The Geronimo Monument by JOSEF and JOYCE MUENCH

HISTORIC PANORAMAS III The Geronimo Monument By JOSEF and JOYCE MUENCH

This stone monument on U.S. Highway 80 in south- Travelers passing the lonely pillar with its legend, eastern Arizona 10 miles from the New Mexico border, can hardly be expected to comprehend the difference commemorates the end of all Indian warfare in the between the present peace of the region and what early United States. A few miles east, in Skeleton Canyon, settlers tell of life with the Apaches apt to appear from any clump of brush or hidden canyon mouth. the Apache Geronimo surrendered to U.S. Army troops on September 5, 1880. He and his followers were sent If it meant peace to the white man, the surrender spelled to the Indian the cancelling of a 400 year oath to Fort Pickens, Florida, for two years before being to keep his foes from the desert land with its rolling allowed to join their families in Alabama. Geronimo hills and valleys, its mountains and freedom. himself was later moved to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, where Old stone metates are imbedded in the monument he remained for the rest of his life. shaft.

DESERT MAGAZINE DESERT CRLEnDflR April 29-May 19—23rd Annual Jun- ior Indian Art Show, Museum of Northern Arizona, Flagstaff. May 1—Annual Reunion and Picnic of the Buckeye and West Gila Valley Old Settlers Union, at Buckeye, Arizona. May 1 — Fiesta and Spring Corn Dance, San Felipe Pueblo, New Mexico. May 1-4—Las Damas Trek, Wicken- burg, Arizona. May 3—Santa Cruz Corn Dance and Ceremonial Races, Taos, N. M. May 3-4 — Annual Regional Music Volume 20 MAY, 1957 Number 5 Festival, Tucson. May 3-5—Cinco De Mayo Celebra- tions (Mexican Independence Day) COVER Blossom of prickly pear cactus. at Nogales and Gilbert, Arizona, By HARRY VROMAN and other border towns. May 4-5—Saugus, California, Annual HISTORY The Geronimo Monument Rodeo. By JOSEF and JOYCE MUENCH 2 May 4-5—Desert Panorama Exhibits, CALENDAR China Lake, California. May events on the desert 3 May 4-5, 11-12—30th presentation of PIONEERING Pioneer Ranchers on the Yampa the Ramona Pageant, Hemet, Calif. May 5 — Colorado River Regatta, By NELL MURBARGER 4 Parker, Arizona. WILDFLOWERS Flowering Predictions for May 6 May 5—Blythe, California, Women's GARDENING Riding Club Stampede and Rodeo. Decorative Desert Hedges May 10 — Golden Spike Ceremony, By JESSIE CALLAN KENNEDY 9 Promontory, Utah. NATURE Plants that Thrive in Saline Soils May 10-11 — Eastern New Mexico By EDMUND C. JAEGER 11 University Rodeo, Portales. CONTEST 12 May 10-12 — Lone Pine, California, Picture-of-the-Month Contest announcement . . Stampede. PERSONALITIES They Harvest Desert Glass May 11-12—Santa Barbara and Riv- By JANE ATWATER 14 erside Chapters of the Sierra Club CLOSE-UPS About those who write for Desert 16 joint trip to Joshua Tree National LOST MINE Monument, California. Camp at Lost Silver in the Trigos 17 Hidden Valley. By HAROLD O. WEIGHT May 11-26—31st Annual Wildflower POETRY Yucca, and other poems 22 Show, Julian, California. PHOTOGRAPHY 23 May 12 — Desert Protective Council Pictures of the Month meets at Lolomi Lodge, San Ja- EXPERIENCE How the Sun and a Tortoise Saved Little Denny's cinto Mtns. 24 May 12—Palo Verde Festival, Tucson. Life, by HELENA RIDGWAY STONE . . . May 12-13—Industrial Days, Hender- RECREATION Mountains Are for Everyone 25 son, Nevada. By LOUISE WERNER May 14-15 — San Ysidro Procession FICTION 26 and Blessing of Fields, Taos, New Hard Rock Shorty of Death Valley 26 Mexico. LETTERS Comment from Desert's readers May 15-26—Spring Landscape Show, 27 DESERT QUIZ A test of your desert knowledge Tucson. 28 May 17-19—23rd Annual Elks Hell- FORECAST Southwest river runoff predictions dorado and Rodeo, Las Vegas, Ne- 29 NEWS From here and there on the desert vada. 32 May 18-19—Grubstake Days, Yucca MINING Current news of desert mines Valley, California. 33 URANIUM Latest developments in the industry May 18-19—Tucson Festival Events: 35 Children's Parade on 18th; Fiesta HOBBY Gems and Minerals de la Placita on 19th. JEWELRY "Solar Wrought" Jewelry from an Inexpensive May 22-25 — Cotton Carnival, Cal- 35 exico, California. Sun-Powered Kiln, by D. S. HALACY, JR. . . May 22-26—Junior Chamber Circus, LAPIDARY 40 Amateur Gem Cutter, by DR. H. C. DAKE . . . Lancaster, California. BOOKS 41 May 25-26—Fiesta de San Felipe de Reviews of Southwestern Literature Neri, Albuquerque. COMMENT 42 May 26—Horse Show, Sonoita, Ariz. Just Between You and Me, by the Editor . . . May 26—Pictograph Tour of White The Desert Magazine is published monthly by the Desert Press, Inc., Palm Desert, Oaks — Three Rivers area, from California. Re-entered as second class matter July 17, 1948, at the postoffice at Palm Desert, Alamogordo, New Mexico. California, under the Act of March 3, 1879. Title registered No. 358865 in U. S. Patent Office, and contents copyrighted 1957 by the Desert Press, Inc. Permission to reproduce contents May 27—Homecoming Day, Caliente, must be secured from the editor in writing. Nevada. May 27-June 21—Historic Map Ex- RANDALL HENDERSON, Editor EUGENE L. CONROTTO, Associate Editor hibit, Museum of Northern Ari- BESS STACY, Business Manager EVONNE RIDDELL, Circulation Manager Unsolicited manuscripts and photographs submitted cannot be returned or acknowledged zona, Flagstaff. unless full return postage is enclosed. Desert Magazine assumes no responsibility for May 29-31, June 1 — Elks Rodeo, damage or loss of manuscripts or photographs although due care will be exercised. Sub- Carlsbad, New Mexico. scribers should send notice of change of address by the first of the month preceding issue. May 31—Spring Jamboree, Valley of SUBSCRIPTION RATBS the Sun Square Dance Festival, One Year $4.00 Two Years $7.00 Phoenix. Canadian Subscriptions 25c Extra, Foreign 50c Extra May 31, June 1-2—2nd Annual Kids Rodeo, Alamogordo, New Mexico. Subscriptions 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

MAY, 1957 and how long they've been on the river . . . and why." That was the reason I had driven to Pioneer Rangers the Mantle ranch—but it wasn't the reason why I took three days to cover an assignment any good reporter could on the Yampa... have filled in a few hours. I stayed three days because I liked the place— and the Mantles! The moment I stepped inside their home, it seemed to enfold me, like a charitable mother hen accepting a stray chick; and by Life in the canyon country where the Green and Yampa rivers supper time that first evening, I was meet near the Utah-Colorado border still is fraught with pioneer incon- a member of the family. veniences, but here Charlie and Evelyn Mantle have made their home. For Charlie and Evelyn Mantle, Their only access to the outside world is a jeep trail that took them 11 pioneering did not end with the ox- years to build. But the Mantles live their full rich lives in an incom- team and Conestoga wagon. In this parable canyon setting—and feel they are more fortunate than folks high tumbled - upside - down merging who have to live in the more crowded places in the world beyond place of Utah, Colorado and Wyom- their peaceful ranch. - > , ing, frontier conditions prevailed well into the present century, and even to- By NELL MURBARGER day, if judged by American standards, Photographs by thes author the few folks living in this remote land Map by Norton Allen still are pioneering in the truest sense of that word. FTER WANDERING for more' hop and grape vines tumbled over the Hearty plain-spoken Charlie Mantle than 40 miles through dry log walls; and a dozen varieties of sees nothing glamorous about being a broken hills and over wind- green vegetables grew in a well-tended pioneer, because he has never known swept ridges, the little desert road garden. any other life save that prescribed by scrambled down the side of a rock- A friendly black-and-white dog came the hard demanding world of the fron- rimmed canyon to the green-and- wagging forth to meet me, and the tier. Born in the Yampa country, golden cottonwoods on its floor. Stray- kitchen door eased open to frame the Charlie's earliest recollections are of ing on through a crooked pole gate, slender figure of a woman. From the riding after cattle in the notorious the sandy wheel tracks skirted an old questioning look on her face, I guessed Brown's Hole—a region then so far fruit orchard and a thin crescent of that the truck-jeep trail to the Mantle removed from courts and organized meadow hemmed on its far edge by ranch doesn't often deliver there lone law that it was still a haven for the the brown waters of a sullen river; women strangers in old sedans; but fugitive renegades of three states. and in the yard of a small log house after a brief moment, of hesitation, One day, while he was working as the trail drew up and stopped. Evelyn Mantle smiled warmly and ex- a buckefoo, Charlie came upon a strip Even in this tall wide world of sky- tended a firm tanned hand—and, all of bottom land a dozen miles west of raking cliffs and color, it was the little of a sudden, I knew what sort of Brown's Hole, in what was known as brown house that caught and held my folks lived in the little log house at "the Pat's Hole country." He figured attention. It was the first house I had the end of the road! this land was just about what he seen since leaving Jensen, Utah, 50 Ihad learned of the Mantles from wanted, and soon as he was financially miles earlier. I was curious to learn Randall Henderson, editor of Desert able, he bought it from an old man what sort of folks I would find in this Magazine. While making a boat trip who had claimed it under squatter's far corner of Creation where Hell's down the Yampa river, he and his right. In. 1919 Charlie - began the la- Canyon spills into the Yampa. Her- party halted briefly at the Mantle borious process of converting the raw mits, one might suppose; yet, this ranch, and on his return he asked me acreage into a ranch. Seven years later wasn't my idea of a hermit's home. It to get a story of the Mantles when he took another important step—one was neat as a doll's house! Old-fash- next I was in their part of the country. that he readily admits was the wisest ioned white roses and red poppies "I'd like to know who they are," in his life. > , were blooming in the yard; bowers of he said, "and where they came from, He married Evelyn.

DESERT MAGAZINE The marriage was disapproved by both families. Life on a cattle ranch, 50 miles from the nearest town and accessible only by pack-animals, is scarcely the preferred setting for a 19- year-old bride from New York who hadn't set foot in the West until five years before, and who knew almost nothing of pioneering. But if love laughs at locksmiths, there's no reason why it can't chuckle at isolation, priva- tion and hardship. When Charlie Mantle and his teen- age bride traveled home to his cabin on the Yampa in 1926, it was over a road distressingly bad all the way from Vernal, Utah. But, barring broken springs, broken axles, ripped-open tires, washouts, landslides and other developments, it could be negotiated to a point 11 miles from the Mantle ranch —and there it ended! Beyond lay the Land of the Pack-horse, without roads of any sort or description—not even rutted wheel tracks traversible by a team of mules and a wagon! While the use of pack animals for a brief camping trip can be an enjoyable experience, such transportation as a steady diet is both laborious and It mmm

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w*m vtmW&A MAY, 1957 time-consuming, and soon the Mantles of garden and orchard, canning fruit Throughout that entire period, from realized that they would need a road and vegetables. But whenever came 1926 to 1937, the Mantles had been into the ranch. Because such a road a day or week when other work was completely dependent on pack horses would afford little benefit to anyone not too pressing, Charlie and Evelyn for every pound of goods brought in but themselves, they couldn't expect worked on the road—blasting, moving from the outside—food, farm machin- the state or county to assist with its rock, building retaining walls and ery, seed, medicine, kerosene, mail — building; and since they were not in making fills. everything. a position to hire help, the only solu- Time passed. Winters merged into "Our lives were completely geared tion was for Charlie and Evelyn to do summers. A succession of Mantle to horses, 24 hours a day, and in all the work themselves. babies came to be laid on their blankets those 11 years I can't remember riding At first Evelyn did not think it to sleep in the shade of sagebrush a horse when I wasn't carrying a baby, would take too long to do the job— while Charlie and Evelyn toiled at their or riding one or two babies on the perhaps a few months, she guessed. self-assigned task. The "few months' saddle in front of me!" laughed Evelyn. Other time-demanding tasks, however, work" stretched into an incredible "You don't do much trotting or gallop- seemed always to crowd in — riding number of months—and before the ing when you're riding double, and after cattle, branding calves, shoeing Mantle ranch road was in condition even today, when Charlie brings home horses, repairing fences, building sheds, for the first wheeled vehicle to roll a new saddle animal, the first thing cutting wood for winter, taking care over it, 11 years had passed! I ask is 'Can it walk?' " When I asked Evelyn Mantle how she got to a doctor when her babies were born, she looked at Charlie and Colorful May Wildflower Displays they both laughed. "Doctor?" remarked Charlie dryly. "What's a doctor?" Predicted fot High Desert Areas "About a month ahead of time, Focus on the 1957 wildflower sea- Joshua forests and hillside slopes of Charlie would begin urging me to go son shifts to the high desert areas in the valley. to town so my baby could be born at May as Desert Magazine correspond- Most of the wildflower blossoms on the hospital, but there was always so ents make their final report on what the Colorado desert have passed their much to be done at the ranch I'd post- has been a better-than-average year for peak. Dalton Merkel, district natural- pone the trip from day to day. Finally, blossoms. ist at Borrego State Park, does not be- when I knew I didn't dare wait any Lucile Weight says the Yucca Val- lieve many blossoms will be left by longer, I'd start for Vernal—on horse- ley, Joshua Tree and Twentynine May, although indigo-bush, catalpa back. For some reason," Evelyn Palms areas probably will see many of and agave may be flowering then. grinned, "the babies always arrived before I did." the native shrubs such as cassia and It is doubtful that the Coachella indigo-bush, blooming in late April Valley's blossoms will last into May. The Mantles' four boys and a girl and May. The Joshua trees, in their Severe sandstorms in early April dam- —all healthy, handsome youngsters— greatest blooming display in years, aged many of the flowers then bloom- received their elementary education in and Mojave yuccas should still be ing. a one-room log schoolhouse a pebble's showy during the month. Smoke tree toss from the one-room log cabin and chilopsis will bloom later, prob- M. B. Ingham, Jr., naturalist at where the Mantles lived during their ably in June. East of Twentynine Death Valley reports a poor wildflower first 15 years on the ranch. Prior to Palms, desert lilies may show bloom by display for the monument. What World War II, the school was supplied late April along with other annuals. flowers there will be during May will each term with a teacher sent in from be found above 1500 feet. Bruce W. Black, park naturalist at outside, but with the war-bred teacher Joshua Tree National Monument, pre- From Lake Mead National Recrea- shortage, isolated districts such as this dicts a good May display, although tion Area, Naturalist Philip Welles were left unstaffed. Legally, Evelyn dry winds in early April may have also has a discouraging report. Creo- was not qualified to teach in Colorado, taken their toll of the flowers. Mari- sote, encelia, mallow and a few other but in view of the national emergency gold, desert plume, desert dandelion flowers still were in bloom in early she was permitted to conduct classes and other flowers will be conspicuous April. for their three youngest children—the in the Pinto Basin. Encouraging news comes from the older two, by that time, being away From Daggett, California, Mary Organ Pipe Cactus National Monu- at high school. After completing their Beal reports that some areas of the ment near Ajo, Arizona. Chief Ranger first eight grades in the little log school Central Mojave Desert already are John T. Mullady says generous rains house, all of the Mantle children at- showing a profusion of bloom—the have brought up patches of small an- tended Wasatch Academy, a Presby- Lockhart Ranch drive north of High- nuals throughout the area which were terian Mission boarding school at way 466 (desert dandelion, marigold, expected to come into bloom in mid- Mount Pleasant, Utah, and from there gold-field, coreopsis, evening primrose, April. He predicts at least a moderate went on to college. The youngest blue and purple lupines, gilia and ver- display, with good chances for an ex- Mantle boy qualified for college entry bena); the Black Rock Canyon area; cellent one. James N. Clancy of Casa at the age of 16. and Bear Valley road. She believes Grande National Monument is expect- Although the isolation of the Mantle some areas along highways 66 and 91 ing a good showing of wildflowers in ranch was improved by completion of will come into bloom late in April. the Coolidge, Arizona, area. their access road, it is traversible only In the Fairmont district of the Ante- From Tucson, Robert J. Heying, in summer months — the 8000-foot lope Valley, Jane S. Pinheiro says mil- acting superintendent of Saguaro Na- plateau between the Yampa and U.S. lions of golden poppy plants are show- tional Monument, says the desert there Highway 40 being buried deeply under ing. Good displays also are expected is in good condition with some scat- snow generally from December to May. along the Johnson Hill and Willow tered areas having fine stands of pop- Consequently the Mantles have no Springs roads west of Lancaster. Many pies, bladder-pod, lupine, mallow, brit- regular means of receiving or dis- larkspur and mariposa are up in the tle bush and many other annuals. patching mail during this five-month

DESERT MAGAZINE period of winter isolation, and any commodities not procured before the passes close are done without until the following summer. The actual danger involved by such isolation, however, has been greatly alleviated by the recent construction of an air- strip on the rim of the canyon, and by installation of a two-way radio. In case of a serious emergency, it now will be possible for them to radio for help and a plane dispatched from the nearest point available. "Sometimes, during the winter, one of our flyer friends picks up our mail at the postoffice, flies out here, and drops it to us by parachute," explained Charlie. When I asked what they would have done during those years when they were so completely isolated, if one of them had been taken seriously ill or had been severely injured, Evelyn Man- tle considered my question thought- fully — almost as if it were the first time the matter had occurred to her. "I'm not quite certain," she said at last, "—but I'm sure we would have done the best we knew how!" The Mantles do most of their trading at Craig, Colorado, 100 miles to the east, with a quarter of that distance over the sort of road one might encounter in a bad dream. Their nearest postoffice is at Artesia, Colo- rado, 50 miles away. In view of these circumstances, the Mantle ranch is still not plagued by modern civiliza- tion, nor overrun by tourists. Except for an occasional jeep-borne prospector or archeologist, about the only strangers who come to the ranch are river runners. Yampa Canyon at Castle Park, site oj the Mantle Ranch. Each year, as long as water in the Yampa is high enough to navigate, dozens of outfits run the river from A knock at the kitchen door inter- had been perking on the back of the Lily Park to Echo Park or Split Moun- rupted our conversation. stove, and put two more pots on to tain; and since the Mantles have the It was one of the wettest men I brew, after which she turned her at- only ranch on the river for a distance have ever seen! He and eight other tention to the injured man. He was of 70 miles, many of the river parties officials of the Colorado State Fish and suffering from shock and weak from break their journey at this point. To Game department were surveying wild- loss of blood—and since a plane could accommodate these adventurers, the life along the river when they were not land before daylight Gil Hunter, Mantles have equipped an attractive bucked out of their rubber life rafts leader of the party, thought it advis- free campground in a grove of cotton- by the turbulent water at Little Joe able to rush him to a hospital at once. woods with tables, stoves, toilets and Rapids, about a dozen miles upriver One of their vehicles, Hunter said, was water. from the Mantle place. All were badly at Echo Park, where they had expected "All sorts of folks make the run," chilled by their dunking in the icy to leave the river, and if Charlie would said Charlie. "Most of them are good river, and one man's leg had been take them to that point — about 13 sportsmen, but now and then a bunch severly cut by the boat's propeller. miles—they would transport the injured man to the hospital at Rangely. will leave trash scattered over the Hastening to the river landing in campground, and sometimes a party the ranch truck, Charlie picked up Without waiting to eat his supper, will land and head out across our field, the injured man and the remaining Charlie Mantle helped to lift the vic- 50 or 60 abreast. You can imagine members of the party, and minutes tim into the ranch pick-up, and he and what that does to our alfalfa crop! The later the entire dripping group swarmed two other members of the river party best ones we get are members of the into the Mantles' warm kitchen. headed out through the night to Echo Sierra Club. We never have any Park. trouble with them—they don't leave Nearly four hours had elapsed since I had learned a little of what it any trash behind, and never destroy the mishap and the men were chilled means to live in a house by the side anything." to the bone. Evelyn hurried to divide of the Yampa, "and be a friend to among them a pot of hot coffee that man." MAY, 1957 As Pat grew older, he developed certain marked aberrations—one being an inability to decide whether his true name was Pat Lynch or James Cooper. The question seemed to worry him a great deal. He also developed a pas- sion for drawing, painting and chisel- ing pictures on the canyon walls and within his caves—his subjects invari- ably being full-rigged sailing ships. According to Evelyn, "Pat's ships" still may be found throughout the area and are executed remarkably well, with all masts and rigging properly shown. Pat lived in the canyon until he was nearly 100 years of age. During his last days he was cared for by a Good Samaritan at Maybell, Colorado, and upon his death, in February, 1917, burial was made at Lily Park near the head of the Yampa. Toward the end of my visit with the Mantles, I asked them why they remained out in this isolated place. Charlie seemed at a loss for an answer. He mumbled something about it being : a good place to raise cattle. im> "The winters are mild," he went on, hesitantly. "We don't have much snow here on the river—sometimes the mercury falls to 10 or 11 below zero, but not too often—the summers aren't too terribly hot — not much above 100 degrees . . ." He was struggling to think of one One-room log schoolhouse where the five Mantle children received their valid reason for remaining on the educations through the first eight grades. Yampa, 100 miles from town, and 50 miles from a postofnce. "It's a good place to raise fruit," Identity of the first white man to in 1869 and 1871, it is presumed that run the Yampa river is not fully estab- he continued. "In all the 30 years Pat located on the Yampa soon after we've been here, we've never had to lished but it seems logical to suppose that time. that he was one of the early beaver spray our trees for insects or disease." A typical hermit, Pat raised horses trappers — a French - Canadian fur "Why don't you just say, Charlie, trader, Baptiste Brown, having settled for a living and owned several cabins along the river which he occupied at that this is our home and that we've on the Yampa in 1830 in the area got everything here we want!" broke later known as Brown's Hole, or his convenience. At various times he also lived in several different caves. in Evelyn. "The soil is rich. We raise Brown's Park. The first permanent every sort of fruit that will mature in white settler in the Pat's Hole-Castle One day, when Evelyn Mantle was exploring one of Pat's former cave dwell- this latitude—cherries, pears, apples, Park area, site of the Mantle ranch, crabapples, apricots, peaches, plums, appears to have been Pat Lynch, who ings, a gust of wind circled through the place and brought out from under grapes. We have a big garden, too, established himself there in the 1870s and we seldom go into a winter with or 1880s. a ledge a collection of dry leaves and debris. In the assortment, Evelyn saw less than 500 quarts of home-canned Pat was an enigma-—perhaps even a sheet of folded foolscap, brittle with fruits and vegetables in our basement! a fugitive. According to what Charlie age and warped like a potato chip. We raise chickens for meat and eggs; remembers of him, and the stories told Opening it carefully, she found these we have a couple of jersey cows to by other old timers, Pat had been born words: supply us with milk and butter; we in Ireland. He had served a hitch in have our own cattle for beef, and there the British Navy, and another in the To all whom this may Consarn are fish in the river and deer in the canyons. We have all the pure water British Army, during or after which, that 1, Pat Lynch, do lay claim to we can use; the air is clear and clean, according to rumor, he had killed this Botom for my Home and Sup- and we don't have to worry about someone. Pat fled to the United States ort. Wrote this 8th month of 1886. freeways and traffic, and smog and fog, and enlisted in the army under the P. Lynch. and getting in our neighbors' hair, and name of James Cooper. After righting having them get in ours—" in the Civil War he emigrated to the If in these caverns you shelter take Yampa, "to see the country Major Plais do to them no harm. "Wait a minute!" I broke in, hold- Powell wrote about." As Powell's two Lave everything you find around ing up my hand to stop the woman's trips to the nearby Green River were eager flow of words. "That's enough Hanging up, or on the ground. —you've made out your case!"

