Desert Magazine 1959 August
Desert Magazine 1959 August
Desert Magazine 1959 August
Silent Beauty
By L. STANLEY CHENEY
San Diego, California
There is a silence:
an unseen, unknown, yet ever living
silence
Of the desert.
It stealthily moves
oiji the feet of fantasy across the
vastness
Of the barren land.
And there is sadness:
an unconcerned, indifferent, strange
scrt of sadness: entwined with the
silence and the vastness
Of the barren land.
Yet, with the silence and the vastness
and the sadness
there is beauty—
an untamed, foreign, naked beauty.
And as I, knowing my smallness,
stand alone on these innumerable
sands that comprise the desert
I am captured by the beauty,
and I listen, am enthralled, endowed
w th that happiness that only Nature
can conceive in Man.
•
• • ;'J: S ...»-!5ti+*
VERSE
FOR
AUGUST
as*
Publisher's Notes • • •
For the Indians of the Southwest, the month of August
is the high point of their dances and ceremonies. Thus,
Desert Magazine's August issue emphasizes the Indians.
Helping us with our task is one of Hollywood's top
fashion photographers, Andre de Dienes, who supplied the
fascinating Indian face-studies that appear on page 22 and
23 (in the center of the magazine).
m of tk Outdoor Southwest The versatility of de Dienes is evident, but how came
it to pass that a Hollywood craftsman also ranks as a
master photographer of Indians? In his own words, de
Volume 22 AUGUST, 1959 Number 8 Dienes explains:
"When I was a child in Hungary, I read much about
the Wild West. Some years ago when I first came to the
United States I took time off between my first two assign-
COVER: Azure Falls at Havasu ments (photographing new cars in Detroit and movie stars
Photo by STEWART CASSIDY in Hollywood) to visit Acoma, New Mexico.
"The 14-mile road to the pueblo was narrow and sandy,
REMINISCENCES: Old Randsburg and I decided against driving it. So I left my car at the
highway junction and started off afoot for the village. I
By HARRISON DOYLE got there at dusk.
NEW MEXICO PHOTOS: Sangre de Cristo Country "Of course there were no white people living in the
village, and no accommodations for tourists. The Indian
By JOSEF MUENCH Governor very graciously offered me a bed in his home—
10 in fact, it was his bed. The Governor and his parents,
RECREATION: The Colorado River wife, sons and their wives and a large number of small
By NELL MURBARGER children and I had a strange (to me) kind of stew for
dinner, then the children performed Indian dances while
14 NATURE TRIP: Baja California their elders chanted. This went on for hours, and my
By EDMUND C. JAEGER introduction to the American Indian made a lasting impres-
sion on me. I returned to New Mexico year after year to
17 EXPERIENCE: Crossing The Little Colorado photograph Indians.
By BILLIE WILLIAMS YOST "Although glamour photography is much more lucra-
tive, my fascination with the Indians has never lessened,
19 HIGH COUNTRY: The Bucket Brigade and if I were commissioned to spend several months among
By ROBERT O. GREENAWALT them to take photographs, I would happily close my Holly-
wood studio and trade my comfortable life for the rugged
22 INDIANS: Faces at the Ceremonial life of the desert. Indians are an inexhaustible source of
inspiration for artists."
By ANDRE DE DIENES CHARLES E. SHELTON
24 TRAILER LIFE: Build a Water Tank Publisher
By MARY HILL
26 The Desert Magazine, founded in 1937 by Randall Henderson, is
INDIAN LORE: Cat's Cradle published monthly by Desert Magazine, Inc., Palm Desert, California.
Re-entered as second class matter July 17, 1948, at the postoffice at
By HARRY JAMES Palm Desert, California, under the Act of March 3, 1879. Title regis-
tered No. 358865 in U. S. Patent Office, and contents copyrighted 1959
36 by Desert Magazine, Inc. Permission to reproduce contents must be
GEM FIELDS: Hoover Dam Area secured from the editor in writing.
By C. EARL NAPIER CHARLES E. SHELTON, Publisher
EUGENE L. CONROTTO, Editor
BACK COVER: Desert Big Horn Sheep RANDALL HENDERSON, Advisory Editor
EVONNE RIDDELL, Circulation Manager
Photo by MARVIN F. WARD Address all editorial and circulation correspondence to Desert Mag-
azine, Palm Desert, California.
— also •— Address all advertising correspondence to Clyde A. Osburn, Director
of Advertising, Suite 31S, 7046 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles 28, Calif.
Poem of the Month: 2 Driving Tips: 16 Unsolicited manuscripts and photographs submitted cannot be re-
turned or acknowledged unless full return postage is enclosed. Desert
Magazine assumes no responsibility for damage or loss of manuscripts
Photo Hints: 18 Readers' Letters: 27 or photographs although due care will be exercised. Subscribers should
send notice of change of address by the first of the month preceding
Southwest Travel: 28, 29 Books: 30 issue.
AUGUST, 1959 3
Part One RANDSBURG 1896-1901
By HARRISON DOYLE
HE FIRST thing I learned from Mother was just as emphatic. There evenings: "Little Annie Rooney,"
T the other kids in the Mojave Des-
ert Mining Camp of Randsburg
in 1896 was that so long as there were
was quite an argument. I remember
her telling him, "I was born at the
foot of Mt. Shasta, in Indian territory.
"After the Ball," "Bicycle Built for
Two," "Rainbarrel," and others.
We lived several months in the dug-
no white crystals of nitroglycerin on My nurse was Captain Jack's Modoc out while Dad prospected. Our table
the outside of dynamite sticks, you Squaw. I was with you in Tombstone and chairs were made of dynamite
could light them in your hand and when the Earps and Clantons had it boxes; our stove, from two five gallon
they would burn like railroad flares. out. Do you think Randsburg could coal oil cans riveted together. Mat-
Next: that I could apparently be- be as rough as that buckboard trip tresses were of striped ticking, filled
come rich selling whiskey bottles, run- we made into Benson to escape the with greasewood tops. Dad staked a
ning errands for the girls back of the Apache Kid?" claim back of the Yellow Aster which
saloons, and exploring for coins that Dad capitulated. "You win," he he called the "Lillie May" after my
fell through the cracks between the said. eldest sister.
boards on the walks in front of the That's how we—my parents, two I loved to watch the dusty six horse
stores and saloons. sisters, a younger brother, and myself or mule jerk-line teams tugging ore
A decade before my Randsburg —found ourselves in Randsburg. to the new Kenyon Mill, or hauling
days, Dad had settled the family on For two $20 gold pieces Dad freight into town from the railroad at
a ranch in Santa Monica. From there bought a nondescript dugout in the Kramer, on the Santa Fe. A jerk on
he went to each new gold rush—Dar- side of the gulch about a block behind the line to the lead animals, and a
win, Calico and the various Arizona "Main Street." Facing Main, even at shouted "Gee!" would turn them right;
"excitements"—during the '80s and this early date, were three saloons, a "Haw" and a jerk, left. Sometimes
'90s. an assay office, the St. Elmo Hotel loads of greasewood roots, the town's
I particularly remember the time and the Elite Dance Hall. Between only firewood, would pass up the gulch
early in '96 when he returned from our dugout and the back of the Elite in front of the dugout.
Calico and exclaimed to Mother, was the canvas and tar-paper red-light I used to wander barefoot into the
"Mollie, they've just made a great "row." And between us and the St. St. Elmo, to look at the fist-sized
strike between Kramer and Mojave. Elmo stood the latter's board-and-bat- "nugget" and other mineral specimens
I'm getting in on the ground floor." ten outhouse—one end for the women, on the counter, and to run errands
"This time we're all going with the other for the men. for the hotel clerk.
you," mother replied. The Elite was a board-on-end affair, With no water in town except the
"But Randsburg is a raw camp, tinder dry. It had a tinny piano, dance little we had to drink, there was no
Mollie," Dad said emphatically. "No floor and small stage. The songs of way to save Main Street when the
accommodations. It will be too rough the day floated over the warm clear inevitable fire broke out.
on you and the children." desert air to us those first summer As soon as the ashes cooled, I was
DESERT MAGAZINE
in the ruins prospecting for the St. yon. Men came in every day from machine. There was always a little
Elmo nugget. I didn't know then that the Stringer District (later to become strawberry left over for me.
it was only a gilded piece of lead with the great tungsten producer), with A favorite sport of the men who
which to fool the tenderfeet, but I was pokes of gold dust. They also came hung around the saloon fronts was to
learning human nature fast. Instead from the placers below town, which "electrify" the canvas water bags hang-
of "gold," I struck a glob of silver they worked with dry washers, and ing in the shade. A long-handled tin
coins melted together in what was left from the Goler placers across the val- dipper touched to the water produced
of the cash drawer, and in the excite- ley. a man-sized shock, pretty rough on
ment ran a nail through my bare foot. The saloons always interested me. a barefooted kid. I early learned to
There was no doctor in town, so I liked the cool sawdust smell that stand on a dry board when drinking.
Dad put my foot in a pail of turpen- came up from the cellars where they In 1898 Dad brought out his books
tine for a couple of hours "to kill the kept the kegs of beer and the ice. The from Santa Monica, and the towns-
lock-jaw." saloons looked much like they do to- people, starved for reading material,
After the fire we moved into larger day on television except then they all persuaded him to start a library. There
quarters up the hill. We had three had shield-like signs on each side of were sets of Dickens, Scott, Fenimore
rooms now, and some furniture from the bat-wing doors advertising the Cooper, Hugo, Dumas, Balzac, Vol-
the Santa Monica ranch. likes of "Wieland's Beer" and "Mayer taire, DeMaupassant and many others
In 1897 there were over 5000 peo- & Zoblein." The saloons and barber —some 2000 volumes. Dad also had
ple in the booming town. The new shops all had poker tables in the rear, an autographed set of the works of
drug store purveyed the simple rem- and really woke up on paydays. Floors A. Conan Doyle, a distant cousin.
edies of the day. For la grippe and were covered with sawdust, and brass A short time after the library was
sore throats we kids got a sour lem-
onade, or a spoonful of sugar, wet
with coal oil or whiskey; for a purga-
tive, cascara bark, calomel, salts, or
castor oil; for bruises, wizard oil or
arnica. Mainly because of its com-
plete lack of sanitation, the town had
one epidemic after another—"brain
fever" (probably some form of men-
ingitis), smallpox, chickenpox, mumps,
measles.
When I sold some bottles, or found
coins under the boardwalk, I'd repair
to the drug store and buy hard candies
which came in little green-and-white
striped bags, or treat some of the other
kids to a licorice root, or a sarsaparilla
or cream soda bottle with their push-
in wire sealing caps.
At that time gold and silver fever
throbbed through the Southwest. Talk
on the streets invariably turned to the
Mother Lode, Virginia City, Panamint,
Vanderbilt, Ballarat, and other bo-
nanzas.
Besides the Yellow Aster, other
mines working close by town were
the Big Butte, Little Butte and Ken-
LOOKING EAST O N BUTTE STREET, RANDSBURG, I N FEB., 1897. PHOTO COURTESY KERN MUSEUM.
AUGUST, 1959
THE AUTHOR'S FAMILY IN 1901. STANDING,
FROM LEFT: ULLIE MAY COOPER AND HAZEL
DAVIES, SISTERS; FRANK M. DOYLE AND MARY
S. DOYLE, PARENTS. SEATED: LIEUT. COL. R. N.
DOYLE, GRANDFATHER, WHO HAD BEEN GEN-
ERAL SUPERINTENDENT OF CONSTRUCTION FOR
THE ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC RAILROAD; THE
AUTHOR, ABOUT 12 YEARS OF AGE; ROBERT N.
DOYLE, BROTHER, NOW OF WENDEN, ARIZONA;
AND ELIZABETH JANE SWEETMAN, GRAND-
MOTHER, WHO CAME WEST IN COVERED WAG-
ON. TWO YOUNGER BROTHERS NOT PICTURED.
