti- 1920 when a peak figure of 1,340,000 gation which will determine whether or was reached. In 1947 a low of 477,- TUCSON VISITORS! not its operators may abandon the 000 was reported. First change in the SEE OUR famed road. While fate of the pioneer trend came in 1948 when the total SAN XAVIER MISSION line was being weighed in a hearing went up to 487,000, and many observ- SOUVENIRS ers are predicting that the sheep indus- Also beautiful crystallized minerals, & before the Nevada Public Service com- cutting materials. mission, criminal complaints were filed try may be on its way back to a place MISSION CURIO MART against the V & T charging it ignited a of importance in the state.—Eureka 4400 Mission Road Tucson, Arizona brush fire which blackened an esti- Sentinal. mated 1,000 acres in Ormsby and Washoe counties. Lack of a modern Transfer of federally-owned land in spark arrester on an engine was cause the Railroad Valley Wildlife Refuge to Pinon Incense... of the fire, the complaint charges. The the State of Nevada is expected to be company's plea to abandon the rail- approved by congress. Oil, gas and Bring the delightful fragrance road has met strong opposition.—Inyo mineral rights will be retained by the of the Pinon Forest into your Independent. government, but the state will own the home or office. The burner is a • • • land and the Nevada fish and game miniature model of the outdoor "Camel-Horse" Yarn Revived ... baking ovens used by prehis- commission will control development toric Indians, and still in use in FALLON—Courting the ridicule of of the valley as a game refuge. — New Mexico pueblos. When scientists who might point out that mat- Tonopah Times-Bonanza. the little cones of genuine pinon ing of a camel and a horse would be pine are burned in this tiny impossible under the laws of nature, oven the aroma is a breath of there are a few residents of this area NEW MEXICO the outdoor Southwest. who think Joe Hart has another camel- Navajo Corn Proved Hardy ... horse. Hart now has a second horse- Kills kitchen and bathroom with-a-hump, captured in a desolate GALLUP—Farmers of the drier re- odors and removes the smell of section about 45 miles from Tonopah gions of the Southwest are interested stale tobacco. Pueblo Indians and not far from Death Valley, a re- in results of experiments completed at burn pinon for nasal and bron- gion where man doubted any animal Fort Lewis A & M college, Hesper, chial ailments. larger than a lizard could exist. Colorado, where a laboratory experiment in corn growing was conducted. Burner and 15 cones $1.50 The horse has a definite hump, is Last spring Willard Frazier, a Navajo Burner and 54 cones... 2.70 about a foot higher at the shoulders ex-serviceman from Toadlena, New Extra cones, 36 for 1.25 than at the rump. Hart lost his first Mexico, chose as his class project the Postpaid to You camel-horse, a two-year-old male. It reinvestigation of the ability of Navajo drowned in a drain ditch. Wild horse corn to grow when planted at a greater DESERT CRAFTS SHOP hunters recently captured this second depth than that possible with the white one, a four-year-old mare, reviving man's varieties. Palm Desert. California tales that the freaks are descendants of the Dromedaries and Bactrians Willard proved the corn's ability to loosed in the Nevada desert in the sprout, grow and yield thriftily in arid FRESH CALIFORNIA 1860's.—Fallon Standard. regions, and discovered it can be planted as much as two inches deeper than DATES • • • other corn. Many people are familiar direct from grower Concession Permits Expire ... with the ornamental uses of Navajo Now picking large delicious coniection LAKE MEAD — The concession corn in the beautiful multi-colored ears dates. Want you to have some. permit for operation of the Eldorado which hang in bunches in many south- Canyon fishing camp near Nelson, Ne- western homes. To the Indians it fig- SPECIAL OFFER... vada, will expire December 31 and the ures importantly in their economy.— To get acquainted will send postpaid— large Cl'/a lb.) sampler box for only $1.00. department of the interior is inviting Gallup Independent. Order direct today, (special Christmas offer enclosed). proposals from persons interested in • • • the business proposition. Forms for Hunters Bag Many Antelope ... submitting a proposal are available SANTA FE—In a 16-day open sea- Panorama Date Garden from the superintendent, Lake Mead Palm Desert, California son, October 7 to 23, hunters shot 613 National Recreation Area, Boulder buck antelope according to the report Enclosed $ Send Boxes City, Nevada. — Washington County of State Game Warden Elliott Barker. News. Game department records showed that Name • • • 879 hunters were in the field, and 53 Can This Be True? percent of them got their bucks. The Address RENO—A "well organized plan" to highest record was in the Lovelace seek repeal of legalized gambling in area where 39 hunters took 38 ante- Nevada has reportedly been uncovered lope.—Gallup Independent. 34 THE DESERT MAGAZINE New Ditch Lining Tested ... gas pipeline from the San Juan basin of the Goblins has been rediscovered LAS CRUCES—To solve the prob- in New Mexico to the Arizona-Cali- by P. W. Tompkins, San Francisco lem of wasted irrigation water, stored fornia line. El Paso Natural Gas com- chemical engineer, whose hobby for at great expense in the arid Southwest pany seeks the permit.—Aztec Inde- two decades has been exploring little- but utilized very inefficiently, the U. S. pendent. known corners of Utah. Chaffin told bureau of reclamation has developed a • • • Tompkins of the valley, the story in- new ditch lining which is reportedly UTAH trigued the engineer and recently he proving to be satisfactory. Because made a successful pack trip with Chaf- cement lining is too costly, the new Culture in the Desert... fin to the remote, desolate valley filled method is to spray sides and bottom of SALT LAKE CITY—A lV^-ton with grotesque rock formations.—5a// a canal with asphalt. When the asphalt library on wheels with shelves carry- Lake Tribune. cools and hardens, it is covered with ing more than 2,000 books is this win- about a foot of soil. This protects the ter taking fresh reading material to flexible asphalt coating, three-year tests rural areas of this county. Running on VISIT THE FAMOUS indicate it will endure. Cost of appli- a regular schedule, the truck-library cation runs from 35 to 50 cents a will stop at many rural churches and square yard.—Las Cruces Citizen. schools, in addition to smaller towns. Circulation is expected to be about cnnyon • • • 5,000 books per month.—Salt Lake To Rebuild Irrigation Project... Tribune. Home of the largest native palm SANTA ROSA — Working under • • • oasis in Southern California—• the direction of the Bureau of Recla- 5 miles south of Palm Springs. mation, the old Fort Sumner irrigation New Cash Crop Seen... And, of course, you will want project along the Pecos river is to be DELTA—Results of first test plant- to inspect the lovely display rehabilitated with funds provided by ings of broom corn in Millard county of genuine Indian silver work, Congress. First contract for earth- indicate that fanners may have a profit- weaving, pottery, basketry and work, concrete lining for canals, gates able new cash crop. Broom corn seed other crafts in Dean Kirk's and a turbine to pump water from the was distributed to several farmers by main canal to the highline canal was a Salt Lake City broom company last PALM CANYON let to Pecos Valley Construction com- spring to determine if the area would TRADING POST pany of Carlsbad for $274,060.54. produce good yields of high commer- Private owners of the 8,000 acres ap- cial quality. Recent reports are that situated on "The Bench" where proved the contract with the Reclama- both quantity and quality have exceed- you park your car tion bureau by a vote of 212 to 6.— ed expectations. More extensive plant- at the head of the Santa Rosa News. ings are planned to further test the trail leading down • • • crop.—Millard County Chronicle. into the park of stately Washing- Navajo Officer Victim of Cold ... • • • "Lost" Valley Rediscovered ... tonia palms. GALLUP—One of the ablest Navajo EMERY COUNTY — Seen by but Visitors are al- police officers on the reservation died ways welcome. of cold and exhaustion, according to few people since its discovery 30 years the report of Charles Ashcroft, special ago by A. L. Chaffin, the Lost Valley U. S. officer in the Indian service. Hoska Thompson, Navajo chief of police, left headquarters October 19 to serve some civil papers in Box canyon. Lovely TWIN PALfllS at Palm Desert His pickup truck bogged down in mud and after several hours in vain efforts to get it out, he started walking in a •driving snow storm to seek shelter for the night. Exhausted after a 12-mile hike he laid down under a fallen pine tree and covered himself with pine needles to keep out the cold. His body was discovered two days later. Associ- ates paid a high tribute to his loyalty and ability as an officer. He is survived by Nebah, the wife to whom he had been married 38 years, and four grown children.—Gallup Independent. • • • The federal power commission is to open a rehearing January 4 to further consider a plan for building a 451-mile In a scenic Wonderland in the heart of the Date Empire, 12 miles east of Palm Springs. Ten minute walk to the fabulous Shadow Mountain Club for swimming, tennis, etc. Twenty- five minute drive to the Salton Sea for duck hunting and boating. One and two-bedroom suites complete with living room, kitchen and dinette. Private patio. Write or 'phone for FURNACE CREEK INN '"£""" reservations now for winter vacation. FURNACE CREEK RANCH EUDOKJN PUN Post Office Box 2, PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA CH &o**uiHtic DEATH VALLEY Telephone Indio 76231 Luxurious desert oasis. Sunny days . . . cool nights. Riding ROBERT C. AND FLORENCE STURGEON, Managing Owners . . . swimming . . . golf. . . tennis . . . exploring. Contact travel agents or Death Valley Hotel Co., Ltd., 510 West 6th Street, Los Angeles, MAdison 2511. Come on Out WHERE SUMMER SPENDS THE WINTER