DESERT MAGAZINE •

77ie pampas hedge supports a crown of pyramidal plumes of silky white flowering of incredible beauty. Photo taken at the E. W, Adamson residence, Douglas, A rizona, by Marty-Dess. Decorative Desert Hedges . . .

If you want a touch of distinctive beauty for your home, choose a hedge that compliments the desert setting. Most of the plants de- I live in Douglas in southeastern scribed in this story and countless others available to gardeners give Arizona where the year-round hedges both protection and privacy to your yard in addition to a dramatic and delight the eye with life and color. In colorful impression that is typically Southwestern. spring the spiny ocotillo blooms; a little later the bird-of-paradise covers itself in a glory of blossoms. All sum- By JESSIE CALLAN KENNEDY mer long oleanders put forth starry flowers. By fall the pampas is lifting <<7/EDGES IN THE desert towns tion of the desert. Even the windbreaks high its creamy silken plumage. In YT °f the Southwest are friendly are decorative, for most of the desert winter the pyracantha, with its red but protective barriers. hedge-plants bear either vivid fruit and berries, reminds visitors from the East Here more than anywhere else, foliage, or they flaunt brilliant bracts, of Christmas "back home." hedges combine strict utility with the blossoms or unusual flower forms of When I bought my old adobe house, plumes, tufts, streamers or tassels. characteristically dramatic ornamenta- its desert garden was encircled by a ls A Y , 19 5 7 hedge of bird-of-paradise, aflame with den. Indeed, newcomers to the desert to light cream and then tan, remain red and yellow flowers. It was May. often yearn for the close-cropped on the stalks for months. hedges of the East and some garden This hedge needed no care, and after lovers have tried various importations Pampas gets its common name from the summer rains the exquisite gold such as the box, yew, arbor vitae and the vast, treeless plains of Argentina cups again opened to spill out their privet. and southern Brazil where it grows in red filaments. It acted as an effective thick rolling seas of silver. It thrives barrier against dogs and straying bur- For those who insist upon a formal happily under cultivation in our sandy ros and even the winds could only garden, the horticulturists have devel- soil. deposit their cargoes of debris along oped several evergreen hedge - type its outer side. plants. They highly recommend for Of the winter hedges the pyracantha the Southwest, particularly southern is the most admired. An Eurasian na- In the fall, after the bushes stopped Arizona, the euonymous. No matter tive, it has traveled across the world flowering, their fern-like leaves dropped what the weather vagaries, this plant to find a new home in the Southwest. off and I discovered that the tough and will stay green all year with watering. Its thorny twigs effectively barricade gnarled billious-yellow branches were It lends itself to clipping and shaping. any area to be enclosed. literally holding up a rickety fence. The satin-shiny leaves grow out from Summer foliage had hidden the broken every limb to the very bottom of the The hardy pyracantha grows luxuri- wire and rotting wooden posts. bush. antly in the high desert country where When I replaced the fence with an the nights are cool. The lower the adobe wall, I had to uproot most of However, most of us eventually have temperatures, the more brilliantly col- the hedgerow. "That is the end of my turned back with relief to the tried and ored are its berries. The heavy showy bird-of-paradise," I said. But the fol- tested desert favorites. clusters of red or orange fruit attract the eye and warm the heart all winter lowing spring a line of young shrubs These strikingly representative desert long. The short-stalked leaves remain appeared and today I have an inside plants capture the imagination and the year-round and small white flowers hedge. Every spring it spreads shoots hold the interest of the winter visitors. appear during April and May. of tender green leaves and masses of When a friend built a home in a new exotic flowers against the white wall. subdivision, he placed a living fence Hedges of pyracantha ask for no Originally from South America this of ocotillo around his garden. This special care and may even be neglected, desert bird-of-paradise is not to be lowly corral-type enclosure at first as long as they have full sun. shocked his neighbors who were plant- confused with the African Strelitzia of Commonly known as the fire thorn, the same popular name. ing and nurturing imported hedges, but soon they appreciated the pleasing the Greek-named pyracanthas are vari- Its four-inch pods contain seeds as sense of fitness it gave to his western able in form and color. Those which large and dark as those of the water- home. grow upright to a height of 15 feet melon. When the pods split and curl, with clusters of red berries all along they explode with such force that the The ocotillo, when used as a hedge- the branches, are particularly adapt- released seeds bury themselves in the fence, will stand for many years with- able when a high hedge is required. ground, where they lie dormant wait- out upkeep. Planted in a row and Some, growing generally prostrate and ing for the warm April nights. The held in position by strands of barbed reaching not more than six feet with plant requires little water. wire, the wands sprout green leaves orange to coral fruit, are among the after the rainy seasons and their tips Among the many shrubs not native finest of ornamental hedges for town burst into brilliant red tassels. It takes use. to the Southwest but considered as skill and patience to successfully handle "belonging," is the oleander. This the long awkward thorny stems when Horticultural varieties of unknown handsome plant of the East Indies building these living fences. The south- parentage have more recently been found our desert heat to its liking west states prohibit the cutting or re- developed from a careful selection of many years ago. moval of ocotillo and cactus from any seedlings by the growers. Fifteen of It grows only under cultivation be- but privately owned lands. these have been named. Most can be cause it must have water. The olean- used successfully as espaliers against a der also is one of the best double-pur- To strangers the ocotillo might ap- wall, as well as hedges. Among the pear to belong to the cactus family, pose hedges. It not only is protectively best sellers is the patented Rosedale, but despite this likeness, paradoxically a naturally upright shrub. thick and spreading, but reaches a it is more closely related to both the height of from 15 to 20 feet, more violet and the tamarix. Pyracantha has one additional ad- than adequate for privacy. Large clus- vantage over all other desert hedges: ters of fragrant white, red or pink blos- Pampas grass, eye-catching during it provides the traditional Christmas soms may appear any time of the year. the fall and early winter, also lends its color scheme and offers winter-long However, the principal flowering sea- unusual qualities to hedge planting. indoor decorations for the home. In son extends from early spring well Growing in thick tussocks, its basal fact, cutting of the pendulous berry- through the summer. The glossy ever- leaves are tough and tall, and thick covered branches for such use is all green leaves make it an attractive hedge enough to give both privacy and pro- the pruning this plant needs to retain at all times. tection. its arching habit and to keep it from If enough moisture is present, this The heavy grass sends up stalks six becoming top-heavy. to 12 feet high which support crowns shrub is easily rooted from cuttings, Fence-like or thick, tall or stunted, and grows rapidly. Notwithstanding of pyramidal plumes of silky white thorny or smooth, cultivated or weedy, its many good qualities, the oleander down - like flowering of incredible flowering or evergreen, these six vari- has one drawback. It is poisonous and beauty. The plumes measure from two eties are only a very few of the many children should be warned not to nib- to three feet in height. Pampas reaches ble on its leaves. its spectacular full bloom in September. hedges which thrive in the Southwest. Then, depending upon how much and A choice may be made from an end- To many people a hedge is merely a how long the fall winds blow, the less selection as wide as the Desert neat neutral background for a gay gar- feathery panicles, turning from white Southwest itself.

10 DESERT MAGAZINE ON DESERT TRAILS WITH A NATURALIST - XXXVII Plants That Thrive In Saline Soils

Some desert plants have so adapted their root and leaf structures to salty soil and limited water conditions that they thrive where other plants could not last out the day. This month Dr. Jaeger tells about these specialized plants which grow along the borders of dry lakes and in alkali soils.

Sarcobatus part of one of western Nevada's dry Salicornia By EDMUND C. JAEGER, D.Sc. lake basins that the place was named Curator of Plants Sarcobatus Flats by C. Hart Merriam who planned the famous Death Valley Riverside Municipal Museum the mixed clay and sand hummocks; Expedition of 1891. in fact, it probably is responsible for This shrub, which is said to be the the hummocks. The dust and sand NE OF THE characteristics of second most salt-tolerant of American drifts in among the branches and as most desert areas is the presence shrubs, grows to a common height of the mounds build up the plants grow of mountain - enclosed basins two to four feet and consists of num- upward with it. It is called pickleweed which have no drainage outlet to the erous rigid interlocking spiny branches because the numerous leafless light sea. In the centers of these basins are adorned with narrow fattish leaves green jointed fleshy branches have a dry lakes into which water, running which are so full of sodium chloride somewhat sourish taste. It seems to during storms from the surrounding and potassium oxalate laden sap that flourish in soils so salty and alkaline hills and mountains, accumulates. when chewed there is a very unpleasant that it has few or no competitors. The salt and acid taste. However, cattle burro is said to be the only animal that Under the hot sun and frequent do not mind it; it may even add to the winds, the water evaporates leaving a can stomach it and then only under palatableness of the herbage. It is an starvation conditions. residue of salts of several kinds includ- important range plant in Nevada and A most unattractive fleshy-leaved ing table salt and salts of potassium, Utah. Horses, goats and sheep browse shrub found in most places of high magnesium and potassium as well as freely on it, especially in winter. sulphates. These form hard surface alkali-salt content is the inkweed incrustations which gleam white in the Dry greasewood burns with a beau- (Sueda), its blackened stems and many desert sun and can be seen from afar. tiful yellow and greenish hot flame and rusty brown to dirty green leaves giv- Because of the high alkali and salt con- for this reason I always make my camp ing it a scorched and dead appearance. tent of these dry lake clays no plants lire of it when available. The sap is full of tanic acid and this can grow on the central surface of these The generic name Sarcobatus means gives it a sourish puckery taste. Few "clay pans," but around their borders "flesh thicket"; the specific name ver- browsing animals will ever eat it, even where the salt concentrations are less, miculatus means "in the form of though very hungry. It is called ink- a number of salt-tolerant plants have worms" and refers to the green cater- weed because early settlers made a developed a special root physiology pillar-like male spikelets which appear poor sort of ink from it by boiling it that not only makes it possible for in numbers in spring and summer on in water with iron nails. them to grow but to actually flourish the ends of the succulent - leaved Among the plants with peculiar there. branchlets. The name, greasewood, stems the scrubby bush called iodine Among the commonest of these, was given because of the general oily bush (Allenrolfia) is one of the big especially on the wet-type dry lakes is appearance of the stems and foliage. surprises. The cylindrical elongate the deep-rooted greasewood (Sarcoba- One of the commonest of the few joints appear like juicy green beads tus vermiculatus), the "chico" of the shrubs that grow along the Amargosa strung on a cord. The plant is very Spanish-speaking people. This plant River and the clayey salt marshes of tolerant of salt and alkali and sinks its should not be confused with the wide- Death Valley, and about the borders long taproot sufficiently deep to get spread Larrea or creosote, also known of Great Salt Lake is the hardy pickle- good supplies of water from beneath as greasewood. So prevalent is sarco- weed (Salicornia), also called sam- the salty wet silts of dry lakes of many batus on the clay dunes in the lower phire. Tn Death Valley it grows atop parts of our western deserts. There is

MAY, 1957 11 much Allenrolfia growing in the Owens presence there of cottontail rabbits and lizard or two doesn't come amiss either. Lake area of the Mojave Desert and wood rats which also use the quail Often the roadrunner's nest of coarse along the borders of Great Salt Lake. bush for hideouts. Both mammals are sticks is built in the bramble of Many kinds of saltbushes (Atriplex) the rattlesnake's favorite food. branches. are found growing in saline soils. The In late spring and summer these salt- Another resident bird quite often largest and most luxuriant is the big bushes frequently are vibrant with the seen about the big saltbush is the pale- quail bush (Atriplex lentiformis) that stridulations of millions of crickets; colored Le Conte Thrasher. You will grows on the borders of the lower Col- both during the day and long after easily identify it by its near robin size orado River and the mud flats of the sunset the big apache cicadas (Dicer- and long curved beak. In the pre- lower Coachella and Imperial valleys. oprocta apache) make their frequent dawn hour its clear ringing whistling It reaches a height of from three to rattling raspish sounds. Above and song can be heard—the sweetest most eight feet and has an even greater amongst the bushes you may see flying easy to remember, it seems to me, of spread. Often it forms intricate and by day the large cicada killing wasp all the desert bird songs. Especially impenetrable thickets, "so dense and (Sphecius convallis) which hunts the appealing is the rich song during the resistant that a person might throw his noisy bugs so that it may paralyze breeding season of late March and whole weight against it only to be them with its sting and carry them off April. hurled back by the elastic rebound." to provision its nest with fresh food Of the smaller quail bush residents Several times when hunting for bird for the developing larvae. are the Abert towhee, phainopepla, the nests I have had occasion to learn that Saltbush jungles are among the most melodious Salton Sea song sparrow the thickets made by these big gray- favorite haunts of that lively and frolic- and the lively lead-colored gnatcatcher. green hemispherical bushes offer good some bird prankster, the roadrunner. In winter a number of transient seed- hiding places for rattlesnakes. They Often you see him darting across the eating birds frequent the quail bush, probably like to live there not only road and into hiding. In the crickets among them the Gambel sparrow, des- because of the summer shade the and cicadas found there he obtains ert song sparrow, the Say phoebe and bushes offer but also because of the ample food for most of his needs; a the Nevada spotted towhee. Several times I have crossed Death Valley in late September and have seen vast numbers of the beautiful Tidestromia in full flower or fruit. We Need Desert Photos.., This low-spreading annual that comes up after the occasional summer rains One of the surest ways to advance your photography hobby takes on beautiful shades of silver- green and rose-purple. It is one of with both added pleasure and cash prizes is to regularly enter the the odd but handsome plants of the best of your desert pictures in Desert Magazine's monthly contest. desert which although often plentiful Any subject will do so long as it is related to the Desert Southwest— in alkaline soils, is little known to the possibilities are as unlimited and varied as the land itself. Thou- the general public. I place it along- sands of folks who share your interest in the desert are eager to share side desert holly in decorative value and often make winter bouquets of it. your photographic interpretations of this vast land. The plants long retain their beauty, Entries for the May contest must be sent to the Desert Magazine both of form and color and are especially high on our list of choice holiday office. Palm, Desert, California, and postmarked not later than May 18. decorations. If you don't know Tides- Winning prints will appear in the July issue. Pictures which arrive too tromia by all means get acquainted late for one contest are held over for the next month. First prize is $10; with it. Being an annual and prolific second prize $5. For non-winning pictures accepted for publication $3 seed-bearer, you need not have com- each will be paid. punctions about gathering it. It is fairly common both on the Mojave and Colorado deserts. HERE ARE THE RULES Of our deserts' native deciduous trees the white-spined tornilla or screw 1—Prints must be black and white, 5x7 or larger, on glossy paper. bean is best adapted to live in salt and 2—Each photograph submitted should be fully labeled as to subject, time and alkali impregnated soils; in fact, in place. Also technical data: camera, shutter speed, hour of day, etc. many places it appears to require these soil constituents to grow to best ad- 3—PRINTS WILL BE RETURNED WHEN RETURN POSTAGE IS ENCLOSED. vantage. Notable thickets of consider- 4—Entries must be in the Desert Magazine office by the 20th of the contest month. able extent of this peculiar leguminous 5—Contests are open to both amateur and professional photographers. Desert tree are found in stream borders and Magazine requires first publication rights only of prize winning pictures. moist flats from Death Valley eastward to Texas and southward to Baja Cali- 6—Time and place of photograph are immaterial, except that it must be from the fornia and Chihuahua. desert Southwest. Our native desert fan and blue palms 7—Judges will be selected from Desert's editorial staff, and awards will be made often grow in places where alkali and immediately after the close of the contest each month. salt is very evident, most of the moist ground near their bases being white Address All Entries to Photo Editor with salt encrustations. Water found in palm oases often is so hard it is IDm&tt 'TMafOfine PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA undrinkable. Salt grass (Distichlis), with creeping scaly rootstalks and leaves set in two distinct ranks, often

12 DESERT MAGAZINE grows in the moist soils of these palm oases because it too is specially adapted to grow in such places. Frequently associated with palms and salt grass is the straight-stemmed silky-leaved ar- row-weed (Phichea serricea) and the yellow-flowered composite known to botanists as Haplopappus acradenia. :•:•:•'•• .'!• '*:•" ••'•'y--'':.. -:/ ••; • '\ •'•'.'•'••" '• " =-v ;•>••"'••'Z ••'•• -.'•" When in flower it. scents the air with its oily resins and perfumed nectar. In Mexico a tea is made from this plant and is used as a bath for the allevia- tion or cure or rheumatic pains. Desert holly (Atriplex hymenoly- tra), widely distributed from northern Death Valley and southern Nevada and Utah to the deserts of northern Mexico, seems to grow best in gypsum soils. Sometimes it is about the only plant that will flourish in such barren vertical-walled canyons as found in the Indio and Mecca Mudhills of the Col- orado Desert. It sometimes profits from the summer rains which occasionally visit these areas. The leaves Greasewood (Sarcobatus) growing in pure stands in the alkaline flats of may be succulent at a time when most the Escalante Desert of Utah near Enterprise. Photo courtesy U. S. other plants may be suffering from Salinity Laboratory, Riverside, California. long drouth. Persons desiring to grow desert holly should plant the seeds in gypsum soils brought in from the des- moist places on our deserts. One is barley and onions. Although nature ert. the prickery Russian thistle (Kali sal- had never grown anything on this dry There are two foreigners among sola), the other the slender-branched lake, here was produced a crop of plants that have escaped and spread shrub of Mediterranean origin, the enormously large good quality onions both rapidly and widely in alkaline flowering deciduous tamarisk (Tamarix that must have surprised even the gallica), commonly called salt cedar. hopeful planter. The yield was simply The latter has small seeds, each bear- enormous! The barley did almost as A llenrolfia ing a tuft of hair on one end to aid in well! their distribution by wind currents. They have germinated in the soil of almost every desert seep streamlet and Quail Bush marsh from Death Valley southward into the Sonoran deserts of Baja Cali- fornia and mainland Mexico. Because of its handsome pink to purple flowers, its tolerance of poor soils, heat, frost and drouth, it has been widely planted around homes on the Mojave Desert. The manna of Mount Sinai, which consists of a mucilaginous sugar, was produced by a variety of this tamarix. Another tamarix, Tamarix articu- lata, grows as a vigorous tall evergreen tree. It is much planted as a wind- break and ornamental in the Colorado Desert. Although it is a quick grower its wood is very hard and makes valuable fuel. Of other cultivated plants date palm, barley, beets, cotton, alfalfa and onions seem most tolerant of alkaline and saline soils. On the Mojave Desert near Victorville I used to camp on summer nights on a certain dry lake. By day I would delight in racing my car over its smooth hard surface; One day, what was my utter surprise to see that it had been plowed up and planted to onions and barley! Water had been developed beneath its barren surface (very hard it was, of course) and was used to irrigate the

MAY, 1957 13 They Harvest Desert Glass ...

Lonnie and Heie Spearman are refugees from the big city living the kind of life they have always wanted to live on their 160 acre Nevada ranch. Besides fishing in the river which runs through their property, painting, pottery making and collecting ghost railroad items, they tend a unique desert glass garden where old fashioned glass pieces are taking on beautiful hues of blue and purple from the action of the sun.

By JANE ATWATER Photographs by Adrian Atwater

HELE and Lonnie Spear- man found themselves surrounded in Hollywood by close neighbors, super-markets, drive- in theaters, freeways and airports, they searched for months until they found a place which was the answer to their dreams—160 acres of sand, sagebrush and sunshine, a ghost town and a river. Lonnie and Hele Spearman. Bell behind them was on the engine of the Ten years ago they learned by Copper Belt Railroad train that passed their home each day before line chance that the old township of Hud- was abandoned in 1948. son, Nevada, was for sale. They drove out to investigate this west-central mediately they fell in love with it. So taken were they with Hudson Nevada tract straddling the Walker Here Lonnie would be able to fish they spent that first night there. Later River, and through which the Copper and Hele to paint and make pottery in the evening, one of the worst thun- Belt Railroad train chugged daily. Im- without the distractions of city life. derstorms in the state's history struck and the Spearmans spent the dark Visitors inspecting desert glass specimens in Spearmans' glass garden. hours moving sleeping bags about in Shacks in background house ghost railroad relics. the old town's one remaining shack in an effort to keep dry. Next morning, not in the least discouraged, they purchased the property and ordered materials for a new roof. Through the years they have combined modern conveniences with relics of early Nevada to create a homesite perfect for them in every detail. An automatic self contained air-cooled electric plant pumps water from the well and supplies the house with lights, refrigeration and indoor plumbing. The original building has been re- modeled and extended into a comfortable home and additional structures have been purchased and moved to the property for studios and guest houses for friends and relatives. In their arrangement the ghost town of Hudson seems to live again. The residents of Smith Valley are accustomed to seeing dilapidated old buildings moving down Highway 3 to Hudson to become part of the Spearmans' establishment. Their's is not a working ranch so far as stock or agriculture is concerned,

14 DESERT MAGAZINE ....-;- 'ft- ilSilliSXS

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Walker River flows through the Spearman ranch. Copper Belt Railroad ran on opposite bank. but Lonnie has one of the most original while some has turned amber, misty room for more glass waiting to blue. gardens in the state. On a half acre sea green and frosted green. The He and Hele make many trips to surrounded by a high wire fence and chemical reaction responsible for the ghost towns in Nevada looking for divided into small plots by railroad shades of blue and purple in old glass glass and have acquired much knowl- ties desert glass is changed in color by involves oxidation of almost colorless edge of the state's history and topog- the sun. manganic oxide. Shortly after World raphy. He also is an authority on One section is devoted to two-bit War I glass making was modernized ghost railroads such as the Copper and four-bit mickeys, small flasks that and most glass made in this country Belt which was discontinued in 1948, are turned a blazing purple by the after that time will not change in color. the Virginia-Truckee and the Carson ultra-violet rays of the sun. They de- European glass still is made by the old Colorado. Lonnie does a flourishing rive their names from the prices and method and will take on a bright blue mail order business and his mail box contents with which they were filled at color if left to the elements. (P.O. Box 64D, Smith, Nevada) is the local saloon. Other plots are cov- When Lonnie first went into the constantly filled with orders for desert ered with fish bowls, salad and cake desert glass business he was besieged glass, souvenirs of the old railroads plates, glass door knobs, lamps, chim- with advice as to how to help the col- and information about them. neys, ink wells, punch bowls, cande- oring along. He has tried most of the Hele has converted one of the old labra, cruets and any other interesting suggestions, including placing the bot- buildings moved onto the ranch into bits of glass that come this way. A tles on silica sand and on black tar a studio where she paints and exhibits. separate part of the garden is lined paper, but after 10 years it is his In another building she turns out dis- with old brown patent medicine bottles opinion that nothing works so well as tinctive pottery. On a table near the that will not change color but add to just plain desert sand and the sun. door are unfinished cups, vases, lamps the interest with such labels as "Dr. Some glass will show a change after and dishes. Her potter's wheel stands Hottenstetter's Stomach Bitters" and a few months and some deepen in beside a window and just behind it is "Cure for Consumption." color throughout the years. However, a gas-fired kiln capable of heat to 1850 Most of the glass ranges in color if a bottle shows no change in four degrees Fahrenheit in which she bakes from pale lavender to brilliant purple years, Lonnie packs it away to make and glazes pottery. Shelves in the