6 DESERT MAGAZINE
never strike you again as long as I Some of the men in town would between the driver and the shotgun
live!" And he never did. put on amateur minstrel shows at the messenger. A fierce north wind was
Randsburg had its "crazes," too. Miner's Union Hall, until it burned blowing, and I was numb with cold
There was the picture nipping craze down in the second fire. The "Quaker by the time we reached Kane Springs.
around the turn of the century. The Doctors," a sort of small traveling The wind had completely ripped the
little cardboard pictures came in Ab- carnival, came each year, lit up by wrapping off the parcel I was carry-
bot Kinney's Sweet Caporal "Cigareet" newfangled gasoline flares. After the ing. I disembarked from the stage in
(we called them "coffin nails") pack- second fire the business district built a barrage of laughter, tightly clasping
ages. This art was of reigning act- up along Butte Avenue, detouring the Grandmother's glistening white china
resses and what we would call today hoist headframe over a deep shaft, in chamberpot.
beauty queens. The boys would flip the middle of the street in front of I learned a great many things in
the pictures to a line, and the one who the Orpheum. Randsburg, chief of which was to sift
came closest to the mark would collect On the Fourth of July there was the gold from the gilt; the real from
all the pictures. Most of the men always plenty of excitement. Hard the tinsel in life. And the gift has
smoked Bull Durham or Duke's Mix- rock miners came from all over the stood me in good stead throughout a
ture, rolled their own in brown paper, country to the drilling contests. The long, and, I hope, useful life. In its
or else chewed Star or Horseshoe plug miners, many of them Cornishmen way I'm sure life in a raw mining
cut tobacco. ("Cousin Jacks") from the Yellow camp was no worse than what some
My daily job at home was to fill Aster, tied four inch fuses to sticks kids go through today with their voo-
the coal oil lamps, clean the chim- of dynamite, lit them and threw them doo dances, TV blood baths, and hor-
into the air to explode overhead. On ror movies. I saw the drab uncolorful
one Fourth a miner lost an arm, and real day - to - day West; today, the
the practice was discontinued then youngsters see the dressed-up version
and there. The kids ran the three- which came in with Tom Mix movies.
legged race, the women the spoon I instinctively realized then that
race. Grown folks tried to catch the folks changed the minute they got
greased pig, or climb the greased pole. away from "civilization." They would
Boys my age always entered the pie, let down the bars and do things in a
or soda cracker eating contest. In mining camp they would never dream
the cracker contest, the first kid who of doing at home.
could whistle after eating the allotted It came time for Dad to leave.
number of crackers, won. Rumor had it the railroad was coming
neys, carry water, and grind Arbuckle's in as far as Johannesburg, over the
coffee in the little mill on the wall. The miners' wives never used any-
thing for beautification except perhaps hill from Randsburg. Dad bought
With Arbuckle coupons you could into a business in Needles on the Col-
get an assortment of premiums—even a little face powder. A few more dar-
ing souls used a hint of rouge and orado River — "a very likely mining
a piano if you collected enough. In country."—END
the years we were in Randsburg, I took the chance of being labeled
swear I ground enough coffee to outfit "fast." Everyone in town knew the
a symphony orchestra. floozies by the way they dressed. They
For entertainment the townspeople
watched the stagecoach come and go.
The green strong box rode under the
wore hats instead of fascinators. Many
were "embryo" a c t r e s s e s , having
started in that profession and failed.
As I look back I think the funniest
COMING
front seat in care of the Wells-Fargo
Messenger and his sawed-off shotgun.
event that transpired in my Randsburg in Desert Magazine
episode took place on a journey I
As far as I can remember there never Part II of Harrison
made with my Grandmother Sweet-
was a holdup of any sort, although D o y l e ' s "A Boy's
man in the winter of 1898.
in one month alone there was a mil- Eyeview of the Wild
lion dollar "cleanup" sent out from As we boarded the stagecoach to West"—his 1901 ex-
the Yellow Aster Mill to the San Mojave she gave me a newspaper- periences in the "railroad and
Francisco Mint. wrapped package. There being no river" town of Needles, California.
room inside the vehicle, I was put up
TODAY RANDSBURG IS "WESTERN," BUT NOT "WILD."
AUGUST, 1959
SANGRE DE CRISTO
imiiiiiiiiifi
,-A
SANTO TOMAS DEL RIO DE IAS TRAMPAS-THE 350-YEAR-OLD CHURCH SERVING THE SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAIN VILLAGE OF LAS TRAMPAS.
PHOTOGRAPHS BY
JOSEf MUENCH
#
GEORGE LOPEZ IS A SIXTH GENERATION WOOD CAR-
VER-ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS OF ALL "SANTEROS."
LOPEZ LIVES IN CORDOVA, A QUAINT SPANISH-
AMERICAN VILLAGE IN THE PENITENTE COUNTRY.
/ • • • ' : •
STREET SCENE (ABOVE) IN ISOLATED VILLAGE OF TRUCHAS.
VILLAGERS WHO RAISE WOOL TO WEAVE INTO FINE CLOTH BELIEVE IN THE
CURATIVE POWERS OF SAND FROM DRY WELL IN SANCTUARIO DE CHIMAYO.
^^^^^^^^^^SPH *.". •
AH
•J
By NELL MURBARGER
OOPING ACROSS the gray breast water wonderland is available to all one around that camp wasn't laugh-
L of the desert from the Grand
Canyon to the Gulf of California
is a sparkling necklace of diamond-
comers, the cost of a vacation on these
shores being wholly contingent on in-
dividual circumstances. Luxury ac-
ing!
Every morning found each member
of the family equipped with a crooked
bright lakes and silver river. What commodations rate luxury prices—or willow pole and out fishing the shal-
an anomaly that here in the heart of the entire cost of a never-to-be-for- lows for "pan fish;" every afternoon
this otherwise driest land should be gotten week may be held to a tankful the entire group donned makeshift
the greatest freshwater playground in of gasoline, a quarter's worth of fish- bathing suits and spent a couple of
the entire West, and that to these hooks, and box of groceries! hours frolicking in the river. Later,
shores each year should come vaca- During the past two-dozen years I they played handball and ran foot
tionists by hundreds of thousands have camped along the Lower Colo- races; and each evening, after the day's
from every state in the union, each rado on scores of occasions, and have catch had been cooked and eaten, and
seeking the peace and relaxation af- yet to see real proof that the amount every bite savored, the family gathered
forded by quiet hills and calm blue of money spent on a vacation has any around a driftwood campfire and sang
water. direct bearing on the amount of en- songs, told stories, and discussed the
So thoroughly have the man-made joyment reaped. As a matter of fact, pleasure of the day.
lakes of the Lower Colorado River one of the most thoroughly happy va- From what I saw of that group I'm
integrated themselves in our conscious- cationing families I have ever known sure not one of its members would
ness we now regard them as an indis- was camped in a ragged old tent set have changed places with the wealthi-
pensable part of our Southwestern in the shade of a tamarisk tree along est man on the river—which isn't to
scene—a part that each season con- the river north of Topock, Arizona. say that this "wealthiest man" wasn't
tributes more abundantly to the pleas- The group included several adults and enjoying himself equally well, in his
ure of Southwest living. a flock of youngsters, and there own way.
Fortunately, the bounty of this great wasn't a daylight moment when some- It is impossible to know how many
10 DESERT MAGAZINE
persons spend all or part of their common there.) Choicest bass fishing more than a few minutes for a boat
annual vacation along the Colorado is in the quiet, warmer water immedi- to gain the safety of the nearest shore-
and its chain of lakes. The only clue ately above each of the dams. line—and as the Park Service points
to that figure, which itself is necessarily Full information concerning lures out, "The life you save will be your
incomplete, is found in records of Lake and baits most successful in taking the own!"
Mead National Recreation Area, em- various species, as well as tackle and Each vacationer must determine for
bracing Lakes Mead and Mohave, fishing licenses, may be had at most himself which of the several lakes of
and extending for 185 miles along of the boat landings and in sporting the Lower Colorado or which con-
the river. goods stores in all larger towns in the necting length of river has most to
During 1958, according to Merdith vicinity of the river. offer as a potential vacation site.
B. Ingham, chief park naturalist, this Safety Nearly all the improved campgrounds,
section of the river was host to 3,- public boat landings and resort con-
190,580 vacationers, representing the Motor boats, with or without guides,
may be rented at many of the public cessions are accessible over good roads
second largest number accommodated of paved or graveled surface. Some
by any National Park area in the en- landings, and privately - owned boats
may be launched on any of the lakes of the campgrounds and trailer parks
tire United States. During the 14 afford better shade and more conveni-
years since close of World War II without a permit. In the interest of
safety on the Lower Colorado and its ences than others; some have a more
the Lake Mead-Lake Mohave area scenic setting. Every landing and
has been visited by some 30,000,000 lakes, the U.S. Coast Guard urges that
certain simple precautions be observed lodge from Temple Bar to the Gulf
vacationers. When it is considered offers fishing and swimming, and some
that these totals include no account- in boating, one of the most important
being that every boat carry a usable have attractions such as horseback
ing of the hundreds of thousands of riding, square dancing, water skiing,
persons who annually utilize recrea- life preserver or life jacket for every
passenger aboard, and that it be worn boat racing, skin diving, river and
tion facilities along the shores of Lake lake tours; shuffleboard, horseshoe,
Havasu and the remaining 200 miles or kept available for instant use. One
of the cardinal rules of the lakes is tennis and croquet courts; agate and
of river between Parker, Arizona, and fossil fields; hunting for ducks, geese,
the Gulf, it becomes apparent that that in the advent of a sudden severe
wind, boatmen should immediately doves, quail and pheasant—even bull-
the Lower Colorado shoreline is not frog fishing!
far from being the top in fresh-water head for the nearest land and go ashore
vacation areas of the nation. until the blow has subsided. Even
gales of brief duration, when sweeping Campgrounds
Better Fishing the length of a 60-mile lake, soon Free public campgrounds on Lake
roughen the surface of the water suffi- Mead and Lake Mohave are main-
Sometimes, I suspect, we're too in- ciently to swamp a small craft, especi- tained by the National Park Service
clined to carry a torch for the so-called ally if heavily laden. As all the lakes
"good old days" when fish and game are relatively narrow it rarely takes on a first-come-first-served basis and
were allegedly more plentiful. Truth are open to both tenters and trailer-
is, back in those lamented "good days"
this section of the Colorado River was
so full of silt that about the only
species of fish that could exist in it
were sticklebacks, bonytail, and carp,
none of which is renowned as either
a game fish or food fish.
Today, due to efforts of the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, and the fish
and game departments of Arizona,
Nevada and California, the Lower
Colorado provides some of the finest
fresh-water game fishing in the entire
United States and Canada—"big ones"
being so plentiful that the season is
open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year!
Here largemouth bass, rainbow trout
and channel catfish grow to phenom-
enal sizes, while perch, crappies, and
bluegill do their part in assuring fish
aplenty for everyone, regardless of
meager equipment or previous inex-
perience.
Cold Water Area
Largest and best of the rainbows
are taken in the 20-mile stretch of
cold water (55-60 degrees F.) below
Lake Mead, and for another 20 miles
in the cold, clear water below Lake
Mohave. (When I was at Bullhead
City, Arizona, in April, this year, one
of the local men caught a 29-inch
rainbow weighing 14 pounds, and I
MEXICO
was told that 10-pound rainbows are %
AUGUST, 1959 11
•<?:;•
MB,,
FREE HAVASU LANDING PUBLIC CAMPGROUND.
ists with, generally, a 90-day use limit. water) and during the "off-season"
Shade, water, fireplaces, tables and shore," said Ingham, who pointed out (October to April) the vacationer can
modern restrooms are provided in the that the water level of Lake Mead has just about take his pick. Which brings
campground at Boulder Beach, in Ne- varied as much as 300 feet; therefore, the question: When is the best time
vada — the only one of these seven tin cans and other trash thrown into for a vacation on the river?
camps where heavy usage now makes the lake are exposed as the water level
necessary a 15-day limit. Similar fa- Potential fishermen will do well to
falls, while materials buried in the bear in mind that the year's strongest
cilities are available in the National sand are often uncovered by animals
Park Service campgrounds at Temple winds occur between March and June,
or by rising water. All good outdoors- at which time there is an average of
Bar (Arizona) on Lake Mead; at men and campers should place their
Katherine Landing and Willow Beach, 13 days in each month when the lakes
trash in receptacles provided for that are too rough for safe usage of small
both on the Arizona side of Lake purpose — where such are available.
Mohave; and at Cottonwood Cove, boats. The least wind of the year oc-
In remote areas not serviced by trash curs between September and March.
on the Nevada side of the same lake. pick-up, however, it is recommended
The public camps maintained at Over- Beginning around May 1 and continu-
that all papers, cartons and other ing through September, maximum day-
ton Beach (Lake Mead) and Eldo- combustible material be burned in a
rado Canyon (Lake Mohave) are cleared area to guard against fire haz- time temperatures average almost 100
classed by the Park Service as "prim- ard, and at a time of day when wind degrees, with occasional days in July
itive" and afford only native vegetation velocity is low, while tins should be and August that are real scorchers.
for shade, and pit toilets. In addition, flattened and buried at least a foot While such temperatures can be quite
camping is permitted in all the more deep and well above high-water line. uncomfortable in an unshaded camp-
remote sections of the National Recre- (Flattening may be accomplished more site, they have the advantage of warm-
ation Area, the only requirements be- easily if the tins are first well burned, ing the water to make this the best
ing that fire and sanitary precautions which also hastens the rusting process time of year for swimming and water
be observed. State laws prohibit camp- and so promotes their earlier assimila- skiing. Winter brings clear pleasantly-
ing within 200 feet of the water, and tion by the soil.) warm days and chill nights, with short
no campfires are permitted on beaches periods when the mercury may drop
near boat harbors, or on swimming Mounting population is almost cer- to freezing. Rainfall occurs in both
beaches. tain to bring to the lakes of the Lower winter and midsummer, but with the
Colorado in years to come a bad dose area's total precipitation averaging less
As in vacation locales thoughout of overcrowding. At present, how-
the country, an ever-present problem than five inches annually, it isn't likely
in the Colorado River area is the ever, there is little evidence of this to upset vacation plans. (At Cotton-
curse of the litterbug. problem along the river. Even in mid- wood Landing, on Lake Mohave, I
summer, when use of facilities is heav- awakened one January morning to
"We have had a great problem with iest, we have always been able to find
materials being thrown into the lakes find a snowstorm blowing across the
a campsite (although not always with lake and whitening the Joshua trees
and also buried in the sand along shade or immediately adjacent to the on surrounding hills, but by mid-fore-
12
DESERT MAGAZINE
noon the snow had vanished and the vember, even until Thanksgiving. Then to the cottonwoods, willows and tam-
sun was again shining beautifully.) the heat of summer has broken, yet arisks, and night hours bring the
It sifts down to the fact that any the nights are still pleasantly warm haunting call of wild geese and ducks
time of year is better in some respects, for camping and boating, there is vir- winging through the darkness. Then
and not so good in others. If there is tually no wind and autumn is in the peace, like a powerful essence, seems
any all-around "best" time on the air. Golden plumes are on the rabbit to seep out of the old brown desert
Lower Colorado, my choice would be brush, the first yellow tints have come hills, and a wonderful feeling of drow-
for the latter part of September, all siness settles over land and water.—
of October, and the forepart of No- LAKE HAVASU. ACROSS THE WAY IS ARIZONA.