DECEMBER, 1949 35 Rains Aid Beet Crop ... BARREL CACTUS LEGEND FOR HEALTH — AND INCOME BUILDING DISCOUNT now offered. Desert SALT LAKE CITY — Late Octo- DENIED BY BOTANIST . . . foothills, 210 ft. front on oiled roads with elec, water-works, moderate restrictions, ber rains—and even some snow—held The bisnaga or barrel cactus is not elv. 3200. ENJOY life free from fog, smog, up harvest of Utah's $5,000,000 sugar the life-saver of the desert that legend city turmoil—cash goes further. GOOD MONEY in desert fryers, eggs, turkeys. beet crop but probably increased total has pictured it, in the opinion of W. Maps, prices free. Taylor Marshall, director of the Desert Battelle. Box 105-D. Lucerne Valley. Calif. tonnage and in some instances boosted the sucrose content. Beets this year Botanical Gardens at Phoenix, Arizona. were planted on more than 38,000 The juice of the cactus is "acrid and acres. In Box Elder county the 4.6 thirst producing." It will make a per- DESERT HOmESITES inches of precipitation broke a 30-year son sick. Availability of water in the Fine water, excellent drainage, surfaced record for rainfall at that time of the barrel cactus pulp is less than 5 per- streets, electricity, natural gas, telephones, year.—Salt Lake Tribune. cent. These are some of the contentions new school under construction—an ideal advanced by Botanist Marshall, who location where you can enjoy all today's recently staged a demonstration at the annual convention of the Cactus and conveniences in the clean atmosphere of a Homesteads Go Unclaimed ... well-planned desert community. Succulent Society of America to prove SALT LAKE CITY — Some 200 to other botanists that the juice of the Lots range from $950. Write for informa- homesteads in Utah, proved up by the bisnaga cannot be used in place of tion. original settlers, are still unclaimed, water. PALM DESERT CORPORATION files in the land office reveal. The The demonstration settled a verbal Palm Desert. California settlers fulfilled requirements of resi- feud between Marshall and Ladislaus dence and improvements, but appar- Cutak, director of the Missouri Botani- ently forgot to ask for title to their cal Gardens. Cutak announced he was property. Now the land office and Our Guests Keep Coining Back! convinced. bureau of land management would like The Arizona botanist claims there to clear up the records, get the prop- are no substantiated instances of desert Stove Pipe Wells Hotel erty into the hands of legal heirs if wanderers having saved their lives by identity can be established.—Salt LaJce drinking barrel cactus juice to quench DEATH VALLEY Tribune. their thirst. But despite Marshall's sci- A comfortable, friendly desert re- entific data, there are many who will disagree with him and his findings. sort. Good food, good drinks, good LOWER CALIFORNIA GIVES beds, moderate rates. CLUES TO REMOTE PAST . . . PALM SPRINGS — Cape San Lu- Los Angeles Reservations cas, southernmost tip of Lower Cali- EXACAVATION WORK HALTED VA-2937 VA-9455 fornia, is one of the last strongholds AT "YUMA MAN" SITE ... of the flora and fauna which character- Excavation work which may uncover ized southern California thousands and traces of a 12,000-year-old civilization Special arrangements for groups thousands of years ago. Slowly retreat- has been halted for the winter at Sage —Rock Hounds, Camera Enthus- ing from aridity and other factors, the creek, near Cody, Wyoming. In charge iasts, Flying Clubs . . . Service semi-tropical plant and animal life on of the project is Dr. Glenn Jepson, Station, Landing Strip, Horseback the peninsula furnishes an important Princeton University. He said digging Riding. link with the past. An expedition spon- will be resumed next summer. The sored by the Desert Museum, Palm work is being carried on jointly by Springs, and the University of Cali- Princeton and the University of Wyo- fornia at Los Angeles has delved into ming. the mysteries for which explanations • • • are believed to exist. Zoologists 'De&ent Charles Lowe Jr. and Kenneth Norris FALSE DIAMOND WARNING ... headed the expedition. They report that Although legitimate dealers are ad- CHRISTMAS CARDS distribution of animals alone may tell vertising rutile for just what it is—a Showing the beautiful coloring a rather complete story of the climatic synthetic stone that out-dazzles dia- of the cactus in blossom changes that have taken place in south- monds—it was inevitable that before 12 cards, each different ern California over the years. This they long unscrupulous persons would try to boxed with envelopes can judge from the way the animals take advantage of the new gem's bril- express the physical factors of their liance. So now prospective buyers are One box. postpaid $1.25 environment. The fact that the same warned by the Gemological Institute of Two boxes, postpaid 2.25 species exist in widely separated and Three boxes, postpaid .... 3.35 America to beware of the synthetic Five boxes, postpaid 5.50 isolated areas in various latitudes along stone which may be passed as a dia- the coast would indicate that the arid IMPRINTED WITH YOUR NAMES mond. The new sparkler is a syn- One box, postpaid $ 3.75 regions between have been (geologi- thesis of titanium dioxide, has a higher Two boxes, postpaid 5.25 cally speaking) only recently formed. refractive index then diamonds. Three boxes, postpaid .... 6.85 Reptiles in this region will be particu- Five boxes, postpaid .... 10.00 larly valuable for a study of evolution- Sample card will be mailed for 10c ary changes. There exists at Cape San in stamps. Lucas a two-legged lizard, which is Five giant salamanders, 22 to 32 You'll like these lovely cards in half-way between a lizard and a snake. inches long, have been added to the natural color. It perhaps lost its other legs due to salamander population at Salt Lake evolutionary changes involving selec- City's Hogle Zoological Gardens, com- DESERT CRAFTS SHOP tive processes as its need for legs de- ing by air from Nagoya, Japan. The creased, the scientists explained. zoo now has nine Japanese sala- Palm Desert, California manders.

36 THE DESERT MAGAZINE "Fossil Horns" in Nevada . . . seas. I believe that at one time, ever Yerington, Nevada so long ago, Nevada was supposed to be under a tropical sea. Desert: Have you or any of the other Desert I have read with interest the article, Magazine fans happened to visit the "Fossil Shells from a Vanished Sea," field at Wendover? If so, just what The Effects of Peyote . . . by Harold O. Weight, in the October do you know about horn coral? For Freiburg, Baden, Germany issue of the Desert Magazine.. It re- my part I found it rather interesting. minded me of the fossil field at Wend- IRENE S. JULIAN Desert: over. In her articlte in Desert Magazine on When I was teaching in Wendover, the Peyote or Mescal Button, Claire one of my boys kept telling us about Meyer Proctor mentioned unpleasant finding petrified horns. My curiosity TRUE OR FALSE ANSWERS after effects. From what information I Questions are on page 16. can gather, these unpleasant effects— was aroused. So accordingly, on the nausea, indigestion and headache, first hike of the Spring, we decided to 1—True. visit Donald's field of horns. 2—False. While traces of gold have come immediately after eating the Mes- been found in the heavier sands cal Button. It is not until several Near the base of the mountain was a near the base of the dunes, drift- hours later, when the period of nausea small wash, and sure enough, there ing sand never carries pay gold. has passed, that the more pleasant re- were the "petrified horns." At least, 3—False. Geronimo was an Apache action is experienced. The price for they certainly looked like that. But I war chief. the intoxication which comes from this happened to notice that some of them 4—True. 5—True. 6—True. 7— plant has to be paid in advance. had white streaks through them. I True. thought: "surely these couldn't pos- 8—False. Salt River valley gets its DETLEF WARNKE sibly be petrified horns even by the irrigation water mostly from • • • greatest stretch of one's imagination." Roosevelt dam in the Salt River. Lost Mine Is Still Lost . . . 9—False. Salton sea water is too My curiosity became so great that I salty for domestic use. White Pine, Colorado finally sent specimens to the Mackey 10—False. The University of New Desert: museum at the University of Nevada, Mexico is in Albuquerque. Will you please give me what infor- Reno. Their report was that they were 11—True. mation you can about the reported fossils of horn coral. They were coral 12—False. Organ Pipe Monument derives its name from the Organ rediscovery of the old Peralta mine in and called horn coral due to its re- Pipe cactus growing there. the Superstition mountains in Arizona. semblance to a horn. The museum 13—True. I just returned from a four-month curator seemed pleased to get the 14—False. Much of Palm Canyon is prospecting trip in Idaho, and read the specimens for he said that they have Indian reservation land. newspaper report that some one claim- so few Nevada fossils. 15—True. ed to have found the old Mexican 16—False. Ocotillo belongs to the workings. I had planned to go to the The horn coral is evidence of a salt species of Fouqueria. Superstitions to look for that old mine, sea which we know existed there, since 17—True. 18—True. 19—True. but if someone already has found it Wendover is just off the western edge 20—False. There is no evidence that there is no use in my going. of the Great Salt desert. But I would the Lost Dutchman mine has ever like to know if it is equal evidence of a been found despite claims to the A. M. IVERSON tropical sea. I am under the impres- contrary. So far no evidence has been sion that coral is found only in tropical produced to confirm the news reports that the old Peralta mine has been re-located. My prospector friends in the Superstition country tell me the hunting season is still open.—R. H. • • • TRADITIONAL NAVA+HO M0C