MAY, 1957 15 •ML

Helena Ridgway Stone, author of this month's "How the Sun and a Tortoise Saved Little Denny's Life," is a grandmother who prefers writing poetry and verse to prose. Usually, she said, her poetic inspirations come to her at three o'clock in the morning. Many of these poems have appeared in Desert and other publications. She was born in Minneapolis, Min- nesota, but moved to Denver, Colo- rado, at an early age. She now resides in Glendale, California. s£ if; Hi Roving Reporter Nell Murbarger won four first, one second and one third place awards in the 1956 com- petition of the California Association of Press Women. Ghosts of the Glory Trail, Miss Murbarger's first book, 77ze Spearmans' choicest pieces of desert glass being turned by the sun was named best adult non-fiction book into beautiful blue and purple shades. by a California woman writer; the Navy landgrab story in Desert's Octo- ber issue was judged top news story back of the shop are covered with Smith on Highway 3 a sign standing in a magazine; first award for a feature gay and colorful finished products. beside a cottonwood pole bearing the photo was won by Miss Murbarger for Twisted cup handles are Hele's trade- word "Hele" points to a dirt road her June Desert "At Rest" picture of mark, a process which cannot be done heading north across the desert, once an old freight wagon; and "Birds of commercially. The red clay she uses the bed of ancient Lake Lahontan, to Anaho Island" in the Natural History comes from a hillside on their ranch Hudson. The Lahontan shore line is Magazine won best magazine feature and the white clay is imported from etched on the rugged, barren hillsides. story honors. In the daily newspaper California. If generous rains are received here in feature story category, she took sec- Another little building has been early winter, wildflowers and flowering ond place for an article in the Nevada made into a shop where she sells an- shrubs run riot. Squaw tea, grease- State Journal. Miss Murbarger's final tiques, Indian basketry, jewelry and wood, hop-sage and Great Basin blue award was third place in the historical imported glass. sage wave their blooms proudly and article category for her story about the The surroundings are kept immacu- purple mat and small flowered eucrypta Old West's charcoal industry in the lately clean and for bits of color, Hele lap at the sides of the road. Sego lilies, June Desert Magazine. has painted little wood stoves and milk sand verbena, desert primrose, loco- weed, hoarhound and Indian paint * * * cans standing about the property, pink, Mrs. James L. Kennedy of Douglas, turquoise and yellow. Each serves a brush add to the unbelievable color display. Three and two-tenths miles Arizona, a librarian by profession and purpose, such as an end-table or a a writer by avocation, is author of this place to store bean poles. from Highway 3 is the gate house to the Spearman holdings. month's "Decorative Desert Hedges." Hudson flourished briefly as a point The Spearmans have a good life on She is a native of Pittsburg, Pennsyl- of shipping and commerce when the their Nevada ranch. Breakfast often vania, but now an ardent Westerner. Copper Belt Railroad was built in includes a fresh German Brown or She writes that she has succumbed to 1911. Supplies for Bodie and Aurora Rainbow trout that Lonnie has caught Arizona's sunsets, mountains, canyons, were brought here by rail and then in the river. Lunch on the patio is deserts, vegetation—and even the ab- hauled the rest of the way by freighters. an informal affair with two Siberian sence of vegetation in some spots. The train picked up copper ore, agri- Huskies and a little black dog of Mrs. Kennedy and her husband live cultural products and passengers be- unknown origin waiting hopefully for in an old but reconstructed adobe tween Mason and Wabuska where it a handout. There are visitors to be house and she is a member of the connected with the old Carson-Colo- shown about in the afternoon and Huachuca Writers. rado line. Before the advent of the friends and neighbors drop in too, and * * * white man, an Indian trail crossed the often stay on for a patio supper served Ruth Reynolds of Tucson, Arizona, ranch, later followed by covered wag- as the sun sinks behind the hills leav- who writes the home and garden page ons of the settlers. When one of these ing a blaze of color in the sky and on for Desert Magazine each month, is men, a fellow named Hutson, was the river. in the hospital temporarily undergoing thrown from his horse and killed here, With their work and their hobbies, treatment for a minor ailment. She the area was named Hutson Pass in their home and their own private des- plans to resume her writing for Desert his honor. Later it was corrupted to ert, the Spearmans have realized an as soon as she is released from the Hudson Pass and finally to Hudson. ambition most of us like to dream doctor's care. Desert's staff wishes her Two and one-tenth miles east of about. a speedy recovery.

16 DESERT MAGAZINE '

Through these low hills across the wash ran the old Cibola-Yuma cattle trail. The fabulous lost silver ledge of the Trigos, which lay close to this trail and near the north end of Clip Mountain, right background, should be somewhere in the area of this photograph. ^o4t ScCvet C9t t&e *7*ty&4,.,,

By HAROLD O. WEIGHT During the past 75 years, four District, the legends say that it was Photographs by the author men have found —and lost—.the not the richest one existing there. Map by Norton Allen elusive ledge of silver thought to It is gospel in that country that be only a day's journey north of somewhere to the north of the old the lower Colorado River's most mine, but within a day's journey of it, WAS NOT with Jose Maria famous lead-silver bonanza, the another fabulous vein lies hidden in Mendivil when he went mine- Silver Clip Mine. Four men—des- a desolation of ridges and canyons, hunting in Arizona's Trigo ert-wise and well aware that such buttes and washes. A ledge so elusive Mountains in the early 1880s. He an outcrop could have meant that it has been seen and sampled at found his mine, all right, while pros- wealth beyond their wildest least four times in the past 75 years pecting an unnamed mountain slope dreams—saw it once, and never —but each time could not be relo- 30 miles north of Yuma. There he again. This is fitting testimonial cated. to the wildly broken country in discovered surface croppings so rich Mendivil had his chance at the hid- that chunks of silver ore lay like slag which this ore lies sleeping through desert storm and sunshine. den treasure, vein while still at the thickly scattered down the hillside. His Clip. A Mexican prospector camping strike — the Silver Clip — became the there lost his burro and by determined greatest lead-silver producer ever and stubborn tracking, eventually over- worked along the Colorado River. In Mendivil, says that he virtually gave took the animal. Naturally, he exam- four years of glory—1883-1887—its it away. ined every likely outcrop he passed. flooding torrent of ore was worth more And as though one such lost for- One was so promising he took samples than a million dollars. tune were not enough, oldtimers along and later snowed them to Mendivil. That was luck indeed—for some- the river insist that another bonanza He, too, thought they carried values. one—but not for Jose Maria Mendivil. was within Mendivil's reach while he But lead-silver ore is deceptive. How There is a story around Yuma that was in the Trigos. For while the rec- much was silver? Only an assay would he received $200 in cash for the mil- ords bear witness that the Clip was the tell lion dollar Clip. His grandson, Mike richest silver ledge mined in the Silver Mendivil, the prospector suggested,

MAY, 1957 17 Clip Mill Site to Cibolo change Hubbard suggested. Often a 13.7 Ml.ti maker of grand gestures, he told the mining man to go ahead and take the Clip. Later they might see about the trade. Hubbard did develop the mine. By 1883 he had proven that the ledge, more than 150 feet vertically, was at least 300 feet long. Its width—all high value ore—was from 18 to 27 feet between hanging wall and foot wall. And this rich lead-silver ore was so easy to work that four men could take down 50 tons a day. Down at the Colorado River, seven miles away, Hubbard had a 10-stamp mill constructed. It was built on a point of mesa at the mouth of Clip Wash, 500 yards from the river. (Clip post office, Anthony G. Hubbard, post- master, was established there in Febru- ary, 1884.) Across the savage country from the mine to the mill, mostly down the bed of Clip Wash, he worked a freighting road. Soon, every day, ore wagons and great teams crowded the twisting miles of rock and sand, and each day the thundering stamps crushed another 25 tons of Clip ore— the capacity of the mill's amalgamation pans. A boom through all the Silver Dis- trict followed. The Black Rock, Red Cloud, Engineer, Emma, Silver Plume, Pennant, Princess, Papago and Rem- nant were worked in that decade. But from 1879 through 1889 the whole district recorded a production of only Red Cloud Mine to $1,696,000 in silver and lead. And Martinez Lake-I7MI. Yumo-55.7Mi. of that sum the Silver Clip alone produced $1,110,000. Hubbard's superintendent at the Clip mine was a man named Picken- baugh. According to Ed Rochester, who knew him later, "the people around the country just called him straight 'Pennybaker' for short." Pen- nybaker was married to an Indian woman. One day another Indian, could afford to have the assay made. without guidance the search for the probably a relative, told the superin- If the samples were good, they would silver ledge would be long and very tendent that not far to the north of the go back together and file on the ground. likely fruitless. In the meantime, busi- camp was a big ledge like the Clip Could he find it again? Certainly! Be- ness affairs at the camp of Picacho, that had never been worked. There yond doubt! It was a big ledge. It was across the Colorado in California, de- are always such stories circulating in within a day's journey of the Clip. It manded his attention. Mendivil was a mining country, and Pennybaker looked richer than the Clip. (Only one of the most prominent figures in may have asked the Indian to guide later were lost mine hunters to wonder old Picacho. He owned rich gold prop- him to the ledge out of simple curi- if that "day's journey" meant one way erties and the townsite was developed osity, just to see what a native would or both. By that time, there was no on his homestead. consider good ore. At any rate, he answer.) It was this pressure, according to was not prepared to act upon what he Mendivil accepted the proposition. grandson Mike Mendivil, that decided found. For the ledge was there, and it He had the rock assayed. It was rich. him to let the Clip go. A mine opera- looked good. And Pennybaker knew Silver rich. But for some reason there tor named Hubbard, one of the great what rich silver ore should look like was a long delay between the agree- mine developers in Arizona during in that country. ment and the receipt of the assay that period, offered to exchange valu- But he continued as superintendent sheets and during that period, the able San Diego waterfront properties of the Clip and did not file on the Mexican prospector had followed the for the silver claim. The worth of the claim or attempt to mine it. Ed Roch- call of more distant ridges. No one Clip had not been proven, and Men- ester suggests that it was a matter of knew where he had gone. No one has divil had too many irons in the fire to practical ethics. Pennybaker was an since identified him. do anything about it. He was, in fact, employee of the Clip company, and Jose Maria Mendivil suspected that too occupied to bother with the ex- in those days when a man was hired

18 DESERT MAGAZINE full time, all of his time was considered as belonging to the employer. The company might say that he was, legally, their agent when he discovered the ledge. They certainly would want a share of it, and would be unhappy if they didn't get it. And Pennybaker was well satisfied with his position as mine superintendent—liking it better than the idea of a mining venture of his own which might or might not pay off. So he filed the location of the silver ledge away in his mind for a time when he might need it. With the passing years, the known highgrade in the Clip was worked out. Ore had to be rich to make its mining profitable in such a difficult and isolated location. How rich the Clip's ore must have been by present standards v : may be judged from the fact that it \;Sit::--:" paid handsomely although about 11 ounces of silver in each ton were lost mmmi in the milling processes. That, at least, is an engineer's estimate of the silver content of the approximately 30,000 tons of tailings remaining at the mill site. "I practically made a living sampling these tailings for different outfits," Ed Rochester recalled one day while we were at the Clip mill ruins. "I even came down once, about 1921, from Blythe on Old Man Kirby's river boat. The river was across on the California side of the bottoms then, and we had a difficult time packing 500 pounds of samples on our backs through the mesquite and arrowweed jungle." The shifting river has carried much of the tailings away, Ed says. The silver remaining is in amalgam and almost im- possible to separate from the mercury. The last attempt to work the tailings was made by Joe Shiner in the mid- Top — Looking from Clip mill site across the Colorado River to Cali- fornia. Some of the thousands of tons of red tailings from the rich Clip ore milled in the 1880s can be seen, center, spreading down into the bottomlands. Tailings contain 11 ounces of silver to the ton. Center — George Converse, center, traces for his sister, Helen Converse, II and Ed Rochester the route he and 1.1 Earl Kerr took in 1951 when Earl may have rediscovered the lost silver ledge of the Trigos. Bottom—Clip mine on Clip Moun-

tain in the Trigos. Tank and wooden '.'"'":• wreckage, center and right, are from, the 100-ton cyaniding mill built in the 1920s, when an attempt was made to reopen the property. Part of the open cut, marking the great vein from which more than a million dollars was mined in four years in

the '80s, can be seen upper center. •'-..;••-

MAY, 1957 1920s. Remnants of his adobe and different territory. Each time, the vein time, and had to get them to Yuma. sheet metal cyaniding plant still re- was not to be found. Finally he went main. But even a short examination excited back to the coast and did not return. him. When he came back, he would When the Clip ore values fell below In each of these cases, the location prospect the ledge out and file his the cost of mining, Hubbard bought was given only as "north of the Clip" claims on it. the Harquahala mine near Salome, and and not too far from it. The third moved his operations there. After he He returned as quickly as he could. man known to have seen the ledge The picture of the ledge was still sharp left the Clip there was only one real narrowed the area in which it can exist. effort to reopen it — 1925-1929. A in his mind. But he could not find it. He was Santiago Lopez, the great cat- He never did find it, although each 100-ton cyaniding mill was built at the tleman of that country during the latter mine, and water was pumped to it time he used the old trail, he searched part of the last century. Until recently again. from the Colorado. But the project the melted walls of his adobe home did not pay. could be traced out near the boat land- The last man known for certain to Over at the Harquahala, Hubbard ing at the southern end of Cibola Val- have seen the fabulous ledge also was did very well indeed. And Pennybaker ley. the first to put a monument on it. He was Julian Parra, son of Felisario remained witla him as superintendent When Lopez drove cattle to Yuma, of that mine. Finally, the Harquahala, Parra who discovered the rich Mes- he followed Clip Wash from the river quite Diggings in California's Choco- too, was worked out. By then Penny- to a point less than two miles from the baker, grown old, retired and moved late Mountains. A prospector and mine, where a left fork entered. Here miner in the wild Colorado River out to the coast, somewhere near Los the cattle trail took the side wash, went Angeles. The memory of that ledge country during most of his life, he, through a pass in low hills just to the too, was following the old cattle trail the Indian had shown him so many north of Clip Mountain and then en- years before in Arizona, began to on horseback, making a short cut from tered a basin at the head of a west Castle Dome Landing to Cibola. Un- plague him. Probably in the nourish- branch of Yuma Wash. Lopez took ing environs of his imagination it had doubtedly he was prospecting as he this branch down to main Yuma Wash, went. He found the silver ledge and grown even richer through the years. followed it to the Colorado River and He returned to Arizona and went to recognized its richness and placed a went on down the river to Castle Dome little monument upon it to testify to Cibola, by then the nearest inhabited Landing (now Martinez Lake). spot to the Clip mine and 14 miles up his discovery, then went about his river from Clip mill site. This trail, avoiding rugged moun- business. When he came back, he tains which reach to the river, was could not locate the ledge nor the mon- The late Bert Hart was living at his used by all cattle drivers and by most ument. He, too, reported its location ranch near Cibola then. Bert had pros- horseback and foot travelers who did was along the old trail north of Clip pected and mined, and knew the Silver not have some reason to take the Mountain. To the end of his active District since childhood. With Hart, rocky road past the Black Rock, Red days, he made hunts for the lost ledge. Pennybaker set out for the ledge to Cloud and Clip mines. Of course, not Again and again he told his sons: which the Indian had guided him. exactly the same path was followed "It is richer than the Clip." But he could not find it. every time, and cattle drivers undoubt- I first heard the story of this most Cloudburst country does change. But edly had to leave the trail from time elusive of lost ledges one spring eve- even more does memory change and to time to chase back wandering ani- ning at Picacho, across the river from fade and play tricks as the years pass. mals. the Silver District. When Ed Roches- That fact Pennybaker would not ac- But somewhere in the pass area ter finished the telling, his partner, cept. He came back from the coast north of Clip Mountain, or northeast Earl Kerr, looked pensive. two or three times more. Each time, of it, on this trail or near it, Santiago "Put them all together," he said, certain that he had remembered the Lopez stumbled upon the great silver trail correctly at last, he went into a "and it narrows down to a pretty small ledge. He was driving cattle at the area. I think I could find it." Looking north from the Clip Mine to the area of the lost mine. The old ore-freighting road, now impassable Today the route up Clip Wash, part sand and part rock was built in J883 direct from the Clip to Clip Wash cascades, is shown on the U.S. Geological Survey quad only as a trail. Four-wheel drive is advised

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w ...... ,_. 20 1ERT MAGAZINE In 1951, Earl made his hunt for the Sedge. George Converse and Sumner Farrar went with him. Earl told us about it, with a smile of triumph, when Lucile and I went down to Pica- cho Christmas Day of that year. "I found a big silver ledge in just about the right area, and it had a little old tumbled down monument on it." "Was it richer than the Clip?" I wanted to know. Earl shrugged. "It looked good. I just grabbed a sample off the top as 1 walked by. I had it assayed. It ran two or three ounces of silver to the ton, two or three percent lead." Ed broke in: "It was the kind of ore that assays better to the eye than it is." "But that was just a grab sample," Earl said, "and it's a big vein. It has possibilities." Did he have trouble finding it? Earl shook his head. "It's on the contact between the andesite and red granite. You can see it from half a mile away. Going over a small saddle, it stands up in the air about four feet, and it's about 15 feet wide and shows up for about 30 feet. I don't think they got in the right district hunting it, because they didn't think there was any ore on that side of the mountain. But undoubtedly the vein is the same as the Clip." Ed Rochester, in one of the glory holes of the Clip mine, examines rich Was he going to do anything with lead-silver ore left in a supporting pillar of rock. The huge cottonwood it? logs, left, were cut near the Colorado seven miles away, hauled to the mine "Yes," Earl said. "We didn't pros- and put in place nearly 75 years ago. pect it much. It was hot weather and we let it go until next spring. Then ably, is just in or just out or in the "We returned by a fairly low pass, we'll go in there again. It has the ear- buffer zone, and since the reservation slightly to the north of the place where marks of something probably very is there at present, it must be reckoned we had gone in. A short narrow can- good." with. So, too, must the normal dangers yon came down from the northeast on But Earl never went back. He died of the country. It is not the place to a contact between the granite and the suddenly before the return trip could prospect during the killing days of volcanics. Earl went up into it alone be made. summer heat. Nor should its explora- and when he came back, in 15 or 20 Since that time Lucile and I have tion be attempted except with four- minutes, he said he might have found been up Clip Wash to the Clip Mine wheel-drive. the ledge. He showed me samples he and on to the Red Cloud, and all George Converse who, with his sis- had knocked off. through that country of the lost ledge ter Helen, lives at Picacho, has not "It was almost supper time when we with Ed Rochester. It is a wild, vivid, attempted to return to the ledge Earl got back to camp. We planned to go rugged and lonely country, like much found. George loves the river-desert back next days, but a storm came up of that along the lower Colorado. And country, but prospecting is only an that night. Thunder and lightning, and lost mine hunters there today face one occasional hobby. Recently at his the rain poured down. The wash was more problem than their predecessors home, going over the details of the no place to be in if we were going to did. Go very far back from the river trip with him and Ed Rochester, I have a flash flood, so we broke camp and you are in the Army's Yuma Test learned that Earl actually was the only at 2 a.m., drove all the way to the Station. To me this is one of the most one of the three who saw the ledge. Red Cloud, and spent the rest of the inexcusable of the military seizures, "We followed the old road from the night in the old mess hall there. Next since a great portion of the nearly- Red Cloud past the turnoff to the day we decided to go home and return million acre reservation is seldom if Clip," George said. "A mile or two in better weather." ever used. With most activities cen- farther on we camped in the wash by "It's been more than five years now," tered in the Imperial Dam area and the road. Next day Earl and I hiked I said. "Do you think you could go across Highway 95 east of there, it through the pass north of Clip Moun- back to the canyon where Earl found seems possible that a Congressional tain, between it and the main moun- the ledge?" investigation would result in a drastic tains of the Trigos. There was a good "I could," George said. reduction in area, without imparing the trail, apparently used by animals. We function of the base. Ed Rochester, who has wandered went into a basin at the head of the that confusing country much of his The Clip mine lies either at the edge west branch of Yuma Wash. We pros- life, smiled his slow smile. of the Test Station reservation or in pected for an hour or two, then started its buffer zone. The lost ledge, prob- back. "You want to bet you can?" he asked. MAY, 1957 ueca

By VIRGINIA CARLSON San Diego, California Queen of the deserts' fragrant flowers Tall Yucca boasts of ivory towers Where butterflies and vagrant bees Can whisper wind songs to the breeze. Each wanton zephyr seems to knell The soft sound of proud Yuccas' bell While scudding clouds that pass her by See Yucca holding up the sky. OMNIPOTENCE By Lois ELDER ROY Palm Desert, California A busy friend came by this morn While I was still in bed, Just passing on her way to work. "1 brought you these," she simply said. Within her hands, three roses Plucked for me to share; Reflecting all the loveliness of dawn. So quiet there . . . Long after she was gone I lay and thought, "How sweet this gift My friend to me has brought! I'll write a poem!" But my heart would not obey; Above its throbbing I could only think of God and pray. Pink roses in a brown, thick jug Their perfume wafting heavenward my prayer. "God," I whispered, looking out across the sand-dune hills— Is everywhere!" DESERT BONANZA! By GRACE PARSONS HARMON Desert Hot Springs, California These joys I have: (You city folk take note!) Miles, miles of crystal air; Blue skies where white clouds float; The sudden, brilliant springs— SANCTUARY TEN-GALLON HAT! When desert sings! By GLADYS L. SAVAGE By LORNA BAKER Denver Colorado Life here is rich: This desert hacienda Los Angeles, California A meadow lark near by Built of sun baked mud, Pours forth his haunting song. Resting on a corner stone They called him "the homeliest man in What Diva's art can vie Mixed with sweat and blood, town" With melody so true, Is a happy little home, And brother, I must confess, Age-old! Spring-new! There wasn't a plainer guy around In spite of what it seems, When it came to looks and dress, With buzzards soaring up above Until, that night, by a Main Street store, Each day, each hour, And lizards on the beams. When he stood for the longest while The desert offers free Then finally ambled through the door Some treasure, spread to greet There is laughter in this house With a real determined smile— Those blest with eyes to see, Evil spirits put to rout, And ears attuned to hear Because my gate is painted blue, He spoke to a clerk, and then—yessiree— The silence clear! To keep the devil out. He straightened that shiftless self And pointed rather dramatically To a big white hat on a shelf! JEWELLED HEART-WOOD By GRACE R. BALLARD Soon he glanced in a mirror, his face aglow Santa Barbara, California And his eyes shone blue and clean I hold in my hand a cabochon— While he beckoned the clerk and said, real Once, bit of a mighty tree, By TANYA SOUTH low, That lived, maybe, a million years "Now I'll need new boots—and jeans—" There is purpose in our sorrow— Before the life of me. There is purpose in each tear A few minutes passed, then, smilingly, That we weep. For thus we borrow A stranger stood by my side It holds in eternal fastness Faith to overcome our fear, And proudly he whispered: "This is me— The warmth of sun and sea; But my beat-up ghost is inside!" The glow of jewelled heart-wood, Strength to lean on Higher Powers, So, brother, whenever you're broken down Entombed in mystery. Love to kindle for the rest, And part of you feels like dead What type of life was compatriot— Truth to light our darkest hours, Just give up the ghost and strut through Who rested in its shade? And the Will to do our best. town In this archive of stone, who knows With a Ten-Gallon Hat on your head! The sword of that accolade?

22 DESERT MAGAZINE Bat Close-Up . . .

PICTURES Of THE monTH

Bodie, California

^9 LIFE ON THE DESERT How the Sun and a Tortoise Saved Little Denny's Life. . .