END
AUGUST, 1959 13
make numerous time consuming di-
With A Naturalist • • •
came when Stan Phair and I, traveling
in my Willys station wagon chanced
upon a large well-fed and handsome
coyote, who having quenched his thirst
at the stream, was now returning across
By EDMUND C. JAEGER, D.Sc. sire so let's try it. If we can't get the hard mud flats to his home in the
Curator of Plants through we can always come back." brush country of the foothills in the
Riverside Municipal Museum Going over the first twenty-five nearby mountains. In quest of long-
miles of the hard surface of dry bar- desired information on just how fast
VERY YEAR with but one excep- ren flats was easy enough, but from a coyote can run we took out after
E tion in forty I've spent my Christ-
mas holidays in desert wilderness
places. It was always a case of seek-
then on it began to get "rough." Our
first real troubles began when we found
ourselves compelled to go across large
him. At 20 miles per hour he loped
along with ease. He was still ahead
of us at twenty-five miles but when
ing out the areas at once most lonely areas of dry tamarisk shrub stubble, goaded on by our pursuit at 30 miles
and scenic and with traversing roads many of the spike-like stubs from 6 per hour he was doing all he could.
that were mere trails of rock and sand. to 10 inches tall. They were almost Even at this speed he traveled for at
as hard as nails. Every one was a least a quarter of a mile. Finally he
Last year the choice was the arid possible menace to our tires, so we
country reached by the new road began to weary and slow down. We
tried to avoid all we could. But in were not convinced that he exactly
bladed far down the east gulf shore spite of great care one of Tom Daniel- appreciated this foot-race with an auto
of Lower California below San Felipe. sen's tires was soon pierced and he and when we saw him tiring we
My four companions and I, traveling had to put on his only spare—and this stopped the car and let him go. He
in two Willys station wagons, entered the first day out! Subsequent travel immediately made for the hills. Fre-
Mexico at the quaint and friendly vil- over the dry laguna clays appraised quently he paused and turned to re-
lage of Tecate, bought pesos at one us of the fact that the tire-menacing proachfully look back at us. Ours
of the banks and sped eastward on tamarisk stubs were to be met with was probably the first automobile he'd
the well-paved highway toward Mexi- in many places. ever seen and I don't think he was
cali. As we went down the highly Before mid-afternoon our way was too happy about his strange pursuer.
scenic Cantu grade and saw before us blocked by broad mud flats and finally Evening closed in on us when we
the expansive dry Laguna Salada, by a 50-foot stream of slowly moving were only half way down the length
Stanley Phair proposed that we make water flowing north from the Colorado of the playa; because of so many ob-
a short-cut by attempting to go down River through the center of the Pattie stacles we'd only traveled about 40
the entire length of the big playa and Basin {Desert Magazine, June 1958, miles that day.
join the Mexicali-San Felipe road at p. 24). We found this stream and
the sand dunes some 65 miles below its bordering salt cedar or tamarisk The day before we left home I'd
the Border. bushes of great interest because of the roasted a 12 lb. turkey stuffed with
numerous water-loving birds we saw, dressing, made cranberry sauce, "built"
"Few people have ever gone that a pumpkin pie and prepared other
way," I said, "and it is somewhat and several hours with our field glasses
were spent observing them. It was good things for holiday feasting, so
doubtful if we can make it, especially we settled down that evening to a
since the playa has been recently now necessary to turn west and to
savory meal under pleasant conditions
flooded; but adventure is what we de- that only such surroundings can pro-
ON THE MUD FLATS OF LAGUNA SALADA.
vide. After supper we recounted the
day's strange adventures, listened to
the deep calls of the horned owl, the
ludicrous cries of friend coyote and
went to sleep under clear star-studded
skies.
Next morning we were again on an
uncharted, devious and dubious way
$ / over the enormous southern end of
the playa. Again we found our for-
'^^wsmmm. ward progress slowed by mud flats
and the broad sheets of spreading
water. Eventually we were actually
driven back into the sand dunes which
in many places border the laguna on
the west. Here by merest chance we
came upon a long-abandoned almost
century-old smuggler's road which for
several miles guided us around parts
of the untravelable dry lake bottom.
But no sooner were we on the playa
again than the tamarisk stubble fields
began to give us more trouble; indeed
14 DESERT MAGAZINE
we now had three flat tires in contrast
to yesterday's one, all in a space of a
few minutes. It was a rather disheart-
ening experience when we realized we
yet had before us at least 700 miles
of travel over rocky roads that would
be very hard on tires. Once our tires
were repaired we traveled in zig-zags
and wide circles most of the day, pick-
ing our way as best we could, many |K. 7: .; : ;tt';;. . i
times thwarted by the incoming wide-
spreading flood-waters that were fast . •
HSra
AUGUST, 1959
15
grow upon them and this gives the We are old-fashioned campers who some time in the vicinity of Puerto
scene an appearance of peculiar deso- like to cook our meals on a wood fire. Calamajue.
lation. We saw only a few tall, white- We found that along the sea, wood In some way we missed the road
stalked milkweeds (Aesclepias alibi- was "hard to come by" since there is and we were forced to make camp in
cans) and brave, far-scattered brittle very little drift wood and still less to a broad wash leading up to some old
bushes, their few white leaves con- be had from growing trees on the mines. But it was a most impressive
trasting markedly with the black rock. nearby rocky hills. However, by dili- place because of the extensive forest
gent and wide search we found enough of giant cardons. We had never ex-
Near The Sea fuel for the evening and morning fire
From time to time we got marvel- which we made in a nearby sheltered pected to see them so near the sea
ously beautiful vistas of the ultra-blue cove. The tide-pool sea life here was and certainly not such big ones.
sea in which jutted up pyramidal bar- remarkably varied, wonderful to be- Among these massive cacti we found
ren rocky volcanic islands which form hold and plentiful. Especially hand- the most strange cristated one I've
the roosting and nesting places of some were the big golden-brown sol- ever seen. Almost every one of the
myriads of small and large sea birds. asters or 20-rayed sea stars and num- numerous branches ended in a huge
A few of these islands are joined to erous gay-colored snails and bivalved fan-like fluted crest. Such grotesque
the shore by a low narrow sandy isth- mollusks, tan-tinted sponges, delicately deformities are thought to be caused
mus, visible at low tide, and at such plumed sea worms, hydroids and lim- by a virus.
times of exposure the resourceful coy- pets. Next morning we traveled north to
otes wander back and forth from the spend two days at the sheltered bay
mainland to hunt for edible sea animals Our road from now on for many called Ensenada San Francisquito. It
and to surprise and gobble up unwary miles was again on the almost level is a beautiful place but difficult of
roosting sea birds. sand and continued on southward, access because of the heavy sands.
passing several miles inland, the big We had to make our own road.
At the lower end of this long stretch and unbelievably beautiful bay called
of up and down roads we again came Ensenada San Francisquito. The Marine Life
to the sea and charmingly situated graded road ends near here at a bar- We found the blue, often calm
Bahia San Luis Gonzaga. rier of rocks. A one-track sand road waters of the bay alive with many
then turns up a broad wash which forms of small marine life and sharks
debauches from the low mountains and rays and many kinds of colorful
which form the backbone of the pen- fish; also several mammals — playful
insula. porpoises and several kinds of whales.
In the sands of our wash were un- Far back from the water's edge on the
usual numbers of animal tracks of dry sand we came upon five dessicated
many kinds. That night Stan Phair carcasses of stranded Pacific Blackfish
was disturbed twice by soft-furred (Globicephala scammoni) often called
wild mice in his bed, and all of us Pilot Whales, each of them about 16
By BENN KELLER, Manager repeatedly heard the bewitching wails
Ford Desert Proving Grounds feet long. Their bodies were black
Kingman, Arizona of Don Coyote. Grateful we were that from small-mouthed globular head to
the paid poison squads have not yet divided tail. This most gentle and
Pre-Trip Preparation in wild Mexico begun their senseless
and nefarious campaigns to eliminate gregarious of all whales often assem-
If you are planning a trip to the bles in great herds of hundreds of
desert, or if you live here and are the valuable coyote.
about to start off on a long vacation individuals and all members of the
trek, here are things you should do Next morning we noticed several herd blindly follow a leader. Here
to insure a trouble-free ride: ravens flying about and circumspectly the leader at a time of exceptionally
Clean and flush engine cooling watching our every move. The mo- high shoal water had gone too far
system. In summer weather do not ment we pulled out of camp the whole
use any type of anti-freeze in radiator. toward the shore, had become stranded
Be sure fan belt is tight and in serv- lot of them swooped down to clean and the others had followed suit. With
iceable condition. Have radiator pres- up every scrap of food refuse, includ- him they died because they were un-
sure cap checked to be sure it is pres-
sure tight. Be sure radiator hose ing the turkey bones we'd put out for able to get back to the sea when the
clamps are sufficiently tight, hoses are the coyotes and foxes. Just a case of waters receded.
in good condition, and no coolant first there, first served.
leaks are in evidence. Clean front From here we returned home over
face of radiator core of all bug car- Strange Plants the same rough roads we had traveled
casses, leaves, waste paper scraps and It was our plan to go far enough
any other debris that would restrict on the way down the coast. But we
normal air flow. Do not strap spare inland to see the giant cirio, close felt that our primitive road was very
tire, baggage or other material to relation of the ocotillo and strangest good in comparison to the old one
front of vehicle in a manner that will of all the peninsula's plants. These
restrict air flow. which largely paralleled it and por-
we found in typical abundance as we tions of which we could see from time
Inflate tires to recommended infla- neared the top of the peninsular di-
tion pressures. If you have a sizable to time. So narrow, so rocky, so steep
quantity of luggage, give every con- vide and with them were cardons and
and meandering were many of its
sideration to the purchase of a car- other Viscaino Desert plants. From
top type of luggage carrier. They re- this point we could look over the parts that one is truly amazed how
sult in a more even distribution of broad shrub-covered downward slope even the toughest well-trained mule
excess load which is better for tires, teams ever dragged wagons over it;
effective braking, handling, headlight to the Pacific. A few miles easy travel
altitude at night, and also leaves your would have brought us to dry clay- moreover, we are prone to ask where
spare tire more readily accessible in bottomed Laguna Chapala and the did the brave and resourceful mule
case its use should be required. Se- junction with the main peninsular drivers, while carrying machinery and
cure the luggage thoroughly with ade-
quate tie-downs and provide a water- highway. Using it we could have made supplies for the distant mines, ever
proof, well-anchored cover for pro- our return home by way of Ensenada. find or haul enough water and feed
tection against bugs and the elements. But here at the summit we decided to to supply their hard working beasts?
turn east again to the Gulf and spend —END
16 DESERT MAGAZINE
By BILLIE WILLIAMS YOST
When the wagon became mired in the dangerous river,
N 1917 B.B. (Before Bridges) while
I fording the Little Colorado River,
I had a brush with a deadly com-
bination—quicksand and locoweed. I
the boy went for help, leaving his two sisters to guard
the precious sacks of flour and sugar they had salvaged.
was a girl of 10 at the time, and our
home was the isolated Red Lake Trad-
ing Post on the Navajo Reservation
45 miles northwest of Winslow, Ari-
zona. Besides my parents, who were
Indian traders, and me, there were my
brothers Walter, 18, and Roy, 16, and
my sister Esther, 12.
Electricity, telephones and modern
plumbing were years away. It is diffi-
cult to imagine the remoteness of the
single structure of our trading post.
It was situated on a flat barren stretch
Crossing the Little Colorado
of red desertland, with not another
human habitation in sight. Far to the
west rose the majestic San Francisco
Peaks; east and north was a maze of
small buttes and mesas; southward,
between the trading post and our sup-
ply point of Winslow, the Little Colo-
rado River cut a saber scar through
the desert.
A Watery Enemy
To reach "civilization" we had to
cross the Little Colorado. This river
dealt us all kinds of misery. To us
it was an enemy to fight, conquer and
then talk about.
It was especially treacherous in
spring, for in addition to flood waters,
there grew on its banks a species of
locoweed (Astragalus) that was the
first plant in the region to turn green
each year. Horses and cattle, starved
for green fodder after the long barren
winter, often ate locoweed. It caused
the animals to have the blind staggers
that eventually led to death—at least
this was the common belief at the
time.
When the river was running, its
water was red and muddy. "Too thick will be good experience for you," GRAND FALLS OF THE LITTLE COLORADO
O N THE PAINTED DESERT NORTHEAST OF
to drink, and too thin to plow," was father had said. FLAGSTAFF. AFTER A STORM, THE USUALLY
how the old-timers described the flow. DRY FALLS BECOME A ROARING CASCADE.