DECEMBER, 1949 37 Make'em AMATEUR GEM CUTTER HAPPY! • By LELANDE QUICK, Editor of The Lapidary Journal - This is being written as we are about to formed after the meeting. At Cranbrook leave Kansas City and look homeward across we saw one of the finest groups of college WITH the miles to California after a month in the buildings in the country and Dr. Hatt, the cities of the East. We have never been as director, deserves great credit indeed for the hungry for anything as we are for the wel- mineral and gem display he has garnered in come sight of the deserts and mountains of the museum and particularly for the way in HILLQUIST our adopted state. The East never looks which he has displayed the material. The lovelier than it does in October and we have highlight of the exhibit is the reputedly FAMOUS LAPIDARY feasted our eyes upon the reds and yellows finest collection of opal in the country, made of the hills and valleys of a dozen states possible by generous contributions and loans EQUIPMENT... during the whole month. Now we look of A. A. Goddard of Detroit and Nelson eagerly for the browns of the West to be Whittemore of Santa Barbara. CHECK THIS CHRISTMAS LIST followed soon by the earliest spring in At the Academy of Sciences in Chicago F.O.B. America. It is all a good land and one we faced our biggest throng; many hundreds Seattle could really be happy anywhere in it but in a joint meeting of all the societies there, no place looks as good as home. attended by gem cutting enthusiasts from Q HILLQUIST "GEM-MASTER" LAPI- We have had a good look at the amateur several nearby states. Both Minnesota and DARY UNIT $42.50 Wisconsin had large delegations present and Saws, grinds, sands, polishes . . . gem cutting movement in America and we a complete lapidary shop in one mean a good look. Beginning in New York we met many Desert Magazine subscribers machine. Biggest bargain ever we had the satisfaction of speaking at a with whom we have corresponded, such as offered. special meeting sponsored by the New York Dr. Daniel Willems, author of Gem Cutting. • HILLQUIST "COMPACT" LAPI- Mineral club (the oldest in the country) at These folks were eager for a little ad- DARY UNIT $110.00 which we organized a lapidary society that vice on how to tackle their big responsi- Deluxe equipment for bigger began with an initial roster of 46. We again bility of handling the national federation work. Does everything . . . and does it better. The most popular visited the halls of the American Museum convention next June in Milwaukee. After lapidary unit ever made. of Natural History, where we spoke, and talking to a number of them we are con- refreshed our memory of the magnificent fident they have good leadership for the • HILLQUIST 16" ROCK SAW Mod- gems upon which we had gazed on many event and that they will present the best EL HI6V $97.50 afternoons in our youth. Dr. Frederick meeting and show yet held. The people A BIG saw for slabbing big rocks . . . fast! Hundreds in use. Pough showed us many "behind the scenes" in the midwest have many marvelous min- items and our afternoon with him was one eral and gem collections and, of course, they • HILLQUIST AUTO-FEED for Hill- of the most profitable we have ever spent. lead the rest of the nation in their fossil quist Rock Saws $ 46.35 collections. The "Magic Brain" automatically The interest in lapidary work in the New adjusts cutting speed to the hard- York area has reached enormous propor- The large turnout at Kansas City agree- ness of the rock. Makes saw tions and is only held back by the lack of ably surprised us. The society from Inde- blades last longer. (Patented) space for equipment. We told the apart- pendence joined with the Heart of America • HILLQUIST TRIM SAW 8" $57.50 ment dwellers there that if they had room Geology Club at the University of Kansas The "Cadillac" of all trim saws for a mixmaster or a portable sewing ma- City to hear us and show their rocks. We with the exclusive raising and chine they had room for the new, small and visited Dr. Leland Jones' home to see his lowering arbor. efficient lapidary machines now available. fine collection. Then we visited our great • HILLQUIST GEM DRILL and HOLE At Washington we had the pleasure of friend Dr. Ralph E. Mueller, who had SAW (Pats. Pend) $68.80 addressing the first meeting of the new flown with Mrs. Mueller to Chicago to hear The high speed gem drill with lapidary society there. Our visit to the our talk. the exclusive ramrod action . . . the only machine that saws holes National Museum was something we had Many times we have stood in the presence up to iy2" diameter. looked forward to and it was not disappoint- of so much material that it was impossible ing except for the famous Roebling opal. to really see anything, but Dr. Mueller has • HILLQUIST Heavy Duty LAPI- Reputed to be the largest and best opal in more material than any human has ever DARY ARBOR $53.50 the world we wouldn't trade it for a half gathered under one roof. An advertiser Big! Rugged! Fast! Swings wheels up to 2" x 12". dozen of the Mexican opals we saw later for many years in these pages, he has 14 at the Cleveland museum. Indeed the Na- diamond saws; almost one each of every • HILLQUIST COMPLETE FACET- tional Museum itself has many stones we re- make on the market. His prize is a Lane ING UNIT $62.50 gard as finer than the Roebling opal. 36 bladed gang saw. Dr. Mueller has a The finest precision faceting equipment at a rock - bottom While in Maryland we went to see James huge collection of antique jewelry that price. Compare! Anderson in Baltimore, now famous for his fills many cases in his large home but starting so many on the road to making the most impressive thing he has is the • HILLQUIST FACETOR. Profession- silverware with agate handles. William thousands upon thousands of thin slabs he is al Model $29.00 readying for the largest lapidary exhibit For those who already have a Baxter, author of Jewelry, Gem Cutting and horizontal lap. Used with Adapt- Metalcraft, drove us back to Washington. ever exhibited by one man. This will be er Socket ($2.00). We had written the introduction to Mr. shown at Milwaukee next June. The gen- Baxter's new book on gem cutting to be pub- eral idea all over the Midwest seems to be • HILLQUIST SUPERLOK DRUM "we'll show those coast birds something." SANDERS 2"—$6.00. 3"—$7.00 lished about February 1. With the patented quick-change Business took us to Pittsburgh and south After our previews we are sure they will. locking screw. again to Huntington, W. Va., where in- Talk to several thousand people through • HILLQUIST SUPERSPEED DIA- quiry revealed that the lapidary movement the years in your community and you are in MOND SAWS in all sizes had never been heard of by anyone we danger of getting a biased view about a Cut faster . . . last longer. Cost visited. Arrival at Cleveland, after a short thing like gem cutting. It is therefore a less per square inch of cutting. visit at Columbus, brought us to the real great satisfaction to talk to several thou- hot bed of the lapidary art in the East. The sand others, and thousands of miles from SEND YOUR ORDER NOW Cleveland Lapidary society had a very large the home scene, and find that things are no turnout for our talk at the Case Institute different; that man is interested in rocks be- OR WRITE FOR BIG FREE of Technology, which followed a dinner cause of a primordial instinct. For his CATALOG tendered by their officers and Board. These very existence through the First Stone Age people made our several-day stay highly depended entirely upon what he did with enjoyable and in their museum was the best rocks. The Second Stone Age exists as Lapidary Equipment Co, collection of Mexican opals we have ever much in the East as in the West. The seen. easterners are only about five years behind Inc. At Detroit we spoke to a large group at the West but the gap is narrowing fast. It the Cranbrook Institute of Science at Bloom- was a marvelous month in »ur lives and we 1545 W. 49th STREET shall never forget the many courtesies and SEATTLE 7. WASHINGTON field Hills. Thirty-five of those attending signed the roster of a new lapidary society kindnesses extended us everywhere.

38 THE DESERT MAGAZINE Ring Mountings and Findings RING MOUNTINGS: Sterling Silver, finished, ready to set. Men's from $8.65 to $15.00 per doz. Ladies from $5.65 to $13.80 per doz. Ladies 10K Solid Gold $3 and $4 each. NECK CHAINS: Sterling Silver $3.50 doz. 1/20 12K Gold Filled $4.50 doz. Gems BEZEL OR GALLERY: Sterling Silver $2.00 Minerals oz. 1/20 10K Gold Filled $2.90 oz. CLEVICES: For Pendants, Gold Filled $1.25 doz. For Ear Rings, GF or SS $1.20 doz. PENDANT FRAMES W/CHAIN: Sterling or GF $12.00 doz. EXTRA EASY FLOW SILVER SOLDER: V* DATES SET FOR NEXT LONG BEACH GEM SHOW oz. 50c; $1.90 per oz. LOW KARAT GOLD SOLDER: 50c per DWT. CALIFORNIA CONVENTION HELD NOVEMBER 12-13 JOINTS, CATCHES AND PINSTEMS: $1.00 per dozen sets. June 24 and 25 have been set as dates for Sixth annual show sponsored by the Long CUFF LINKS: For large oval' stone $8.25 the 1950 annual convention of the California Beach, California, Mineral and Gem society per dozen pairs. Federation of Mineralogical societies. The was held November 12 and 13 at Sciots TIE CHAINS: For 12xl6MM Stone $6.00 doz. convention next year will be held at Valley hall with exhibits of both mineral collec- JUMP RINGS: From 90c to $1.25 per gross. Wells, near Trona. This will be first big tions and lapidary work. On display also Ask for Price List No. 2 for outdoor meeting of the federation. was the valuable collection of carved an- Additional Information Three host societies are the Searles Lake tique jade owned by Mr. and Mrs. Harvey O. R. IUNKINS & SON Gem and Mineral society, the N. O. T. S. Hardman. Box 1295 Newport. Oregon Rockhounds and the Mojave Mjneral so- Dealers exhibited lapidary equipment and ciety. Plenty of camping space will be pro- work in various stages of completion, and vided, in addition to display and trading mineral collections displayed were said to facilities. be some of the finest in Southern Califor- RADIATION DETECTOR • • • nia. Designed Especially for Prospectors THREE NEW MINERALS • • • With summer vacations over, the Chicago FOUND IN ARIZONA Rocks and Minerals society began its winter Three minerals hitherto unknown in Ari- program under leadership of Herbert Grand- zona have been recently identified by the U. Girard, new president. September and Oc- S. Geological Survey, reports the Mineral- tober meetings proved to be profitable, ogical Society of Arizona, Phoenix. They are with instructive motion pictures and a talk andersonite, boyleyite and swartzite, all ura- on old silversmithing methods. Open-house nium bearing minerals which occur with sessions started by the society a year ago schrockeringite on gypsum in Yavapai are to be continued since they have proved county. An active year is ahead for this to be so enjoyable. Arizona group, following its first fall meeting in October when the 1949-50 program was discussed. • • • RX-47 EL PASO ROCKHOUNDS ENJOY FIELD TRIP A Complete Late in September members of the El Lapidary Shop Paso Rock Hounds enjoyed what they in One termed one of their most productive field Compact Machine trips. They went to the agate deposits near Engineered By Van Horn, Texas, located on a ranch man- The most practical aged by Mr. and Mrs. J: F. Morgan. Quan- ever devised for Pioneer Manufacturers oi gem cutting and Radiation Instruments tities of fine banded, fortification and col- polishing. ored agate were collected. Plans are already being made for the El Paso rock show next Send for Circular A J June. • LIGHT • SENSITIVE • • • Price. Less Motor and Saw Blade • PORTABLE • RELIABLE A Hallowe'en party October 22 and a trip $157.50 F.O.B. to the Mother Lode country November 12 Write for Full Details on Model F-4 and 13 were highlights of recent activities RX LABORATORY of the Northern California Mineral society, 915 E. Washington St. Pasadena 6. Calif. TECHNICAL ASSOCIATES Inc., which has headquarters in San Fran- 3730 San Fernando Rd. - Glendale 4. Calif. cisco. A bus was chartered for the trip and lodging arranged for members. The following weekend, on November 16, nomination of officers was scheduled. For De- cember 14 a treat has been promised. Charles Hansen will display his prize-win- ning exhibit which took three ribbons and two gold cuts at the Sacramento national ^