This is the story of a big lonely desert and a small lonely boy— and what each brought to the other. And Godiva, the boy's pet tortoise, played her part, too, for on her hard-shelled back the lad lad of 12 stooped down to pat a great literally rode through the sun-filled days into a new life of health and hard-shelled reptile as it lay sunning happiness. itself in the sand. "Good-bye, Godiva," he said. "I'm By HELENA RIDGWAY STONE going away for a while, but I'll be back as soon as I can." Denny's parents watched as the YEARS ago in the days ing the desert and had put their cabin strong straight boy walked to the car before miracle drugs and up for sale. with his suitcase. "He gave the desert good desert roads, the parents In a matter of hours the house was his faith, and it has given him back of a sickly lad of five made a big de- purchased. Then it was hauled to the his life," Denny's mother said to her cision: they would leave Los Angeles new site—a three room home furnished husband with tears of happiness in and their comfortable home and try in wicker, with grass-green fiber rugs her eyes. to find a place in the desert where he on the floor and gay curtains on the And Denny did return many times, would have a better chance to regain windows. And now Denny's new life and when he became an adult he went his health. began. to live in the little green house in The doctors had been kind and His father came every weekend to Lucerne Valley for a few months out sympathetic to Denny, but none stay with his family. His arrival was of every year. His children love the seemed to think there was much that a big moment for the child. Every desert home. could be done for him. He had been week he brought Denny a gift-—a new It seems tortoises live forever, and given tonics and good food but he book or a toy—but one Friday he Godiva still resides on Denny's place, would spend most of his time lying arrived with the finest present Denny although she doesn't take as many on a couch, looking at books or draw- had ever received. A tortoise! Not tours around the house as she once ing pictures with crayons while other the coin-sized variety children play did. children ran and played in the out- with today, but a huge fellow with a doors. shell two feet in diameter. After making up their minds to Denny named his new pet "Godiva." seek out a warm dry climate for Denny, When the boy was feeling better than TOWNSITE FOR GLEN DAM the parents spent many weekends look- usual, he would sit on the tortoise's TO BE BUILT IN ARIZONA ing for a suitable place. They drove back and slowly — so very slowly —- The United States Interior Depart- to the desert with army cots tied to Godiva crept around the house. the top of their car and slept out ment announced its decision to locate Denny's childhood was not a typical under the stars. One day they found the Glen Canyon Dam townsite in one, but it became a very happy one. the property they had dreamed of. Arizona on the southeast side of the After he made gains in health, he Colorado River. It was on a plateau overlooking Lu- started his schooling with a visiting cerne Valley east of Victorville. The To be called Page, Arizona, in honor teacher who thought him a wonderful of the late John C. Page, federal rec- Granite Mountains threw their long student. In the evenings his mother purple shadows across the desert to lamation commissioner from 1937 to would light the oil lamps and help him 1943, the town is expected to reach the very point where Denny was to with his lessons. have his new home. And there were a peak population of 12,00 during con- Seven years passed before Denny trees on this land from which a ham- struction. Its permanent population returned to Los Angeles, and then, on mock could be strung. Here the little probably will level off at about 2000 a bright desert-fresh morning, a tanned boy would be able to rest in the sun- or 3000, the Department predicted. shine. The site, almost on the rim of the Time was becoming increasingly Colorado River gorge a half mile from precious and Denny's parents turned the damsite, was ceded to the reclama- their attention to getting a house built tion bureau by the Navajo Indian on their land. They stopped at a gaso- Tribe, which received in return a line station to have their car serviced promise of congressional approval for and casually mentioned to the attend- an equal amount of land in Southern ant that they had to put a house on Utah. their property immediately. Guardian The location will become directly angels were at their side, for a young accessible to Utah with completion of man overheard the conversation and the bridge across Glen Canyon, ex- told them of a couple who were leav- pected in 1959.—Phoenix Gazette

24 DESERT MAGAZINE In May Boundary Peak (13,145 feet) in Nevada, sometimes affords snow climbing. Photo by Niks Werner. Mountains Are For Everyone

This Is a page for the mountaineering fraternity, and especially for our canteens and the next day noticed those young people who would like to share in the exhilerating experi- a rather pleasant smoked flavor. ence of camping and climbing where the air is clean and the beauty Rabbit Peak Ascent of the natural landscape undisturbed by man's enterprise. Twenty-six Desert Peakers on a recent ascent of Rabbit Peak (also in By LOUISE TOP WERNER the Santa Rosa Mountains), found the spring on the north flank of that . , water! They furnished water for the early mountain flowing water. Not only Springs in the desert mountains are Cahuilla Indians on their regular food- was the spring active but in the middle likely to be quite unpredictable. When gathering treks from their winter homes of the night the whole sky became you're climbing up a desert wash and in the desert to their summer homes active, deluging the knapsack campers your topographic map indicates a in the mountains. with three hard showers. Newcomers spring ahead, don't start drooling until We found both springs merely ooz- to Rabbit Peak are usually warned, you see the sand getting wet. You ing mud puddles fouled by wild ani- "Carry plenty of water; Rabbit Peak may have to dig for the precious fluid mals. We paused only briefly at Cac- is one of the driest climbs we sched- then wait while your basin fills and the tus Spring, happy to note that it had ule." Few of the climbers had carried water settles and clears. After that been given back to the wild animals. shelter, and some of them knapsacked you may have to boil it for 20 minutes. When we visited it three years ago we back to the cars for breakfast. The If you're thirsty the final product will found that some cattleman had piped rest went to the top the next day in more than reward your patience. all the water into cattle tanks, making fine weather. Such was our experience March 9 it inaccessible to the smaller wild ani- Sierra Club Scheduled during a climb with the Desert Peakers mals. Climb for May 18-19 of the Sierra Club, a group that makes That night we camped at Agua Alta Boundary Peak (elevation 13,145 a hobby of exploring the desert moun- Spring, about 4300 feet. The spring feet) and Mount Montgomery (13,- tain ranges of California. The topo is hidden among bushes in an arroyo 465), White Mountain Range. A map showing the trail across Martinez north of a pinyon-covered flat where knapsack trip. Guests are welcome! Pass in the Santa Rosa Mountains Indian pottery shards still lie scattered The White Mountain Range rises south of Palm Springs, indicated two about. Bees swarmed about the mud along the central eastern border of springs, Cactus Spring and Agua Alta puddle. With a tin cup we dug a California, its northern tip slipping over Spring. These two springs, like so basin about a foot deep and wide. It the line into Nevada. Its elevation is many of the waterholes we read about filled slowly and took an hour to clear. 14,242 feet. in history, were once favorite gather- We filtered the water through fine Boundary Peak is the highest point ing places for tribes on the march. cheesecloth, and boiled it. We filled in Nevada, while Mount Montgomery,

MAY, 1957 <•: about half an airline mile to the south Route: Highway 395 to Big Pine, of it, lies in California. This trip offers California. East over Westgard Pass the rare opportunity of crossing the into Nevada, where road becomes 3A border into California (at an elevation (blacktop) to highway maintenance of about 12,800 feet) without a cus- station in Fish Lake Valley. Turn left toms official asking you whether you're on fair dirt road, about 10 miles, or carrying any citrus fruit. as far as you can go. Watch for Sierra umns Facts on Hole-in-the-Rock . . . The approach is from the Nevada Club arrows. Salt Lake City side, where the White Mountain range The climb (without packs) will start Desert: presents a much more impressive Al- at 5 a.m. Sunday, a 12-mile round- The article "The Hole in the Rock," pine facade than it does from the trip gaining about 4500 feet in eleva- in the April Desert gave me a surprise Owens Valley in California, and most tion; class 2, no technical difficulties or two. Having spent a great deal of of the climbing will be in Nevada. but rubber soles essential. time during the past half-dozen years An ascent of these two peaks was Warm clothing is recommended. A digging out the facts regarding the fa- described in the December, 1954, is- lightweight wool sweater or two worn mous Hole-in-the-Rock Expedition I sue of Desert Magazine. Essentially under a hooded ski parka holds body feel qualified to make some corrections the same terrain will be covered with heat and keeps out wind better than in the story. In the first place the several important differences: a coat three times as heavy and bulky. Hole-in-the-Rock was the major wagon (1) It's probable that in May there Most climbers prefer several thin lay- route from southern Utah settlements will be enough snow and possibly ice, ers so they can peel off as they warm to the San Juan region for a whole year to make an ice axe necessary for safety, up. A mummy-type down sleeping and many wagons were driven both especially while traversing the ridge bag affords the knapsacker the most ways over that road—yes, up through between the two peaks. The leaders warmth per foot-pound. the Hole as well as down it, impossi- require that those who expect to com- Dehydrated foods are not weight- ble as that may seem today to the plete the entire climb bring ice axes savers to the camper who has to carry casual visitor to the site. and wear rubber lug shoes. water to cook them in. Canned foods (2) The last few miles of dirt road are more popular, as are juicy raw Secondly, the first wagons were is being torn up for a pipeline; this foods like carrots, celery, cucumbers, driven down through that notch on may necessitate up to four miles of apples and oranges. January 26, 1880, not February. back-packing to base camp, which will This trip is conducted by the Sierra Thirdly, most of the colonists of that be at the spot where the road formerly Peakers, many of whom also belong expedition came from Iron County: ended, in Trail Canyon. to the Desert Peaks Section. Leader Parowan, Cedar City, Paragonah, New (3) The water in Trail Canyon has is Don Clarke, 383 E. Washington St., Harmony, etc., although a few were been so badly fouled by wild horses, Pasadena 6. from Panguitch and two men were from that each climber is requested to bring Strangers on these trips should make Kanab; there was no one from Henri- enough water for the entire trip (up to themselves known to the leader so ville. three quarts, depending on how liquid they can be introduced and made to Fourthly, the "Mormon Steps" were your food is and how successful you feel at home. Say you saw it in Desert not cut by the original company of are at ignoring thirst). Magazine. pioneers who were building a wagon road, not a staircase. The steps were cut approximately 20 years later by miners and an outfit that was operating an Indian trading post at the base of the Hole. The steps were to enable Rock men to carry goods from the canyon rim at the head of the hole to the trading post below, and back up again. of Death Valley I realize that some of the ideas contained in this article are quite com- "Don't it ever rain here?" monly believed by some people; but asked the tourist, who was wait- "Look'd as if we'd have an- they are not based on fact-—they are ing in the shade of the Inferno other rain a couple months ago. just not true. I have written numerous store while Death Valley's roust- Them black clouds came up over short articles on the Hole-in-the-Rock about mechanic put a patch on the Panamints. About that time trek and now have a book completed one of the tires. OF Pisgah came outa his shack —to be published during the present Hard Rock Shorty edged his and took a squint at the sky. year. chair over a few inches to get 'Looks as if I'm gonna git an- DAVID E. MILLER more directly in the breeze that other bath,' he yelled. 'Ain't Professor of History came from a squeaky fan. When had one since that last rain three University of Utah he was comfortably settled in his years ago.' • • • new location he glanced up at "Then he went back inside and Lost Pegleg Gold Exists . . . the newcomer. used what water was left in the Willits, California "Yep!" he said. "Three years barrel soapin' hisself up ready Desert: ago last August it rained so hard fer a good shower. I should like to answer the question some o' the lizards began to "But do yu know what hap- raised by the late James A. Jasper in grow webs on their toes. An' pened? Them clouds busted up the March, 1957, Desert: was "Peg- one o' them ducks Pisgah Bill without spillin' a drop o' water. leg's Mine—Fact or Fable?" Jasper keeps in the pen with his chickens An' Bill had to walk 15 miles to claims "Fable." I claim "Fact." The drowned 'cause it'd never learned the spring up in Eight Ball crick author, like so many others, evidently to swim. to wash the soap offen hisself." did not know that there were two Pegleg Smiths, and two mines. 26 DESERT MAGAZINE First he has Pegleg's name wrong. plunder the camp, or perhaps the mis- LA. Up to Old Tricks . . . Thomas L. Smith had a mine East of chief will be limited to breaking glass Blythe, California the Chocolate Mountains, a real mine, and shooting holes in cans and other Desert: either a tunnel in the side of a moun- objects about the place. Here we are trying to keep our tain or a shaft, but in any event he H. GRAHAM desert beautiful when dear old Los was underground. This story was published, some years ago, in the Los The more you know about the desert—its Angeles Times, written by Joe Chis- flora and fauna> its m"story> geograPhy; life holm. The man who found gold nug- ifU1Z j i — h better you will like this vast gets, not rich quartz, on the top of a an( ore t e hill was John O. Smith. arid land. The Desert Quiz is published not only to test your knowledge of this region, but as a source of new information. These are not catch Furthermore, he was not a brother questions. Rather, they are taken from the great store of common knowl- of Jedediah Strong Smith. I got this from a man who, some years ago, had edge of this region. Twelve to 15 is a fair score, 16 to 18 is good, a higher thoroughly investigated Jedediah with score is exceptional. The answers are on page 33. the view of writing a book on his life 1—Blossom of the ocotillo is—Red White.- Blue Lav- and journeys in California. He told ender me "neither of the Pegleg Smiths were 2—The Hopi Snake dance is a prayer for—Abundant game . Pro- related to Jedediah." tection from snakes Rain . Peace with neighboring tribes- Jasper's facts concerning the ampu- men tation of his leg and his being a heavy 3—The name Peralta is associated with—The Lost Dutchman mine in drinker are correct. The "prominent the Superstition Mountains in Arizona . The discovery of silver Riverside resident named Couver" (act- at Tombstone Reclamation of the Imperial Valley . Ex- ually spelled "Cover" but pronounced ploration of Grand Canyon "Couver") only made one trip to the 4—The officer who led the Mormon Battalion to California in 1846-47 desert to search for the Pegleg Gold. was—Lieut. Emory Philip St. George Cooke . Brigham His partner was Wilson Russell. In Young John Poston 1902 I interviewed Mrs. Tom Cover 5—xhe Colorado River has no shoreline in one of the following states— and Russell. The latter told me, in California— New Mexico Arizona Utah answer to my question—"Did he and 6—When winter rains bring abundant flowers to the desert, the most Cover thoroughly believe in the exist- common species seen on the sand dunes is — Desert lily.- ... En- ence of the Pegleg gold when they left celia Verbena Poppies Riverside to look for it?"—that Tom 7—Before the basin was submerged in 1905-6-7 the floor of the present Cover had in his possession a nugget Salton sea yielded large quantities of—Borax Salt Pum- from the Pegleg Mine, and a map of its ice stone . Gypsum location when they made their journey 8—The term "Desert varnish" refers to—A gum that oozes from the to the desert. stems of a creosote bush The silky sheen of the petals of cactus Pegleg did not make the trip from blossoms Lime deposited on rocks by mineralized water— Yuma to Los Angeles, on which he An organic coating that covers desert rocks over a wide area _ found the gold, in 1836 but in the 9—Mescalero is the name of a tribe of — Navajo Indians early '50s, and he did not have a Yumas__ _. . Apaches Hopis party with him, but was alone. 0—The Kaibab plateau is—On the north rim of Grand Canyon I have been convinced that the Peg- West of Cedar City, Utah Overlooks the Rio Grande . leg story is true for 57 years and there Home of the Hopi Indians will have to be more evidence than 11 The fowl often referred to as the "Cuckoo Bird" is a—Swallow Jasper presented to make me change Roadrunner . Quail Woodpecker my conviction. H. E. W. WILSON 12—The Dons Club, dedicated to preserving the lore and traditions of • • • the Southwest, is located at — Albuquerque Phoenix Jasper Bight About Pegleg , . . Jerome . Nogales Del Rosa, California 13—Filifera is the species name of a desert—Cactus Yucca Desert: Lizard Native palm James A. Jasper's story of Pegleg 14—The Gila River flows westward into—Salton Sea Death Val- Smith in the March, 1957, Desert ley Sink Green River Colorado River sounds like a sober reflection to me. 15—Driving from Albuquerque to Taos, New Mexico, by the shortest Personally, I wouldn't go across the paved route, the largest city you would pass through is — Santa road to look for a lost mine—even if Fe Gallup... . Carlsbad Tucumcari . someone said there was a mine over 16—Most conspicuous mountains seen from Flagstaff, Arizona are—The there. For one thing, a more accurate Catalinas ...... The Wasatch range . The San Francisco description of supposedly lost discov- peaks La Sal Mountains eries, such as "lost pockets" or "lost 17—Uintah is the name of an Indian reservation in—Utah— . New lenses" often are lacking. And lost Mexico . Arizona . Nevada mines such as Scotty's Death Valley 18—Closest important town to the Petrified Forest National Monument gold may never have been found in is — Winslow . Holbrook Springerville . Farming- the first place. ton _.. In the same issue Nell Murbarger 19—The book, Wonders of the Colorado Desert, was written by—Carl tells the story of the Nevada prospector Eytel . George Wharton James James Smeaton Chase Ed Smith and it seems somewhat of a John C. Van Dyke mistake to me for you to give direc- 20—Butterfield is the name of—A stage line that crossed the Southwestern tions to the homes of solitary desert desert 100 years ago Discoverer of silver at Tombstone dwellers such as Smith. Considering First governor of Arizona The man who captured Geron- the way people get around these days, imo.- there is a chance that marauders will

MAY, 1 957 27 Angeles, with her growing pains, not only wants to steal all of Arizona's water, but again is proposing to dump Below Average Rainfall Lowers the rubbish of 4,000,000 people out here along with her smog and smoke. Next in line is the baling of sewage in order to keep her beaches clean—and Forecasts fot River Runoff... then trying to ship it to the desert. JACK E. MARLOWE Most areas of the Southwest re- of average is forecast for the creeks ceived below average precipitation dur- near Winslow. ing the month of February, resulting The outlook for November to June Sun Turns Glass Quickly . . . in a general lowering of the estimated streamflow in the upper Gila Basin is stream runoff for this water year (No- poor with streamflow expected to be Twentynine Palms, California vember, 1956, to June, 1957), the near 30 percent of the 1938-52 aver- Desert: U. S. Weather Bureau said. age if precipitation for the remainder It is a common belief on the desert The Colorado River Basin above of the season is near normal. Outlook that it takes from three to five years Glenwood Springs, Colorado, had near for the Verde and Salt Basins is much of exposure in the bright sunlight for normal precipitation but the rainfall more favorable because of the high old glass to take on faint tinges of was somewhat spotty and some sta- precipitation during January. color. tions reported amounts much below These are waterflow predictions for Last year I moved to the high desert normal. Over the upper Gunnison the Rio Grande Basin where rainfall and my neighbor showed me pieces of Basin above normal precipitation was varied from about 80 percent to 100 glass that had started to turn color received, while the watersheds of the percent of normal: Upper Rio Grande after only two years of exposure. They Uncompahgre and Dolores rivers had at Del Norte, Colorado, 90 percent; were lying in partial shade and had less than normal. Rio Chama inflow to El Vado Reser- not received the full benefit of the sun's Streamflow for most of the Colorado voir, and Rio Grande tributaries in rays during this period. above Cisco, Utah, is expected to be Colorado along the San Juan Moun- near the 1938-52 average. Only in tains, near normal; Rio Grande at I placed several pieces of "old glass" Otowi Bridge, New Mexico, 76 per- in my backyard in mid-August. Within the Uncompahgre (77 percent) and Dolores (74 percent) river basins is cent; Pecos River inflow to Alamo- three of four days several pieces had gordo Reservoir, 60 percent. become opaque with a hint of orchid the runoff expected to be much below coloration. In two weeks they had a average. Runoff of the Colorado at The story was much the same for very definite cast. Cisco during February was near aver- the Great Basin where February rain- age, and the March through September fall over the higher watersheds of the After this amazing start, I took flow is forecast to be 4,500,000 acre- Wasatch Range was from 70 percent down a trunk in which I had stored a feet or 95 percent of average. to near 90 percent of normal, and few antique pressed glass and cut glass over the lower valleys of Salt Lake pieces and placed them in my sun glass Rainfall over the Green River basin and Utah Lake less than 65 percent garden. This was in early October averaged about 50 percent of normal, of normal. The Ogden and Logan when the sun's rays were no longer but slightly above normal amounts fell areas reported near normal amounts. so direct and the days were becoming over the upper Yampa and White Streamflow forecasts are: Bear and shorter. But despite this, several pieces River watersheds. Stream flow near Logan, 90 percent of the 1938-52 av- began turning within a few weeks. the 15-year average is forecast for the erage; Upper Weber River, 90 percent; upper Yampa and White rivers, and Lower Weber River, 75 percent; Provo Next I put my wine bottle collection runoff for most of the upper Green —some of pressed glass and all beau- River, 94 percent; Inflow to Utah Lake, in Wyoming and the Utah tributaries 88 percent. tifully shaped — in the glass garden is forecast to be from about 75 to 85 which is so located as to receive sun- percent of average. Except for the San Pitch River drain- light from dawn to dusk. Along with age area in the northern part of the these I put a number of clear glass Precipitation over the San Juan Ba- Sevier Basin, precipitation during Feb- pieces that were dull and uninteresting. sin, averaging only 75 percent of nor- ruary was much below normal over Some hobnail pieces have taken on an mal, was in sharp contrast to the Jan- this drouth-stricken area. Forecasts opalescent cast; a beautifully shaped uary precipitation when monthly for the basins are: Sevier, 55 to 65 etched yellow glass has acquired a amounts ranged as high as 450 percent percent if precipitation for the rest of golden sparkle and other yellow pieces, of normal. Streamflow forecasts vary the season is near normal; Beaver evidently seconds, are showing a red- from 105 percent of the 1938-52 aver- River, 65 percent. ish-purple. age at Rosa, New Mexico, to 93 percent of average downstream near Bluff, Outlook for the Humboldt Basin is I have noticed one thing regarding Utah. poor with less than half the 15-year those pieces that turn slowly—in a few average anticipated. February precipi- days it is possible to tell what color- February precipitation over the tation over the Truckee and Carson ing the sun is going to bring out. All Lower Colorado Basin was much be- River basins was near normal, while old glass does not turn blue or purple, low normal. February was also one it was below normal over the Walker of course. Orchid, golden yellow and of the warmest Februarys on record, and Owens River basins. About 70 amber are common colors and I have and on March 1, no snow was reported percent of average water-year stream- one bottle that seems to be taking on below 8500 feet. Runoff during the flow is expected for the Carson and a greenish cast. month was very high in the Salt and Walker rivers, with runoff of the Verde Basins. The water-supply out- Owens River near Bishop, California, This is a wonderful hobby—especi- look for the Little Colorado River at expected to be near 80 percent of ally when you remember that it doesn't Woodruff, Arizona, is for an expected normal. The water-supply outlook of take years or even months for results. November to June streamflow of 74 the Mojave Basin is poor—between MRS. RUTH ROWAN percent of average. Near 120 percent 33 and 51 percent of average.