It was impossible to predict the condi- We borrowed an Indian horse and
tion of the river from one week to the teamed him with our horse, Tony. the stream to test it for quicksand.
next. It could be bone dry one day, We hitched them to the wagon and So we boldly drove the team into the
and 48 hours later rilled from bank to started off on our adventure. Every- swift muddy current. At mid-stream
bank with swift turbulent water. thing went smoothly on the trip in.
We crossed the river without mishap the Indian horse unceremoniously pro-
Danger and arrived late that evening at our ceeded to lie down. Walter struck at
When low, it was an alkaline trickle, Winslow home on AspinwaU Street. him again and again with the long
the sandy bed firm and safe. Ap- Father allowed us two days in town, whip, but without effect. Tony looked
proaching flood stage, it was a danger- and Esther and I spent most of that around as if to say, "I can't pull this
ous chasm to cross. With frightening time—and all of our allowances—at load alone."
swiftness, the hard moving stream The Palace of Sweets. Ice cream on Loco Horse
could gouge out a hole deep enough the reservation was far scarcer than "Crazy loco horse!" Walter shouted
to snare a horse and its rider. Then snowballs must be in Hades. as he leaped into the muddy water.
the river bed was a highway of treach- At sunrise the third day, we began He unharnessed the animals, blind-
erous shifting quicksand. the long return trip to Red Lake. We folded the Indian horse with a blue
I shall never forget the trip to Wins- arrived at the river at noon, and rested bandana handkerchief, pulled him to
low for a load of flour and sugar that the team. While the animals grazed, his feet, and then led both animals to
Walter, Esther and I made. "Our Walter appraised the river. It would the opposite bank.
supplies are low, and I think the trip not be necessary, he decided, to wade "This horse must have eaten loco-
AUGUST, 1959 17
weed," Walter called. "They always muddy water would be in the wagon bed. Two Navajo men approached on
act this way when they get locoed!" bed and the supplies would be ruined! horseback, and they helped Walter
Esther and I sprang into action. We "Hurry!" Walter cried as he trotted lift the bed off the frame and pull it
jumped in and started hauling sacks through the water with a 100 pound to shore, but the frame and wheels
of flour to dry ground. We worked sugar sack on his shoulder. "If this were hopelessly mired. The Indians
like possessed demons to save the load gets wet father will skin us alive!" offered no solution, and the sun was
precious cargo. We knew how angry I stumbled under the weight of 25- low in the west.
father would be. Walter, of course, pound flour sacks, but only lost one. "You girls stay with the load,"
worked hardest of all for he had failed After many trips, we had our cargo Walter ordered. "I'll ride to Red Lake
to heed father's order to "never cross on the bank. for father. He'll know what to do."
the river without testing it." "Whoo-ee," sighed Walter in relief. Esther and I looked at one another,
The wagon wheels were sinking "Now we have to get the wagon out. but we said nothing.
deeper into the quicksand. Soon the The muddy water was level with the "I'll ride fast as I can," Walter
promised as he mounted Tony. "It's
25 miles to Red Lake, so don't expect
father until daylight. He'll have to
Photo Hints by Bob Riddell lead another horse back — we can
never use that Indian horse again."
Nctvajos Remain
And then Walter was gone, but our
newly-made Navajo friends remained.
Esther produced a can of pork and
beans and one of sardines, one of the
Indians took a box of soda crackers
from his saddle bag, and the four of
us sat down to dinner. The only words
that passed between us were when
Esther offered sardines to one of the
Indians. He refused, saying, "fish
cousin to rattlesnake, Navajo no eat
snake."
By the time we finished our meal,
the weather had turned cold. The
Indians built a roaring fire, and we
sat around it. After awhile, Esther
and I spread our lone blanket on the
floor of the wagon bed, and turned in.
The Indians curled up near the dying
embers. I'm sure, in our innocence,
that we slept much more soundly that
DESERT SCENICS . . . night than did our poor mother.
We were awakened at dawn by
When photographing a desert scenic, shooting time is very im- father. He was greatly disturbed to
portant. Nothing looks duller than a photo of the desert taken when find us sleeping at water's edge. The
the sun is directly overhead. Always take your desert pictures when
the sun is at a low enough angle to give nice shadow detail. Morning river had risen during the night.
light for color film tends to be cool; afternoon light is wanner. Either Father Is Relieved
morning or afternoon light give excellent results for black and white, We fully expected a tirade, but
for the desert is truly a photographer's paradise. father was so glad we were safe not
To get depth of field—a most important factor in shooting scenics one word of rebuke was offered from
—a slow shuttsfl" speed and small lens opening are a must. I usually that day to this.
check with my light meter for extra assurance. Most of my scenics It was a long and tedious job to
are shot—camera on a tripod—at l/25th of a second at f. 16 aperture, free the wagon from the quicksand.
after allowing 1 Vz stops increase for a yellow filter (from f. 32). I use By morning it had sunk out of sight,
Super XX Kodak film in a 4x5 speed graphic camera, 6-inch lens. My and we had to point out the place
color scenics are mostly on Anscochrome, l/10th at f. 32. where we had last seen it. Using a
Composition is the most important factor for a good scenic. Nice cottonwood log for a lever, he pried
cloud formations help balance your outdoor pictures. A yellow filter it out of the sand one wheel at a time.
over the lens darkens the sky and brings out the clouds to their white, With the wagon bed in place, the
billowy best. A red filter gives an even more dramatic effect. If you cargo re-loaded, the horses harnessed,
can't wait for clouds, try framing with a palo verde tree, or saguaro and father at the reins, we drove away
cactus, to take away that empty-sky feeling of the picture. from the river feeling very safe and
Only luck will find a well-composed picture from the highway. happy. The loco horse was left be-
Get out and walk. Search for a well-shaped saguaro or a picturesque hind to forage for himself. He would
desert trail for your foreground. Keep distracting clutter to a minimum. never be useful again, father said.
I spend hours scouting new locations, but I come back with pictures Esther and I sang mother's favorite
not found in every desert album. hymn, "Shall We Gather at the River."
Photo above shows a typical country trail running through the "There's a big difference between the
desert floor at the foot of the Santa Catalina Mountains north of Tucson. river you're singing about and the
Exposure: l/25th of a second at f. 16, with yellow filter. muddy Little Colorado," father said
with a smile.—END
18 DESERT MAGAZINE
We Hiked
:;:
the Inyo'
Bucket Brigade
By ROBERT O. GREENAWALT
ALUE OF the extremely concen- way over the mountains, the line was tion by several companies the salt
V trated salt deposit in Saline Val-
ley, a raw desolate trough west
of Death Valley, was early recognized
routed from the salt lake's south shore
up precipitous Daisy Canyon, across
the summit saddle between 10,668-
tram's nearly 300 buckets made the
slow round trips from loading terminal
to discharge terminal. In 1930 the
by mining men—but between the salt foot New York Butte and 9705-foot Depression — and competition from
lake and a transportation outlet to the Pleasant Mountain, and then down better sodium chloride deposits —
waiting markets of Southern Califor- across a series of brushy canyons past wrote an end to the mining venture.
nia was the massive barrier of the pock-marked striated cliffs to the floor I have long been interested in this
Inyo Mountains. This rocky ridge of Owens Valley. The discharge ter- project. Last summer I hiked along the
abruptly rises 7000 feet above the lake. minal was connected with Keeler by bucket brigade, heeding the advice of
The Saline Valley Salt Company the Southern Pacific narrow gage rail- a number of long-time Owens Valley
engineers made bold plans: a 13.4 road line, the posted stop of "Tram- residents who answered my queries
mile tramway over the Inyos to a way" adequately handling the salt concerning the present condition of
discharge terminal near Swansea, his- trade. the tram with: "Can't tell you much
toric eastern shore port on Owens Not only did the multiple steel about it, you'll have to go up the
Lake when that lake held its due share strings supported by heavy wooden mountain and see for yourself."
of water. frameworks represent one of the The daybreak hour of a Saturday
After two arduous years of mule- world's longest tramways at that time morn found five companions and me
powered construction, the system be- —13 miles of cable line in the year huddled around a campfire munching
gan operating in 1913. Capable of 1913—the salt tram provided the high- breakfast. We had camped off High-
hourly transporting 20 tons of what est lift, and few would dispute the fact way 190 near the several weath-
local residents claim is still "the purest that the tram traversed a finger of the ered cabins that mark Swansea and
salt in the world," and cutting four most rugged terrain on earth. the discharge terminal site. Only
arrow-straight swaths in its right-of- For 17 years of intermittent opera- numerous concrete footings, a small
AUGUST, 1959 19
9000'
SUMMIT E^-Control Sta.for Sees.Ill&ET FEET
0NE
ELEV. 8720' / K * l t — » F ' 1OT0R, BOTH SECTIONS)
SALINE VALLEY SALT COMPANY F/
TRAM PROFILE
KEY
A-Loading Terminal 7000'
B- Double Tension (4 Counter Wts.) Control Sto. for SecY
C- Anchorage 6 Tension (2 Counter Wts. E/D (MOTOR DRIVE)
D-Rail Support
E- Angle & Control (Direction Change)
F- Curved Roil (Break-Over Stations)
G- Anchorage & Tension --Curved Rail
H- Control
J - Discharge Terminal 5000
INYO MOUNTAINS
LOADING TERMINAL
ELEV. 1058'AT SALINE
SALT LAKE
1000
12 MILES
pile of dust-laden salt, and the ruts be as reluctant to give up its tram as hogany, they accompanied us to the
of an uprooted railway spur give evi- it was to receive it. summit.
dence of the discharge terminal's posi- The morning climb was rugged, and We were well spent as we ap-
tion. Before shipping, the stockpiled the panorama of the broad expanse of proached the crest. Within whistling
salt was crushed at this site. Owens Valley became more impressive distance of camp, a shout from one of
Our party was split into two teams: at each new height. Into view on the the drivers enlightened our spirits.
hikers and drivers. The hikers, Don far side of the lake came the ribbon Dinner was ready, as promised, and
Minassian, Fred Duerst and I, would formed by the Southern Pacific's the sleeping bags were layed out on
make our ascent of the western face "Jawbone" broad gage. The construc-
of the mountain that day. The drivers, tion of this railroad north from Mo-
Hugh Parshall, Andy Kocela and jave in 1911 was largely responsible
Roily Shehyn, were to take our ve- for the tram's creation. The broad
hicles over a 16.5 mile roundabout gage joined the narrow rails at
jeep trail and set up camp at the tram Owenyo.
summit. Near one of the towers we found
With a "See you before dark, and a small rattlesnake shading itself near
have supper ready," we were on our a corner footing. In the higher coun-
way. We climbed the near ridge hand try we came across four remote oper-
over foot and soon reached our first ators' cabins, a couple in the same
massive framework. It stands several condition as they were when their in-
hundred feet above the highway, but habitants left them for the last time.
is barely visible to passing motorists. Bleached White
The cables were supported along the 13 The western slope's towers, some
mile up-and-down-hill route by 39 such void of cables, are bleached a dull
major structures. Between them, 123 white. Many of the steel buckets that
80-foot-high intermediate towers kept formed the brigade still cling to their
the cargo off the ground along the steadfast cables high over deep can-
parallel slopes and more shallow can- yons. Other wire ropes, victims of
yons. vandals' hacksaws, lie limply on the
Carted Off Wood ground as their twisted containers rest
All of the structures within easy half-buried in churned-over cloudburst
access of roads, including both ter- debris.
minals, have long since been carted Near the 7000-foot contour friendly
off—easy prey of the wood gatherers pinyon pines began to appear, and
joined by juniper and mountain ma-
and junk dealers. Used lumber can be
very precious on the sparsely populated THE AUTHOR AND ONE OF THE SALINE VALLEY
desert. The stout 1 Ox 10s are especi- TRAM BUCKETS. STEEL CONTAINER HELD ABOUT
ally prized. But because most of this 800 POUNDS OF SALT. ITS TWO-WHEEL CAR-
jagged range is inaccessible, especially RIAGE RODE THE STATIONARY SMOOTH TRACK
CABLE WHILE THE AUTOMATIC GRIP BELOW AT- •
the eastern slopes, the mountain will TACHED ITSELF TO THE MOVING TRACTION ROPE. UIJHKIF
20 DESERT MAGAZINE
the pleasant veranda of the summit the continuous circuit. Each station to the highway at Keeler, and then a
operator's six-room house. This is an housed equipment for controlling the 50-mile J-loop around the mountains
impressive campsite — 8700 feet in electrically-driven traction ropes that to the lake. We hikers took the shorter,
altitude, surrounded by a beautifully provided the thrust for the two-hour but far more difficult, direct route to
fragrant forest, and far below the sight journey. the lake. It was almost straight-down
of creeping headlights of Sierra motor- The parallel stationary track cables hiking which can be as arduous as
ists. were eight feet apart, and the buckets, climbing. We entered Daisy Canyon
The sparkling night was void of all holding 800 pounds of salt and sus- on a poor trail. Here the wooden
sound, but it was not this way when pended from two-wheel carriages, rode tram structures were seasoned to a
the tram was in operation. This was the smooth track cables. Automatic rich reddish hue, reflecting the differ-
a busy place with a bucket of Saline grips attached the buckets to the mov- ence in exposure received on this side
salt raising its head over the eastern ing ropes. of the mountain from that of the
crest almost ever minute. From the Th© Last Leg western slope.
opposite direction an empty bucket The three drivers left early in the If the view from the summit station
would come jogging through the pines, morning, their destination the same as westward across Owens Valley is su-
and then disappear. ours: the salt lake on the floor of perb, the view eastward down the
Control Points Saline Valley. Their route was along dizzy slopes of Daisy Canyon and
The summit station motors drove the crest of the mountains to the old across forbidding Saline Valley, 7000
two of the five sections that formed mining camp of Cerro Gordo, back feet below, is sensational.