HAND MADE IN STERLING SILVER Bracelets, Rings, Necklaces, Earrings GORDON and Brooches

GEM AND MINERAL SUPPLIES SPECIALLY SELECTED STONES WITH IS CHOICE COLORS AND PICTURES Write for Folder With Prices "Dependable Lapidary Equipment" Write for Our Price List ELLIOTT'S GEM SHOP 26 Jergens Arcade LONG BEACH 2. CALIF. 1850 E. PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY w Entrance Subway at Ocean and Pine LONG BEACH 6, CALIFORNIA Open 10 A. M. to 10 P. M. Daily

DECEMBER, 1949 39 ADVERTISING RATE REGflLITE GEM MART 8c a Word . . . Minimum $1.00 BEAUTIFUL SLABS of Arizona variegated, FLUORESCENT MINERAL, 0.005% Uranium; A New Gem Discovery Agates, $1.00 each postpaid. Arizona Agate fluoresces beautiful yellowish green; 2" speci- Mines, Cave Creek, Arizona. men, $1.00; larger $2.00, $3.00. Scheelite, FOR SALE: Beautiful purple Petrified Wood fluoresces radiant bluish white; 2" $1.00. Post- with Uranium, Pyrolusite, Manganite. Nice paid in U. S. Mrs. Joe R. Rogers, 1024 Ninth COMPARE sample $1.00. Maggie Baker, Cameron, Ariz. Ave., Safford, Arizona. PLUME, BANDED and Moss Agate for sale at ATTENTION ROCK COLLECTORS. It will pay DANA'S REGALITE Ranch. Write or come. J. A. Anderson, Box you to visit the Ken-Dor Rock Roost. We buy, 182, AlDine, Texas. sell, or exchange mineral specimens. Visitors BURMA JADE ANALYSIS ARIZONA ROYAL FLOWER AGATE, world's are always welcome. Ken-Dor Rock Roost, finest colors and designs. Newly mined native 419 S. Franklin, Modesto, California. ANALYSIS chunks of agate with ferns, flowers, feathers, MINERAL SPECIMENS, slabs or material by Silica . . . 58% plumes, blooms, blossoms, bushes or shrub- the pound for cutting and polishing, RX Units, Silica .... 59.4% bery with after frost effect on sumac, ferns, Felker Di-Met and Carborundum Saw Blades, Alumina . . 25.2% Alumina . 27% sycamore, oak, quaken aspen and many others. Carborundum wheels Cerium Oxide. Mount- Sodium ... 15 % Sodium . . 15% Colors are canary to golden yellows with ings. Approval selection sent upon request. bright and blood-red inlays, other colors You are welcome. A. L. Jarvis, Route 2, Box sometimes mixed in. Chunk prices $1.00 to 350, Watsonville, California, on Salinas High- 99.6% 100% S5 00 per ounce. Slices priced $1.00 to $5.00 way. each depending on size and rarity. Moss agates of many colors now in stock, also deep red MONTANA MOSS AGATES in the rough for (ruby) garnets, amethyst crystals, petrified gem cutting $1.50 per lb. plus postage. Also woods, malachite, blue agate (Chrysocolla) and Slabbed Agate 25c per sq. in. (Minimum order REGALITE available in beautiful others. We will slice, chunk, cut stones or sell $1.00). Elliott's Gem Shop, 26 Jergins Arcade, in rough with a money back guarantee, a chip, Long Beach 2, California. Greens, Green and White, and chunk or slice of any rock for any price. EXPLODING ATOMS. Watch them flash. Spin- White. Arizona Agate Mines, Cave Creek, Arizona. thariscope uranium detector substitutes for MINERAL SETS—24 Colorful Minerals (identi- Geiger counter. Price $6.00. Scott Lewis, 2500 fied) in lxl compartments — Postage paid, Beaehwood, Hollywood, 28, California. $3 50 Prospector's Set of 50 Minerals (identi- PETOSKY STONES from Michigan make beau- Rough $2.50 per lb.. Slabs 50c per fied) in lxl compartments in cloth reinforced tiful display material when polished. 50c, 75c, sturdy cartons. Postage paid $5.75. Elliott's $1.00, $1.50 and $2.50. postpaid. Gritzner's square inch, postage paid. Gem Shop, 26 Jergins Arcade, Long Beach 2, Minerals, 441 Second Avenue, Yuma, Arizona. California. SEND FOR FREE PRICE LIST of Utah Rocks BEAUTIFUL AUSTRALIAN Opal Cabs, 10x8— and Minerals. Hubert's Rock Shop, Spring- Minimum Order $5.00 $3.00 to $7.20. 12x10—$4.80 to $9.00. Opal dale, Utah. rough for cutting $1.20 and $2.00. Ace Lapi- MIXED HOBBY ROCKS, in rough $1.50 per lb., dary, Box 67, Jamaica, New York. mixed slabs $2.50 per lb. Ira S. Cornwell, BRAZILIAN AGATE, Specimen pieces, also good Box 101, Pima, Arizona. for coloring, $1.00 a pound. Pieces run from DESERT SCENIC STONE: Nature's most beau- Royal Gem Company one to ten pounds each. Black Onyx Blanks, tiful gem and decorative material, a delightful 16x12 and 14x12 size—$2.50 dozen. Mail orders stone to work with. Special holiday and in- filled promptly. JUCHEM BROTHERS, 315 W. troductory offer to Desert subscribers, slabs 1517 Cross Roads of the World Fifth St., Los Angeles 13, California. 25c sq. inch, rough, $1.50 pound. Good until HOLLYWOOD 28. CALIFORNIA FIRE OPAL—We are now specializing in all January 1st: Top grade Richolite, $1.00 pound. grades of Australian cutting fire opal. We All prices postpaid. New Mexico Minerals, Box stock this lovely opal in all price ranges. 6156, Station B, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Also cutting material and specimens. No mail BEAUTIFUL SPECIMEN of snow white Trema- orders. West Coast Mineral Co., 1400 Haci- lite. These specimens are solid nodule and hair- enda Blvd. (State Highway 39), La Habra like crystals blending into glistening sunburst- Heights, California. • like structure. Also fluorescent, a light green MINERAL SPECIMENS and cutting material of intermingled with light and dark blue. Ask Add the HANDI-SCOPE to your Kit all kinds. Gold and Silver jewelry made to for list of many other fine specimens now in order. Your stones or ours. 5 lbs. good cutting stock. Jack The Rockhound, P. O. Box 86, material $4.00. J. L. James, Box 117, Carson Carbondale, Colo. City, Nevada. EXCHANGE Eastern minerals for western, IF YOU ARE A ROCKHOUND you need the Showy XL groups as Amethyst, Smoky Quartz, Examine Rocks, Minerals, Ores, Gems Lapidary Journal. Tells how to cut and polish Calcites, Quartz, Hibbinites, Anhydrites, Lau- rocks, gives news of all mineral-gem groups. mantites, Heulandites, Quartz Casts, Solids of Clip the amazing Handi-scope to your Tells how to make jewelry, carries ads of Triphylite, Purple Lepidolite, Spodumene, dealers in supplies, equipment, gems, minerals Rose Quartz, Siderite, Hematites and others, pocket on your next field trip. Rugged yet from all over the world. Well illustrated, Ted Schoen, 117 Orchard St., Mt. Vernon, precision made, this pocket microscope beautifully printed. Subscription $2.00 a year New York. provides 20 power magnification over a —back numbers 50c. Sample Copy 25c if you FIFTY MINERAL SPECIMENS, %-in. or over, have never subscribed or been sampled. boxed, identified, described, mounted. Post- wide, undistorted field. Simple button fine- LELANDE QUICK, Editor, P.O. Box 1228, paid $4.00. Old Prospector, Box 21B362, Dutch focusing adjustment. Excellent for lapidary Hollywood 28, California.. Flat, California. work. Order Now! Handi-scope, complete TEXAS AGATES—Five pounds selected from GEMS, GENUINE AND SYNTHETIC. Gorgeous all locations, including plume, iris, fortifica- quartz rock crystal stars mounted for ear- with pocket clip, $4.95 postpaid. Send tion, scenic, opal assortment, etc., postpaid, rings, pendants or unmounted. Opals, Tour- check or money order. $5.00. Visit. 20 tons to select from at 25c malines, Aquamarines, Alexandrites, Emer- per pound. El Paso Rock and Lapidary Sup- alds, Rubies, Sapphires, Topaz, Amethysts, BUHL OPTICAL CO. ply, 2401 Pittsburg St., El Paso, Texas. Phone Corundum (various colors), Spinel, Rutile 5-8721. (Titania), etc. Let us know what you want. Desk C-122. 1009 Beech Ave. GOLD NUGGETS! Beautiful, solid gold speci- Satisfaction guaranteed. H. Stillwell & Son, mens, $1.00 each or 3 for $2.00. Special col- Rockville Centre, New York. Pittsburgh 12, Pa. lection 12 nuggets from California, Oregon, Nevada and Alaska, $5.00. Desert Jim, 627 HERKIMER "DIAMONDS" (quartz crystals). Lillian. Stockton. California. These matchless natural gem-like crystals in LET'S TRADE: Utah clear terminated crystal various forms, also fine matrix specimens now specimens. Golden Labradorite, faceting qual- available. Assortments $2.50, $5.00, $7.50, ROCK COLLECTORS ATTENTION ity. Will exchange for crystal specimens. Ed $10.00 postpaid in United States. H. Stillwell Dowse, 329 Reed Ave., Salt Lake City, Utah. & Son, Rockville Centre, New York. Back again at the old stand on highway START a Rock Collection: For yourself or shut- 111, with the TRAILER ROCK STORE. One in. No. 1 box for $1.00. No. 2 box for $2.00, mile S. E. of Cathedral City. Have gath- No. 3 box for $5.00. Postage paid in U.S.A. Money refunded if not pleased. F. P. Town- ered lots of fine cutables and XLS this Fififi send, Box 849, Twentynine Palms, California. summer. Also many imports from foreign BRAZIL: Amethyst and Citrain, green Tourma- lands have arrived and more are com- Detecting instruments—Various makes line, golden, green & white Beryl, Aquama- and models including rine, Chrysoberyl. Australian gems: Fine Opal, ing. Come and get yours from blue Sapphire, Zircon. Burma: Pigeon Blood THE ROCKOLOGIST (Chuckawalla Slim) ... GEIGER COUNTERS ... Ruby, Balas Ruby, Zircon. Africa: Fine Tour- P. O. Box 181, Cathedral City, Calif. maline, spec. Emerald, Tigers Eye, black Star ... MINE LOCATORS ... Sapphire. Ceylon: Fancy Sapphire, 7 carat average, Spinel. Moonstone. Local: Peridot, ... MINERALIGHTS ... Montana Sapphire, Yogo Sapphire, Mexican NEW CATALOGS AVAILABLE SPINTHARISCOPES — inexpensive de- • Topaz. P. O. Box 1123, Encinitas, Calif. Vis- vice for detecting radioactivity; sturdy itors contact postoffice. If you want Choice Cutting Material, Fine & CONCRETIONS OF MARCACITE from Norwood, Rare Minerals, Geiger Counters, Miner- carrying case; calibrating box with • Michigan. We brought these very interesting alights, Books, Trim Saws, Fluorescents, three specimens. Price $6.00. • concretions for your collection. $1.50, 25c Ores, Gems, Ring Mounts, or advice, write and 10c postpaid. Gritzner's Minerals, 441 to ... MINERAL PROSPECTING Second Ave., Yuma, Arizona. LUST FOR GOLD? Sixteen years gathering in- MINERALS UNLIMITED tyuEQUIPMENi T CO. information Lost Dutchman, many trips Super- 1724 University Ave., Berkeley 3, California 0 N. Reese PI., Burbank. Calif. stitions. Clean partner wanted. Frank L. 2200 N. Ree: Alden, Gen. Del., Los Angeles, California.