DESERT MAGAZINE formed him that doves eat as many cantaloupe seeds as they do weeds.— Hete and Here on the Desert Calexico Chronicle • • • ARIZONA Most of the money is earmarked for schools, water development and tribal Permanent Dam Completion Nears Way Clear for Paper Mill . . . welfare. Set aside as a scholarship BLYTHE—Palo Verde Valley's 80- SNOWFLAKE — Sale of 30-year fund was $5,000,000, but the council year struggle against the frequently timber pulpwood cutting rights in decided to postpone appropriation of treacherous Colorado River is nearing northeastern Arizona by the U. S. For- the money until an agency—such as an end as work on the $4,677,000 est Service has opened the way for the U. S. Treasury or a private invest- permanent diversion dam 11 miles construction of a pulp and paper mill ment firm—is named to administer it. northeast of Blythe was at the half- near Snowflake by Southwest Lumber The extensive program will be financed way mark. Workmen expect to finish Mills, Inc., the buyer. More than 6,- by the Navajos' income from oil and the entire project, including canal 000,000 cords of timber are available gas leases which amounted to $33,- modification on the California side and to Southwest on its bid of $1.10 a 000,000. Other revenue comes from levees on the Arizona side, early next cord on approximately 1,600,000 acres uranium, coal and forest products. Tri- year. Total cost is expected to exceed on Kaibab, Coconino, Sitgreaves, bal leaders also appropriated $20,000 $7,000,000. Upon the completion of Apache and Tonto national forests in for the reservation's first television sta- the dam, the temporary rock weir built Arizona and Cibola, near Grants, New tion, tentatively planned for the Win- with the help of the federal govern- Mexico. Southwest must construct a dow Rock-Fort Defiance area.—Phoe- ment in 1945 will be demolished. This pulp mill by March 1, 1962, as a con- nix Gazette weir was built to offset the drop in the dition of the contract. It would have • • • river level as the result of the construction of Hoover, Parker and other a minimum 200-ton daily capacity.— CALIFORNIA Phoenix Gazette dams on the Colorado.—Palo Verde Boat Basin for Salton Park , , , Valley Times • • • Taxable Land Acreage , . . MECCA—-A $63,890 contract has been awarded for construction of a Recreational Facilities Urged . . , PHOENIX—Less than 16 percent boat basin at the Salton Sea State Park. WASHINGTON, D. C. — Senator of Arizona's land area is potentially Plans call for parking facilities for 50 Thomas H. Kuchel of California, citing taxable property, the State Department cars, a concrete boat launching ramp growing pressure on the Nation's nat- of Mineral Resources disclosed. Of and a gravelled roadway. Future plans ural resources, has suggested to Fed- the state's 72,688,000 acres, the Fed- include additional camping and pic- eral officials the time may have come eral government owns 51,550,000 nicking areas in addition to those al- to tighten laws covering the utilization acres. This figure includes 19,410,000 ready in the park. Parking facilities acres of Indian Reservation or trust will eventually be expanded to provide land. The state itself owns slightly for an additional 150 cars and the less than 10,000,000 acres, or 13.67 three-acre boat basin and entrance GLORIOUS flDVEHTURE percent of the land area, leaving only channel will have a depth of about 10 11,200,000 or 15.41 percent in the feet. This will include a graded beach form of potential taxable property. on the east side of the basin. The The state has the largest percentage entrance channel will be 40 feet wide of unsurveyed lands in the nation— and 300 feet long.—Banning Record 32.64 percent or 23,726,169 acres.— • • • Phoenix Gazette Legislature Kills Dove Bill . . . SACRAMENTO—A legislative bill Restoration, Funds Givea . . . which would have outlawed dove hunt- TOMBSTONE —- The city's 180 ing in California was killed when it restoration members contributed $3428 was referred to an interim committee of the $4242 county total during 1956, after three hours of spirited debate. and from mid-1955 to the end of Jan- Proponents of the measure sought to uary of this year, members had brought place the doves on the protected song in a total of $7738. These funds will bird list, maintaining that they ate det- be vised to restore and convert the rimental weeds. Senator William Beard In the Canyons of the Colorado historic county courthouse into a mu- of El Centro, who opposed the bill, and San Juan Rivers seum.—Tombstone Epitaph said Imperial County farmers had in- Sturdy boats and skilled boatmen-guides insure safe and thoroughly enjoyable passage • m • through the most colorful canyons of the Norvctios Outline Program . , . Southwest desert. Vacation by Boat SAN JUAN AND COLORADO RIVERS WINDOW ROCK — A $9,000,000 Mexican Hat or Hite, Utah, to Forbidden long range development program for Beautiful Canyon and return the vast Navajo Indian Reservation GLEN CANYON If the Glen Canyon damsite is closed to was approved by the Tribal Council. in Utah only navigation, motors will be installed for return trip from Forbidden Canyon to Hite. Hite to Crossing oi the Fathers See Rainbow Bridge GRAND CANYON OF THE COLORADO

•••.•:;.•••:;.• Lower Glen Canyon closed to boating by Lee's Ferry to Lake Mead Government order during building of dam. 18-day trip in July Transportation arranged from river Special charter trips may be arranged. V to your car or plane Wrile for 1957 summer schedule and rates. •

;> /*!• LARABEE AND ALESON J. FRANK WRIGHT MEXICAN HAT EXPEDITIONS f •,':•'• i'-l-VCi':•. • '.• •'• •' •• ••'-" ••" -: •'•- ••' •"••'.:•» Western River Tours — Richfield, Ctali P.O. Box 427 Standing, Utah •':::/ •"•'• '• '* •:>•.<• .. :-.'•.•.••,••••:•.•!.-..• •:.

MAY, 195 29 PAN GOLD: $1 for 75 panning areas in 25. California counties. Geological for- mations, elevations, pertinent notes. Pan- THE DESERT TRADING POST ning pans $2.75, $2.25. Leather nugget and dust poke $1. Fred Mark, Box 801, Classified Advertising in This Section Costs 12c a Word, $2.00 Minimum Per Issue Ojai, California. GHOST TOWN ITEMS: Sun-colored glass, amethyst to royal purple; ghost railroads BOOKS—MAGAZINES FINE RESERVATION-MADE Navajo and materials, tickets; limited odd items from Zuni jewelry. Old pawn. Hundreds of camps of the '60s. Write your interest— SCIENTOLOGY — The Fundamentals of fine old baskets, moderately priced, in Box 64-D, Smith, Nevada. Thought, by L. Ron Hubbard. The basic excellent condition. Navajo rugs, old and book of the theory and practice of Scien- new, Bayeta, native dyes, Two Gray Hills. LOST MINES, buried treasure, uranium tology for beginners. The answer to fission Artifacts and gems. A collector's para- or water—we can help locate from a dis- and fear. Send $1 to C. I. Clark, Box dise! Open daily 10 to 5:30, closed Mon- tance of 20 miles to 5000 foot depth. 313, Palm Desert, California. days, Buffalo Trading Post, Highway 18, The Geotest Company, 1833 Marney Apple Valley, California. Avenue, Los Angeles 32, California. OUT-OF-PRINT books at lowest prices! You name it—we find it! Western Ameri- RARE ITEMS for interior decoration, col- ANTIQUE WALL phones. Excellent con- cana, desert and Indian books a specialty. lectors. Authentic Navaho, Hopi and dition. $9.95; two $18.50. Luscious pur- Send us your wants. No obligation. In- Zuni jewelry, old pawn. Large collection ple sage honey—raw, thick. Organically ternational Bookfinders, Box 3003-D, old Indian pottery, baskets, kachinas. No grown dried fruit, nuts. Free circular. Beverly Hills, California. catalogs but inquiries invited. The Nav- Tontz Honey Farm and Country Store, aho Shop, 1133 N. La Brea Avenue, old highway 71, Elsinore, California. HAVE REAL fun with desert gems, min- Inglewood, California. ORchard 4-8717. Open every day. erals and rocks. The rockhound's how- to-do-it magazine tells how. One year VERMONT MAPLE syrup—direct from (12 issues) only $3.00. Sample 25c. Gems MAPS sugar orchard to you. Guaranteed pure and Minerals, Box 687-D, Mentone, Cal. Grade A syrup. All shipments postpaid SECTION1ZED COUNTY maps — San and insured. Check or money order must WESTERN TRAVEL Books: Send for Bernardino $1; Riverside $1; Imperial accompany order. $8.95 per gallon; our mapped list of Books on Western 50c; San Diego 50c; Inyo 75c; other Cali- $4.75 per Vi gallon. M. G. Corti, Wal- Travel and Rock Collecting. 101 titles fornia counties $1.25 each. Nevada coun- den, Vermont. to choose from. Scenic Guides, Arizona ties $1 each. Topographic maps of all $1.00; California $1.50; Colorado, $1.50; mapped areas. Westwide Maps Co., 114 LADY GODIVA "The World's Finest Nevada $1.50; Oregon $1.50. Save by W. Third St., Los Angeles, California. Beautifier." For women who wish to mail! We pay postage. Scenic Guides, become beautiful, for women who wish Box 288, Susanville, California. TREASURE MAP 17x22 shows the loca- to remain beautiful. An outstanding des- tion of 50 of the most famous Lost Mines ert cream. For information, write or call CLUBS—ORGANIZATIONS and Treasures of the west. Printed in gay Lola Barnes, 963 N. Oakland, Pasadena colors. Portrays the romance of the Old 6, Calif., or phone SYcamore 4-2378. JOIN A REAL Prospectors and Rockhounds West. Ideal for hanging in game room or den. In addition you get the history ASSAYS. Complete, accurate, guaranteed. organization. Amateurs welcome. Many Highest quality spectrographic. $3 per benefits for members. Membership $2.50 of how each of the 50 were found and lost. Data and clues to their location. sample. Reed Engineering, 620 S. Ingle- year, includes publication "Panning Gold." wood Ave., Tnglewood 1, California. United Prospectors, 701 Vz East Edge- The result of 9 years of prospecting and ware, Los Angeles, California. research by the author. Send $1.50 to Prospector Milt, 3915 Lamont, San Diego TREASURE HUNTERS—Join active hunts 9, California. and disposal of Federally-owned land. on June 1, Treasure Hunter's Day. Arm- With the steady growth of population chair hunters welcome, too. Local chapters now forming. Interesting Circular REAL ESTATE and increase in travel and outdoor free. Treasure Trove Club, Williamsburg, activities, there is serious danger that New Mexico. PRIMITIVE RANCH for sale, Yaak, Mon- tana. 320 acres, commercial timber, trout future generations of Americans will lack scenic, educational and inspira- CRAFTS—HOBBIES river. Eight log buildings. Elk, moose, deer, grizzlies, bobcats. Pack trails, ideal tional features for recreation, Kuchel PAINT OILS: Exciting home-courses. Trial for Dude Ranch. Hay—96 to 100 tons said in letters to the secretaries of lesson $1.00, specify landscape or still- per season. Write V. Magnant, 9325 N. Agriculture and Interior.—Inyo Reg- life. Folders free. Prickett's Desertwind 7th St., Sunnyslope, Arizona. Studios, Millerton, New York. ister NEAR ANZA, house, barn, well, $3300. 40 • • • INDIAN GOODS acres or less, $300 an acre. 971 Barbour, Banning, California. River Case in Recess . . . FIVE FINE Prehistoric Indian arrowheads $2.00. Perfect stone tomahawk $2.20. Ef- GOVERNMENT LAND for sale, five acres, SAN FRANCISCO—Recessed un- figy pipe $5.00. Perfect flint thunderbird cabin 16x18, new well, plenty of water. til May 6 while special master Simon Highway 91 near Yermo, California. Mrs. $3.00. Flint fish hook $3.00. List free. Myrl Harris, Box 512, Barstow, Calif. H. Rifkind recovers from a collapse Five offers for only $12.00. Arrowhead, is the trial of the Colorado River water Glenwood, Arkansas. CHOICE HOMESITES and acreage. Salton case involving the long-standing Cali- AUTHENTIC INDIAN Jewelry, Navajo Sea vicinity. Low as $1495, $95 down, fornia and Arizona dispute over the Rugs, War Bonnets, Squaw Dresses, $25 month. Pon & Co., Box 546 DA, Azusa, California. water. Before ordering the recess, Rif- Squaw Boots, Fine old Indian collection. kind ruled that California could intro- Pow-Wow Indian Trading Post, 19967 NICE SHADY oasis planted to grapefruit, Ventura Blvd., East Woodland Hills, Cal. tangerines. Good house, swimming pool, duce evidence aimed at upholding the principle of "prior rights." Arizona IROQUOIS MASK $25.00; pipe-tomahawk 33 acres, Coachella Valley. $85,000. $27.50; catlinite peace-pipe $12.50; 5 ar- Ronald L. Johnson, broker, Box 162, has contended this evidence was irrele- rowheads $1.00; strand trade beads, $1.00. Thermal, California. vant.—Nevada State Journal Iron pointed African spear with shaft • • • $7.50. Paul Summers, Canyon, Texas. MISCELLANEOUS NEVADA SELLING 100,000 Indian relics. 100 nice BOLO TIE, set with your favorite snapshot ancient arrowheads $25.00. Small grooved or initials in gold. $2.98. Swigert's, 2218 Wilderness Area for Jarbidge . . . stone tomahawk $2.00. Large grooved Louella, Venice, California. stone tomahawk $3.00. Perfect spear- JARBIDGE—Part of the Humboldt head over 8 inches long $20.00. Flint JERUSALEM, HOLY-LAND; also Vatican scalping knife $1.00. Indian skull $25.00. City, Rome, Italy; beautiful viewcards National Forest near Jarbidge may be Ancient water bottle from grave $7.00. 15c each or 10 for $1.00. S. Laurie, 915 established as a wilderness area, the List free. Lear's. Glenwood, Arkansas. East Adams, Tucson, Arizona. U. S. Forest Service announced. At 30 DESERT MAGAZINE present there are no Nevada areas so Federal Register and the lands are not Danger to Water Supply Seen . . . designated. The 68,827 acres covered subject to disposal until classified. The SANTA FE — An official of the by the proposal include the beautiful lands were formerly livestock trail U. S. Geological Survey warned resi- Jarbidge Mountains and the headwaters lands known as the Fern ley Trail, Love- dents of the High Plains of Texas and of Mary's and Jarbidge rivers. Eight lock Trail, Imlay Trail, Golconda Trail, New Mexico that they face serious mountain peaks with elevations of 10,- Battle Mountain Trail and Wells Trail water shortages if well-drilling is al- 000 feet or over are included in the and in general are barren lands not lowed to further lower the water table. area.—Pioche Record conducive to agriculture. Inquiries Increased well-drilling in this area is • « • should be made of the Manager of the draining an underground supply which Wild Horse Controversy Brews . . . Land Office, P. O. Box 1551, Reno. won't be replaced for centuries, said CARSON CITY—Calling for more —Reese River Reveille Albert Fiedler, assistant chief of the humane methods in the rounding up of USGS's ground water supply branch. wild horses in Nevada, directors of NEW MEXICO The Roswell basin of New Mexico also faces a real problem in this regard.— the Washoe Horsemen's Association Villa Raid Monument Proposed . . . and the Nevada State Horsemen's As- New Mexican sociation voted against the passage in COLUMBUS — Residents of this • • • southwestern New Mexico border town the legislature of a bill concerning the UTAH trapping of mustangs. In essence, the are discussing the possibility of erecting a monument to commemorate the bill would permit hunting of wild Ute Indians Win Land Case . . . Pancho Villa raid and the eight civili- horses by aircraft. A Sacramento, SALT LAKE CITY —The Indian California, newspaper reported that its ans and nine U. S. soldiers killed by the Mexican revolutionary leader's Claims Commission decided that the article concerning the rounding up of Uintah Ute Indians of Utah are entitled wild horses in Nevada, has caused a troops. Columbus, population 300, does not have even a highway histori- to payment for approximately 7,000,- flood of reader comment and residents 000 acres of land taken from them by of Applegate, California, have pro- cal marker to indicate the raid which occurred early in the morning of March the white man in the 1860s. In two tested the "slaughter of wild mustangs cases pending since 1949, interlocu- in Nevada by the pet food companies." 9, 1916, and precipitated the expedition into Mexico led by General John tory decisions rendered unanimously The State maintains that under present by the Commission favor the Utah laws, the county issues permits to hunt J. Pershing. The monument would also commemorate the first invasion of the Indians, holding that they were owners horses, not the State.—Nevada State of the land until it was taken by the Journal United States by a foreign power since the War of 1812, and also mark the United States for its own use or dis- place where Army aviation received position to others under public land Historic Roundhouse Razed . . , its baptism of service, for planes took laws or given by the United States to SPARKS — Wrecking crews began off from a crude strip at Columbus to KENT FROST JEEP TRIPS razing one of the best known land- support elements of the Pershing ex- Into the Famous Utah Needles Area marks in Sparks—the Southern Pacific Junction of the Green and Colorado rivers; pedition.—Las Cruces Citizen Indian and Salt creeks; Davis, Lavander, roundhouse. The historic structure • • « Monument, Red, Dark and White canyons; Dead Horse and Grand View points; Hoven- once was a main repair and service Ft. Burgwin, Restoration . . . weep and Bridges national monuments. shop for steam locomotives in the SP 3-day or longer trips for 2-6 person parties TAOS — An endowment provided —S25 daily per person. Inclndea sleeping system, but shop service was discon- bags, transportation, guide service, meals. by the Wichita Foundation of Wichita, Write KENT FROST, Monticello, Utah. tinued last year when the company be- Kansas, will make it possible for the gan replacing its steam engines with restoration and reconstruction over a diesel. The roundhouse operation was 10-year period of Fort Burgwin in the moved from Wadsworth to Sparks in Pot Creek area south of Taos. Plans Be Sure to Visit 1904.—Nevada State Journal call for the complete restoration of NEVADA'S PICTURESQUE • • • the old fort, erection of a small his- GHOST TOWN Special Stamp, Coin Asked . . . torical museum on the site and the RHYOLITE CARSON CITY—-Another attempt recreation of some old Indian works 4Vz Miles from Beatty to have the Federal government issue in the neighborhood. The fort was Last Bonanza of the Golden West a special postal stamp and silver half established following the 1848 Indian —HISTORIC SITES TO SEE— dollar to commemorate the centennial uprisings. The cavalry post existed The fabulous H.R. Depot—Old Cemetery— Bottle House — Forgotten Gold Mines — of the discovery of the Comstock Lode from 1852 to I860.—El Crepusculo Skeleton Bldgs. of yesteryear and many was reflected in state senate resolu- • • • other strange Death Valley Phenomena. tions. A major celebration is planned Route Beautification Is Goal . . . Courteous Information with Your Depot Hosts in 1959 by the state on the 100th an- HOUSTON, Texas—The Old Span- MR. & MRS. H. H. HEISLER niversary of the beginning of digging ish Trail Highway Association an- in Gold Hill and the discovery of silver nounced plans for making the nearly in Virginia City by Henry P. T. Corn- 2500 miles of highway from Jackson- stock.—Nevada State Journal ville, Florida, to San Diego, California, 1000 TRAVEL SCENES • • • the most beautiful highway in the Public Lands Open for Filing . . . world. Each area and state along the RENO—Opening of 48,220 acres route will be invited to participate in of reconveyed public land for filing the planting of roadside trees, shrubs was announced this week by E. R. and flowers of all kinds. The planting SPECIAL OFFER Greenlet, state supervisor of the Bur- of memorial groves of trees, each hon- To introduce readers of DESERT to our eau of Land Management at Reno, 2"x2" COLOR SLIDES for home projec- oring the pioneers and builders of the tion, we are offering a FREE 20 page These lands will not be open to mining individual areas, will be stressed, to- catalog and a FREE sample color slide. Travel, Science, Nature, National Parks location or mineral leasing as the for- gether with plaques commemorating and the southwest. Write today to — mer owners have retained the mineral points of historic interest along High- rights. Applications will not be ac- KELLY D. CHODA way 90 and affiliated routes. — Las 732 URSULA ST. AURORA 8, COLO. cepted until notice is published in the Cruces Citizen

MAY, 1957 31 a Colorado Ute Indian band. In further trials, the exact acreage of the land will be detailed and the amount of compensation the United States must pay will be decided. Values will be MINES and MINING established as of the date the land was taken from the Indians.—Vernal Ex- McGill Nevada . . . Magna. Utah . . . press Work force reductions in Kennecott Cop- Utah Copper Division of Kennecott Cop- per Corporation's Nevada Mines Division • • • per Corporation has scheduled construction and other mining operations in Nevada of a $16,000,000, 75,000 kilowatt power Land for Dean Requested . . . were announced. At mid-March approxi- plant addition to its central generating fa- KANAB—The Department of the mately 150 people had been released by cilities at Magna. Completion of installa- Kennecott at both Ruth and McGill. Recent tion of generating equipment should come Interior has issued a withdrawal notice drops in the price of copper together with on 73,600 acres of San Juan County within two-and-a-half to three years, it was market demand fluctuations were blamed estimated. Both natural gas and coal will land which it proposes to trade to the for the work force curtailment. A total of be burned under the boilers and the new Navajo Indians for tribal lands at the 25 miners were laid off work at Getchell mine due to the cutback on federal sub- plant will employ the revolutionary "re- Glen Canyon Dam site just below the sidies under the minerals purchasing pro- heat" cycle which effects economies in fuel Utah-Arizona border. Congress must gram. It was reported that additional lay- consumption. Another $2,000,000 in expan- offs were expected there. Nevada Scheelite sion projects also was announced by the approve the trade. — Southern Utah firm which brings the 1957 project totals News mine and mill southeast of Fallon reduced its crew to 10 men for necessary mainten- to $18,000,000, excluding $12,000,000 to be • • • ance and cleanup work for the same reason spent during the next two years for a new Paiute Bands Given Autonomy . . . given by Getchell. Scheelite was operating ore haulage tunnel from the bottom of the with a force of 150 men last fall when a Bingham pit to the Copperton assembly SALT LAKE CITY —Four small reduction to 60 took place. The Kaiser yard.—Salt Lake Tribune bands of Paiute Indians in Utah, com- fluorspar mine near Broken Hills was closed • « • prising 232 members, will take over by ore depletion. Sulphur, Nevada . . . full responsibility for management of • • • Open pit mining processing and shipment their own affairs, the Interior Depart- Washington, D. C. . . . of native sulphur for agricultural purposes ment said. The bands affected are The Interior Department has revised its is underway at Sulphur, 60 miles north of Shivwits with 130 enrolled members regulations governing mineral leasing of Lovelock on the Western Pacific Railroad. Indian land in order to stimulate wider Expansion and improvement plans for the and 27,520 acres of tribal property; competitive bidding and more active devel- operation were announced by mine officials. Kanosh, 42 members and about 6000 opment. The new regulations provide that At the present time, five men were working acres; Koosharem, 34 members and the maximum area that may be covered the mine, removing 35 tons of sulphur ore 440 acres; and Indian Peaks, 26 mem- by a single lease for development of min- daily. The expansion plans call for the erals excluding coal, is 2560 acres. The erection of a plant to convert the ore to bers and approximately 9000 acres. new regulations also provide that no limit pure sulphur. Daily treatment of 150 to In addition to the tribal holdings, indi- be set on the amount of Indian land an 200 tons of ore are expected to yield 100 vidual members of the Kanosh band individual lessee may hold under more than tons of pure elemental sulphur in the future. —Lovelock Review-Miner own a total of 1840 acres and mem- one lease in a particular state. The old regulations limited the holdings of an indi- • • e bers of the Koosharem group 240 vidual lessee in a single state from 640 to acres which have been up to now in 960 acres for all minerals except coal, oil Virginia City, Nevada . . . Federal trusteeship. and gas. The coal limit under the old Geology of the Virginia City quadrangle regulations was 10,240 acres.—Salt Lake • • • has been printed in book form and is now Tribune on sale. Geologic mapping of the Virginia Alien Herders to Enter U. S. . . . • • • City and the Mount Rose quadrangle by WASHINGTON, D. C—The Im- Lucerne Valley. California the Geological Survey, Department of the migration Service will allow the entry C. M. & H. Mining Company of Tooele, Interior, was done in the field and com- Utah, has begun operations at the old Bes- pleted in 1952. Area covered is 230 square of 200 alien sheepherders as tempo- semer Iron Mine, about 31 miles east of miles. The book is on sale by the Superin- rary agricultural workers for three-year Lucerne Valley. An estimated 200 tons of tendent of Documents, U. S. Government stays on a rotating basis. Officials say ore will be trucked daily to a loading ramp Printing Office, Washington, D. C, in paper- this will provide an assured supply of at Permanente Cement Plant. It was ex- cover form for 65c. It is listed as Survey pected that the ore, graded at over 60 per- Bulletin 1042-C. experienced herders who can be util- cent iron, ultimately would be shipped to • • 9 ized to meet a recurring employment Kaiser Steel Mills at Fontana. — Victor Aneth, Utah . . . Press problem in our domestic wool industry. The Texas Co. completed two wells in • • • • • • Bagdad, Arizona ... mid-February, one of them the largest pro- Recognition Due Historic Site . . . ducer yet in the Aneth field. The two wells Wah Chang Mining Corporation is con- totaled an initial potential flow of 4622 PROMONTORY — The Golden ducting development and exploration work Spike Monument at Promontory may barrels of oil daily. With the completion at Copper King Mine near Bagdad. The of these two wells, Texas Co. completed soon be made a National Historical mine has a production record of about 18 of its 23 drilling operations for a total Site, according to Conrad Wirth, di- $2,000,000 in copper and zinc. Its shaft initial potential flow of 19,346 barrels of has been retimbered to the 600 foot level rector of the National Park Service. oil per day. Five of the wells have been and some cross-cutting and drifting com- plugged, but one will be re-worked. — pleted.—Pioche Record $ TREASURE $$$ Pioche Record Find$ $lost or hidden treasure with new, im- • • • proved metal detector. Works around salt The California State Mine Board will water. Has no ground pick-up. Find coins, hold an open meeting at Bridgeport on jewelry gold and silver—Civil War relics. June 21 for the benefit of mining interests ^^^^^^^^^ A pro f i t a b 1 e hobby. Find Valuable in Alpine, Inyo and Mono counties.—Inyo : Also scintilla- Strategic Minerals! Independent •?:«;, ••;;.'•••• ,-v«v,.-: tion counters. Uranium—Tungsten - line Free litera- THE PROSPECTOR'S CATALOG ture. Mercury—Zircgntan We are pleased to announce the advent of •HH GARDINER a new Minerals Unlimited Catalog, specifi- Outdoors for fun and profit? cally designed for the amateur or profes- ELECTRONICS sional prospector. If you are interested in COMPANY Take along an ultra-violet Mineralight! Geiger Counters, Mineralights, Blowpipe Sets, DEPT. 9 Gold Pan or any of the other equipment