Keeping us company along the way
were several coveys of chukar part-
ridges. They had far less trouble than
we in following the dim trails down
the canyon. The tram line made three
wild broadjumps over the gorge, and
how the engineers ever pushed this
project through is nothing short of
incredible.
Three Lakes Below
We stopped to rest at the Section I
control station on the lower mountain
slopes. From this vantage point the
Saline Valley lake became three lakes:
the dry playa, the salt lake, and to the
west a fresh water lake. The latter
body of water is frequented by many
birds. A black speck on the shores
of the salt lake indicated the position
of our transportation.
At this control station, whose stable
still contains a supply of straw, the
cables turned a sharp angle for a bee-
line northward to the loading terminal
which we reached in late afternoon.
The dock is marked today by small
pieces of lumber rent into grotesque
shapes by salt action. We joined the
birds for a dip in the fresh water lake,
and much refreshed we settled down
for an evening around a cheery camp-
fire.
Behind us, hidden by night, was the
half-million dollar monument to a
marvelous project that wasn't worth
its salt financially.—END
EATHI VALLEY
• To 'OLANCHAX OR DEATH VALLE' '•'''.!"•'*?«'!'"•":••• •••
AUGUST, 19 59 21
' ' • : ' "
•-••.- - - • : •• k U - ' ^
M
LOS INDIOS" world of the white man's noontide. The tribesmen
here were photographed at the annual Gallup, New
Mexico, Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial, scheduled
The faces on these pages belong to contemporary this year for August 13-16. In addition to its varied
Southwestern Indians—proud first Americans whose program, the Ceremonial is a photographer's heyday.
grandfathers saw the red man's dawn advance, as day
itself does, only to be swallowed up in the glaring Photographs by ANDRE De DIENES
; • • : - - • -
A
Desertgoing
By MARY HILL
24 DESERT MAGAZINE
up no more than a pint at a time, for out-of-doors is to keep the fine glass proud of my tank I decided to invest
it hardens in half an hour." dust that results from the sanding off $10 in a small galley pump.
The tank I planned—measured to of the floor and furniture. I used an Two holes drilled beside the pump,
fit a space behind the side door—stood one for filling, the other for air escape,
electric drill attachment to file off the
27 inches high, and had outside di- excess cloth and glass, and the cloud completed my tank. I fitted them with
mensions of nine and a half inches by that came from it was thick! And use small brass marine screw tops (al-
8 and three quarters inches. My cal- safety glasses—the dust contains large though corks will serve as well), and
culations showed that it would hold glass splinters. my tank was ready for trial. I washed
an adequate supply of water for drink- On the whole, the tank went to- it out carefully, not wishing to drink
ing, cooking and personal needs for gether smoothly, but slowly. The first the ground glass left over from sand-
two people and a dog for two days— day the weather was hot and dry, and ing, and fastened it to the floor of the
about seven and a quarter gallons. the resin glassed quickly. The second car with angle irons. The garden hose
Problems day was humid, and the tank dried filled it quickly. I fitted the plugs back
very slowly. At first I thought I had into the holes, and pulled the pump
I sawed all of the wood panels by up. A jet of water struck the pail I
incorrectly measured the quantities of
hand (most of the cuts were fairly had placed under the spout. The down-
my ingredients, though I had used a
straight), laid the strips of cloth on
measuring cup and spoon religiously, stroke added a bit more. Then, joy!
them, and proceeded to mix a pint of
but I found that by bringing the tank —a clean shut-off, with no drip!
hardener. Then I began to paint.
in by the furnace, it dried rapidly. Water for the Curious
The cloth wiggled and squirmed as I took my desert water tank to
I worked; inexplicable air bubbles ap- When my tank walls were com-
pleted, including the top which had Death Valley on its maiden voyage,
peared from nowhere; and insects dive- and I'm afraid I took every oppor-
bombed the panels, to become pre- an inset board the size of the opening
tunity to show it off. I pumped much
served forever in timeless glass. To more water for demonstrations than
hold the cloth still, I tried to "staple Here's a practical solution to
your water needs while motoring I did for drinking. I pointed out to
lightly" as suggested in the directions, all who would listen that here was a
but it only added new air bubbles. I through the desert — a custom-
built tank with marine fittings. water tank that could be designed to
achieved the best results by smoothing fit any location in a car, that it was
the resin mixture with my fingers. inexpensive, lightweight, could be
Halfway through the first layer, the
to prevent leakage around the unsealed painted to fit the decor, was com-
hardener began to coagulate, and I
joint, I was faced with the problem of pletely waterproof, extremely sturdy,
began to rush. After that, I mixed
how to tap it. An installation that is didn't rattle, gave the water no odor
half a pint or less.
placed fairly high in a car can be or taste, the materials for making it
At this point, I found a small warn- tapped by a faucet or hose drained by were easily obtainable, and what's
ing on the can of hardener. "Once gravity, but by this time I was so more, I made it myself.—END
this resin hardens," it read, "nothing
will soften it. Clean brushes, pots, etc.,
before hardening, with solvents . . ." B O R E H O L E TO SUIT
BORE TWO MARINE PUMP THRU
To my pleasure and relief, warm 3
/ 4 " H 0 L E S - 2 INCHES T O P S L I N E R AFTER G L U I N S .
water and soap readily washed the FROM EACH EOGE
FOR FILLING 8 AIR
brush and my hands. Thereafter, so ESCA P E .
V
D R I L L S COUNTERSINK HOLES
FROM EACH EDGE FOR
long as the hardener was at all soft, ONE INCH No. 5 O V A L HEAD
BRASS M A R I N E SCREWS
very thick detergent suds quickly and WITH W A S H E R S .
easily cleaned us both. D R I L L 8 C O U N T E R S I N K HOLES
% " FROM EACH S I D E FOR
From then on, the going was fairly ONE INCH No.5 F L A T H E A D
easy. I sanded the excess glass and WOOD SCREWS.
D R I L L '/,6" PILOT
cloth, using a very coarse grit, HOLES IN EDGES
OF PLYWOOD FOR
smoothed off the surfaces, and fast- SCREWS.
ened the four sides and bottom of the
tank together, leaving the top piece
until last.
Sealing the Inside
Next step was to seal the inside,
particularly the joined edges, with
fiber glass. I took small strips of cloth,
laid them in the comer grooves, and
secured them, one by one, with resin.
Since my water tank was 27 inches
deep, the bottom joints were nearly
out of reach. Wiser persons than I
will attach and seal three side panels
to the bottom piece, leaving only one
long reach after the fourth side panel
is fastened on.
And here let me add a warning: be
sure to work the hardener resin in a
well-ventilated room, or, preferably,
out - of - doors. Breathing the resin
fumes can produce a roaring head-
ache.
Another reason for doing this work
AUGUST, 1959 25
Cahuilla
Cat's
Cradle..
huilla believe that all these patterns
were taught to them by Man-el, the
Moon Goddess, while she lived among
them in the days of their genesis.
Mrs. Victoria Weirick, a highly re-
spected matriarch of the Cahuilla's
Wanikicktum clan who lives on the
Morongo Reservation near Banning,
was able to recall for me a number of
the simpler cat's cradle patterns. She
sat in the warm sunlight outside her
little house which overlooks the whole
sweep of San Gorgonio Pass and the
San Jacinto massif beyond, and puzzled
out nearly forgotten designs. Witty
and often sagacious were the remarks
she made when her old stiff fingers
would not do exactly what she wanted
them to do, or when her memory
played her false.
Mrs. Weirick explained how cat's
cradle was used to determine the sex
of an unborn child. An expectant
VICTORIA WEIRICK DEMONSTRATES CRADLE PATTERN THAT SIGNIFIED: "IT WILL BE A BOY."
mother anxious to know if she was
going to have a boy or a girl, would
By HARRY C. JAMES seek out an older woman known to
be adept at prophetic skills. Where-
Making string cat's cradles is one of the most widespread pastimes on earth . . .
but with the Cahuilla Indians of Southern California, it was more than a game
26 DESERT MAGAZINE
In the meantime the water had risen and
READER RESPONSE since there was nothing to do but continue
down the river, I shoved off. It was a
rough ride and I frequently had to pull
in and bail out the water—some of it had
the truth of the story, and he admitted that even seeped into the "watertight" compart-
Save the Mustang . . . ments.
Desert: he had "spun the yarn" in a Barstow saloon.
The "mine" did not exist beyond the doors But I made it through, and just after I
More power to Velma Johnston ("Wild came to smooth water a helicopter landed
Horse Annie Fights to Save the Mustang," of the saloon.
This man passed away a few years later. on a bar. As I was long overdue the sher-
June Desert). How can we help? iff's office had asked the Phillips Petroleum
BERT REYNOLDS At least two men have lost their lives in Company scouts to watch for me.
Lancaster, Calif. the search for the Lost Dutch Oven Mine. I passed my 63 rd birthday while on the
PAUL B. WALLACE river, and believe I am the oldest man to
Fight for Mustangs . . . Inglewood, Calif. have gone through Cataract alone.
Desert: BURTON G. ODELL
I am enraged about the way private inter- Reproductions Available? . . .
ests are treating the mustang. How do I Amarillo, Texas
join the fight? Desert:
MRS. F. QUAST Our congratulations for the attractive Ramon's World . . .
San Diego, Calif. and interesting magazine. We especially Desert:
(Supporters of the Save the Mustang like your color reproductions for the covers. I have a question in regard to the illus-
campaign should register with Mrs. Do you have any thought of making such tration (a little boy crying) that accom-
Johnston, Box 626, Reno.—Ed.) reproductions available for mailing? panys the June poem-of-the-month. The
THE CLIFFORD VINCENTS poem itself is a treasure, lovely to read,
Laudermilk's Green Conquest . . . Whittier, Calif. but:
Desert: (There are three or four reasons why WHY DOES RAMON CRY
What a mind the late Jerry Laudermilk color reproductions, especially of artists' He plays in the sand by the open door,
presents! His "Green Conquest" in the May paintings, are not feasible at this time. And happily greets each morn.
issue was excellent. However, we are going to have a special His blanket-bed is warm at night,
LEWIS H. VanBILLIARD full color insert—eight pages of South- And he is American born.
Dalton, Mass. west color—in our December issue.—
Editor) A kind mother gives him food and faith;
Happy Over Poetry Policy . . . A father works near by;
Desert: He Was There . . . His little-boy-world is a pleasant one '
Congratulations on the new "Poem-of- Desert: So why does Ramon cry?
the-Month" policy. This will afford a thrill Congratulations on your front and back SYLVIA REEVES
to all of us who write poetry, and I am cover paintings by R. Brownell McGrew Tucson
sure it will also inspire our best efforts in for the July Desert Magazine. Having
this direction. camped both in Box Canyon and Monument (The little citizen of Ensenada, Mexico,
Already two poets, many times repre- Valley, I know how realistic they are, and was frightened by the stranger who took
sented in Desert, and my close friends, have they help me recapture the charm of both his picture: Al Christman of China Lake,
called me about it. We are sincerely happy Calif.—Ed.)
places. Nostalgia (in moderation) is a
that this recognition will be given poetry-—• good thing for all of us.
too often merely a labor of love; yet in JIM BARBOUR
spite of the reader polls, eagerly looked San Francisco, Calif.
forward to by many of us.
THE NEW CUSTOM BUILT
MIRIAM ANDERSON
San Bernardino, Calif. Please Don't . . .
KENT FROST JEEP TRIPS and attached three inflated innertubes to Investigate before you buy
AUG. 17-26 — Famous Utah Needles, Hole-
both sides for added buoyancy in the rapids. WRITE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
in-the-Rock Trail, Natural Bridges, Arches, When I came to the first rapids I almost
Indian Ruins and Pietographs, dozens of lost my nerve. Big rocks in the middle of Dealer Inquiries Invited
other canyons, available only to jeeps. the stream were causing fierce eddies and
SEPT. 14-23 — Standing Rocks, Goblin Val-
ley Trip. SEPT. 28-OCT. 7—Same as Sept.
14-23 trip, including Robber's Roost country.
whirlpools. I tied the boat up and tried to
climb out, but the cliffs were too precipi-
C E SMITH CO.
$25. a day includes all camping gear, gas, 5629 Tujunga Ave., North Hollywood, Calif.
tous. I couldn't make it. Phone Triangle 7-8475
food, guide service. Write or phone— I camped there 17 days, catching a few
KENT FEOST, Monticello, Utah
fish but my grub supply finally ran low.
AUGUST, 1959 27
\ August Travel Fare:
28 DESERT MAGAZINE
V Randsburg Mining District V Arizona Snake Dances
V Gallup Intertribal Ceremonial V Wilderness Road to Winnemucca
AUGUST, 1959 29
BOOKS OF THE SOUTHWEST
STORY OF A NOTORIOUS published many of the frontiersmen herbs, and tribal names for many
WESTERN OUTLAW who knew Cassidy were still living, plants.