40 THE DESERT MAGAZINE MOJAVE MINERAL SHOW ORANGE BELT GROUP DIAMOND BLADES REPORTED BIG SUCCESS HAS NOVEMBER SHOW With mining companies, rockhounds, gem More than 100 exhibitors were scheduled Heavy-Duty Super- Standard cutters and mineral experts cooperating, the to participate in the third annual gem and Supir-Chgd. Chaigtd Charged annual mineral exhibit of the Mojave, Cali- mineral show of the Orange Belt Miner- $ 8.70 $ 7.70 $ 6.75 fornia, Mineralogical society proved to be alogical society November 19 and 20 at the 12.75 9.90 8.95 a huge success, those attending report. An Orange Show grounds, San Bernardino, 15.75 12.95 11.95 estimated 3200 people viewed the displays California. 21.80 18.95 15.75 32.30 24.95 21.85 and the exhibits of gem cutting. Chairman A feature of the show was the offer to 36.40 27.85 24.75 of the show was W. J. Becktel. The Mo- make free tests with a Geiger counter for 66.30 44.20 33.95 jave society meets regularly the first Fri- anyone bringing in uranium ore. New pres- 79.30 55.90 43.75 day of each month in Boron or Mojave. ident of the Orange Belt society is H. H. 127.25 106.95 State New members and visitors are welcome. 192.20 159.95 Arbor Brannon Jr., Redlands. He replaces Dr. sales tax in California. Size It is believed that more mines and indi- Warren F. Fox, who resigned because of viduals in the area will be eager to arrange ill health. Allow for Postage and Insurance. exhibits for next year's show. • • • COVINGTON • • • Motion pictures of Bryce and Zion Na- Grinding Heads NEW GEM SOCIETY IN tional Parks in Utah and the Grand Canyon in Arizona were shown at October meeting and Shields are SAN MATEO COUNTY of the Oklahoma Mineral and Gem society, furnished in 4 Although only recently organized, the San Oklahoma City. New officers were sched- sizes and price Mateo County, California, Gem and Mineral uled to be elected at the meeting. society already has 60 paid members, and ranges. the charter was closed at .its September COVINGTON 8" Trim meeting. C. W. Parsons was organization Saw and Motor are chairman. Members of the new club will compact and do not center their interests around gem cutting COLLECTIONS and polishing, metal crafts and mineralogy. splash Koolerant. The group meets on the third Tuesday of FOR COLLECTORS each month, and already has conducted sev- BUILD YOUR OWN LAP eral field trips. First regular dinner meet- We have individual specimens reasonably with a ing, with 50 attending, was held May 24 priced, and complete mineral collections COVINGTON of this year. from 50 boxed ores at $4.00 to museum 12" or 16" Lap Kit. • • • collections of 550 3x4" superb specimens for $2,000. "STORY OF JADE" COVINGTON IS NOW AVAILABLE If you are looking for any mineral 16" Lap Unit to complete your collection or a Interesting to the lay reader as well as series consult us. We have many to the collector or lapidary, The Story of scarce items. Jade has been published by Sheridan House. COVINGTON It was written by H. P. Whitlock, curator We specialize in mineral sets for gift 12", 14" or 16 shops and mineral supply stores. of the Morgan gem collection of the Ameri- Power Feed can Museum of Natural History and the DEALERS INQUIRIES INVITED Diamond Saw Drummond jade collection, who had just completed the manuscript when he died. Send for large FREE catalogue listing Martin L. Ehrmann, noted gemologist and hundreds of items. Send 3c Stamp consultant to museums, took over and saw for Catalog the book through the press. ECKERT MINERAL RESEARCH 110 East Main Street. FLORENCE. Colorado SEND FOR LITERATURE to LAPIDARY ENGINEERS FOR CHRISTfllAS Outstanding Mexican Mineral Specimens. FIND RADIOACTIVE MINERALS Flashy Synthetic Rutile in round brilliant with a Sniffer Geiger Counter $10,000.00 U.S. Govt. Reward FEATURES cut & rough material. offered. NOW, you can pros- Geiger Counters for sale & rent. pect for uranium and other • Extremely precious minerals at low cost. Sensitive Send 40c in stamps for "Prospecting ior No technical knowledge need- • Lowest Uranium" by IT. S. Government. ed. SNIFFER is supersensi- Price tive. Weighs only 2 pounds. • Economical Operates from coat pocket. New line of Silversmith Supplies. Uses only 2 ordinary flashlite • Lightest MINERALIGHT batteries—less than lc per weight J. C. FILER & SON hour. Loud noise-free audible • Smallest signal eliminates meters and Midway between Redlands & Colton Model SL Ultra-Violet Lamps size calculations. Liberal factory . Liberal Old Location—New Address—1344 Hwy • Vivid fluorescence • Much lower guarantee. guarantee 99—San Bernardino. prices • Weight 16 ounces • Stream- Ruggedly Built —Easy to Carry & Use lined • Short Wave • Long Wave Order Today • 110-Volt • Battery 4VAIIDC AT NO EXTRA f I UUlf 3 COST After two years of research, the 123 page illustrat- MINERAL SPECIMENS finest Mineralights ever produced, ed cloth bound GEM MATERIALS are now here—at unbelievably low book included with each Sniffer prices. Geiger Counter. A huge selection of BEAUTIFUL MINERALS, Contains valuable, up-to- MODEL, SL 2537 - the-minute data direct from RARE MINERALS,* COMMON MINERALS U.S. Atomic and GEM MATERIALS. Short Wave - $39.50 Energy Com- MODEL SL 3660 - mission and — One Price to All — Long Wave - $29.50 nenTinforina- Modernized, light weight, low-priced field WE'LL WELCOME YOUR VISIT accessories. Write for catalog SL 2. See BURMINCO your Mineralight Dealer. complete postpaid (All orders shipped same day received.) We 128 S. Encinitas Monrovia, California ULTRA-VIOLET PRODUCTS, INC. ship C.O.D. on $5.00 deposit. (In same block with postoffice) SOUTH PASADENA, CALIF. TROUP ENGINEERING CO. Some Dealerships still available 2223-D S. Grand Are.. Long Beach 4. Calif.