! 1 •' '.V : , : ..• •••:••••:- necessary to a field or prospecting trip, 2S4S E. INDIAN Write Dept. D for free prospecting information kit! •:• < • .•••,. . • ••...•:•• send 5c in stamps or coin for your copy. SCHOOL ROAD MINERALS UNLIMITED, Dept. D Calais PHOENIX, ARIZ. v ULTRA-VIOLET PRODUCTS, INC., San Gabriel, California / 1724 University Ave., Berkeley, California

32 DESERT MAGAZINE Wells, Nevada . , . Sale of seven barite claims on Dry Creek, URANIUM NEWS 50 miles north of Wells, to the American Utah Uranium Mine Sells with OREMASTER'S Colloid Company of Chicago, was an- SHE- II "Rockhound" nounced by the partner-owners of the claims, For Record $17,000,000 SUPER Mr. and Mrs. Herb Butler of Dry Creek GEIGER COUNTER Ranch and Mr. and Mrs. Martin Saunders The largest transaction on record in the of Elko. The property, known as the Jungo history of Western uranium mining saw the claims, brought its locators $35,000. — exchange of the Cord Uranium Mine in Nevada State Journal Big Indian District, San Juan County, Utah, mm* for $17,000,000. The E, L. Cord partner- ship of Reno, Nevada, sold the mine to Denver, Colorado . . . Jen, Inc., a privately-held company. Captain A. B. Miller reported that the U.S. Navy feels the oil shale lying along E. L. Cord, former president of Auburn the flanks of the Rocky Mountains may Automobile Company and producer of the prove a potent source of fuel for jet air- Cord car, has about 12 partners in the firm craft. Miller, director of the Navy's petro- which obtained the undeveloped properties leum and oil shale reserves, voiced the hope in the uranium district a few years ago. that Congress would allow funds to reopen The mine has over 500,000 tons of 0.7 (For Uranium, the oil shale research plant at Rifle, Colo- percent U308 ore and has been producing Thorium, and ' : rado, for jet fuel tests. The U.S. Bureau of from 5000 to 6000 tons of ore monthly Rare Earth Minerals) Mines spent $14,000,000 in research at the since November of last year. About 60 now-idle plant.—Phoenix Gazette miners and surface mine workers are em- The new OREMASTER "Rockhound" is • • • ployed at the property.—Salt Lake Tribune a SUPER Geiger Counter that excels many $500 instruments. It is sensitive Holbrook, Arizona . . . enough ior airborne and mobile pros- An oil and gas leasing boom erupted in Every U.S. City to Have pecting, yet weighs only five pounds. land in Navajo and Apache counties be- Atomic Plants in Future Big 4V2" Super Sensitive Meter. Power- tween boundaries of the Sitgreaves National ful built-in speaker, bismuth tube, water- Forest and the Navajo Indian reservation, L. J. Beaufait, Jr., head of the technical proof, indicates the direction of radio- following unconfirmed rumors that Stan- division of Tracerlab Corporation, predicted active deposits, and numerous other dard Oil Co. of California was about to features. drill test wells in the Dry Lake vicinity the United States would have over 1500 atomic plants producing heat and power Send for free literature and pholo! west of Snowflake. Oil continued to make by 1980, and eventually every city, big or big news in the Paradox Basin where Pan small, will have an atomic, plant to replace PRICE ONIY $129.50 American Oil Corporation, Davis Oil Com- Fully guaranteed pany, Gulf Oil Corporation and other con- existing fuel plants. cerns have made significant new discoveries. Beaufait said the increased use of atomic Terms if desired: $35 down A drilling boom is predicted during the energy throughout the world is based on $10 per month summer by oilmen, primarily caused by the ability of scientists to solve one key Largest stock of used instruments of all the construction of the 50,000 barrel-a-day problem—the disposal of atomic waste ma- makes. Expert servicing. crude oil line from the Four Corner's Re- terial safely. Rays from these materials are gion to Los Angeles, started in March. dangerous for from five to 20 years and WHITE'S ELECTRONICS Exploration as well as development work others for several hundred years.—Phoenix is expected to rise. Gazette 1218 M. Street — Sweet Home, Oregon • • • Miners Delivering Ore to Mexican Hat Buying Station Producing mines in the Monument Val- ley, Oljato and Mexican Hat areas are now Compton Rock Shop delivering ore to the newly completed Texas- Zinc crusher and sampling plant at the METAL DETECTORS Mexican Hat. site. All ore is being purchased under the AEC • Battery test switch Circular 5 system. As soon as the road • Head phones with clear signal from Bears Ears to the Goose Necks is completed, ore from the Happy Jack mine • Great sensitivity • Low cost operation in White Canyon is expected to add greatly • One nob control • Easiest of all to operate to the flow of ore to Mexican Hat. MORE ACCURATE, it's the first METAL DETECTOR designed SPE- CIFICALLY for detecting placer gold, nuggets, and other small metal ANSWERS TO DESERT QUIZ objects. Depth range 7 feet—comes complete ready to use. Questions are on page 27 1—Blossom of the ocotillo is red. MODEL 27—instructions included $110.00 2—Prayer for rain. MODEL 711—with 2.1 ft. depth range $138.50 3—Lost Dutchman mine in the Su- perstitions. 4—Philip St. George Cooke. MINERALIGHT—Complete line from $14.95 up to $114.00 5—New Mexico. 6—Verbena. Send for Complete Information 7—-Salt. HARDNESS TESTING PENCILS— 8—An organic coating that covers desert rocks. complete with diamond, in leather case.. $ 10.50 9—Apache. PENSCOPES — 20-40 Power $ 12.00 10—North rim of Grand Canyon. 11—Roadrunner. LAPIDARY EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES—TOOLS—GEMS—JEWELRY 12—Phoenix, Arizona. CHEMICAL KITS, MORTARS & PESTELS—PICKS—BOOKS—ETC. 13—Native Palm. 14—Into the Colorado River at Yuma. FOR THE WOOD WORKING HOBBYIST WE NOW STOCK A 15—Santa Fe. 16—San Francisco Peaks. COMPLETE LINE OF ATLAS AND PORTER CABLE POWER TOOLS 17—Utah. (buy from an experienced wood worker) 18—Holbrook. 19—George Wharton James. 20—Butterfield built a stage line Ciomkion. cfyoak ehhoh across the Southwest 100 years ago. 1405 S. Long Beach Blvd. 3 blocks south of Olive NEmark 2-9096 Open Friday Evenings Compton, California

MAY, 1957 Big Uranium Production Seen for West Colorado GOVERNMENT RELEASES NEW An AEC official has forecast an approximately 50 percent increase in uranium production on the Western Slope of Colorado by 1959. PERMIT, LEASE REGULATIONS Allen E. Jones, manager of the Grand Junction AEC office, said uranium produc- A new procedure for issuing uranium military reservations and reservoir areas. tion on the Western Slope is expected to prospecting permits and leases on govern- Not affected are public lands open to entry increase from its present $38,000,000 per ment lands controlled by agencies without under the mining laws and lands under year to $56,000,000 in 1959. authority to issue such papers, was an- AEC control subject to lease under existing "At this time we see no drastic reduction nounced in Washington. regulations. in our total operations at Grand Junction," The Interior Department's Bureau of "Permits and leases will not be issued he said. However, the AEC official ex- Land Management will assist the Atomic under this regulation for lands administered plained there might he some changes when Energy Commission in administering the by the United States for national parks, the federal government's ore buying pro- program. monuments or for wildlife purposes," the gram comes to an end in 1962. Applications for permits and leases should announcement said.—New Mexican Jones said vanadium production is ex- be filed with the BLM's land office for the pected to increase as well, bringing addi- state where the land is situated. The AEC tional revenue to miners in Western Colo- will approve and issue any permits and rado.—Dove Creek Press leases. Atlas Purchases Control • • • The new plan applies to such lands as Of Rio De Oro U-Mines Boundary Study to Determine Atlas Corporation has acquired control- Uranium Mine Controversy ling interest in Rio De Oro Uranium Mines, A study of a portion of Utah's southern Inc., of Albuquerque, Floyd B. Odium, boundary in San Juan County is planned Atlas President announced. Rio De Oro by the State Land Board to determine MINERALOGY has two substantial ore bodies in the Am- whether a few tons of Utah have been Offers unlimited opportunity for rock collector or Ura- brosia Lake area north of Grants, New nibbled off in a mine originating in Arizona. nium prospector. Make it your career or hobby. We train Mexico, and the only mine to date in that The subterranean nibble alleged by Radium you at home. Diploma course. Send for Free Catalog. area producing ore in commercial grades Hill Uranium Corp., which holds a state MINERAL SCIENCE INSTITUTE and quantities. It has mined and sold ap- lease in the area, has caused a loss of Desk 7 • 159 E. Ontario • Chicago 11 proximately 20,000 tons of ore to date. several thousand tons of uranium ore. Radium Hill had a survey taken of the area and it showed that individuals operating a mine under a Navajo Indian tribal lease in Arizona had followed a uranium vein ahout five feet into Utah. A study by the operators of the Arizona Prospectors' Headquarters mine showed that the northernmost drift in the mine had missed the state line by several feet. The state said the only thing to GEIGER COUNTERS AND SC1NTILLATORS do is to conduct an independent survey.— The "Snooper" Geiger counter—model 108 ..$ 29.95 Salt Lake Tribune The "Lucky Strike" Geiger counter—Model 106C . 99.50 The "Professional" Geiger Counter—Model 107C 149.50 • • • The "Special Scintillator"—Model 117 _ 299.50 Ranchers Exploration Has The "Deluxe" Scintillalor—Model 111B 495.00 Eight Percent of U-Ore An organization of New Mexico land- ULTRA-VIOLET MINERALIGHTS owners estimates that eight percent of the Model NH—Operates on 110 AC only 14.75 Model M12—Operates on batteries only—with battery 40.65 nation's uranium reserves are on land held Model SL-2537—Operates on batteries or 110 AC—without case and batteries 39.50 hy the firm. Ranchers Exploration and De- With No. 303 case and batteries 01.00 velopment Corporation based its estimates With No. 404 case and batteries liR.IIO on recent figures released by the Atomic Energy Commission which showed an esti- BOOKS mated U. S. reserve of 60,000,000 tons, "Prospecting with a Geiger Counter" by Wright .60 most of it in New Mexico and nearly 19,- "Cranium Color Photo Tone" 1.00 000,000 in the Ambrosia Lake area alone. "Cranium Prospectors Hand Book" 1.00 The landowners formed the company in "The Uranium and Fluorescent Minerals" by H. C. Dake 2.00 "Popular Prospecting*' by H. C. Dake 2.00 1954 with the aim of negotiating a share of "Uranium, Where II Is and How to Find It" by Proctor and Hyatt 2.50 the uranium royalties back to them from "Minerals for Atomic Energy" by Nininger 7.50 the larger mining companies. The company "Let's Go Prospecting" by Edward Arthur _ 3.50 now owns royalty interest in 100,320 acres in McKinley, Catron, Valencia, Socorro MAPS and Torrance Counties.—Grants Beacon Map and Geology (Uranium and Mineral Districts of California) 1.50 Map of Kern County (New Section and Township) 1.50 • • • Map Uranium and Minerals (The Nine Southwest States) 1.00 J. S. Wisdom of Goldpoint, Nevada, re- Book and Map "Gems and Minerals of California" by McAllister , 1.75 ported that he has sold his uranium strike Book and Map "'"Lost Mines and Treasures of the Southwest" 2.00 made in an old patented gold mine for $500,000 of which he received $10,000 OTHER SUPPLIES down and the balance at $500 per month. Mineral Hardness Test Set 2.00 A California firm bought the mine. Kadiassay—Uranium Test Kit 14.95 Mercury—Detector Fluorescent Screen ... 6.75 • • • Scheelite Fluorescent Analyzer .. 6.00 A proposal for a new uranium mill in the Fluorescent Mineral Set—10 Specimens—boxed 2.51) Ambrosia Lake area of New Mexico was Mineral Specimen Boxes (35 named Minerals) 1.50 Prospectors Picks (not polished) 4.40 submitted by Phillips Petroleum Co. to the Prospectors Picks (polished) 4.75 Atomic Energy Commission. The mill 12" Diameter Steel Gold Pan '. 1.25 would have a capacity of 1500 tons per day. t6" Diameter Steel Gold Pan 1.70 —New Mexican All prices F.O.B. Los Angeles EXPLORE FOR Add 4% Sales Tax if you live in California TREASURE! Find wealth lost or bur- Member of American Gem & Mineral Suppliers Association ied for years! Search for gold and silver coins, bul- lion, and other valuables with M-Scope Treasure- ALLEN LAPIDARY EQUIPMENT COMPANY Metal locators. Used world- wide. Guaranteed. Terms. 3632 West Slauson Ave., Dept. D Open Monday evening until 9:00 Los Angeles, Calif. Fisher Research Lab., Inc. Dept. D-l Palo Alto, Cal.

34 DESERT MAGAZINE L U n W it II L L

Solar wrought cuff links.

as varied makes for more artistic latitude. Aside from these differences the making of jewelry is much the same as with an electric kiln. A formed piece of metal is coated with gum tragacanth and sprinkled with powdered enamel. In the kiln, the enamel flows out and fuses to the metal. If desired, additional designs can then be added and re-fired. The official pins are an example, with a rich blue enamel background and a design added in liquid gold and re-fired at 1200 degrees. The plastic lens is capable of a maximum of more than 1500 degrees temperature

TURQUOISE NUGGETS Clean — Graded — Good Color

op rejects, above sizes, per ounce Drilled Nuggets, Our liest Quality inch .. ...35c each, 3 for $1. inch 50c each, 3 for 1. to 1-inch 75c each, 3 for 2. nimum order $2.00. Tax and postage pai wail No C.O.D. Operator adjusting the plastic fresnel lens to control the focal point of LOST MOUNTAIN GEMS sunlight on the ceramic brick oven. P.O. Box 3012 Phoenix, Arizona

1957 NATIONAL GEM AND MINERAL SHOW 'Solar Wrought' Jewelty From an DENVER, COLORADO June 13-14-15-16 National Guard Armory Inexpensive Sun-Powered Kiln... East 3rd Ave. and Logan St. Joint American and Rocky Mountain Federation Convention and Show Woodruff and Parser Trophies Here is a practical and modern hobby suggestion—combine the to be awarded Southwest's abundant sunshine with the lapidary arts and come up Competitive Exhibits with "solar wrought" jewelry. For less than $10 you can make a solar For information write to: kiln. E. E. PARSHALL, publicity 2620 So. Pearl St., Denver 10, Colo. By D. S. HALACY, JR.

The theme of the World Solar Symposium sent the solar kiln, consisting of a plastic in Phoenix—"The Sun at Work"—was no Fresnel lens, a simple mounting and a ce- idle boast. Even the handsome enameled ramic brick oven, to Phoenix where the pins worn by the 200 officials were sun- Fine Arts group took over. made; fired in a solar kiln! Solar jewelry-making isn't easy, and one While more spectacular equipment va- artist says a third hand would help when porized metal at 7000 degrees, ran tele- juggling the lens in a stiff breeze. The phones and radios and pumped water, the small focal point, or hot spot, limits the Fine Arts Association set up shop with a size of pieces that can he fired and obvi- ceramic oven and made jewelry on the ously work ceases when the sun sets or goes GENUINE PEDREKA ONYX approximately %-inch diameter in various spot. With designs created by local artists, behind a cloud. striking colors and patterns, set in gleaming cufflinks, earrings, and pins sold almost However the solar kiln does give more white finish, sturdy action back cuff link. before they had time to cool. Each piece control than is possible with a conven- Cuff links per pair $4,00 was stamped "Solar Wrought," something tional electric kiln. Some artists like the Alligator tie clip 2.00 unique in jewelry. idea of being able to see the powdered tax & postage paid — no C.O.D. please Scientist Paul Magill of the Stanford enamel fuse during the operation. And the THE TRIBAL CRAFTSMEN Research Institute thought up the idea. He fact that the heat can be positioned as well P. O. Box 5012 — Phoenix, Arizona

MAY, 1957 35 and handymen are interested in it for melt- Fresnel lenses may be purchased cheaply ing and soldering operations. The sun from surplus suppliers, and the wooden provides pure, uncontaminated heat and frame is simple and inexpensive. The whole Gem Show Calendar this fact is of great importance to metal- kiln may be made for about $10 or less, lurgists. and once built the heat is free. So when you hear someone mention "heavenly" jew- Copper is used in the solar jewelry, being elry these days he may mean just that! favored over aluminum, steel and the preci- For May and June • • • ous metals because it is inexpensive, easy to obtain, very easy to form, does not cor- One of the largest and most valuable These gem and mineral shows are sched- rode and can be coated with very little exhibits of Chinese jade ever shown in this uled for May and June: processing. This gives Arizona a wealth country is planned by the Pioneer Museum May 3-5—Texas Federation of Mineral of the two main ingredients for solar and Haggin Galleries in Stockton, Califor- Societies, annual show and convention, wrought items. The idea is taking hold nia, for this spring. Exact dates for the Bexar County Coliseum, San Antonio. fast, with schools offering craft classes show have not been set. There will be no May 4-5—Glendale, California, Lapidary featuring the solar kiln. admission charge. and Gem Society's 10th annual show at Civic Auditorium. May 4-5—5th Annual San Joaquin Val- ley Gem and Mineral Show at fairgrounds, Stockton, California. May 4-5—Tourmaline Gem and Mineral Society show at Grossmont high school between La Mesa and El Cajon, California. May 11-12—8th Annual Gem and Min- eral Society of San Mateo County show at fairgrounds, San Mateo, California. May 11-12—Coos County Mineral and Gem Club's annual show at Community Building, North Bend, Oregon. May 17-19—17th Annual Amateur Hand- crafter Gem and Jewelry Competitive Ex- hibition of the Chicago, Illinois, Lapidary Club. Hamilton Park Field House. May 18-19—Fifth Annual Five-Club Gem Show, Camas, Washington. EXCITING. May 18-19—Everett, Washington, Rock and Gem Club show. ON JANUARY 1st, WE RELEASED May 25-26—East Bay Gem and Mineral Society's annual show at Foothill Masonic The New 1957 iHXHXlYJSW Edition of our Encyclopedia Temple, Oakland, California. and Super-Catalog of, the Lapidary & Jewelry Arts, May 30-31, June 1—Annual Rockhound Round-up of the Rollin' Rock Club of YOU MAY PURCHASE THESE AT: Here's What One Customer Says about Alpine, Texas. $1.95 for Paper Bound Copies our Encyclopedia. June 1-2 — Grand Junction, Colorado, $2.95 for DELUXE Book Binding Your catalog & "Bible" is getting more valuable to me Mineralogical Society's annual Gem and every day. Removed my first batch of tumbled stones Mineral Show at Lincoln Park Auditorium. Add 25c for Domestic Postage & Packing or June 7-9—Wyoming State Mineral and 50c for A. P. O.'s, Foreign, or U. S. Territories. yesterday and they turned out swell, fhonks to your Gem Show at fairgrounds, Casper. This is a book of 240 PAGES VA" x 11" in instructions in the "Bible". June 8-9—Mt. Emily Gem and Mineral size, the equivalent of 480 regular textbook I. D. iushey, Bakersfield, Calif. Club's gem and mineral show at V.F.W. Hall, Brookings, Oregon. size pages. EIGHT COLORS of ink are used. June 13-16—1957 National Gem and Mineral Show and Convention of the of NEW and VALUABLE information for the American Federation of Mineral Societies and the Rocky Mountain Federation of JEWELRY CRAFTSMAN and GEM CUTTER. It is an,out- Mineral Societies, Denver, Colorado. standing NEW BOOK —not just, D catalog. It IS June 15-16—Paradise, California, Gem excellent for SCHOOLS and their CRAFT and Mineral Club's annual show at Veterans TEACHERS. Memorial Hall. June 21-22 — Gem County Rock and NEITHER TIME, COST OR RESEARCH HAVE BEEN SPARED THREE STAR Mineral Society's annual show at Emmett, to MAINTAIN THE HIGHEST STANDARD OF USEFULNESS PREMIUM OFFER No. QBE! Idaho. AND SCOPE. IT SUGGESTS THINGS TO DO—THE MOST] June 22-23 •— Rogue Gem and Geology ONE PREMIUM OFFER No. HEE< \ APPROVED METHODS OF DOING THEM AND IS FILLED ! Club's 5th annual show at fairgrounds, contains 3'GENUINE ROCK CRYSTAL FACETED STARS as Grants Pass, Oregon. WITH ILLUSTRATIONS and INSTRUCTIONS DESIGNED to illustrated. Regular VALUE $3.45. NOW $1.50 • • ' • FULFILL YOUR EVERY REQUIREMENT. WITH the purchase of an Encyclopedia. THREE NEVADA GEM CLUBS IT LISTS 2200 items —machinery,.tools,-supplies NOTE: Word your order like this: PLAN SHOW ON JULY 20-21 for gem cutting and jewelry making. Baroque gems, I No [233 (PoinfDrilled) ...... S ,1.50* The Nevada Gem and Mineral Show is books, Jewelry metals and parts. Gilding metal and I Encyclopedia ...... 1.95 scheduled for July 20 and 21 at the Recrea- topper forms for enameling. TOTAL PRICE of the 2 items . $3.45 tion Building, Idlewild Park, Reno. Parti- cipating clubs include the Washoe Gem and DEALERS: SEND FOR Dealer Information YOU GET BOTH ITEMS for the Mineral Society; Pyramid Gem and Mineral Gold Filled ACCESSORY REGULAR PRICE OF THE STARS. Club, both of Reno; and the Lahontan Gem : Add 10% Fed. Tox to DEI & 25c postage and Mineral Club of Fallon. Show officials SPECIAL OFFER No. S-I94 have invited all other clubs and individuals contains all metal parts needed to make complete interested in displaying to contact Claude necklace and earrings from stars in P-84. REGULAR R. Mowry, 3325 Smith Drive, Reno. Two field trips are planned in conjunction with VALUE $4.05— the show. NOW I for $3.70* 3 for $8.30 • • • *Add 10% Fed. Tax to S-I94 Now on display at the Victor Valley Gem California residents K9-27 Please add 4 % soles tax. Shop at Hesperia, California, is a 178 pound turquoise nugget, thought to be the largest in the world. The huge stone is of gem quality and about 50 percent spiderweb 4.icn:<.i:irs. inc. r,:rts: formation, according to Walt Pilkington, the MAIL ADDRESS: P. O. Box 4 IBS, CATALINA STATION, PASADENA, CALIF. gem shop owner.