Born of respectable Mormon par- and called attention to some errors in Published by Desert Printers, Inc.,
ents, Butch Cassidy (real name: the original volume, and furnished Palm Desert, Calif., the book is paper-
George LeRoy Parker) early in life much additional material which has covered, is heavily illustrated, and
became one of the most notorious been incorporated in the new edition. sells for $2.50.
bandits in Western history. He and The hard-riding "Wild Bunch" had
his "Wild Bunch" held up trains, three main hideouts—Hole-in-the-Wall
robbed banks and payrolls. They were in central Wyoming, Brown's Hole TUMBLED Assorted mixture of fine
a scourge to officers in Wyoming, Utah near where the states of Wyoming, GEMSTONE Baroques, c o n s i s t i n g of
and Colorado for more than a decade. Utah and Colorado meet, and Rob- AMETHYST • AGATE
JASPER. • PETRIFIED WOOD • TIGER-
Tales of Butch Cassidy and his gang ber's Roost near the junction of the EYE • APACHE TEARS. One pound
Green and Colorado rivers. Members contains approximately 100 to 140 stones—
have become a legend in the Great $4.00 plus postage. Discounts to dealers.
Basin where they operated, but it re- of the robber gang staged holdups as CORONET GEM AND JEWELRY CO.
111391/2 W. MAGNOLIA BLVD., NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CAL.
mained for Charles Kelly, Utah his- far distant as Idaho and Oregon.
torian, to compile an authentic story Published by The Devin - Adair
of the man and his record. Kelly's Company, New York, 374 pages with
maps, index and photo illustrations. FIND BURIED TREASURE!
book Outlaw Trail first was published GOLD, s i l v e r , c o i n s ,
in a limited edition in 1938. The first $6. j e w e l r y , strongboxes,
edition was soon sold and has become battle relics! M-SCOPE
HOW INDIANS USED transistorized electronic
a collector's item. This year a new Treasure-Metal Locators
NATIVE PLANTS detect them all. Used
and revised edition has come off the Several years of study of range world-wide by successful
press. explorers. Exciting! Re-
herbs and plants has culminated in a warding! Super-sensitive,
1 i ghtweight M - SCOPE
At the time the first edition was handy reference booklet, Indian Uses offers greater depth pen-
of Native Plants, by Edith Van Allen etration, no ground in-
t e r f e r e n c e , over 200
Books reviewed on this page are selected as Murphey. The 72-page guide would treasure-hunting days of
battery life. Indestruc-
being worthy of your consideration. They
can be purchased by mail from Desert be a good traveling companion for tible fiberglass cases. Guaranteed. From
Magazine Book Shop, Palm Desert, Califor- those who wander the West. $59.50, Easy Terms. Write today for FREE
nia. Please add 10c per book for postage catalog.
and handling, also four percent sales tax on Mrs. Murphey has done a service FISHER RESEARCH LAB.. INC.
orders to be sent to California. Write for
complete catalog of Southwestern books. to record the Indian customs, use of Dept. D-2. Palo Alto Calif.
WRITE TODAY
FOR MORE INFORMATION AND NAME
ROMERS are fully equipped with
OF YOUR NEAREST DEALER
Princess stove, 50 Ib. insulated
ice box, 12 gal. galvanized water
tank with pump, permanent bed,
HONORBUILT Trailer Mfg. Co.
two lights, and plenty of closet 756 HANSEN AVE.
space. LAKEVIEW, RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CALIF.
V//7//////7////77M/M
30 DESERT MAGAZINE
ARIZONA TRAVEL
(Continued from page 28)
Desert Magazine Book Store Snakes and rain? Certainly. But Desert Magazine Book Store
DEPT. AA they're only a part of the August DEPT. AA
PALM DESERT, CALIF. story in Arizona. After all, this land PALM DESERT, CALIF.
(Please add 10c per book for postage of contrasts and odd extremes hardly (Please add 10c per book for postage
and handling; 4% sales tax on orders sticks to the usual—and its oddities and handling; 4% sales tax on orders
to be sent to California) are among its main delights. We to be sent to California)
wouldn't want it any other way.—END
AUGUST, 1959 31
OUTDOOR LIVING
DESERT PRIMER
AT ITS BEST
Any Place . , . Any Season
ITS A CAMP-A-LONG
For the Most in Portable Camping
WORDS TO
CUSTOMETTE A CAMPER'S
jam
WIFE
If you married an apparently nor-
mal man, only to discover that he
suffers from pernicious camping fever,
CARRY - ALL chances are you have the choice of
becoming a camper's wife or a camp-
er's widow. camping. Look for unusual things
You'll receive a lot of advice— to enjoy. They are everywhere •—
including these words—on the art of from the smallest pebble to the larg-
camping, but the only hard and fast est purple mountain range. Keep
rule to follow is to have fun. That's your good humor. When the going
why people go camping. If you are gets rough, complaining will only
a greenhorn, admit it. If you are make things worse. A poor sport
timid, talk it over. Chances are most can chill a camping trip.
CAMP«A»IJONG Portable Campers are built
to provide maximum comfort and protec- of your fears are without foundation. In camping, a good deal of the
tion . . . both winter and summer. Square fun comes from the work involved.
tube frames are arc welded for longer life If you have never slept on the Making camp is a satisfying experi-
and durability. Aluminum covering and ground, it will help to arrive at the
birch lining are both screwed to the steel campsite early enough to give the ence. Cooking over an open fire is
frame. Riding in back is as safe as in the fun. But, emphasis should be on
truck cab. premises a thorough inspection. Se-
lect a level site well away from simplicity of operation. Travel light.
Write for detailed brochure and bushes and other "cover" for desert Don't expect to have every conveni-
animals. An air mattress will insure ence you left behind at home. In-
name of nearest dealer stead of packing, hauling, unpacking,
added comfort.
using, washing and then repacking
LONG M F G . C O . Nothing will get you out of your your egg beater, leave it home and
12231 E. Garvey Blvd., El Monte, Calif. daily routine "rut" quicker than will skip the whipped cream. An important
Phone Gilbert 4-4082 by-product of roughing it outdoors
is the appreciation you will gain—
when you return home — of your
taken-for-granted labor-saving gad-
DAILY NON-STOP gets.
Improvise and conserve. Scour
pans and dishes with clean sand be-
VISIT BEAUTIFUL
STARTING MAY 1st through October 31st... MONUMENT VALLEY
Stay at the Wetherill Inn, Kayenta, Arizona,
Bonanza Air Lines flies special daily yon Package Tour Folder and a vari- a new modern 14 unit AAA motel, located
air tours from Phoenix to Grand Can- ety of additional Package Tours write in the heart of the Navajo reservation. Jeep
trips into Monument Valley may be arranged.
yon. Landing at Valle Airport, only Side trips by automobile to Betatakin, one
31 miles from the South "Rim of the BONANZA AIR LINES of the most picturesque cliff dwellings in the
Canyon, optional limousine service is P. O. Box 391 Las Vegas, Nevada
U.S., and horseback trips may be arranged
into famed Keet-Seel cliff dwelling, the larg-
available either in the morning or est cliff dwelling in Northern Arizona. Trips
afternoon. by auto may also be made to Mexican Hat
At other times of the year Bonanza and the famed Goose Necks.
AUGUST, 1959 33
SOUTHWEST NEWS BRIEFS
YOUR Squatters Face Eviction. . . .
Yuma, Ariz.—The Department of
Interior has asked the Justice Depart-
Fe New Mexican reports. Nearly $4
million is requested for erosion con-
trol, tree planting and other watershed
CAMP ment to file eviction suits against 900
alleged trespassers on federal lands
along the lower Colorado River in
rehabilitation. Recreation facility con-
struction would cost $7.5 million for
the Carson Forest, and $788,000 for
. ?•••• : ? / * «
CHEF! Arizona and California. The complex
problem of squatters occupying thou-
sands of acres of riverside land with-
Santa Fe.
34 DESERT MAGAZINE
Yumcts Want Acreage Returned . . . Assets Can Be Distributed . . .
Winterhaven, Calif1. — The Yuma San Diego, Calif.—The Department
(Quechan) Indians have petitioned of Interior announced new Federal
Congress to re-establish their reserva- regulations governing distribution of 6( « / *
tion boundaries as originally set by the assets of 41 Indian reservations
President Arthur's executive order of and rancherias in California. Under
1884. The big prize: 34,000 acres the law the designated Indian groups
of land stripped from the original are given an opportunity to divide
their communally owned property, and
reservation by an 1893 pact signed
take it out of Federal trust supervision.
with "x" marks by 203 Yuma males.
Present-day Yumas say the 1893 NEW MEXICO TRAVEL
agreement—by which the "x-signers" (Continued from page 29)
personally received five acres of land breechclouts. As the spectators leave, the
apiece—was reached through "fraud, more socially inclined Navajos begin a
"round dance" near the stadium's main ap composed from
duress and coercion." The 34,000 j aerial p h o t o g r a p h y
gate. Indians and non-Indians join in; the
acres in question are west of Laguna tonal chanting goes on until dawn. ^ and ground survey.
Dam. Of the several side trips available to you, Land marks, frails and springs accurately lo-
the swing south to Zuni on State Road 32, cated. $2.00 ppd. Check or money order.
then east on State Road 53 to Grants and
Oil Lease Revenue . . . back to Gallup on U.S. 66 has the most to
Ouray, Utah — High bids totaling offer. It's a day's journey into ethnology, I. ALAN STIRRAT
history, and geology perhaps unsurpassed
$866,695 were received by the Uin- in the nation. Zuni Pueblo was old 3510 Clifton Ave., El Paso, Texas
tah-Ouray Indian Tribe for oil leases when Spaniards first saw it in 1539; its
on 14 tracts of tribally owned land. ceremonial structure is as strong now as
it was then, its masked dances as dramatic
Standard Oil Company of California and meaningful. Between Zuni and Grants Out of the past—(Acetate)
was high bidder on all 14 of the tracts. are two attractions—Inscription Rock and ARROWHEAD JEWELRY!
a cave of perpetual ice. Early Spanish ex- ICmTings: Large, med $2 pr,
Necklace: 18" chain $1.50
plorers carved their names on the great Lariat Tie: Lge. arrowh'd,
stone history book, now El Morro National leatherette cord $1.50
Monument; in the ice cave the temperature Flint Arrowhead Making
TRUE OR FALSE ANSWERS Secret: Ancient meth'ds.
is 31° the year 'round, even though it Illustrated. Guaranteed..$1.00
Questions are on page 33 varies from 105° in summer to —23° in Free catalog. Use postcard
winter in Bluewater, a few miles away. for C.O.D. orders
1. True. CHIEF BLACKHAWK
END Box 5C4-DM, Kennewick, Wash.
2. False. It is the Zia Sun Symbol.
3. True.
4. False. "Candles of God."
5. True. 6. True.
7. False, Colorado Springs, Colo-
rucio.
8. False. Pinyons range between
5000 and 7000 feet above sea
level.
9. True. 10. True.
11. False. All of Arizona is west of
the divide.
12. True. 13. True.
14. True. 15. True.
16. False.
17. False. Tombstone is the "Town
Too Tough to Die."
18. True. Mexicans were working
gold inines in northern Los An-
geles County in the 1830s.
19. False.
20. False. The ceremony took place
at Promontory, Utah.
for travel fun-travel trailer
Roughing it is great! But after a day hiking iii the woods
or trolling out on the lake, there's nothing like pulling
off your boots and sinking into those easy chairs in your
travel trailer! And at night, after a shower and dinner,
the family has plenty of light for cards, reading, or just
FIND GOLD FOR PROFIT plain taking it easy. The kids love it—there's always cold
; | p | ' ,: Enjoy profitable and root beer in the refrigerator.
exciting week-ends. Re- Those freezing nights? No problem. With thermostatic warmth and beds
cover gold dust and
nuggets with the Gold- softer than home you wake up fresh as a spring pine.
Bug. Combination port- No reservations needed—choose the mountains, the beach, or the desert.
able dredge and sluice
makes recovery of an A travel trailer goes any place your car goes.
ounce or more of gold See your local dealer—he'll be happy to show you how inexpensive fun traveling
a day possible. Com-
pact, easy, fits in auto can be! Find him in the Yellow Pages. Or write the Travel Division of the
trunk, carry anywhere. Trailer Coach Association for dealers nearest you.
R u g g e d construction,
2>/2 H.P. gasoline en-
gine, patented pump. Ready to operate. Look for the TCA seal—your guarantee of the highest con-
$189.00 F.O.B. FREE CIRCULAR struction standards. Trailer Coach Association, 607 South Hobart,
R. W. PEPPERD & SONS Los Angeles 5.
P.O. BOX 1186-D
WICHITA, KANSAS
AUGUST, 1959 35
During the past 22 years,
Five Gem and Mineral Desert Magazine has pub-
lished over two dozen field
36 DESERT MAGAZINE
campground at the river's edge. Cab- uated. A few blocks down this resi- DIAMOND BLADES
ins, campgrounds, boats and tackle dential street the pavement ends. Take
are available. the dirt road curving right, cross the
Heavy-Duty Stand. Super
(3) PARK ONYX—When Hilton de- railroad tracks, go through the old Snp.-Chgd. Chgd. Chgd.
scribed this gem field in the Septem- dump to the maintenance road that 6" S
8" 17.90
$12.35
16.40
$11.25
14.85
ber '46 Desert, the town of Hender- parallels a recently-laid pipe line. Fol- 9" 19.75
10" 22.00 19.90 18.50
son consisted of little more than the low this road until you are at a right 12" 31.90 28.30 25.75
magnesium works. The onyx area lies angle with the new letter "B" plainly 14"
16"
42.60
49.20
36.50
43.45
33.20
39.50
on the slope of the mountain immedi- seen on the base of the mountain to 18" 69.75 59.65 54.25
the west. Park in the flat under the 20" 78.10
24" 92.20
65.70
82.90
59.75
75.50
You may purchases the five back "B." The onyx is in this area. 30" 179.10
36" 267 60
copies of Desert Magazine in This material has a hardness of 7 ,ze—Send postage—Tax in Calif.
which these field trips were origi- which puts it in the gem-grade class.
nally chronicled.
Dry Lake Pectolites (Aug. '41)
50c
Most of the choice material discovered
by the late Dr. William S. Park is
gone, but don't despair. By hiking
.
New
matic drill
Auto-
with electron-
ft
ic feed. Free
Eldorado "Opal" (Aug. '54)....25c and careful search you will be able c a t a l o g de-
Park Onyx (Sept. '46) 50c to collect your share. scribes. Ill If
Las Vegas Wash Green Jas- Best areas to prospect are south and
per (May '46) 25c west of the parking area. Cover all
Black Mountain Agate (Jan. the lower base of the hills. The vast
'51) 50c slope east to the freeway contains chal- SIMPLEST AND BEST <>
* * * Tumblers—4 to choose from—free catalog.
cedony roses, opal nodules, quartz
Planning a "gem and mineral crystals and some onyx float.
vacation"? Among Desert Mag- By taking the pipe line road south
azine's back issues are many to the top of the grade and prospect-
which contain field trip reports ing the west side of the road, you will
(complete with illustrations and find several varieties of semi-precious
maps) to areas in the Southwest stones. •o
that you may be planning to visit. The mountains behind the onyx Wheels, buffs, grits,
Drop us a card mentioning your field contain many old mines and
belts and all lapi-
dary supplies listed
outing destination and we'll mail in free catalog.
you a list of appropriate issues in
which these stories appear, and
copy prices. D E A L E RS A T T E N T 1 0 N
BAROQUE JEWELRY
Mail back issue orders and re- PREFORMS
quests to: BAROQUES BY THE POUND
WRITE FOR WHOLESALE PRICES
Back Issue Department ROY'S ROCK SHOP Free Catalog shows 17 Covington •£>.
DESERT MAGAZINE P.O. BOX 133 TRINIDAD, CALIF. vertical type grinders and polishers.
Palm Desert. Calif. ••-;—».~ 6 Covington Trim Saws
if '" to choose from in latest
ately west of what is now the "city" f Free Catalog.
of Henderson. MINERAL S P E C I M E N S - BOOKS-MICROSCOPES
C O L L E C T I N G S U P P L I E S and C a t a l o g 2 S t
To reach this field today turn west
at the signal lights on the main high-
way through Henderson. Go beyond
W
one stop sign, then turn left at the
corner on which a lumber yard is sit-
0
Select any one of 7
Slab Saws
Covington Free Cata-
from latest
log.
AUGUST, 1959 37
prospects — mostly gold and silver. Drive east from the traffic stops in ate is weathering from many veins in
Some are semi-active. Best time to the heart of Henderson. A short dis- this district.
explore this and the other areas de- tance past the mine park in the first The farther west and south you
scribed in this article is in the very space to the left of the highway, and walk, the steeper the hills. You will
early morning hours. Mid-day can be explore the hills to the north. On the be wiser to skirt some of the more
very uncomfortable in the summer. slope a short distance from the park- precipitous canyons. As you ap-
Always bring plenty of water. ing area you will find a vein of green proach Black Canyon, which now
jasper. Other outcrops and float of holds the upper part of Lake Mohave,
(4) LAS VEGAS WASH GREEN JAS- this material are found in scattered
PER — On the opposite (east) side the terrain becomes downright rugged.
locales over quite a large area. A boat trip up this portion of Lake
of Henderson is a field John Hil-
ton told about in Desert's May '46 To obtain rare specimens you have Mohave provides a never-to-be-for-
issue. Today these "rare gemstones to work. A light sledge and chisel gotten series of ever-changing views.
of the ancients" are on land covered will chip pieces from the tight wall You can launch at Willow Beach Boat
by mining claims, but permission to veins. The float below includes vari- Harbor. Campgrounds, trailer parks,
collect specimens can be obtained ous combinations of agates, jaspers cabins and all other needs for a pleas-
from the adjacent manganese mine's and chalcedony. ant stay are available here. Wherever
superintendent. I had no trouble re- you drive, hike or cruise in the Hoover
(5) BLACK MOUNTAIN AGATE — Dam area, don't be caught short with-
ceiving such permission—in writing.
In the January '51 Desert, Al Ha- out your prospector's pick.—END
worth described one of the largest
mass rock collecting field trips on rec- CALIFORNIA TRAVEL
SHOPPING for PRICE? ord: 320 cars carrying 870 rock- (Continued from page 28)
Immediate Delivery — Prepaid hounds. These folks—plus the thou-
Rings New Adjustable 2 grace- Highgrading and incomplete records make
ful Swirl Ends for cement- sands who have collected in this area accurate production figures impossible, esti-
ing Gold/Rhodium. $1.25 (6) $2.00 doz. before and since the '51 "invasion"— mates of $20-25 million being made for the
Bracelets New Hook and Eye Yellow Aster alone.
Chain Gold/Rhodium. $1.00 (6) $1.80 doz.
have not exhausted the field.
Second big discovery was tungsten at
Key Rings Snake Chain complete To reach this amazing locale drive Atolia in 1904. A belt two miles by a half
Gold/Rhod. $1.55 doz. $8.G5 li-gr. $15.75 gross across Hoover Dam into Arizona. mile held the largest bodies of high grade
Bell Caps 7 Point Gold/Rhod. 25c doz. $1.80 gr. scheelite in the U.S., in 1952 still rated one
Add 10% Fed. Tax. Calif. Residents also add Three miles past the dam, park in the of the nation's principal tungsten sources.
4% Sales Tax flats alongside the highway. The hills Richest spot was the Spud Patch, a mile
FREE CATALOG southeast of town where 100-pound schee-
25c handling charge on orders under $3.00 to the west and south, a half-mile
hike from the highway, still hold plenty lite "potatoes" were found in ancient river
JEWELGEMS by JAY O'DAY channels. Greatest producer was Union
P.O. Box 1000-D 1000 Palms, California of nice material for the collector. Ag- Mine area to the west. P. J. "Pete" Osdick
(Desert, June '59), owner of early claims,
still is a prominent resident.
HIDDEH TREASURES Third great strike was silver, made April
12, 1919, by Jack Nosser and Hamp Wil-
GOLD, SILVER, PRECIOUS METALS with the Famous Model W (/ F
METAL DETECTORS liams while putting up claim corners for
77 Metal Detector. Lightweight, ultra-sensitive, low M^^\ L Kern County Sheriff J. W. Kelly, the latter
cost. None finer. Also GEIGSR COUNTESS for uranigm ^ ^ \ ^ B V B Battery Test Switch • Great Sensitivity and associates forming California Rand
and the VIOLITE for tungsten. INFORMATION FREE ^ I • , , . , .. ,. .
7^,1 / -Superior" yM®Fh\ Head Phones w t h Clear S.gnal Silver Mining Co. Production, say state
3UY VgfeC<tg>faiNSfRUMENTS^Jp^||^f • Easiest of All to Operate
r
officials, was $16,000,000, largest of any
Often Copied — Never Excelled T B B r ™ * ^ single California silver mine. Other strikes
One Nob Control • Low Cost Operation followed and the town of Osdick (now Red
Mountain) was born. Co - discoverer's
MORE ACCURATE, it's the first METAL DETECTOR designed SPE- nephew, James Nosser of Joburg, now is
CIFICALLY for detecting placer gold, nuggets, and other small metal justice of the peace.
objects. Depth range 7 feet—comes complete, ready to use. A treasury of the District's past and
present can be seen at Desert Museum,
MODEL 27^-instructions included $119.95 Randsburg, open week ends and holidays.
MODEL 711—with 21 ft. depth range $138.50 Curator is old-timer Max Hess. Area resi-
dents have for 10 years sponsored Rand
MINERALIGHT—Complete line for $14.95 up to $114.00 District Old Timers' Reunion in September,
including gem and mineral show, mine tours,
Lapidary Equipment & Supplies • Tools • Gems • Jewelry gold panning, rock drilling, desert paintings,
Chemical Kits, Mortars & Pestles • Picks • Books • Etc. shows, dinner, dance. This draws many
old-timers and others interested in mining
Distributors for the LAKEWOOD CHEMICAL KIT and Blowpipe Kits and desert history. Accommodations include
two or three hotels, eating places, service
(See Them at Your Local Dealers) stations and garages.—END
Send for Free Literature
BLOWPIPE TESTS • BEAD & FLAME TESTS
CHEMICAL TESTS MINERALIGHT'
The Lakewood Chemical Kit can be used in connection WHAT MINERAL IS IT?
with all the principal texts on minerals such as Dana,
Pough, O. C. Smith, Pennfleld, Duke's Course, and many Fluorescent magic quickly identifies many
others. The Lakewood Chemical Kit, because of the acids minerals by beautiful unseen colors.
it contains, is not recommended for persons under 18 Fascinating and thrilling colors found every-
years old. where by rockhounds and vacationers.
Authoritative booklet "MINERALIGHTS, Rocks
domfiton. cf(ock and Rainbows" answers key questions about
fluorescent minerals. For free copy and
1405 S. LONG BEACH BLVD., COMPTON, CALIF. name of nearest dealer write Dept. DM-8.
PRICE-$36.00 NEwmark 2-9096
Express Only South of Compton Blvd.
u > ULTRA-VIOLET PRODUCTS. Inc.
SAN GABRIFL, CALIFORNIA
38 DESERT MAGAZINE
NEVADA TRAVEL dent Peak rise to the east. There are trout article on tramways to appear in this maga-
to be caught in small streams out from the zine. In the January '58 issue he described
(Continued from page 29) the Bat Cave tram over Arizona's Granite
Crossing, though Quinn River itself is dry
Gaining its most northerly point, scarce- in August. Gorge.
ly 10 miles from the Oregon border, 8-A A spectacular desert valley brings 8-A to
bears east; not far from here is the entrance its intersection with U.S. 95, and Winne-
to Sheldon Antelope Refuge whose person- mucca is mostly a downhill coast from this
nel will be glad to explain the workings of point. Winnemucca's Nevada State Rodeo
this faraway game preserve to you. is all that a rodeo should be, in the heart of
cattle ranch country where riding is still a
On toward Denio (which is five miles off profession. The town by the Humboldt
the road itself) 8-A goes through Thousand River "goes Western" for the rodeo, but
Creek Ranch lands, past rocky promontor- 10-to-l those jeans, bright shirts and wide
ies and rough hills and bends to the south- hats are everyday garb for more than half
east toward Quinn River Crossing. Hills of the people present. Winnemucca offers
the Pine Forest Range border the highway plenty of hotel, motel and restaurant ac-
(8-A is definitely a highway here!) to the commodation for its guests as well as a
west, and the crags of Split Peak and Tri- really western welcome that is a fitting
climax to 8-A's promising miles.—END
HIGHLAND PARK
THE LAPIDARY'S
DESERT AUTHORS
Highland Park Power-feed vocation and a hiker by avocation. His The GOLDAK Company
Slab Saws. Sizes range story in this month's Desert, "We Hiked the
from 12" to 24". Metal Inyo Bucket Brigade," is his second feature 1559 W. Glenoaks Blvd. Glendale, Calif.
or Lucite hood.
AUGUST, 1959 39
FOSSILS. 12 different for $2. Other prices on
request. Will buy, sell or trade. Museum of
40 DESERT MAGAZINE
VISIT GOLD Pan Rock Shop. Beautiful sphere • INDIAN GOODS • MISCELLANEOUS
material, mineral specimens, choice crystals,
cutting materials, jewelry, bolo ties, baroques, FROM OLD Comanche hunting grounds: Indian
LADY GODIVA "The World's Finest Beautifier."
spheres, bookends, paperweights, cabochons, artifacts, buffalo skulls. Mounted horns, West-
For women who wish to become beautiful,
faceted stones, fluorescents, jewelry findings, ern lamps. Prices on request. Thunderbird
for women who wish to remain beautiful. An
lapidary equipment and supplies, Navajo rugs, Trading Post, Highway 80 at Brazos River,
outstanding desert cream. For information,
custom sawing—by the inch or shares. Saws, Millsap, Texas.
write or call Lola Barnes, 963 N. Oakland,
up to 30-inch diameters. John and Etta James, Pasadena 6, Calif., or phone SYcamore 4-2378.
proprietors, 2020 North Carson Street on High- AUTHENTIC INDIAN jewelry, Navajo rugs, Chi-
way 395 north end of town. Carson City, Nev. mayo blankets, squaw boots, old Indian col-
lection. Closed Tuesdays. Pow-Wow Indian FIND FLUORESCENT minerals the easy way. New
NOW OPEN—Jacumba Rock and Shell Shop, Trading Post, 19967 Ventura Blvd., East Wood- detector operates in daylight without batteries.
P.O. Box 34, Jacumba, California. "Where old land Hills, Calif. Open Sundays. Fits in pocket and eliminates dark box. Price
friends meet new ones." $12.50. Free brochure, Essington Products
THREE FINE prehistoric Indian war arrowheads and Engineering, Box 4174, Coronado Station,
DESERT ROCKS, woods, jewelry. Residence rear $1. Flint scalping knife $1. Rare flint thunder- Santa Fe. New Mexico.
of shop. Rockhounds welcome. Mile west on bird $3. All for only $4. Catalog free. Arrow-
U.S. 66. McShan's Gern Shop and Desert head, Glenwood, Arkansas.
MICROSCOPES, NEW and used, for professionals
Museum. P.O. Box 22, Needles, California. and hobbyists. Telescopes, scientific supplies.
FASCINATING INDIAN flint chipping! Easy,
profitable. Complete kit of tools, materials Write for price list. Peninsula Scientific, 2421
SHAMROCK ROCK Shop, 1115 La Cadena Drive,
and instructions: $2. Instruction booklet only: El Camino, Palo Alto, California.
Riverside, California. Phone OVerland 6-3956.
Specimens, minerals, slabs, findings, etc. 75c. Guaranteed satisfaction. Lobo, Box 144-
MD, Carlsbad, New Mexico. WHEN YOU think of a squaw dress, think of
JEWELRY PARTS-why pay retail? Catalog lists the Buffalo Trading Post! Authentic originals,
bracelets, sweater clips, tools, bails, cuff links, SELLING 100,000 Indian relics. 100 nice ancient as colorful as the Indian lore that inspired
bell caps, cement, earrings, jump rings, chains, arrowheads $25. Grooved stone tomahawk $3. them. Write for free brochure. Buffalo Trad-
neck clasps, key chains, lariat slides, tips or Perfect spearhead over 8 inches long $20. ing Post, P.O. Box 697, 20115 Highway 18,
cords, as well as ring mountings, pendants, Indian skull $25. Ancient water bottle from Apple Valley, California.
brooches, silver, and lapidary machines. grave $7. List free. Lear's, Glenwood, Ark.
DESERT LOVERS, collect sand. 50 specimens:
Prompt and safe delivery assured. All items
INDIAN RELICS, arrowhead jewelry, gifts. Free $5.50; 100: $10; trial: 25c. Also plastic boxes
sold on money-back guarantee. Send 4c stamp
folder. Chief Blackhawk, Kennewick, 7, Wash. for collections. Lor-Lew Design, P.O. Box 324,
to cover postage on your catalog. Rock Craft,
North Haven, Connecticut.
Box 424A-1, Temple City, California. FINE RESERVATION-MADE Navajo and Zuni jew-
elry. Old pawn. Hundreds of fine old bas- INTERNATIONAL TRAVELALL, 1956, 6 cyl. 35,-
DESERT LOVERS! Stop at Roberta's in the ghost kets, moderately priced, in excellent condition.
town of Garlock. Rough, slabs, jewelry, min- 000 miles. Excellent tires, good mechanical
Navajo rugs, Chimayo homespuns, artifacts. A condition, $1335. One owner vehicle. A
erals, desert paintings, artistic arrangements collector's paradise! Open daily 10 to 5:30,
of desert materials. Cactus and succulent liv- good desert camper. Box S, Desert Magazine,
closed Mondays. Buffalo Trading Post, High- Palm Desert, California.
ing arrangements, antiques, lots of fine des- way 18, Apple Valley, California.
ert purple glass, primitive collectors' items. 1955 4-WHEEL drive Willys jeep. Lock hubs,
Free maps of Last Chance Canyon, and any
information we have of the locality. Water • WESTERN MERCHANDISE good rubber. $1050. Box S, Desert Magazine,
Palm Desert, California.
available if you wish to park a trailer. 12 GHOST TOWN items: Sun-colored glass, amethyst
miles east of Red Rock Canyon and Highway to royal purple; ghost railroads materials, CHIA AS featured in article, "Hot Cakes and
6, via Randsburg Road, or 8 miles west of tickets; limited odd items from camps of the Chia" for sale—limited quantity, $7.50 Ib.
Randsburg and Highway 395. Roberta's, Box '60s. Write your interest—Box 64-D, Smith, Inquiries to Bruce Gregory, Box 147, French
C, Randsburg, California. Nevada. Camp, California.
• REAL ESTATE • CAMPING EQUIPMENT VACATION THE scenic Marathon route. Moki
Ruins. Green and Colorado river tours by
THREE 1/3 acre building sites near Salton Sea ROCKHOUND SHOULDER bags: specially made, power boat. Contact James Irvine, Green
with fresh soft well water and other utilities. nylon stitched, No. 8 white duck 12x12x5" River, Utah. JO 4-3545.
Total price $2900 for all three. Ronald L. with pockets and pick holder. $4 postpaid.
Johnson, Broker, Box 162, Thermal, Calif. Alfred Lepore, 994 E. Holt Avenue, Pomona, 4-WHEEL DRIVE 1956 GMC Aluminum camper,
California. low mileage, about half original cost. John
80 ACRES near Lockhart, level, $125 acre, 25% Shirk, 151 Laurel Street, Arcadia, California.
down. 20 acres Highway 395, level, north of EL 8-5825.
Adelanto, $150 acre, 10% down. 2V2 acres • MAPS
west of Adelanto, level, $1495, 10% down. BRAZILIAN AGATE Letter Openers. These beau-
SECTIONIZED COUNTY maps - San Bernardino
2'/2 acres Lancaster on paved highway, shal- tiful paperknives are a must for your desk.
$1.50; Riverside $ 1 ; Imperial, small $1, large
low water, level, $2495, 10% down. Dr. $4, $5, and $6 each, many colors and patterns.
$2; San Diego 50c; Inyo, western half $1.25,
Dodge, 1804 Lincoln Blvd., Venice, Calif. Francis Hoover, 11526 Burbank Blvd., North
eastern half, $1.25; Kern $1.25; other Califor-
nia counties $1.25 each. Nevada counties $1 Hollywood, California.
CINDER BLOCK retreat in beautiful, growing
Lucerne Valley. Modern plumbing, Formica each. Topographic maps of all mapped west-
PUZZLES—REAL stickers, 5 and 6 point stars,
kitchen, electricity—plus—three adjoining 1V4 ern areas. Westwide Maps Co., 114 W. Third
Latin and Tau crosses, squares, triangles, etc.,
acre lots for investment. $8,500 total price. St., Los Angeles, California.
permanent material, sealed diagrams included.
Terms. Some models less. Information, Wil-
• MINING = Suitable presents for all ages, neatly boxed.
liam Russell, Box 451, Lucerne Valley or Vic- Choice of two $1.00 postpaid. Lane, 900
torville 7-7493. In Pasadena call SYcamore ASSAYS. COMPLETE, accurate, guaranteed. High- Summit Drive, South Pasadena, California.
2-7101. est quality spectrographic. Only $5 per sam-
ple. Reed Engineering, 620-R So. Inglewood
70,400 ACRE mountain ranch, top rated, beau-
tiful, less than $10 an acre. 800 cattle at Ave., Inglewood, California.
market price. Myrlan G. Brown, Strout Realty,
ASSAYS
ULTRAVIOLET LAMPS, equipment, accessories for
Box 96, St. Johns, Arizona. Phone Office mineralights, prospectors, hobbyists. Free
FE 7-4966-Res. FE 7-4334. literature. Radiant Manufacturers, DM, Cam-
bria Heights 11, New York.
DESERT ACREAGE and lots, improved, 6 acres
in China Lake suitable for trailer park, $8000, WESTERN MINING News, monthly, for miners, Complete • Accurate
Need one here. 2 acres Hesperia, trees, a prospectors, claim owners, $2 per year. Sam- Guaranteed
steal at $1500 1/2 acre. One of the first and ple copy 25c. Box 787, Sonora, Calif.
best Salton Sea, $3,295. 29 Palms highway Highest quality spectrographic.
lot, $3000, mountain lot, $2500. All bargains. GOLD AND silver indicators also the Mexican
Edith Billmyer, 3282V2 Bay Side Lane, San dip needle, also other instruments to locate
Only $5 per sample
Diego 8, California. gold and silver. For more information write
Box 5 1 , Plant City, Florida. REED ENGINEERING
WILL SELL 6-room home cheap, furnished, elec-
tricity, near post office, bus line, store. Other $1 FOR gold areas, 25 California counties.
620-R SO. INGLEWOOD AVE.
bargains. Send stamped envelope for details Geology, elevations. Pans $2.75, $2.25. Poke INGLEWOOD 1, CALIFORNIA
to: Box 222, Chloride, Arizona. $1. Fred Mark, Box 801, Ojai, California.
AUGUST, 1959 41
uetuseen you
By RANDALL HENDERSON
HIS SUMMER Cyria and I have been spending much Competition carried to its vicious extreme is war.
T of our time at the little cottage we built on the rim
of the desert in the San Jacinto mountains. Our
closest neighbors are the deer which come down to graze
History does not record that any wars have ever resulted
from cooperation. And so, in my dream of the better
world of tomorrow which will emerge from the revolu-
in our front yard nearly every day, the rabbits, ground tionary changes taking place all over the globe today,
squirrels, skunks, lizards and many species of birds. We including the United States, the inequities of extreme
would like to be accepted as cooperative members of this capitalistic competition no less than those of communistic
wildlife community—and we have made some progress, tyranny, will have become modified to conform to the
for one of the does will now walk up and drink from the natural laws of mutual aid—and then we will have peace
hose Cyria holds in her hand as she waters the trees. on earth.
When Charles Darwin published his Origin of Species In the meantime, Cyria and I are trying to create a
setting forth his theory of evolution, he conceived of little cooperative community of our own at the mountain
Nature as a world of conflict in which life was a ruthless cabin. Since we cannot speak the skunk language we are
competitive struggle for survival. Today, while nearly all careful not to intrude on their domain, and they show us
studious persons accept the evolutionary theory of origin the same respect. And since the deer have a different
and progress of life on this earth, continuing research in concept of property rights than we have, we don't threaten
the field of biology has convinced many of the scientists them with harm when they nibble the bark off our fruit
that Darwin placed too much emphasis on the factor of trees. We just build a fence around the trees. It has
competition. They hold that mutual aid is a more im- been a delightful experience.
portant influence in the evolution of species than com- * * *
petitive struggle. They recognize the validity of conflict
A correspondent from the Pacific coast writes to ask
in the progressive development of species, but they offer
where he may find a good health location on the desert.
convincing proof that cooperation plays an even more
He wants dry air, lots of sunshine, no extremes of tem-
important role. For those interested in further study of
perature, no sandstorms, and plenty of water. I could
this basic problem I would suggest Darwin, Competition
only answer him that as far as I know, there is no such
and Cooperation by Ashley Montagu of Rutgers Univer-
place on earth. And if there were, it would be a very
sity (1952) and Peter Farb's Living Earth just published.
unhealthy place to live. The human body is endowed
All this is of interest to you and me because the most with adaptive functions which need to be exercised—
basic problem of our existence is one of adjustment to the otherwise the body grows soft, and susceptible to many
natural laws of the universe. The old laissez-faire doc- kinds of ailments.
trine of economics—the original free competitive enter- That is why the leaders in the advance of world
prise system of today—was based on the Darwin idea of civilization have come mostly from the cold and temperate
competitive struggle-—every fellow for himself and the zones. The tropics have never produced great teachers
devil take the hindmost. The fallacy of that theory as or statesmen. Jesus of Nazareth, whom I regard as the
applied to human affairs today is evidenced by the extent greatest teacher of all time, lived in a desert where the
to which it has been modified by the nations of the free summer temperatures fairly sizzle.
world. Federal subsidies, social security, anti-trust laws, I recall reading a book on this subject. The author
tariff and quota restrictions, federal aid to the weak and emphasized the need for human beings to occasionally get
under-privileged — all these are humanitarian measures out of their habitual ruts and do hard unpleasant tasks—
designed to modify Darwin's law of the jungle as applied because their adaptive functions need that kind of tonic.
to human society. He suggested that if you live in the lowlands you should
The most worthwhile achievements in man's world— climb a mountain occasionally; if you work at a high
just as in the world of Nature—have been accomplished pressure job, go out and camp alone in the wilderness
by mutual aid. Our churches, our schools, Rotary clubs, for a few days; if you sleep in a soft bed it would be good
chambers of commerce, credit unions, producer and con- tonic to crawl out and spend a night on the hard floor
sumer co-ops — these are all cooperative organizations once in a while.
designed for cultural and economic mutual aid purposes. I know this will not be a popular formula—but the
The Russians regard their U.S.S.R. as a cooperative medicines and diets which the doctor prescribes are sel-
society, but they have a radically different definition of dom very pleasant either. One of the reasons why the
the word than we have. Their concept of cooperation is desert is a healthy place for normal persons is that it does
mutual aid imposed by the state by force and deception. have extremes of temperature. And as for the sandstorms,
Our English language definition of cooperation implies think what a foul place this earth would be without the
voluntary association and complete integrity. winds.
42 DESERT MAGAZINE
Piifji