DECEMBER, 1949 41 '?ine Ofral - THexic* Plaque Placed Near Summit 10 small pieces—average V4"-%" $1.00 Of Famed Mineral Peak . . . 5 larger—average 3/i"-l" 1.00 6 still larger—1"-2" or over 2.00 1 small vial clear fire opal 1.S0 50 rough mixed Mexican Opals, in- Famous since the 1880's as the highest cluding honey, cherry, etc., aver- mineral locality in North America and still age 1" 1.50 unique among American mineralized areas for its inaccessibility, Mount Antero in the ALL 5 LOTS POSTPAID—S6.00 Sawatch range of central Colorado has at Although these are sold chiefly as cabinet last received formal recognition. specimens and have plenty of fire, many The noted gem peak was proclaimed a of them will work up into new cabochons. Mineral Park by the Colorado Mineral society at ceremonies held on Colorado day, Money Cheerfully Refunded if Not August 1, when a bronze tablet was set in Entirely Satisfactory a granite pinnacle just below summit of Polished Mexican Opals and other gem the 14,245-foot mountain. The plaque is stone cabochons on approval to responsible not far from site of the highest mine in the persons. United States. This mine and much of the entire moun- DR. RALPH E. MUELLER tain has been a prolific producer of beauti- 3701 Valentine Road Kansas City 2, Mo. ful gem aquamarine and other rare miner- must be packed in over a trail that rises als, located in hidden pockets of the coarse more than 5000 feet in seven miles. rock called pegmatite. Unusual minerals The plaque was mounted by nine mem- such as phenakite and bertrandite, and fine bers of the Colorado Mineral society who crystals of commoner minerals like smoky climbed to top of the peak. James Hurlbut ALLEN quartz, rock crystal, fluorite and feldspar led the group. First to reach the summit JUNIOR come from Mount Antero. One of the largest was 14-year-old Tommy Hofer. Others in spheres of rock crystal in existence was cut the party were Mr. and Mrs. Harold Hofer, GEM from Mount Antero quartz and displayed Col. and Mrs. Olin Brown, Mrs. Alice M. CUTTER at the Chicago World's fair in 1893—is now Colburn, Muriel Colburn, Mrs. Mildred in the Chicago Museum of Natural History. Newell, Betty Burwell, Donald Brown, Le- Roy Brown, Robert Le Massena and C. W. A Complete Lapidary Shop Equipment for mining in the hard rock Hayward. Only $37.50 Last field trip of the summer season for • Ideal for apartment house dwell- AMONG THE the Minneapolis, Minnesota, Mineral club ers. was held October 9. Members went to • Polish rocks into beautiful gems. Spring Valley, 20 miles south of Rochester, ROCK HUNTERS picked over new iron mines recently opened. • Anyone can learn. • • • • Instructions included. Demonstrating that it is easy to cut a Dr. Chang Wen Ti, Los Angeles importer « Write for Free Catalog » sphere, Ernest Pauls, a member of the Gem and dealer in Chinese jade, gave an instruc- Cutters Guild, Los Angeles, California, tive talk to members of the Santa Monica ALLEN LAPIDARY EQUIPMENT talked to the club recently on his experi- Gemological society at their September meeting. Jade is China's most popular gem COMPANY ences with spheres. He was assisted in his demonstration by R. W. Frohardt and A. C. material, the speaker said, he told some- 3632 W. Slauson Ave., Los Angeles 43, Cal. Gustafson. The Guild meets the fourth thing of its history and legends. At the Monday of each month at the Manchester same meeting Vice President Vern Ca- playground, 7:30 p. m., visitors are wel- dieux spoke on mineral collections and how come. to start and develop them. Early in October the society visited the Kaiser steel plant at • • • Fontana, California. AUSTRALIAN H. A. Scott, instructor of geology at • • • GEM & JEWELRY Santa Ana college was speaker at October meeting of the Searles Lake, California, "The Cavalcade of Marble" was title of EXPORTERS Gem and Mineral society. Nomination of a colored motion picture shown by a repre- Wish you a Merry officers was also scheduled for the October sentative of the Vermont Marble company Christmas and a meeting. The Searles Lake group has voted at October meeting of the Mineralogical So- to back a movement asking the Death Val- ciety of Southern California. Meeting was Happy New Year. ley Monument park service to establish a in lecture room of the Pasadena public li- camp ground in Wildrose canyon for con- brary. On October 22 and 23 the group Boulder Opal specimens from 50c each or venience of rockhounds and otters who had a field trip to Trona, camping at Valley $4.50 per doz. Gems 8xl0mm $1.00, wish to explore the historic and scenic can- Wells. After over-night camp, they ex- 12x16 mm $3.00, 14x24 mm $10.00. Rare yon. plored the onyx mine north of Trona. Opals from Lightning Ridge, Cooberpedy • • • & Andamooka. Write for Details, Order by • • • air mail for quick delivery. The first display ever entered in a com- A talk on "Pegmatite Dikes" was feature petitive show won a blue ribbon for the of the October meeting of the Yavapai Gem AUSTRALIAN GEM & JEWELLERY San Jacinto-Hemet Rockhounds who had an and Mineral Society, Prescott, Arizona, and exhibit at the Farmers Fair and Festival re- on the last Sunday in October the club EXPORTERS cently. Visitors marveled at what could be went on a fall field trip. Just to keep 22 Russell Street, Drummoyne, done to transform "ugly" rocks into lovely things moving, work has started on the Sydney, Australia. gem-stones. October field trip of the group society's annual rock and gem show which was to Last Chance canyon. A trip to Horse will be in December. Ernest E. Michael canyon was scheduled for November, ac- is new president of the society. cording to Thomas Harwell, chairman. • • • CRYSTALLIZED MINERAL SPECIMENS • • • Regular meeting October 11, a field trip to Cutting Material the Cady mountains October 16 and an Meeting jointly with the historical so- LARGE ASSORTMENT open-house gathering October 23 at the ciety, the Kern County, California, Mineral home of W. E. Lasley helped keep mem- MOJAVE DESERT GEM & MINERAL SHOP society in October heard Dr. Chester Stock bers of the Pomona Valley, California, Min- Highway 91, One Mile West of talk on the tar pits at McKittrick. Regular eral club busy as the fall season started. Yermo, California meetings of the society are held in Bakers- An auction of specimens donated by mem- field on the second Monday of the month. bers netted $46.55 for the club treasury.

42 THE DESERT MAGAZINE A talk on copper minerals, illustrated Scientific prospecting has replaced to a with many specimens, interested members large extent the old guess-work methods, ac- Rock Cutting - Rings Mounted to Order of the Los Angeles Mineralogical society cording to Walt Bilicke, Hollywood engin- ROCK and GEM HOBBY SHOP when they heard Dr. Homer P. King at their eer, who spoke at a recent meeting of the FELIX V. BRADDI, Owner September meeting. He is a member of the Mineralogical Society of Southern Califor- Stones Ground and Polished society. The club's display chairman, Her- nia. The meeting was in lecture room of Uranium Ore Tested - Western Jewelry bert L. Fritts, spoke on iron minerals, dis- the Pasadena public library. Bilicke ex- 2450 Elden Avenue played a table of specimens. He is regarded plained and demonstrated some late model COSTA MESA, CALIFORNIA as an authority on the nature of minerals Geiger counters, and displayed a cabinet and how they are formed. of uranium ores. The meeting was attended • • • by Jack Streeter, president of the American The Mineral and Gem Society of Castro Federation of Mineralogical societies and Valley, Hayward, California, was privi- also of the California Federation. He is HAROLD D. MARYOTT & CO. leged to hear Wesley Gordon speak on fos- a past president of the Southern California Manufacturing Jewelers sils at the club's September meeting. Gor- group. don is a nationally-recognized authority, • • • Wholesale Exclusively and brought to the meeting his famed col- Summer activities of the N. O. T. S. Miami, Arizona lection of fossils. Also on display was Mrs. Rockhounds (Naval Ordnance Test Station, George Luce's collection of petrified wood China Lake, California) were brought to a from several states. close with a potluck supper in October at • • • Bill Lewis' Wagon Wheel. Some 70 mem- Dr. Ian Campbell, associate chairman of bers attended this social gathering and in- the division of geological sciences at the spected a display of fluorescent minerals. O'BRIEN'S California Institute of Technology, spoke One summer feature was a climb to top . in Hollywood to Pacific Mineral society members and of Telescope peak in the Panamint range, Now open and ready to serve your needs in guests at their October meeting. He told near Death Valley, made with members of lapidary equipment, supplies, silver, findings, of the International Geological Congress the Trona rock group. Displays and visits gem rough for facet and cabochon cutting . . . held in England last year, and related his- at gem shows also kept members busy dur- and cut stones of m^ny varieties. tory of the scientific gathering which was ing the summer months. — Drop In And Look Us Over — started in 1878. Dr. Campbell also described • • a field trips he had taken in Scotland, illus- We do custom slabbing, facet and cabochon trating his comments with colored slides. Annual fall mineral show of the Sacra- cutting. • • • mento, California, Mineral society was held Members of the Chicago Rocks and Min- October 22 and 23, was open to the public O'BRIEN'S LAPIDARY erals society were privileged to hear Lelande both days and evenings without charge. EQUIPMENT CO. Quick, editor of the Lapidary Journal, when Final plans for the show were made at the 1116 N. Wilcox Ave. Hollywood 38, Calif. he lectured October 22 at the Chicago Acad- September meeting, when members heard a Phone Gladstone 5424 emy of Sciences. This followed the group's talk on methods used to quarry and pro- regular October meeting when L. C. Al- cess marble. Several new members were drich, Chicago silver smith, talked on his- received into the society. tory of the craft. • • • • • • Wyoming Gem Stones "The Quartz Family Minerals" was the Tired of the continual search for a place subject of a talk given by Bob Deidrick at Agates, mixed, all types, 10 lb. bag to meet, the Calaveras Gem and Mineral October meeting of the East Bay Mineral $5.00. Colorful Agates $2.00 lb. Sweet society finally has started building its. own Society, Inc., Oakland, California. He is Water Agate Pebbles $1.00 lb., select ones clubhouse. An acre of land was donated a member of the group. He pointed out that 25c each. Large Agate slices 25c each. by Archie Mecham, and club members PETRIFIED WOODS: Limb wood, (Eden chipped in with cash donations to purchase many of the cutting and polishing materials belong to the quartz family, and that col- Valley), $1.00 lb., black wood, 25c lb., building materials, are doing the work them- colorful agatized wood 25c lb. selves. It will be a 40 x 60 building of lectors usually have more quartz specimens concrete block construction, is located on than any other mineral. On October 8 TURITELLA: Agatized 25c lb., average highway 49 near Angel's Camp, California. and 9 members of the society went on an 10c lb. JADE: All gem quality, black and overnight field trip, last of the season, to green or olive, $4.00 slice, mottled colors • • e $3.00 lb. Wyo. arrowheads, mostly black An illustrated lecture on "The Lapidary the gem mine area in San Benito county. 25c each. When ordering please specify Art and Artists of Ancient Times" was This is the only locality in the world where size of stones desired. All orders shipped given to members of the San Jose, Califor- the gem stone benitoite has been found. promptly. nia, Lapidary society at their regular Oc- At a later October meeting the society tober meeting in the De Anza hotel. It heard talks on lapidary methods by Bill TYNSKY SERVICE was announced that exhibitors for the No- Kane and R. E. Lamberson. 701 Dewar Drive Rock Springs, Wyo. vember meeting will be Adele Grube, De- Phone 298 wain Hagen, Dr. G. N. Harris, O. L. Heller and Dr. Gordon Helsley. • • • ANNOUNCING . . . Gem stones and commercial mineral pro- New Owners—Edna and David Slump DIRECT TO YOU FROM OUR ducts from the desert areas of San Bernar- New Location—7004 Foothill Blvd. OWN CUTTING PLANT dino and Kern counties, California, proved Silvercraft and Lapidary Supplies to be a popular feature of the San Bernar- Hand-made jewelry, all metals. Antique Jewelry Repairs a Specialty. RUTILE (Titania) dino County fair held recently near Victor- Mountings with Personality for YOUR ville. stones. Pacific Gem Cutters is first to offer you • • • WRITE US. this most amazing gem cut in our own Members of the Nebraska Mineral and plant, at these 8-1 GEM AND MINERAL SHOP Gem club brought specimens of calcite to LOW PRICES their September meeting and after a talk 7004 Foothill Blvd. Tujunga. California by Tom Huddleston on the properties, oc- Small stones can be had in pairs for earrings currence and industrial uses of calcite, they Vi to 1 carat sizes at $10.00 carat all compared and discussed their different 1 carat sizes and up at $ 7.50 carat specimens. Aim: to learn more about one WE ARE READY TO SERVE Each stone guaranteed to be first quality. mineral by studying it exclusively for one Brilliant cut stones from Lin.de Air Products YOU AGAIN boules, facet for facet to duplicate the bril- session liant diamond cut. These synthetic balls of • • • Minerals from the four corners of the fire have a double refractive index and New equipment now available to those earth exceed the diamond in brilliance. interested in lapidary work was discussed Visit our "Rock Shop on Wheels" All stones precision cut and beautifully at October meeting of the Sequoia Mineral 1824 West Manchester Ave. polished. society, California. Lowell and Florence Los Angeles PACIFIC GEM CUTTERS Gordon were speakers, also demonstrated Saturdays and Sundays only use of the Geiger counter. Mrs. Gordon THE ROCK SMITHS LAPIDARY AND STONE SUPPLY talked on the history of diamonds. The (Formerly Mint Canyon Rock Shop) Phone MA 8835—Judson Rives Building meeting was at Parlier high school, near Mineral Specimens Make Fine Gifts 424 South Broadway, Los Angeles 13. Calif. Fresno.