31 DESERT MAGAZINE CONVENTION, GEM SHOW NEW BOOK DESCEIBES of Olaf P. Jenkins, chief of the Division of Mines, the book was written by Profes- IN DENVER, JUNE 13-16 CALIFORNIA MINERALS sors Joseph Murdoch and Robert W. Webb The Colorado Mineral Society will be One of the most popular and useful vol- of U.C.L.A. and the University of Califor- host to the 1957 National Gem and Min- umes in the mineral science and rockhound nia at Santa Barbara, respectively. These eral Show, June 13-16, at the Colorado circles again is available. Bulletin 173, same two men wrote the "Minerals of Cali- National Guard Armory, East Third Avenue fornia" bulletin preceding this one, in 1945. and Logan Street, Denver. The combined Minerals of California, which has been out American and Rocky Mountain Federation of print for several years, recently was re- Published by the Division of Mines; 452 is sponsoring the show in conjunction with printed by the State Division of Mines. pages; bibliography; $3.00. its convention. The new edition is revised, with new » • • Both competitive and non-competitive dis- minerals and mineral locations added. The The Santa Clara County Gem and Min- plays are planned. Society or club mem- hard-cover book lists 523 minerals and 2000 eral Society's annual show is scheduled to bership is not necessary to display non- references to the published data on the min- be held at the IES Hall in San Jose, Cali- competitively, General Chairman )ames F. eral localities. Prepared under the direction fornia, September 21 and 22. Hurlbut said. And displayers will not be charged entry or registration fees, but space is limited. Those desiring information should write to A. Ermish, 1774 Kingston Street, Denver 8, Colorado. QUALITY The Woodruff Trophy is to be awarded to the best qualifying mineral display and [LOW PRICES — VARIETY! the Parser Trophy will be given for the COMPARE OUR PRICES — YOU WILL FIND THEM first time to the best lapidary display. THE LOWEST of any MANUFACTURER. NOW AVAILABLE Walter Pilkington's onyx dinner ware and A. G. Parser's diamond display are among IFOR IMMEDIATE DELIVERY! the outstanding show exhibits planned. UNIFORM HIGH QUALITY PLATING ON ALL ITEMS. • 9 • COMMON POTATO PROTECTS RING WHILE SOLDERING KEY CHAINS & BELL CAPS GRIEGER'S INC. supply the LARGEST If you want to enlarge or repair a ring SAMPLE OFFER No. S-3 shank and it is not practical to remove the VARIETY of KEY CHAINS at the 4 CAPS & 4 KEY CHAINS setting, take a potato and cut one end so it LOWEST PRICES. ONLY $1.55 — YOU SAVE $1.65 will stand; next cut the potato's top off and You get 2 #14-6 RP, 2 #14-6 GP, I insert the stone in a slit on this surface, #39-7 RP, I #39-7 GP, I #39-14 RP, leaving only the ring area to be soldered exposed. The potato will absorb the heat & I #39-14 GP. If it were possible to and protect the stone. buy in small lots, the cost would be When using chrome oxide for polishing No. 39-7 $3.20. jade, mix it with a solution of one part KEY RING ONE SAMPLE OFFER No. S-3 water to one part vinegar. This will help the polish grab to the buff. I" Round Chain contains 8 items. NOW I for $1.55, 3 for $3.85 After polishing agate with chrome oxide Chain will not kink. the green residue on the stone can be re- No. 39-7 RP 3 for $1.00 moved by soaking the agate in muriatic ldz$3.25 3dz$8.8O it WILL PAY YOU to CHECK OUR PRICES If acid for a short period. This acid will attack chromium readily and also will attack 6 dz $14.65 you ore buying elsewhere, you are probably paying chrome oxide and break it down so that it No. 39-7 GP 3 for $1.00 too much SEND FOR DEALER INFOR- can be brushed off. The acid will not ldz$3.25 3dz$8.8O MATION.- damage the agate or jade. — Daroll Al- bright in the Verdugo Hill, California, Gem 6 dz $14.65 No. 14-6 and Mineral Society's Rockhound News and Views BELL CAP in! gr •lots m • • (SOLDERED ON RING) .GRIEGER'S SERVICE IS TOPS SPHALERITE INTERESTING GEMS For PROMPT SERVICE, buy from Grieger's, No. 14-6 RP 6 for $1.00 DESPITE SOFTNESS, CLEAVAGE Inc. Greiger's are organized to give you 24 ldz$l.5O 3dz$4.IO I gr $13.60 Clear gem quality sphalerite produces No. 14-6 GP 6 for $1.00 beautiful faceted stones because of its high HOUR SERVICE. refraction and color dispersion. The scar- ldz$1.5O 3dz$4.10 I gr $13.60 Grieger's have an efficient and loyal STANDARD ABBREVIATIONS used in this advertisement city of suitable material, lack of hardness staff of employees who take a personal and easy cleavage prevent this mineral from RP for RHODIUM PLATED enjoying a more highly regarded position in interest in serving you. • i • . GP for GOLD PLATED the gemstone world. di for DOZEN The name sphalerite is from the Greek qr (or GROSS word meaning deceitful and was given be- -14 This listing is only a part of Grieger's huge cause of the mineral's frequent occurrence No. 39-! 6 dz lots. 3 variety. Get our Encyclopedia now. It LISTS with and resemblance to galena. Its com- /4" KEY RING 2200 items—all comparable values. position is zinc sulphide, invariable with With %" Round Chain other elements present. These other ele- YOU MUST BE SATISFIED with every ments give it its color, for in its pure state Chain will not kink. order you receive from GRIEGER'S it is colorless. Common colors are yellow- No. 39-14 RP 3 for $1.00 INC. ish-brown when transparent deepening to an I dz $3.20 3 dz $8.60 OUR GUARANTEE IS: YOU almost opaque black. 6 dz $14.30 Some sphalerite fluoresces orange in ul- No. 39-14 GP 3 For $1.00 MUST BE SATISFIED or the traviolet light. Fluorescent sphalerite also shows the remarkable phenomena of tribo- 1 dz $3.20 3 dz $8.60 matter WILL BE ADJUSTED TO luminescence, that is, it emits flashes of 6 dz $14.30 YOUR ENTIRE SATISFACTION. orange light on being lightly stroked with a hard substance such as steel or stone. PRICES QUOTED APPLY ONLY TO THOSE QUANTITIES MENTIONED Sphalerite is very common and is preva- PER ITEM AND COLOR OR LARGER MULTIPLES THEREOF. lent in most of the mining regions. Its ADD 10% FiDERAL EXCISE TAX EXCEPT WHERE NOTED. typical associate is galena, but often it is Col i f a r n i a residents K9-4I Please add 4% sales tox. also intimately associated with pyrite, chal- copyrite, tetrahedrite, arsenopyrite and lead- silver minerals.—R. Brock in the Compton, , I XI C California, Gem and Mineral Club's Rock- hounds' Call ATAL.INA STA.. PASADENA. CALIF MAY, 1957 GEMS A-PLENTY: Beautiful baroque gems, large variety, tumbled polished all over, ADVERTISING RATE $10.00 for one pound (about 100 stones). 12c a word . . . Minimum $2.00 10 lbs. of top grade gemstone prepaid for G E m fliflRT $7.00. Wholesale price to dealers on baroque gems and gemstone in the rough. Satisfaction guaranteed on every sale. CHRYSOCOLLA SPECIMENS, some with FIFTEEN FOSSILS for $2.50 postpaid. San Fernando Valley Gem Co., 5905 free gold. $1 prepaid. Rocks and Min- Florida pleistocene or Florida pliocene. Kester Ave., Van Nuys, California. erals, Box 156, Lone Pine, California. Fifteen shells for $2.50, postpaid, Florida marine shells or Philippines. Complete FIRE AGATE—ground to show the fire, C. EARL NAPIER "for rocks." 19 Lake set of Desert Magazines for sale. South- you finish it. $2, $3 and $5 each. B&H View, Boulder City, Nevada. Free guide eastern Mineral Co., Box 2234, Lake- Rock Shop, 29 Cherry Lane, Granbury, service to collecting areas. land, Florida. Texas. FOR SALE: Beautiful purple petrified wood with uranium, pyrolusite, manganite. Nice FIRE AGATES! $1, $3, and $5 sizes. VISIT GOLD Pan Rock Shop. Beautiful sample $1.00 Postage. Maggie Baker, Choice gem cutting material 20 pieces $2. sphere material, gems, mineral specimens, Box 7, Hackberry, Arizona. Swigert's, 2218 Louella, Venice, Calif. choice crystals, gem materials, jewelry, baroques, etc. Over 100 tons of material COLORADO MINERAL specimens, cut- ICELAND SPAR—double refraction, clear, to select from. John and Etta James, ting and tumbling materials. Send 2 cent $1.50-$2.00. Fluorescent calcite, blue, proprietors, 2020 N. Carson Street, Car- stamp for list and terms. Dealers please pink—$1.50. Phosphorescent calcite (will son City, Nevada. write for wholesale list. John Patrick, fluoresce) $1.50. Tiger-eye, $1.00. Ver- Idaho Springs, Colorado. miculite, $1.50. Dolomite (pure white) $1.50. Agate-jasper. R. V. Coleman, 812 ROCKS—opposite West End Air Base, ag- 12 POUNDS OF beautiful Colorado min- Montana, San Antonio 3, Texas. ate, woods, minerals, books, local infor- eral specimens, $8.00 prepaid. Ask for mation. No mail orders please. Iron- list of others. Jack the Rockhound, P. O. OPALS AND SAPPHIRES direct from wood Rock Shop, Highway 60-70 West Box 245, Carbondale, Colorado. Australia. Special—this month's best buy: of Blythe, California. Rough opals to cut ring and pendant WE ARE MINING every day. Mojave stones; one green fire opal; one transpar- TUMBLED GEMS of the desert for sale. Desert agate, jasper and palm wood, ent jelly opal; one blue opal; one white- Agates, jaspers, obsidians, etc. Mixed shipped mixed 100 pounds $10.50 F.O.B. red opal; one black opal; one boulder lots $4 per pound. T & J Rockhounds, Barstow. Morton Minerals & Mining, opal. All six stones for $15. Free air- 9000 National Blvd., Los Angeles 34, 21423 Highway 66, R.F.D. 1, Barstow, mailed. Send personal check, international California. California. money order, bank draft. Free 16 page list of all Australian Gemstones. Austra- LARGE VARIETY mixed tumbled stone— OPALS, DEEP red, blue, green, golden, lian Gem Trading Co., 49 Elizabeth flashing in all colors of the rainbow, Street, Melbourne, Australia. tigereye, agates, obsidian, palm root, direct from the mine, 15 for $5.00. 10 quartz. 40-60 stones in pound—only $4. ringsize stones, (opal, amethyst, etc.) Free: matched preforms with every pound ground and polished, ready to set $5.00. GEMS OF THE desert, tumbled polished purchased. Route 1, Box 369, Beaumont, Kendall, Sanmiguel d'Allende, Guana- baroques. Mexican lace and carnelian California. juato, Mexico. agate. Death Valley jasper agate, rose quartz, petrified wood palm, black fig, HAVE REAL FUN with desert gems, many others. General mixture, $6 pound. minerals and rocks. The rockhound's Mexican agate slices and various cuff link how-to-do-it magazine tells how. One preforms. Slabs and findings. Earring year (12 issues) only $3.00. Sample 25c. size tumbled turquoise $8 pound, larger Gems and Minerals, Box 687-D, Mentone, & ctt a name? size $1 ounce. Price list. Golden West Gem Co., 7355 Lankershim Blvd., North Hol- California. lywood, California. Fffandsome design RONETA AGATES of Fire finished in precious gem style from chalcedonic OPALIZED WOOD 65c pound plus postage. quartz, hardness of 7-plus, specific grav- important Extra features A. B. Cutler, Box 32, Salmon, Idaho. ity 2.62. Rare, individual gems that never Slabs, tumbled, I. E. Cutler, Gearhart, fade. Every gemstone has sparkling bub- Oregon. bles of fire varying from sunshine fceader in the field yellow to red gold, or with shades of SURPLUS TUMBLED gems. Less than green, and other colors from the desert wholesale. Mixed material and sizes. rainbows. Years of research showed how Cr ong life Petrified wood, rose quartz, agate, obsid- to reveal volcanic fires within layers of ian and others. Two pounds for $5; 10 pearl white and desert browns, in designs pounds $22.50 postpaid. Western Min- intricate as snowflakes and as individual- %f uiet operation erals, Box 61, Boulder City, Nevada. istic. Gems of rare quality. Write for prices, sizes and description of finished OPEN 8 A.M. to 5 P.M. Monday through stones. Juanita Mines and Laboratories, Friday. Other hours by appointment or Ervin E. Spiers, 123 No. Main, Blythe, lr nparalleled convenience when home. Residence back of shop. California. Mile west on U.S. 66. McShan's Gem inexpensive to buy Shop, Box 22, Needles, California. THE CONTINENTAL Minerals welcomes GENUINE TURQUOISE: Natural color, your orders and inquiries about massive blue and bluish green, cut and polished and also crystallized mineral specimens. Sturdy construction Cabochons—25 carats (5 to 10 stones No cutting material. Free list. New, according to size) $3.50 including tax, more complete spring-summer list avail- postpaid in U.S.A. Package 50 carats (10 able at the end of this month. Box 1206, M wenty year's experience to 20 cabochons) $6.15 including tax, Anaconda, Montana. postpaid in U.S.A. Elliott Gem & Mineral Shop, 235 E. Seaside Blvd., Long Beach "HILLQUIST" — The one perfect 2, California. Bloodstone, or heliotrope, is a dark green name when you are buying fine chalcedony with bright red spots. While lapidary equipment. chalcedony is widely distributed throughout the world, bloodstone is found in quantity SEND A POST CARD FOR PERSIAN TURQUOISE only in India, the Ural Mountains and the YOUR FREE CATALOG TODAY New Shipment of Persian Highgrade Hebrides. Occasionally the various Cali- Native Cut Cabochons fornia jasper locations will yield a brown Wholesale Only — Send for List and red-spotted stone that is called "Cali- Lapidary Equipment Co., Inc. fornia bloodstone." Attractive cabochons LOST MOUNTAIN GEMS 1545 W. 49th St., Dept. D-2, Seattle 7, Wash. can be cut from this material. — Gerald P. O Box 5012 Phoenix, Arizona Hemrick in the Contra Costa, California, Mineral & Gem Society's Bulletin

38 DESERT MAGAZINE tary; Otto Mont-Eton, treasurer; Dottie small ones, the lapidary using imagination Brissaud, federation director; and M. L. and artistic ability to create attractive de- New Gem-Mineral Leonardi, Glen Schafer, Laurence Darnell, signs, endeavoring to cause the rays of light A. J. Tankersly and Dorothy Baker, direc- which enter tlje stone to be refracted to tors. The organization's annual show has the best advantage. been scheduled for October 19-20. When two or three dozen such stones are thus faceted, tumble them with other rocks Club Officers "LOST" JADE MINES BEING of the same hardness, taking into considera- WORKED, CLEMENTS REPORTS tion that they will not need to be tumbled New officers of the Verdugo Hills Gem as long as the very rough ones. They should and Mineral Society of La Crescenta, Cali- The long "lost" mines of Southern Mex- be placed in the drum after the main charge fornia, are Will Wright, president; Joe ico which were believed to have provided of broken rocks has been ground for some Barnes, vice president; Marie Garrett, secre- jade for tribute to Montezuma, were never time, with the hexagonal type drum well tary; and Gene Judson, treasurer.—Rock- lost but merely kept a profitable secret for filled to avoid too severe striking of stone hound News and Views centuries by villagers in the state of Guer- upon stone. rero. * * * When the charge of polished and bur- The Gem Collectors' Club of Seattle, This is the belief of Dr. Thomas Clem- nished baroques is cleaned and inspected, Washington, has elected the following new ents, USC professor of geology, who re- the faceted stones will stand out promi- officers: Sam Jensen, president; Lula Rob- cently returned from a 10,000-mile jeep nently, their unequal faces highly polished erson, vice president; Norman Harvey, trip through remote sections of Mexico. and the sharp divisions rounded enough to treasurer; Mrs. Everett Hore, secretary; and He brought back specimens of the high- make them smooth and attractive. Mounted Adolph Kietz, Roy Anderson, Willard Baker, quality jade which is being sold to tourists fiat by cementing or capped for display in Ralph Gustafson and Mrs. Mary Witte, di- and gem dealers by residents of the area. chain jewelry, they are very attractive and rectors.—Nuts and Nodules The Mexican government holds the min- different.—Harry Zollars in the El Paso, * * * eral rights to the area, which probably is Texas, Rockhounds' The Voice The Miami, Florida, Mineral and Gem being worked by Indians who have not filed Society recently elected these new officers: claims and have avoided attention. Dr. Albert B. Wilson, president; Tom M. Hay, Clements believes the valuable jade deposits first vice president; J. Gordon Earley, second exist in the vicinity of Taxco.—Los Angeles DIAMOND BLADES vice president; Neal M. Brock, treasurer; Times and Mrs. M. S. Harley, secretary.—Chips Heavy-Dnty Super Stand. and Facets FACET COLORLESS *BAROQUES, Sup.-Chgd. Cligd. Chgd. * * * 6 S $ 11.55 $10.50 RETUMBLE FOR NEW BEAUTY 1 " Stale 15.45 14.05 Sol Stern was elected president of the Most rockhounds who process rocks in I 10«"" Arbor 19.80 18.00 Whittier, California, Gem and Mineral So- f 12" Size 26.60 24.24 a tumbler often lay aside those stones 14" 41.60 36.50 33.20 ciety. Serving with him will be Sylvia Bums, which are clear and colorless, or nearly so, 16" 46.80 41.60 37.80 first vice president; Bob Bannantyne, second and to most people not nearly as pretty as 18" 76.50 52.15 47.40 vice president; Gertrude Bowcutt, treasurer; those with color and figure and designs. 20" 84.90 57.75 52.50 Eunice Berry, secretary; and Gene Golsan, M" 102.40 83.30 75.70 Also, in nearly every batch of baroques 30" Send 179.10 Sis. tax Bill Burns and Mrs. Howard Lucy, directors. which are finished by tumbling, there are 36" Postage 267.60 in Calif. * * * some specimens which are not as attractive State arbor size—Send postage—Tax in Calif. Recently organized was the Monrovia, as the person doing the tumbling supposed California, Rock Hounds club. Officers are they would be, and they generally are dis- Ross Porter, president; Walter Dovoni, vice carded or presented to some beginner or president; O'Deal Fear, secretary; and Mrs. young person interested in gems. Joseph Connor, treasurer. A method has been devised by which * * * these clear, light-tinted or otherwise unpop- Amateur lapidaries of the Pomona, Cali- ular rocks may be transformed into delight- fornia, area have organized the Pomona fully beautiful baroques. Free Catalog shows 17 Covington -jSfe- Rockhounds Club. Officers elected were After a selection has been made of the vertical type grinders and polishers. Tom Starkey, president; Fred Warren, vice sort of rocks mentioned above, either tum- i ,™« 6 Covington Trim Saws president; Mrs. John Perdew, secretary; and bled or broken in preparation for tumbling, i Lo choose from in latest John Salado, treasurer. Club meetings are grind a flat base on each stone on the I. Free Catalog. ^ scheduled for the first Tuesday of every grinding wheel or horizontal lap, using 220 month. abrasive grit. Then dop the stones and * * * grind out all pits, soft inclusions, etc. Next New officers of the Searles Lake Gem step is to grind promiscuous and vari-sized and Mineral Society of Trona, California, flat faces or facets over the entire portion are Orvie Ross, president; John O. Coppom, of the stone above the base, these facets vice president; Dulcie Archer, recording extending down to the flattened portion if secretary; O. N. Cole, corresponding secre- they approach this area. Large facets meet Select any one of 7 Covington Slab Saws from latest Free Cata- log.

0 Multi-Feature Lapi- dary Unit. Free Cat- ?

HAND MADE IN STERLING SILVEB :t;"V V;.-, 'a; Bracelets. Rings, Necklaces. Earrings and Brooches BDIU) YOUR OWN SPECIALLY SELECTED STONES WITH liAV and save. Free Catalog shows 13 CHOICE COLOKS AND PICTURES Build Your Own Items. Write for Foider With Prices USED BY TUB U.S. GOVERNMENT Send for latest Catalog showing Covinglon. ELLIOTTS GEM SHOP the largest lapidary equipment line In 235 East Seaside Blvd. Long Beach 2, California America. IT'S FHKM. Across from West End of Municipal DEALERS WANTED Auditorium Grounds Covington Lapidary Eng. Hours 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Daily Except Monday REDLANOS D, CALIFORNIA

MAY, 1957 39 both synthetic and natural sapphire. The new synthetic rutile (titania) may also be polished with micron diamond grits. In cut- AMATEUR. GEM CUTTER ting the facets on sapphire, 100 grit Norbide may be used to good advantage, but some By DR. H. C. DAKE, Editor of The Mineralogist gem cutters prefer to cut the facets on an iron or zinc lap using a micron size diamond The colored transparent varieties of gem properly, and stones of this kind will grit of from 20 to 50 size. spinel, when cut facet, offer attractive pos- tend to work loose in the mounting and sibilities as a gem stone. Spinel, with a rattle when worn. The tin lap is most excellent in placing hardness of eight and a relatively high index It is suggested that on the average, sawed the final polish on sapphire, using a micron of refraction (1.71), is widely used as a slabs intended for cabochon cutting should size 0 to 2 diamond powder, and kerosene commercial gem stone and can be added to be cut about one-eighth of an inch thick. as the lubricant in place of water. Since the gems cut by the "amateur." A low crown on a large cabochon is ob- kerosene has a wholly different surface ten- This magnesium aluminate, occurring in viously harder to polish than a steeply slop- sion from that of water, it is preferred by a wide range of pleasing colors, when cut ing crown surface, but if the material is many gem cutters in working with either into standard brilliant styles gives forth a worth cutting at all, it is worth doing the natural or synthetic sapphire. good play of light and sparkle. The colors job properly. Even a slightly rounded sur- include blue, green, yellow, brown, red and face is much easier to polish than one which sometimes white. The various shades of is quite flat, and this is especially noted on red often are termed spinel "ruby." the large cabinet size specimens. Where the material is deeply colored, Often the amateur, lacking experience, styles other than brilliant can be used to will finish a large number of cabochons of HIGHLAND PARK best bring out color. In recent years quan- assorted sizes. Where no regard is given tities of synthetic spinel have been sold to to the thickness of the stone in general and THE LAPIDARY'S the jewelry trade, and with the high hard- the slope of the bezel angle, it will be neces- ness and range of colors, the artificial gem sary to recut many of these if the stones STANDARD OF VALUE is proving popular. are to be used in the jewelry trade. When cut in standard;, brilliant styles the * * * : BUY THE BEST main crown facets should be cut to 37 The sands of beaches in various parts of : FOR LESS degree angles and the main pavilion facets the world often are of a distinctive color, Congo Dia Blades — Sizes at 41 degrees. These angles have been found due to the dominance of some colored min- Range from 4" to 24" in satisfactory by numerous experimental cuts. eral. We have many examples of this inter- Light, Standard, Heavy Cutting of the facets can be readily accom- esting feature in various parts of the world. and Extra Heavy duty. plished by medium grit silicon carbide or Norbide. For example, Makapuu beach on the Ha- waiian Islands is composed of a large per- Highland •«/•- Polishing of the facets isv done in the centage of olivine sand, hence presents a same manner as with topaz. Compared distinct green color. The noted beaches at Park ( to topaz, spinel is easier to polish, possibly Nome, Alaska, carry large quantities of Trim Saws V' due to the fact that spinel lacks the marked garnet, hence the sand is quite reddish in Compact and cleavage present in topaz. color. The ocean beaches along the north- rugged for long In the cutting of colored stones in brilli- ern Washington coast also carry large lasting service. ant styles, eight culet facets can be added amounts of garnet, and often are referred K-4 Trim Saw to good advantage, making a gem with 65 to as "ruby" beaches, or sands. facets in place of the regular 57 facets. The Along the coast of North Carolina may eight culet facets are placed about the apex be noted typical green sand beaches. At A Leader of, the stone ijy cutting a flat surface on many places along the southern Oregon the edges of the eight main pavilion facets. coast, magnetite sand has been concentrated, In Its Field In short when the eight culet facets are to comprise the black sand beaches. At added they occupy the same relative posi- Highland Park Power-feed other points quartz sand is the dominant Slab Saws. Sizes range tions as to the eight table facets, which are constituent, giving the beaches a dazzling on the crown of the gem. The eight culet from 12" to 24". Metal white color. In some parts of the world, or Lucite hood. facets are indicated only in colored stones. mica is dominant in the beach sands, giving Culet facets placed on material like color- a still more dazzling effect in bright sun- less quartz and topaz, appear to detract 1 light. In India we find various typical col- from the gem. ored beach sands including greens and reds. % -fi % Highland Park Combination Unit E. P. -Van Leuven calls attention to the For many years, prior to the introduction Available in all sizes. Perfect Combination fact that tne amateur gem cutter often will of the modern ".micron" grits polishing pow- Unit for Lapidary work. Handles sawing, finish a cabochon too thick to bring out the grinding, .sanding and polish iner. Excep- ders, it was customary to polish sapphire on tionally quiel operation best beauty in the gem. an iron lap using common tripoli as the Usually, states Van Leuven, the amateur polishing agent. This method, while slow will finish a cabochon too "lumpy" or thick. and laborious, was effective. Carbuncles, asteriated stones and sometimes opals are exceptions to this rule. The pro- In recent years, various firms have intro- fessional or experienced lapidarist will sel- duced very finely divided polishing powders, dom produce a cabochon over one-eighth usually sold under micron size grade. These of an inch thick, even in larger sizes like include diamond and synthetic sapphire brooches. grits. Thickness may not be important in bring- These are especially valuable in polishing R-10 Combination (nit ing out the beauty of opaque gems like tur- Arbors of all sizes—Tumblers, two models. quoise, but in the case of translucent and Wet and dry bell senders—Lapidary units transparent material, thickness can have a in two different sizes. considerable influence on appearance. The BLANK MOUNTINGS translucency of the colorless chalcedony for 32 MODELS TO CHOOSE FROM matrix of moss and scenic agate will fre- The most complete line of lapidary maclmi quently vary from specimen to specimen, AGATE JEWELRY ery offered by any manufacturer. See these WHOLESALE at, your local Highland Park dealer or write and here again good judgment on the part for free literature. of the cutter will influence the beauty of Rings — Ear Wires — Tie Chains A Product of the finished cabochon. Cuif Links — Neck Chains A cabochon to be mounted in a standard Bezel — devices — Shanks bezel mounting should be less thick at the Solder — Findings bezel edges, and a slope of about 80 degrees HIGHLAND PARK should be given to the stone at this point, Send stamp for price list No. 4 according to Van Leuven. This slope (to- MANUFACTURE CO. ward center of stone) is to enable the metal O. R. JUNKINS of the bezel to grip the stone properly. 1009-1011 Mission Street Where the bezel edge of the storie is not 754 N.W. Alpine St. - P.O. Box 1233 South Pasadena, California properly cut, the metal will not grip the NEWPORT, OREGON