DECEMBER, 1949 43 JOIN *\ S V;

HEROIC HORSES OF French, Arabic, Portuguese, English THE CONQUISTADORES and Italian. The conquests of Cortez and Desoto Nearly 20 years after the appearance would have been impossible without of the English edition, R. B. Cunning- horses which were valued more highly hame Graham's story of The Horses than men. The journals of Bernal of the Conquest has been republished Diaz, who accompanied Cortez, record in this country. The author, who died the name, color and characteristic of in 1936 at the age of 84, was almost each and devote more space to the Lhis is your invitation to ad- as fabulous a person as the conquista- venture—to participation in explo- dores and their horses of which he incredible feats of courage and endur- ration and discovery—to a box seat ance of the horses than those of the for the greatest show in the world writes so fondly. men. —Life itself. You can—become a A Spanish don and Scottish noble- member of the American Museum man by birth, he roamed the frontiers This edition is illustrated with two- of Natural History for only $5.00 a color pen and ink drawings by J. Craig year. And as a member you receive of the world—North Africa, Texas, Sheppard, making it one of the hand- Natural History Magazine, the Argentine, Mexico, Venezuela, Para- somest books of the year. museum's official publication, ten guay and Brazil. He spoke Spanish, times each year. Edited by Robert Moorman Den- hardt, with illustrations by J. Craig Here's mystery, drama, science, folklore, travel and romance. Sheppard. University of Oklahoma Here's the result of the great work Will Indian culture Press, 1949. 145 pp. Bibliography. of the museum itself. It's ALL survive White domination? $5.00. brought to you in the colorful, pic- • • • ture-filled, fascinating magazine. Published for members by the THE INDIANS UTAH SOCIETY COMPLETES American Museum of Natural His- RECORD OF POWELL VOYAGES tory each issue is a thing of imper- ishable beauty full of educational OF THE SOUTHWEST Completing one of the most ambi- benefits, useful to A century of Development tious publishing projects ever under- businessman, Under the United States taken by the organization, the Utah housewife, student State Historical Society has just issued —facts and infor- by EDWARD EVERETT DALE mation which can the second volume of original records . be found nowhere I S OUR government a land-grab- covering the boat expeditions of Major Use. bing monster or a beneficent god- John Wesley Powell on the Colorado father? Here is a frank, vivid study of how the Indians of the and Green rivers in 1869 and 1872. At the Southwest lived for one hundred The first volume, published early Risk of Life years under the United States— this year, contained Major Powell's The breathtaking their frustrations, their struggles own journal as well as those of other facts, articles and pictures in Natural to survive. It reveals in realistic History Magazine are often obtained by detail the problems of the govern- members of his exploring parties. The museum explorers at great risk. True ment, the tenacity of the tribes, new volume completes the Powell rec- stories of early MAN groping toward civilization, of strange wild beasts still their resistance to white settle- ord of exploration on and adjacent to roaming unchartered lands, of scientific ment and their efforts to retain the two great rivers. discoveries all are brought to you by their own culture. accredited museum representatives in The day-by-day records included in the field. In reading Natural History Magazine you join them in adventure! A "must" for the second volume are those of Ste- those who phen Vandiver Jones, edited by Dr. want to better Biggest Bargain Ever understand Herbert E. Gregory; the Journal of Thousands know that NATURAL HIS- the natives of John F. Steward, edited by William TORY MAGAZINE is the biggest bar- our land — gain in publishing history. For only Culp Darrah; and the Journal of Wil- $5.00 a year you get this wonderful their culture, liam Clement Powell, edited by Charles magazine plus associate membership in customs, psy- one of the world's greatest educational chology, past Kelly. institutions. Send your $5.00 today with and future. II- In addition to the daily records of the coupon. You will find, we know, that your membership and Natural History lus., bibliogra- these voyagers, there are biographical Magazine is the best investment you've phy, index, $4. ever made in absorbing reading, enter- sketches of the three journalists and tainment and knowledge. Send for your copy today. other members of the party: Hillers, Dellenbaugh, Beaman, Fennemore, and American Mnseum of Natural History, (Postpaid with cash order.) Dept. D, 79th St. at Central Park W. Johnson. New York, 24, N. Y. Enter my subscription to NATURAL I If not completely satisfied you The diaries of Jones, Steward and HISTORY MAGAZINE and enroll me may return it within ten days, W. C. Powell all cover the second as an associate member and contrib- utor to the educational program of the I money gladly refunded. Powell expedition which started at AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY. I enclose $5.00. UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA Greenriver, Utah, May 22, 1871, and NAME I PRESS ended at Kanab canyon 16 months please print later on September 7. Many side trips ADDRESS. I NORMAN 2, OKLAHOMA were made for exploration purposes, CITITTY ^lAlSTATEE _

44 THE DESERT MAGAZINE and the expedition halted at the pres- niques for using the Geiger counter, available from: Superintendent of ent site of Lee's ferry from October laws and regulations which affect Documents, U.S. Government Printing until the following August, and spent uranium prospectors. The handbook is Office. The price, 30 cents. the intervening time exploring the canyon country. LAUGH WHILE YOU LEARN . . . While this work is the second and last volume devoted to the Powell ex- Reg Manning's peditions, it actually is Volumes 16 and 17 of the Utah Historical Quar- WHAT KIMdA CACTUS IZZAT? terly, the previous Powell book being Volume 15. is in print again Utah State Historical Society, 337 Reg Manning teaches desert botany the easy way—in text and State Capitol, Salt Lake City, Utah, cartoons. The book is a "Who's Who" of the strange plants that 1948-49. Illustrations. Maps, Index. grow in the desert Southwest—and the author has made such a hilari- 540 pp. ous adventure of his cactus lessons you'll not soon forget them. • • • The sixth printing of this popular book was exhausted two years HANDBOOK FOR URANIUM ago—and now the seventh printing is off the presses and ready for PROSPECTORS PUBLISHED delivery. It makes a delightful little Christmas gift. Designed to answer virtually every Postpaid to you $1.75 question that might be asked, a hand- California buyers add 3% sales tax book for uranium prospectors has been DESERT CRAFTS SHOP Palm Desert, California published jointly by the U.S. Atomic Energy commission and the U.S. Geo- logical survey. The pocket-size book has 123 pages, is entitled "Prospecting for Uranium." It provides information .... BOOKS on the occurrence, identification and sale of uranium-bearing ores. Material Here are a few select volumes which came from the publishers too in the booklet includes the names and late to be included in our regular Christmas book catalog. They are characteristics of uranium-bearing ores, volumes of the Southwest—books you will be proud to have in your types of deposits in which uranium oc- library. If you wish to send them as gifts, gift cards will be sent at curs, various tests that can be applied your request. to identify uranium minerals, tech- THE ROYAL HIGHWAY (El Camino Real), by Edwin Corle. A lively and fascinating book. The story of the great coastal route first In the days when the trod by the Franciscan padres, and now traveled by thousands of motor- ists daily. Rich in California history *. $4.00 West was wildest CALIFORNIA JUBILEE, by Ed Ainsworth. In which the author finds romance and humor in the back roads beyond the city limits of Los Angeles and Hollywood. A delightful book written by a master FRONTIER reporter $3.00 CALIFORNIA, A Guide to the Golden State. This authentic 713- JUSTICE page volume of the American Guide series is in print again. Contains a wealth of information that will interest the native Californian as well by as the visitor. Illustrated $4.50 WAYNE GARD THE VOICE OF THE COYOTE, by J. Frank Dobie. Hunted and trapped as an enemy, the coyote has survived and extended his MlDNIGHT raids . . . blazing habitat to much of North America. Frank Dobie spent 30 years gather- six-shooters . . . dangling ropes. ing material for the most exhaustive and readable book yet written Here is a true, exciting account of citizens with long memories— about the coyote $4.00 and short tempers — who made their own laws and often hanged THE VALLEY BELOW, by Alice Marriott. A human and sympa- horse thieves from the nearest thetic story of an Indian and Spanish-American community in New tree. It is the absorbing story of Mexico. Intimate and personal, it is a close-up view of a little-known lawmakers and breakers: Roy phase of life in America $3.00 Bean, Watt Moorman, the feuding Tewksburys, the violent G o o d- breads. This blazing study of jus- WELLS FARGO — Advancing the American Frontier, by Edward tice on the lawless frontier—from Hungerford. In the business of transporting gold the Wells Fargo bloody tomahawk to polished gav- people knew violence and death, Indian raids, stage robberies, finan- el—will thrill all Western readers. cial panic and heat and thirst on the desert. This is the story of one Illustrated, $3.75. of the most turbulent areas in American history $3.75 Send for your copy today. (Postpaid with cash order.) All books mailed postpaid. If not completely satisfied you may re- California buyers add 3% sales tax. turn it within ten days, money gladly refunded. UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA PRESS DESERT CRAFTS SHOP NORMAN 2, OKLAHOMA Palm Desert, California

DECEMBER, 1949 45 }etureen Ifou and Me

/r by RANDALL HENDERSON one of the desert newspapers which themselves sensed the dangers in the proposal. Both the come to my desk printed the speech of a civic leader Navajo tribal council and leaders on the Hopi reservation who told the businessmen they should do two things protested the passage of the measure. to build a flourishing community: (1) Go after the tourist The record of federal administration of Indian affairs trade, and (2) provide industrial jobs for working people. is bad enough. I have a feeling it would be infinitely worse The speaker meant well, but he was guilty of a type of if left to the machinations of state politicians. confused thinking not uncommon among the civic leaders The 10-year plan is not dead. President Truman has of an older generation. More far-sighted businessmen of promised to include funds for its initiation in his next this generation have learned that tourists and industrial budget message to congress. plants do not mix well. Tourists generally are traveling • • • for recreation—and they do not seek it in places where the News that Arizona has completed a new bridge over the air is saturated with the odors and gases of power plants, Big Sandy river and is improving a new highway from and where the clatter of commercial traffic echoes from the Kingman to Wickenburg may not have much signifiancc to pavements 24 hours a day. many of Desert's readers. I would not discount the importance of industry. With- I just want to pass the word along that this newly-im- out it we would revert to the state of primitive man. But proved road taps one of the loveliest desert regions in the until such time as our industrialists become enlightened Southwest. Here Joshua tree and Saguaro cactus grow enough to build for beauty and human well-being no less together in a great natural garden which will delight the than for cash dividends civic leaders should dismiss the heart of the botanist. Numerous "coyote holes" on the idea that they can have both tourist incomes and industrial hillsides are evidence that it is a mineralized region. Also, payrolls in any sizable volume. there are fossil deposits and new fields for the rock and Palm Springs, California, is one of the communities with mineral collectors. foresight enough to recognize this obvious truth. For The Big Sandy is a tributary of the Bill Williams river, months the Palm Spring community has been waging a much of it a dry streambed most of the year, and a roaring vigorous fight to prevent the construction of a cement torrent when there are rains in the highlands. This is a processing plant on the windward side of the city. The trip I can recommend for those who like to explore the fight has not yet been won, but it will be in the long run. new desert trails. For the entire community is actively committed to the • • • proposition that Palm Springs is to remain a mecca for As an old-timer on the desert I would suggest that those tourists—and the way of the industrial transgressor who who plan to witness the Death Valley '49 er pageant De- would upset this program will be very hard indeed. cember 3 adopt the Boy Scout motto and "Be Prepared." • • • By that, I mean have some food and water and bedding stowed away in the car, even if you are not planning to In 1912 I was learning my printing trade in Parker, remain overnight at the campfire party. There are no Arizona. Those were boom days in Parker. Certain Ari- serious physical hazards involved in the trip. There are zonans were sponsoring a proposal that a major portion of four paved roads into Death Valley, and any normal driver the fertile Colorado river bottom lands in Parker valley should be able to make the trip without difficulty. be taken away from the Indians and allotted to white But those who are staging the pageant have no basis for farmers. Parker was to become the trading center of a estimating the number of people who will be present. productive farming community, and the price of town lots They are guessing 10,000—but it could be 15,000 or was zooming. 5,000. It will be the biggest mass excursion in Death Fortunately for the Indians, congress turned thumbs Valley history—and the Valley's normal food and housing down on the proposition. and automobile service is set up for only a small fraction Having the memory of this historical incident clearly in of that many visitors at one time. mind, I was completely in accord with President Truman's Those in charge of arrangements, including the National action in vetoing the so-called Navajo-Hopi rehabilitation Park Service, are trying to solve the problems of traffic, measure recently passed by congress. Part of the bill was food, parking and seating without any previous experience fine. It would have appropriated $88,570,000 for a 10- exactly like this—and it is not to be expected that every year program of benefits for the Indians. detail will be perfect. But certain congressmen had injected into the measure So, my advice: Take plenty of water, gasoline, food and provisions which, with qualifications, would have taken the blankets—and a good sense of humor—and accept what control of Indian affairs out of the hands of the federal comes in the spirit of glorious adventure. Cyria an' government, and turned it over to the states. The Indians I'll be seein' you at the campfire Saturday night. 46 THE DESERT MAGAZINE Ttatunal DATES THE VALLEY OF THE PALMS , . , NATURAL DATES . . . that means all our dates are palm-ripened with full Date Flavor. THEY ARE NOT HYDRATED DATES. Remember this difference when you compare prices. ALL PRICES DELIVERED. Flats, Cases, Baskets by Prepaid Express DEGLET NOOR DATES Extra select top grade, gift packed. Select grade, gift packed. 1 lb. -1.20 3 lbs. - 3.00 5 lbs. - 4.65 1 lb. -1.00 3 lbs. - 2.40 5 lbs. - 3.65 10 lbs. - 6.15 Special Economy Family pack, in a "chewy" EXTRA SELECT top grade. One pound size grade 3 lb. cellophane bag, or 15 lb. wood flat. only in the California Centennial Souvenir 3 lbs. -1.60 15 lb. flat - 6.85 Gold Can. 1 lb. -1.45 DATE-NUT CAKE THE "CANDY CAKE"—our secret recipe, combining Natural Dates, Wal- nuts, Fresh Eggs, Pure Vanilla, Flour and other finest ingredients. This is not a fruit cake, but more like a candy. 1 lb. -1.35 2 lbs. - 2.50 4 lbs. - 4.75 STUFFED DATES BRAND I ED DATES Assorted Stuffed "Date Surprises"—-with interiors Pitted Neglet Noors in rich Date Brandy Syrup. of candied pineapple, cherries, tangerines and Delicious with meats, in punch and cocktails, ice walnuts. cream topping, with grapefruit and fruit salads. 1 lb. -1.60 3 lbs. - 4.25 5 lbs. - 7.00 Oak kegs are useful ornaments. 2 Vz lb. jar - 3.75 2 Vi lb. keg - 6.75 5 lb. keg - 9.75 DATE BUTTER DATE SYRUP Creamed Dates and Date Syrup. Used as a "ALLDATE" Syrup is a rich, heavy sweetener of spread, or for milk shakes, cake filling date ice unique caramel-like flavor for all syrup uses. cream or sundae topping. 8 recipes included. Makes novel hot or cold milk drinks. 2 lb. can -1.50 24 oz. • 1.50

"THE ENSEMBLE" Gift Baskets are filled with a SELECTED HAND-PULLED jumbo Calimyrnas. Soft variety of separate smaller gift packs, including and very sweet light meats. 3 lbs. - 2.30 Confections, Cake, Olives, Preserves, Brandied SELECTED CALIMYRNA FIGS stuffed with Cher- ries and Walnuts. 1 lb. - 1.60 Dates, Stuffed Dates, Natural Dates, etc. For Christ- Selected MAMMOTH TURKEY FIGS, candied in mas they will include Desert Grapefruit. From 7.50 invert sugar, stuffed with Walnuts. A rare fruit 1 to 22.50 by express confection. 1 lb. - 1.85

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