40 DESERT MAGAZINE Even with the crudest treatment or without any treatment whatsoever, rattlesnake bites would probably not be fatal in more than 10 percent of the cases. MAN'S KNOWLEDGE OF Here, briefly, are a few of the inter- * * * RATTLESNAKES COMPILED esting facts about rattlesnakes con- During the last war, there was not IN NEW WORK BY KLAUBER firmed in the book: one rattler bite fatality among the Probably fewer than 1000 persons The severed head of a rattler re- troops trained in the United States— are bitten by rattlesnakes in this coun- mains dangerous (capable of biting representing 20,000,000 man years of try each year, and of that total an and injecting venom) for at least 20 exposure. estimated 30 to 35 die—a mere frac- minutes and sometimes for almost an * * * tion of the highway death toll on a hour. The largest species of rattlers (East- holiday, and a sum often exceeded in * t- * ern diamondback) very rarely reach a single plane crash. The chances of The heart of a decapitated side- eight feet in length. Western diamond- being killed by a rattlesnake are even winder beat for 59 hours after sever- backs occasionally attain six to seven less than for being fatally struck down ance of the head. Left on its back, a feet. by lightning. Great Basin rattler suddenly righted * * * Statistics become even more clarify- itself five hours after decapitation. ing when we consider that the majority These examples of reflex action have The rattler's top speed, even for of the bites sustained can be avoided resulted in the folk belief that injured very short distances is no faster than if people would watch where they step rattlers live until sundown. a man can walk—about three miles an hour. and where they put their hands—and * * * * * * if they would leave the handling of Yet, despite this seemingly strong reptiles to the herpetologists. hold on life, rattlers are relatively frail People who kill all snakes "to play Yet, despite all this, unknown thou- creatures and are easily killed. Their it safe" actually make things easier for sands of Americans shun the outdoors backbone is both delicate and vulner- rattlesnakes to survive, for harmless because of their fear of poisonous rep- able. snakes compete with rattlers for the tiles. * * * food supply (predominantly rodent) in This fear and the folktales, conver- Snakes are deaf to airborn vibra- the immediate area. The introduction sation, newspaper lineage and even the tions. They cannot hear their own of food competitors is more effect in length of this book review regarding rattles. Experiments show that rattlers controlling rattlers than introducing rattlers are out of proportion to the do not react to the sound of a radio, actual degree that rattlers are likely to but will react to the heating of the (Continued on page 43) affect us—but accurately reflect the radio's tubes. This results from their interest they hold for us. facial pit sense organs which are radi- Man's misinformation on these crea- ation-sensitive and are used by the GTJNFIGHTERS tures is unparalleled in his relation to reptiles to track down prey. FREE! BOOKS his physical environment in the West- * * * A GALLERY OF WESTERN ern Hemisphere where rattlers are Drop for drop, the venom of some BADMEN is a book of fact- found, which underscores the signifi- ual accounts on the lives and species of rattlesnakes is 60 times more deaths of 21 notorious gun- cance to the scientific and non-scien- powerful than the venom of others. slingers of the Old West tific world alike of Laurence M. * * * such as Wyatt Earp, Billy Klauber's two volume work, Rattle- the Kid, Wes Hardin, John snakes, Their Habits, Life Histories Rattlesnake venom can be drunk Ringo, Jesse James, Bill without ill effect. It has a slight taste, tongley, Doc Holliday, Wild and Influence on Mankind. The author Bill Hickok, Clay Allison, Ben is consulting curator of reptiles at the astringent at first and then turning sweetish when held on the tongue. It Thompson and 11 others! San Diego, California, Zoo and his There are 26 authentic pho- book is the culmination of 35 years produces a slight tingling effect on the tographs! lips. Thus a person is in no danger WELL: So long as they of research in the field and laboratory. last, with every subscrip- It contains everything that is now sci- when he sucks the blood from a tion to True West ($3.00 for lanced rattlesnake wound. 12 issues) we are going to entifically known about rattlesnakes as give a copy of A Gallery * * * of Western Badmen as a well as the folktales that have grown boisus — absolutely FREE! out of man's association with them Out of 100 bites, an average of 98Vi Man, what a BARGAIN! before and since discovery of the New are suffered on the arms and legs; TRUE WEST brings back bites in forearm exceed upper arm by the Old West to you as it World. actually was. Each bi-month- But these volumes are more than a 20 to 1; shin and calf bites exceed ly issue is crammed with giant step from the realm of darkness thigh bites 20 to 1; hand bites exceed TRUE, well illustrated articles on badmen, wrist 7 to 1; and bites in front of foot lost mines, buried treasures, range wars, In- into the light of knowledge—they re- dian fights, outlaws, ghost towns, trail drives, exceed heel 2 to 1. flect the versatility and capacity for gold rush, cowboys and ranch life—The way if really was! The old days live again and dedication in man, for Klauber is an move vividly through its pages. Man you engineer by profession. The study of Looking for a PUBLISHER? ought to see those authentic old photos! SPECIAL! This is a double-barreled, get-ac- rattlesnakes is his hobby. Do you have a book-length manuscript you would like to have published? Learn about quainted offer. Clip the coupon NOW—if our unusual plan whereby your book can be you lay it aside, you'll forget sure. published, promoted and distributed on a professional basis. We consider all types of TRUE WEST, P.O. Box 5008M, Austin 31, Texas Book Manuscripts work—fiction, biography, poetry, scholarly Here is my $3.00 for 12 issues of True West. by cooperative publisher who offers authors and religious books, etc. New authors wel- Send me a copy of A Gallery of Western early publication, higher royalty, national come. For more information, write for valu- Badmen absolutely FltKE! able booklet D. It's free. distribution, and beautifully designed books- Name __ All subjects welcomed. Write, or send your VANTAGE PRESS. INC. MS directly. Address GREENWICH BOOK PUBLISHERS, IXC. 6253 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood 28, Calif. Atteu. Mr. Slocum, 489 Fifth Ave., K.T., X.Y. Main Office: New York 1. X. V.

MAY, 1957 41 Quit Jsetween you and Ma

By RANDALL HENDERSON

WO WEEKS ago I drove over the newly paved for mining and oil concessions, and there is a promise of road which connects Yucca Valley and the Twenty- additional royalties in the future. 7 nine Palms area with Lucerne and Apple Valleys And if you are wondering what the tribesmen will do on California's Mojave desert. with so much money, the answers already are becoming The landscape along this route is sprinkled with the apparent. Some of it is to go for education, some for roads, cabins of Jackrabbit homesteaders—folks who have ac- and a portion has been allotted to the bringing of indus- quired five acres of Uncle Sam's domain under the Small trial development to the reservation to provide resident Tract Act of 1938. payrolls for tribal members. Some of the homesteaders have constructed well-de- In 1934 the Navajo Tribal Council passed a very sig- signed little cottages that reflect pride and creativeness. nificant resolution, providing in part as follows: "... all Others have built cracker-box affairs that merely af- areas of scenic beauty and scientific interest which require ford shelter from wind and sun. Perhaps the builders preservation be hereby reserved as Navajo Parks, Monu- have dreams of something better in the future—dreams ments or Ruins, to be managed by the Navajos themselves which you and I will hope come true, for not many of with the cooperation of the Indian Service, and other us want to see our desert landscape cluttered up with ugly helpful agencies . . ." shacks. At the time the resolution was passed, the Indians had I have serious misgivings about a new policy which no funds with which to carry out the program. But they Federal Bureau of Land Management recently has an- have the money now, and they have lost no time in im- nounced in connection with the disposal of its small tracts. plementing the 1934 resolution. Recently the Tribal Coun- Until recently, a 5-acre tract could be obtained only by cil by a vote of 62 to 0 empowered Tribal Chairman Paul leasing the land, with the provision that a patent would Jones to appoint five tribesmen as a Navajo Tribal Park be issued if certain improvements were made within a Commission to "survey places of scenic, historical, recrea- year, otherwise the lease would be forfeited. Under that tional or scientific interest on the Navajo Reservation and regulation, the Land Office has had some control over make recommendations to the Advisory Committee of the timing and construction of a desert cabin. The rules, the Tribal Council for the establishment of Navajo Tri- at first very lax, gradually have become more restrictive. bal Parks and Monuments in particular areas." Now a new program has been initiated at the Los I am thinking of Monument Valley. Agriculturally, it Angeles land office. In recent weeks many hundreds of is so arid that only a few score of Navajo families eke out delinquent tracts have been put up for sale to the lowest a bare existence. And yet what a gorgeous setting it would bidder at auction. The buyers are to be given the title at be for a National Park—a Navajo Tribal Park!—managed once with no obligation as to improvements. by the Indians. With good roads into that amazing region of many- In other words, land which was intended by the or- colored spires and domes and buttes and pinnacles, I am iginal Act to be classified for "home, cabin, health, con- sure it would become one of the most popular recreational valescence or recreation" becomes pawn in the real estate areas in U.S.A. market, to be bought and sold for speculation. A buyer The tribal resolution provides that "The Navajo Tribal who buys in good faith for the purpose of erecting a Park Commission shall not have authority to deprive any week-end cabin on the desert, may readily find himself Navajo Indian or his heirs of the right to continue to use surrounded by speculative holdings whose owners have no the area of Navajo Tribal land in the same manner he was interest in developing roads, putting down wells, bringing using such area at the time a Navajo Tribal Park or Mon- in electric service or any of the cooperative improvements ument was established embracing such area." which are necessary to create comfortable living quarters. And that is the way you and I would want it to be— If the Small Tract Act is to serve the worthy purposes where as visitors we would find the Indians—perhaps in for which it was intended, then it appears that more better hogans than they now occupy—tending their flocks restrictions, rather than less, should be imposed upon those and weaving their rugs in the traditional manner. who would share in this distribution of the public's domain. I hope the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the National We whose homes are in this land of far horizons do Park Service will cooperate with the Indians in carrying not want our landscape to become the pawn of get-rich- out their program—not in the role of bureaucrats telling quick speculators. the redskins what to do, but rather as sympathetic friends * * * and advisors. The Navajos can do the job. I have no Those who have always regarded the Navajo Indians doubt of that. They have a reverence for the Good Earth as a poor and impoverished tribe of native Americans will which is not being taught in the white man's schools and have to revise that estimate. During the past year over churches—and perhaps from them we may learn some $33,000,000 has been paid into the Navajo tribal fund more effective ways to deal with Jitterbugs and vandals.

42 DESERT MAGAZINE COMPLETE GUIDE FOR THE to know before undertaking a difficult « 0 $> X I BAJA CALIFORNIA TRAVELER journey in a foreign land. For most Americans the peninsula of Distances are carefully logged from (Continued from page 41) Lower California has remained a land point to point, and scenic sidetrips and of mystery — a land inaccessible ex- detours noted. There is a listing of their natural enemies. No animal feeds cept to the most venturesome explorer. the 31 missions established by Jesuit, exclusively on snakes. Having no railroads except along a por- Dominican and Franciscan fathers, how * * * tion of the California border, few roads to reach them, and what remains of Function of the rattle is to scare and most of them very bad, and little those long abandoned. away enemies — not to secure prey, communication with the rest of the The guidebook not only covers mates or help from other rattlers. A world, the greater part of the 800-mile roads, but also includes information rattlesnake's first line of defense is con- span from the California border to the for those who would meander the cealment. If this fails, it will assume Cape of San Lucas is arid and unin- peninsula by sea. its coiled position and threaten with habited. Sectional maps and a folding key rattle, hissing and darting tongue. Even And yet those who have had the map provide the traveler with all the then it will attempt to escape. Its last will and fortitude to explore its long place names along the various routes. resort will be to strike out with its coast line, its mountain ranges and In fact this book is an indispensable fangs, and in some instances will not canyons, its mineralized areas and nat- reference guide for those who hope eject venom which it tends to conserve ural botanical gardens, report that it some day to extend their motor tour- for securing prey. is a land of amazing variation and ing to Baja California. * * * charm, Published by the Arthur H. Clark Far from loving to bask in the, And now, thanks to 15 years of Company, Glendale, California. 218 desert heat, rattlers must find shade painstaking work by two hardy Ameri- pp. Index and bibliography. Halftone quickly or perish for they are cold- cans, much of the uncertainty regard- pictures. Paper bound $5.25. Cloth blooded and thus take on the tempera- ing travel on the peninsula has been bound $6.00. ture of their surroundings. If they are removed. Peter Gerhard and Howard subjected to intense heat for 10 or 15 E. Gulick have written a travel book, minutes, they die, even at tempera- Lower California Guidebook, which Books reviewed on these pages are tures that would be only mildly un- not only gives detailed information re- available at Desert Crafts Shop pleasant to a man. garding roads, accommodations and Palm Desert, California * * $ mileages, but contains a wealth of data Add three percent sales tax on orders The myth that rattlesnakes charm as to transportation, customs, fiestas, to be sent to California or fascinate their prey has no basis language barriers — in fact all the Write for complete catalog of in fact. In most cases of alleged fas- things that an American would want Southwestern books cination the prey's failure to escape is due to its having been struck by the rattler before the observer came on the scene. * * * ... A work that no Rattlesnakes are found at altitudes as high as 11,000 feet. They tend to be more prevalent in arid regions— Desert Library, perhaps in part because of the more favorable conditions of their food sup- Private or Public, ply. * * * Should Be Without , , . With prompt first-aid measures and doctor's care, a rattlesnake bite is very rarely fatal. Klauber recommends that LAURENCE M. KLAUBER'S children who have no instinctive fear of snakes be taught a moderate fear of them, but not the hysterical reaction that many adults show. RATTLESNAKES Published by the University of Cali- Their Habits, Life Histories and Influence on Mankind fornia Press in two volumes; illustrations, graphs, charts, maps; bibliogra- (see review starting on page 41. this issue) phy and index; 1476 pages; $17.50. A two-volume compendium of everything scientifically known about rattlesnakes, together with the folklore that has grown up about these dangerous, fascinating reptiles. Published by Desert Best Seller List* the University of California. 1. Goodbye, Death Valley Burr Belden $1.25 Two Volumes, 1476 pages, 238 illustrations Geological Story of Death Valley $17.50 plus 40c postage Thomas Clements .... .'$1.50 3. Ghosts of the Glory Trail California purchasers please add 3 percent sales tax Nell Morbarger ..... $5.75 4. Wild Palms Order by mail from Randall Henderson $ .50 5. Death Valley Tales Death Valley '49ers, Inc. __$1.00 Dmrt Mi$0ilii$ Book Shop *Based on March sales by Desert PALM DESERT CALIFORNIA Magazine Bookshop.

MAY, 1957 43 To Gem Fields • Lost Treasure Ureas • Ghost Towns • For MflPS Hiking and ExploratiM • For Travel in the Desert Country The maps published each month in Desert Magazine are accurate guides to the places you will want to visit. Over 400 of these maps have appeared in past issues of Desert. Many of these back issues are still available. Here is a classified list —at a special price. LOST TREASURE—6 of them with maps ROCK HUNTERS—Maps with all of them Nov. '51—Buried Treasure of the Chiricahuas. MAP Jun. '46—Agate, chalcedony, etc., Arizona. MAP Jul. '52—Lost Mine with the Iron Door. Jul. '46—Minerals at Calico. MAP Aug. '52—Lost Gold of the Vampire Bats. Nov. '51—Cave of the Crystal Snowbanks. MAP Sep. '52—Lost Lead of Santa Clara. MAP Apr. '52—Garnets Aplenty at Stanley. MAP May '52—Beauty in Those Ancient Pebbles. MAP Oct. '52—Lost Pima Indian Gold. Jun. '52—Petrified Wood Along Butterfield Trail. MAP Nov. '52—Lost Silver Ledge of Santa Catarina. Jul. '52—Agate Hunting Along the Gila. MAP Dec. '52—Troopers' Lost Gold. Aug. '52—Black Agate in Milky Wash. MAP Jan. '53—Lost Treasure of Carreta Canyon. Nov. '52—Fossil Shells in Yuha Basin. MAP Feb. '53—Quest for the Peralta Gold. Dec. '52—We Explored an Old Nevada Lake Bed. MAP Mar. '53—Gold Behind a Waterfall. Mar. '53—Ghost Town Prospector. MAP Apr. '53—Lost Treasure of Sonoyta. MAP Apr. '53—There's Color in the Old Placer Mines. MAP May '53—Lost Mine of the Blond Mayo. May '53—Harquahala Bonanza. MAP Jun. '53—Lost Lode of Sierra Sombrero. MAP Jun. '53—Field Day in Muggins Hills. MAP Aug. '53—Lost Blue Bucket Mine. Aug. '53—South Pass in Wyoming. MAP Sep. '53—Lost Breyfogle. MAP Sep. '53—Crystal Field at Quartzsite. MAP Nov. '53—Lost Copper Mine. Oct. '53—Gem Stones in the Bradshaws. MAP Dec. '53—Lost Desert Queen Mine. MAP Nov. '53—Agate-Seamed Butte at Bouse. MAP Dec. '53—Gem Stones in the Peloncillos. MAP Jan. '54—The Lost Dutchman Mine. Apr. '54—Petrified Flotsam Along the Colorado. MAP TREASURE HUNTER'S SET. 18 Magazines $3.00 Jun. '54—Indian Jasper in the Whipples. MAP Jul. '54—Jasper in Limestone Gulch. MAP TRAVEL, EXPLORATION—Maps with all of them Aug. '54—Crystal Roses of Eldorado. MAP Oct. '54—Gem Hill on the Mojave. MAP Jun. '46—Hopi Trek to the Land of Big Water. MAP Nov. '54—Nature's Tumbled Gems at Pisgah. MAP Jul. '46—Palm Hunters in the Inkopah Wastelands. Dec. '54—Gem Hunting with a Prospector. MAP MAP Feb. '55—Agate Hunters in the Apaches. MAP Nov. '51—Cave of the Crystal Snowbanks. MAP Mar. '55—Gems of Monte Cristo. MAP Apr. '52—Valley of Thundering Water. MAP Apr. '55—Doodlebug Trail, into Agateland. MAP May '52—Goblins in Flame Colored Stone. MAP May '55—Bell Rocks in the Big Sandy. MAP Jun. '52—Murray Canyon is a Challenge. MAP ROCK HUNTER'S SET, 30 Magazines $5.00 Jul. '52—Tribesmen of Santa Cartarina. MAP Sept '52—We Climbed Rabbit Peak. MAP GHOST TOWNS—Maps with 10 of them. Oct. '52—Glen Canyon Voyage. MAP Jul. '46—Ghost Town of Calico Hills. MAP Nov. '52—Desert Trek in 1904. MAP Nov. '52—Ghost of Baxter Mountain. MAP Jan. '53—We Climbed El Diablo. MAP Dec. '52—I Remember Bodie Feb. '53—Boatride in Mojave Canyon. MAP Feb. '53—Ghost Fortress in New Mexico. MAP Mar. '53—Where Hungry Bill Once Lived. MAP Jul. '53—Man Who Bought a Ghost Town. MAP Apr. '53—The Ancients Were Here. MAP Oct. '53—Silver Strike at Belmont. MAP May '53—We Climbed Coxcomb Peaks. MAP Dec. '53—When Troopers Came to Nevada. MAP June '53—A Day in the Chiricahuas. MAP Jan. '54—Golden Ghost of the Nevada Hills. MAP Jul. '53—Boat Ride on the Big Bend. MAP May '54—Nevada Ghost Town. MAP Aug. '53—Historic Pass of the Wind River. MAP Aug. '54—The Ghost That Refuses to Die. Dec. '54—Old Fort Schellbourne. MAP Sept. '53—Seldom Seen Canyon in San Jacintos. MAP. Oct. '55—They Found New Wealth in Fairview. MAP Oct. '53—Mexican Tour for Motorists. MAP GHOST TOWN SET. 12 Magazines $2.00 Nov. '53—We Climbed Telescope Peak. MAP Dec. '53—Graveyard of the Dinosaurs. MAP Jan. '54—Through the Narrows to Zion. MAP COMPLETE YOUR FILES Apr. '54—Trail to Keynot Summit. MAP AH back issues of Desert Magazine are now available except May '54—We Climbed an Old Volcano. MAP Volume 1, Number 1, published in November, 1937. When some Jun. '54—Seri Indians of the Gulf of California. MAP of the issues were exhausted, we bought them back from the Sep. '54—Scaling the Ship of the Desert. MAP owners, and for these we charge from 25c to $2.00 each, accord- Oct. '54—Boatride in Desolation Canyon. MAP ing to what we paid for them. All others are available at the reg- Dec. '54—Atop Nevada's Highest Peak. MAP ular single copy price. If you'll send us a list of the copies you Feb. '55—Cattle Ranch Among the Palms. MAP need to complete your files we will advise you as to the cost. TRAVEL AND EXPLORATION SET, 30 Mags. $5.00 Binders, each hold 12 copies, are available for all back volumes. Many of the above magazines are newsstand returns, but all of them are complete and in good condition. The supply of some issues is limited, and we reserve the privilege of substituting other copies which include maps of the same general subject.

Order as Many of the Above Issues as You Wish Magazines may be ordered by specifying month One Copy 25c; Six for $1.00; 12 for $2.00 and year only, or by sets Several issues are duplicated in the above sets. There are 40 different issues and this entire set is $6.00. THE LOOSE LEAF BINDERS FOR PERMANENT FILING WILL BE SUPPLIED FOR $2.00 EACH Each binder has space for 12 copies PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA