Desert Magazine 1946 April
Desert Magazine 1946 April
Desert Magazine 1946 April
INDIAN CRAFTS AND LORE— D-l List We suggest that you also order a loose-leaf
binder to preserve these magazines for instant ref-
Daughter of the Snake Clan. Map. erence. Binders holding 12 copies will be sent for
Mrs. White Mountain Smith Aug.'41
$1.25 each.
Drum Maker of Cochiti. Betty Woods Jan.'42
Rain Sing. Charles Kelly ...Sep.'42
Trail to the Healing Waters of Tosido. Map.
Van Valkenburgh Oct.'42
Christmas Legend of the Navajo. Van Valkenburgh ....Dec.'42
I Saw the Red Ant Chant. Richard Van Valkenburgh ...Jul.'43 El Centre California
APRIL, 1946 3
You think the desert's lonely, pard, but 'tain't, a There's something saying to you "Come!" and
£u*e single bit,
You always miss it mighty hard when you're
something bids you go,
Because those arid lands are Home—the only
By E. A. BRININSTOOL
away from it. Home you know!
Its very vastness seems to cheer, and lure you on
and on, Its mesas stretch for endless miles, far, far, where
Where rosy streaks of light appear to tinge the brown buttes stand,
East at dawn. And out across its grim defiles gleam ocean-
waves of sand.
Its wide wastes reach a hand to you across its The yucca-blossoms nod, snow-white, amid the
sand-dunes deep, desert bloom,
Its sagebrush billows call to you off where the And on the star-lit summer night drifts rich and
dim trails creep. rare perfume!
Its cactus-covered mesas seem like some fair And so I say the desert wild just weaves a charm
paradise, and spell;
And every day is just a dream beneath fair, You feel that you are Nature's child when once
smiling skies. you know it well.
And down along its parched expanse, where It beckons, beckons every day, 'neath bluest skies
sluggish rattlers crawl, above,
And phantom waters gleam and dance, and coy- And in its own enticing way, it woos—and
otes wail and call, wins—your love!
/ y L L NAVAJO rugs are genuine!" "All Navajo rugs are genuine," she with a silver button. She sat on her sheep-
f / One of the great art stores in was saying, and her audience listened with skin rug and plied her thread with all the
New York had advertised a South- respect while she told them salient facts dignity of a portrait painter.
west exhibit, and I took a postman's holi- about Navajo weaving. Adele's smooth "So here we are, together again," Adele
day to join the visitors gathered around a black hair was bound in the typical club mused. Her hours of exhibition weaving
Navajo loom swung on juniper posts. It at the back of her neck, and kept in place were ended for the day and we drank our
held a half finished rug. In the background by wrappings of red yarn. I wondered if coffee in a famous cafe and watched the
was a hogan, and the painted scenery any of her listeners knew that somewhere restless crowds surge by. "And I'll bet you
showed a sage studded valley reaching tucked among the dark strands a turquoise are just as homesick as I am!" she added.
to blue green mountains. In front of the was hidden to guard her against the evil Just as easily as that we resumed our
loom, surrounded by Hopi baskets filled spirits of this great city. She wore a brown interrupted friendship. I first knew Adele
with colored yarn, Adele Haspah sat and plush jacket fastened with dozens of hand- when she was a student at Sherman Insti-
calmly pulled woolen strands into place. made silver buttons. Her skirts were volu- tute. She was ten years old then, a very
She seemed as much at home as though she minous billows of orange sateen banded rebellious young Navajo snatched from her
were in front of her own hogan watching with black and red braid, and on her feet beloved Arizona desert. Those were the
her flocks graze on the hills of Ganado. were buckskin moccasins held at the ankle days when we were trying to make the
APRIL, 194
Indians into poor imitations of the white
race by ignoring their way of life. Adele
steadfastly refused to lose her identity un-
der a thin veneer of civilization. When
colored crayons were placed before her she
drew a hogan with grazing sheep sur-
rounding it. When she was older and the
authorities thought she was educated
enough to be sent home she was asked to
write an essay on her ambitions and aspira-
tions. She wrote one sentence: "I'm going
home to my own people and weave
blankets!" She did.
"Your rugs are always good, Adele,'
the trader said. "Why don't you teach the
other weavers how to wash and dye the
wool, and string the warp to make their
rugs firm and even? I will pay you for the
time you spend with them." This trader,
who has just published a booklet on the
special type of blankets made in his region,
takes little credit for his work. But through
his suggestion Navajo rugs again became a
matter of special pride with their makers.
Adele would not leave her mother's
hogan to teach. Those women who really
wanted to improve their weaving must
bring their wool to her and prepare it and
weave it where she lived. The trader had
a guest hogan built nearby and it was al-
ways occupied.
The Navajo loom has changed little
since weaving has been known among
the Indians. While the Navajo are acknow-
ledged to be the finest weavers of hand-
loomed rugs, they did not learn to weave
This Navajo girl is holding a bunch of fleece just clipped from sheep raised on the
wool until late in the 17th century. We
are told that they wandered down to the Navajo reservation. Navajo Agency photo.
southland some eight hundred years ago
from the far north, and that they were sheep which became their mainstay. It coarse thick and heavy blankets are woven
wearing shredded bark and skin garments. was through slaughtering their flocks that on rude looms such as the Pueblo Indians
They did not associate themselves with Kit Carson's army forced the Navajo to go use. Many are so closely woven they hold
any group of Indians, but pillaged and into exile in payment for their repeated water. The colors are blue, red, black and
robbed both Mexican and Indian villages crimes against the white men. Before this yellow woven in bands and diamonds.
until they had accumulated sufficient exodus one historian reports: "This north- Occasionally a blanket is seen which is
worldly goods and followers to form a ern tribe stays in one place tending their quite handsome and costs at the same time
distinct tribe. Thus was the Navajo tribe the extravagant price of forty or fifty dol-
evolved. lars; these however are very scarce, and
With the coming of the Spanish Con- are generally woven for a special purpose."
quistadors, came flocks of sheep and herds That was the status of the Navajo rug
of horses, the first seen in the Southwest. when, in 1868, the Navajo were permitted
The sheep were to feed the soldiers and to return to their towering mountains, their
some of them were given to the peaceful Painted Desert and sage covered plains.
pueblo tribes, none to the Navajo. But the Each returning Navajo was given four
Navajo got them just the same. When the sheep and two goats by the Government.
Indian uprising came in 1680 and the The troops doled out rations until the Na-
terrified pueblo Indians went into hiding Carding is hard work. Arms and vajo again could support themselves. The
from vengeful Spaniards their flocks were hands cramp before it is finished. quickest way to solve their economic prob-
left to shift for themselves. Then the Na- Two carders like the above are used lem was to weave blankets as quickly as
vajo took them, and they also accepted —a handful of wool is put on one possible and sell them to the soldiers.
Hopi families who drove their flocks ahead card and the other is raked across it. Trading posts, which sprung up near mili-
of them into Navajo canyons for protec- tary points introduced cotton warp from
tion. Some of these pueblos stayed and eastern mills and sold it to the weavers.
flocks. They manufacture coarse blankets The Navajo rug lost its beauty and worth.
joined the Navajo tribe, and we believe in an amount excessive for their needs.
they taught the Navajo the art of weaving They trade the surplus in New Mexico Those get-rich-quick traders had their
with wool. The Navajo today use exactly for food and goods." Jonathan Letterman brief day and departed. They were replaced
the same type of crude loom carried to of the Smithsonian wrote: "The spinning by frontiersmen definitely interested in
their country by the fleeing pueblos. and weaving is all done by hand and by the Navajo rug for which they traded
The Navajo settled down to become the women. The thread is made entirely goods. In exchange for the merchandise
herdsmen and take care of the defenseless by hand and is coarse and uneven. The with which they stocked their fort-like log
and stone stores they accepted sacks of to handle the wool exactly as I say; they
wool, live lambs, pieces of hand fashioned must make their own dyes when vegetable
copper and silver jewelry and the Navajo colors are used. Each weaver will be free
rugs. The Navajo brought them wildcat to choose the colors used in her rug."
pelts and tanned deer hides. Where Adele, great weaver that she is, taught
once they had traded their blankets to the her disciples the importance of the right
Utes for horses and hides, and to the Hopis sort of wool for hand looming. These
for dried peaches and baskets, they now native sheep yield less than three pounds
turned to the white market. Traders began of wool, and only the portion growing on
to send blankets to their eastern friends, the back is suitable for spinning and weav-
and they often shipped bales of them to ing. Wool from this type of sheep has long
eastern markets to be sold on commission. almost straight fibers and is comparatively
The quick half cotton rug was not popular free from grease, which makes it less likely
now, so once again the Navajo turned back to hold sand and dirt. Being greaseless it
to their hand spun warp and native dyes. can be cleansed with the suds made by
In 1890 Navajo rug sales amounted to beating yucca roots into a pulp and mixing
$40,000. Fifty years later the figure was with water. And speaking of water, it is
$385,000. so scarce on the Navajo reservation there
The Indian Service, realizing the eco- is little to spare either for washing or dye-
nomic value of weaving to the tribe, in ing wool.
1932 established classes in the schools. The Women coming to Adele for post grad-
finest weavers from the tribe of 54,000 uate instruction in how to make fine rugs
Navajo were induced to take charge of found that they were expected to shear
the instruction and keep alive this vital the wool from the sheep's back, pick it
craft. Adele Haspah refused to leave the free of trash, card it, spin it, wash and dye
reservation. She said: it with colors of their own making, or with
"I will teach any girl or woman what I the Dupont and other commercial dyes
know if she will come here to my mother's approved by the Indian Arts and Crafts
home and work with the materials at hand. board. All these things must be mastered
School weaving is made too easy for the before they were permitted to begin actual
girls. After all they will have to do most weaving.
of their weaving here on the reservation There is much more labor involved in
and they should learn how to manage with making yarn than in weaving it. Usually
facilities here. The girls must be willing several women get together to help one
another with the shearing. Wool for weav-
Navajo spindle usually is a homemade ing is kept apart from the wool intended
product constructed of tough wood, for sale at the trading post. Over a num-
polished with sandstone, then buffed ber of years spent around the Navajo reser-
with doeskin until satiny. This is vation I made notes on the preparation of
the only tool the women use for their wool for weaving. Most of these were
spinning—and it makes the right arm jotted down while watching Adele and
very tired. her pupils.
APRIL, 1 946
To the women and girls usually jails the responsibility oj herding the jamily sheep
and goats. This Navajo girl, wearing the ever present blanket, is standing bejore her
home, a hogan made oj logs and earth. Navajo Agency photo.
The long fibered wool from the back of shawl-wise over their heads while herding the bottom. Then the tip of the stick is
the sheep was picked and fluffed until no sheep in the hot sun. shaped until it will turn easily on the hard
burrs or twigs remained in it. Then it was After the wool is carded it is spun. Most ground, rather like a top's spinning. The
carded. The carders are two flat pieces of of Adele's pupils preferred carding and entire spindle is rubbed again and again
wood about five inches wide and ten inches tried to let the other women do the spin- with buckskin which seems to impart some
long, with a handle on the back of each ning, but Adele firmly insisted that each oil to the wood. •
one. On the front side of each board are woman should spin the yarn she was to A strip of the carded wool is twisted
rows and rows of wire teeth set in leather use in her rug. The trader who would buy around the top end of the spindle, and the
which is nailed to the board. A handful of the rugs stood behind Adele in all her worker gives it a brisk twirl while she
wool is put on one card and the other decisions and there was no appeal. Spin- holds on to the end of the wool with her
raked across it. This is done time and again ning makes the right arm very tired. Here left hand, pulling it cautiously and stretch-
until the curl is taken out of the wool and is where the brain and the eye and the ing it with little jerks until it has about
the fibers lie straight. hand must have perfect coordination if the doubled in length and thinned proportion-
When the wool is straight it shapes itself project is to be successful. The only tool ately. The next roll of wool is dextrously
into a roll maybe a foot long and as big used by Navajo women in their spinning twisted on to the spun yarn and the twirl-
around as a finger. This roll is laid on a is a homemade spindle constructed of two ing and stretching and jerking begin
cloth and more wool put on the cards. The pieces of wood. The first piece is about again. Very seldom do the strands separate.
carding is hard work and the arms and the size of a saucer and is round and thin. I picked up a spindle one day while
hands cramp and tire long before it is It is made of tough wood, usually oak, and talking with Adele and began to try my
finished. The hot sun makes the wool smell polished with a sand stone, then buffed skill.
strong, and Adele had a big finished rug with doeskin until it gleams like satin. "You are a Hopi," she said, watching
swung between two pinon trees to shelter There is a hole in the exact center about my hands. When I asked what she meant
the workers. I suspected her of placing her large enough to take a lead pencil, and she explained that the Navajo spinner
beautiful work there to encourage the through this is driven a straight stick per- gives a left hand twist to the thread while
women in their task. Each carder had a haps 20 inches long. This part of the Hopi women spin their yarn right handed
clean turkish towel over her full cotton spindle is made of seasoned willow, dried like white thread. Even when bayeta
skirts to protect them from the wool. Turk- and polished smooth as glass. The round cloth was raveled by Indians to be respun
ish towels are something quite special with disk of wood is pushed down on the tap- and woven into their blankets the Navajo
Navajo women. They often use them ered stick until it rests some six inches from turned theirs backwards from the way it
APRIL, 1 946
Sez Hard DESERT QUIZ
This quiz is just a little game to be played by those
with eager, curious minds. You'll miss some of the
answers, but it is worthwhile to make the effort
Rock Shorty anyway. If you answer less than 10 you are still in the tenderfoot class. A score of
15 rates you as a better-than-average student of the desert. Any score over 15 is
exceptional. Answers are on page 44.
of
1—In the wildlife of the desert the Roadrunner is—A lizard A bird
Death A species of antelope A rodent
' 2—The gem stone most commonly used by desert Indians in making jewelry is—
Valley Agate Onyx Malachite Turquoise
By WALT MILLER 3—Window Rock, Arizona, is on the reservation of the Navajo Hopi
Papago Pima
"Yep, they's a lot o' them desert 4—The community of Chimayo in New Mexico is famous mainly for its—
tortoises down Chuckawalla way," Pottery Weaving Ceremonials Silverwork
Shorty was saying. "An' if I ever
caught a feller carryin' one of them 5—Oliver LaFarge is best known as—A writer Indian trader
away fer pets I'd blow him full o' Mining engineer Colorado river boatman
holes. They belongs on the desert." 6—The Indian mission at Ganado, Arizona is—Catholic Mormon
Shorty got out his jackknife and Episcopalian Presbyterian
picked up the odd-shaped piece of
wood he was whittling, while the 7—Furnace Creek Inn is located in—Death Valley Grand Canyon national
tourists on the porch of the Inferno park- Nevada's Valley of Fire Bryce Canyon, Utah
store waited for him to go on. 8—Rampart cave, known as the prehistoric home of the Giant Sloth, is located
"Them tortoises never hurt no- in—Arizona Nevada California Utah
body," he added. "An' I remember 9—The Balsa was used by primitive Indians to—Kill game Pacify their
one time when they wuz mighty gods As a shroud for the dead Transportation on water
helpful critters. They saved me a
long stretch o' walkin' when the sun 10—The Enchanted Mesa of New Mexico, according to legend, was occupied
wuz hot enough to blister a lizard's in prehistoric times by the—Zuni tribesmen Acoma Apache
feet. Penitentes
"One o' them minin' engineers 11—Azurite is an ore of—Iron Aluminum Copper Zinc
wanted me to show him some man-
ganese claims I had down in the Old 12—The color of the blossom of Encelia, or Incense bush, is—Pink
Woman mountains. He had one o' White Yellow Lavender
them station wagons, an' he said it 13—To reach Nevada's Valley of Fire from Las Vegas, your general direction
would go anyplace. He wuz always would be—North South.- East West
lookin' fer shortcuts. Said he could 14—The Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial of the desert is staged each August at—
almost climb trees with that gas bug- Santa Fe. Phoenix Holbrook Gallup
gy o' his'n, and as fer sand dunes—
he'd take 'em in high. 15—Palm Springs, California, is located at the base of—San Jacinto peak
"Well, the shortest way to the Old Mt. Whitney San Gorgonio peak Telescope peak
Womans was up Bull-whacker can- 16—Water taken from the Colorado river to serve Los Angeles is pumped from—
yon where there used to be an old Lake Mead Imperial dam reservoir Lake Havasu Blythe
road until it washed out. It was intake
sandy goin' but after all that talk I
figgered we'd have no trouble. 17—Pauline Weaver is known in desert history as a—Stage coach driver
"But that car wasn't so good. Conqueror of the Apaches Guide for Coronado. Trapper and moun-
About two-thirds the way up the tain man.
canyon the wheels started chatterin' 18—Meal used by the Hopi and other desert tribes in ceremonials generally is
and then the thing stopped. And made from— Corn Mesquite beans Chia seed Pinon nuts
when he tried to start it just began 19—Salt River valley, Arizona, gets its irrigation water mainly from—Elephant
buryin' itself in the sand. Butte dam Boulder dam Roosevelt dam Coolidge dam
"So we got out an' I went lookin' 20—Dick Wick Hall's famous frog that never learned to swim lived at—
for some brush, and in the shade of Yuma Searchlight Salome Hassayampa
a clay bank I saw a couple of tortoises
dozin'. They got hard shells, yu
know, and so I brought 'em over and
we jacked up the hind wheels and we
put one o' them reptiles under each time, and I knowed a little spring started out. An' jest as we came
wheel. Easier'n cuttin' brush or pack- over the bank about a half mile away around a bend near the top o' the
in' boulders. The engineer thought so we took the canteens and went grade there was them tortoises plod-
that was a pretty good idea so I hunts over to git some water. When we din' along with the station wagon
around and finds a couple o' more got back that blankety-blank car wuz on their backs.
tortoises fer the front wheels. gone. Nowhere in sight. But we "I tell yu them tortoises belongs
"We wuz short o' water by that see'd a trail goin' up the canyon, so on the desert, and nowheres else."
OME TIME AGO there was a little While we waited I read a sign on the running boats on the Colorado for years.
argument in Desert's letters depart- door stating that they were all out of gro- More recently he operated one of the boats
ment about the term desert rat. As ceries but still had a few items of general chartered by the governor of Arizona to
far as I am concerned (and that goes for merchandise for sale. Also that the post- stop operations during the early days of
all my desert friends), it's a name to be office could be reached through the back Parker dam construction.
proud of. The other day I met a couple of door. We were expecting most anything Desert Magazine readers may recall the
chaps who claim the distinction of being when the door swung open—and what we comic opera situation when the "Arizona
both desert rats and river rats and are saw was a 30-foot boat nearly completed. Navy" with its two-gun boats steamed up
proud of their titles. Their names are We told the men who greeted us that we the Colorado river to call the bluff of the
Tommy Kinder and Fred Doerner. How were from the Desert magazine. Our wel- United States. Well, Tommy has been
we made their acquaintance and taught come was almost overwhelming. Fred called the Admiral of the Navy ever since,
them the rudiments of rock collecting is Doerner has been a Desert reader for years. although both the Julia B and the Nellie
one of those yarns which could happen no- He knew little about rocks but said that Joe, having served their purpose, are on
where else but in our southwestern desert if they were along the river anywhere, his the bottom today.
country. partner Tommy Kinder would know about Tommy is a sportsman and was so busy
It was just getting dark when Harlow them for Tommy has been on the river for telling about bass fishing, goose hunting
Jones and I pulled up in front of the gen- years. Fred has spent a great part of his and duck shooting, I found it hard to get
eral store in Earp, California. I hadn't been life on the rivers of the world including in a word about rocks. Sure, Tommy knew
along this part of the Colorado river since the Amazon, Yukon, Yang Tze and the where there were lots of pretty rocks. He
the Los Angeles aqueduct was under con- Mississippi. He's an international river wasn't certain whether they would polish
struction. The roads had changed. I didn't rat. or not but he sometimes picked up a few
know a soul in town. The doors of the He wanted us to meet his partner, so we for his little girl. He and Fred offered to
store were closed but a light shown inside vent to Tommy's cabin at the boat landing. take us down the river the next morning to
so we knocked. On the way he told us Kinder had been a beach and an island where there were
APRIL, 1946 11
The rock hunters beached their boat on a gravel bar for a snack of lunch Left to right-
Tommy Kinder, Barlow Jones, Fred Doerner and John Hilton.
plenty of bright colored stones and to show last resting place of the Nellie Joe the
us a cliff on the Vidal mesa where someone at this point, before the construction of
second best gunboat in the Arizona navy." any of the large dams, there had been a
found a mastodon skull years ago. Personally, I think Arizona should have
The next morning was calm and sunny recent flood in the Bill Williams tributary
maintained its nautical force on the river. which enters the Colorado just above here.
with a few wisps of cloud in the sky. As An Arizona navy on the Colorado river
we started down the river and neared the One old timer had snorted, "That durn
would add to the pattern of pleasant sur- stuff is too thick to drink and too thin to
Parker bridge, Tommy pointed out the prises one learns to look for in this wonder
ribs of a boat sticking out of a mud bank on plow." It was about the color and consis-
state. tency of thin chicken gravy in a cheap
the Arizona side. "There," he said, "is the The first time I yaw the Colorado river restaurant. Now you can reach overside
To Needles
To Parker Dam
Gem Gravels
PARKER
12
THE DESERT MAGAZINE
and get a good drink of water anywhere
along the channel.
It was a pleasant sensation sweeping
along with the current—seeming to stand
still while the desert hills marched by on
parade. Presently we swept around a wide
bend and Tommy asked us to sit low in the
boat: and hold still for there was a flock
of Canadian honkers ahead. All I could
see were some light specks about a mile
away but we obeyed and in a few minutes
we came close enough to these handsome
geese to get a couple of camera shots. There
were other birds as we went along. They
would fly up just ahead of us to light
aga n, forming a sort of advance guard.
Finally we found ourselves coasting
along some high banks of gravel and clay.
I recognized here the old beach line of an
ancient river which I described in an early
issue of Desert under the title of "Beach
Combing on the Desert." Now I could see
why Tommy had assured us that there were
lots of pretty rocks on the beaches. Jus: as
in :he deposit near Blythe, these gravels
are composed of the harder rocks carried
many miles by a turbulent river in ancient Fred Doerner examines a fragment of chalcedony rose on the beach where Vidal
times. There is a high percentage of agate, wash empties into the Colorado.
APRIL, 1 9 4 6 13
flexible. Hardly something to interest a But Tommy insists they are here, and that very good red and brown jasper both in
gem collector, but certainly an oddity. he once wrote a story for a sportsmen's place in some low hills and scattered over
A bit farther down we stopped on a magazine about them. a wider area. This spot will be worth visit-
gravel bar for lunch. There was an abun- Some say that the saurians were dropped ing on a future trip. The old beaches on
dance of driftwood along the bar which into the river by a traveling circus that the mesa between the river and Parker are
made an excellent fire for coffee. Most of went broke at Parker and couldn't feed full of gem stones but they do not show up
this drift was beaver sticks. (Pieces of sap- them. There is another story that the as colorfully as on "gem beach," and be-
lings cut by beavers for food.) When these workers at the Needles roundhouse were sides there's a fine river trip to consider,
animals have finished eating the green presented with a batch of baby alligators with an optional bit of bass fishing on the
cambium layer from the sticks they turn years ago. They were cute little fellows side. Not to mention the rare privilege of
them loose in convenient firewood lengths. at first but as they grew they took up too meeting the former admiral of the Arizona
We marveled at the perfect job of cutting much space and demanded too much food navy.
on both ends of each stick and the uniform- (including a couple of fingers, it is ru- • • •
ity of length. The beavers do a neat job mored) . These, too, were consigned to the WOULD RESTOCK DESERT
of cutting firewood for the river rats. river to swim south to the tropics. The WITH QUAIL PARTRIDGE
After lunch we continued downstream fact remains that a good many river men Under a bill introduced in the California
and watched for some of these animals. claim to have seen large alligators in this legislature by Senator Ralph E. Swing,
Fred and Tommy assured us they were slough. $150,000 would be appropriated for the
among the largest on record. They stated The sunset behind the Riverside moun- development of existing waterholes on the
that it was not uncommon for a beaver in tains was just turning the silvery Colorado California desert and for the creation of
these parts to weigh 45 or 50 pounds. to gold when we came around another additional water sources. The water sup-
There were plenty of fresh slides wherever curve and saw a campfire on the shore. A ply plan is part of a general program for
mud banks led up to flats or islands cov- car and trailer were waiting for the boat. restocking the desert with game birds. The
ered with small trees. Here and there was The trailer was pushed into the water, the bill includes funds for game farms at Ban-
a newly cut tree showing as neat a job as boat floated over to it and in no time at all, ning, Victorville and in Owens valley,
man ever executed with an ax. We could we were rolling merrily along on the paved where quail and Chukar partridge would
see their burrows in the banks. It was not highway which leads from Blythe to Par- be bred for the open ranges. A total of
until about dusk that we saw two of them, ker. $800,000 is proposed for game conserva-
and one deer. The next morning Harlow and I stopped tion in the state, and $2,247,500 for fish
We stopped again at the point whete along the road near Earp and found some hatcheries and equipment.
Vidal wash empties into the river. Here
was a veritable gem beach. Jaspers and
bright colored agates dotted the gravels
along the edge and looked even prettier
than usual in the shallow water. We walked
up the wash among the smoke trees and
Old-Timers on the desert...
will be the subject of Desert Magazine's photo contest for April. Any
found the entire wash was a good collect-
"desert character" is a proper subject for this contest—whether white,
ing area. It not only carries the old water-
red, black or brown. Photos may be formal or informal, but preference
worn beach pebbles rewashed from the
will be given to pictures of comparatively recent date—within the last
ancient shore line, but agates and chalce-
two or three years. Name of the subject and the location at which the
dony roses carried by cloudbursts from the
picture was taken should be given.
desert hills which it drains.
Farther down was an island completely Prizes are $10.00 for first, $5.00 for second place winners, and $2.00
made up of gravel and I am safe in saying will be paid for each non-winning photo accepted for future use in
that it would be difficult for a person to Desert Magazine. Entries must reach the Desert Magazine office by
set foot down on this bar without touching April 20, and the winning pictures will be published in June.
at least one stone that would palish. Of
course they are not all the finest grade, but HERE ARE THE RULES
I found a good many that I felt were worth 1—Prints must be on black and white, 5x7 or larger, printed on
adding to my collection. glossy paper.
By this time Fred and Tommy both were 2—Ah entries must be in the Desert Magazine office by the 20th
collecting stones and asking questions. of the contest month.
They had found a new interest in stones 3—Prints will be returned only when return postageis enclosed.
they had been walking over for years. Be- 4—Contests are open to both amateur and professional photo-
graphers. Desert Magazine requires first and full publication rights
fore we had reached home they were asking of prize winning pictures only.
about the difficulties of polishing stones 5—Time and place of photograph are immaterial except that
and the price of a small cutting outfit. they must be from the desert Southwest.
Chalk up a couple more of desert rock- 6—Judges will be selected from Desert's editorial staff, and
hounds! awards will be made immediately after the close of the contest each
month.
Finally we coasted into what had been 7—Each photograph submitted should be fully labeled as to
a meander of the river near the base of subject, time, place. Also as to technical data: shutter, speed, hour
Riverside mountains. When the river chan- of day, etc.
nel straightened, it left a cove of placid
backwater. Here, according to Tommy, is ADDRESS ALL ENTRIES TO PHOTO EDITOR. DESERT MAGAZINE.
the feeding ground of the Colorado river
alligators.
The place is known as Alligator slough.
Like the camels of Arizona, the alligator
stories meet with considerable skepticism. EL CENTRO. CALIFORNIA
By L. B. Dixon
Waterwheel Falls
Andreas Canyon, California
By Loyd Cooper
15
By RICHARD L. CASSELL
*• / EROCIOUS as he appears, the to call him by his common misname, tarily or autonomically—probably the lat-
/ horned toad, or more correctly, horned toad. ter. These pigment cells bring a change of
lizard, is one of the desert's most As a pet the horned lizard is a disap- color to the skin when the creature wan-
harmless denizens. They say his ancestors pointment, demonstrating no traits of af- ders from place to place and the immed-
belonged to the tribe of prehistoric dino- fection or even tolerance. But what he lacks iate habitat demands a color adjustment.
saurs, and he retains many of the charac- in amiability he makes up in being the per- According to some reports, this color
teristics — but if the horned mammoths fect model. Place him in practically any change has great latitude, changing from
which once roamed the earth were as de- position and he will hold that given pose almost white to brick red.
fenseless as this diminutive prototype of seemingly for hours, acquiescing unflinch- Like the desert tortoise, the horned liz-
today, it is no wonder they perished from ingly to handling, maintaining a slight ard requires no water as such, but metabo-
their world. change of stance, and holding a certain lizes what moisture is necessary from the
The snake and the roadrunner are his tilt of the head long for a picture to be food it eats, consisting of live insects—
natural enemies. His only protection is his taken. stinging or otherwise—but mostly ants,
speed—and he hasn't as much of that as An examination of the animal's body beetles and flies.
many of the other lizards—and his camou- reveals several interesting adaptations to a During the nights and cool days he
flage. That is his one saving characteristic. life in the sands. The ear drum is almost buries himself in soft sand, using his head
So perfectly does he blend with the sand entirely concealed by a scaly membrane and plow-like and wriggling beneath the sur-
and gravel of the desert that unless he is further protected by deep folds in the face, being completely covered in a few
moves, he is likely to escape detection. rough scale-studded skin. Beneath this minutes. This process is also employed
Scientifically, horned lizard is Phryno- tough outer skin are pigment cells moti- during hibernation which usually begins
soma platyrbinos. But most folks prefer vated by the nervous system either volun- in November and continues until March.
There are two interesting specimens in
the Los Angeles museum, which tell a
grim story. These are two skin-covered
skeletons, one of a rattlesnake, and the
other of a horned lizard. The lizard evi-
dently was half swallowed when the horny
processes of the large head impaled them-
selves in the snake's esophagus. The lizard
could neither be swallowed nor regurgi-
tated, resulting in the snake's death. These
specimens were beautifully preserved by
the dry hot atmosphere of the desert and,
judging from the convolutions of the
snake's parched skin and bones, like the
triumph of good over evil, the rattler had
more than met his match in the meek and
lowly lizard.
T/>/'J AT the entrance to Cat canyon. It is not practicable to bring a stock model car
this far up the arroyo.
APRIL, 1946 17
a shelter within its rocky walls above the the Pines-to-Palms road on lower Dead In- of a mile we came to water. It comes down
point where it spreads out over the desert dian creek. It was a perfect camp spot—a from springs high up in the Santa Rosa
floor in Section 36. sandy floor where smoke trees and cacti mountains. There was no foot trail, and the
My first visit to Cat creek was in 1937. grow luxuriantly in a sheltered cove. Thereonly evidence of previous visitors was a
I had gone up Ramon creek, the next can- was plenty of dead wood in the arroyo, small pipe line one of the jackrabbit home-
yon to the north, exploring for native palm and after dinner we gathered around a steaders had installed to carry water down
trees. There were none in Ramon, so I huge campfire and conducted the scout to a rock cabin he was building.
crossed over the ridge and down into Cat, ritual for six boys who had qualified for We saw the first palms soon after we
and discovered a fine stream of water and their tenderfoot awards. reached the water. There were not many,
some full-skirted palms of the Washing- Later in the evening the lads hiked offjust an occasional straggler, and all of
tonia filifera species. I counted 195 palms into the hills with a lantern for a snipe them young trees. Then the grade of the
on my way down the canyon. I planned to hunt, arranged for three of the boys who canyon became steep and rockv. Tiny wa-
return at a later time to explore the upper terfalls tumbled over 10 and 1 2-foot boul-
had not yet been initiated into the mysteri-
canyon. There might be more palms above. ders, and in some places we found it
ous art of enticing desert snipe into a gun-
necessary to detour up on the sidehill to get
ny sack. By ten o'clock the scouts were back
The long-delayed return visit to Cat
in camp with empty sacks, and three disil- around unclimbable faces.
creek was in February this year. Wilson
McKenney, who was my associate in the lusioned youngsters. At one place a half dozen aged palm
launching of Desert Magazine in 1937, Next morning we hiked a mile cross trunks were piled in a log jam against a
and who now publishes a newspaper at country and then dropped down over a boulder as big as a house. It was evident
Yucaipa, California, invited me to camp there had been more mature trees in the
bluff to the sandy floor of lower Cat creek.
with a troop of 19 Yucaipa boy scouts who There were car tracks to the mouth of the canyon above than we had encountered in
were spending a weekend in that area. canyon—but it is a very sandy trail, not tothe lower gorge.
Scoutmaster of the troop is Howard Bar- be attempted by a heavy car, or by a paved- It was a grand field day for the scouts.
nett, and a fourth adult in our party was road driver. They scrambled up and over the rocks like
Louis Harrison, Los Angeles book and mountain goats. But their time was lim-
A few hundred yards up the arroyo the ited, and at noon when we were two miles
magazine dealer. mountains closed in on both sides and the up the canyon, they had to turn back to
We camped Saturday night not far from wadi became a canyon. Within a quarter make the return trip home before dark.
Louis Harrison and I continued up the
gorge. Just above that point a tributary
came in from the south, and we divided
Cat canyon isn't all rocks—there are forces, Louis taking the assignment of
lovely vistas such as this where the counting the palms in the side canyon.
creek flows over a smooth sandy I continued up the main watercourse
floor, or perhaps disappears entirely another mile, meeting increasing numbers
beneath the gravel, only to reappear a of aged palms that had survived the cloud-
few hundred feet doivnstream. burst torrents of perhaps 150 years or
more. Their dead fronds had been burned
from the older trees, probably before white
men ever saw this canyon. Their trunks
were scarred and weathered. But they still
carried a thatch of green fronds at their
tops. Fire seldom kills the Washingtonia.
Unlike many other trees, the water system
of the palm is in its heart, not the bark,
and as long as the porous inner trunk is in-
tact the tree will grow and thrive.
The fires which burned these veteran
trees are of two possible origins. Some un-
doubtedly were caused by lightning. Indi-
ans probably were responsible for others.
Cat creek is in Indian country—the ancient
home of the Cahuilla. It is said, although
I have never been able to confirm this, that
the old Indians held a belief that evil spir-
its dwelt in the long skirt of dead fronds
which clings to every mature tree until
burned off, or is weathered away. It is easy
for me to credit this legend. I have spent
many nights sleeping on the ground in the
palm oases, and often have been awakened
by an unnatural rustling of the dry leaves.
Birds and bats sometimes live among the
fronds, and lizards scamper up among
them in quest of insects. When a breeze is
blowing the faint whisper of dry frond
against dry frond is soothing music, like
the murmur of a creek among the rocks.
There is no confusing that lullaby with the
crackle of dry leaves when a bat dashes out
of rhe dead foliage for his evening forag- sugary husk was an important item of food palm trees when they grow in such a minia-
ing expedition. Yes, some of those fires among the old Cahuilla. ture jungle as I found here, is not as simple
may have been started by superstitious In- The canyon grade was rising steadily, as you might imagine. The number is not
dians. and as I neared the upper end I climbed a important. The beauty of this spot will re-
Another theory to explain those pre- side hill occasionally to see if there were main in my memory long after the figures
historic fires is that Indians burned the more palms around the next bend. And are forgotten.
fro:ids to increase their food supply. Ev- there were—until finally when I reached a There were palms of all ages and all
ery student of the palm knows that follow- point just below where Cat canyon breaks
up into numerous small channels that dis- mixed up. There were bare trunks bearing
ing a fire the tree grows an extra heavy
crop of seed. Nature always reacts to per- appear up on the side of Haystack moun- the char of long-ago fires close beside great
petuate its species. This phenomenon was tain, I came upon one of the most gorgeous full-skirted giants, and young palms
especially noticeable a few years ago fol- groups of native palms I have ever found among them crowding out toward the sun-
lowing the disastrous fire which swept in any canyon. light. I found here not the slightest evi-
lower Palm canyon near Palm Springs. I counted 78 trees in this cluster—but I dence of any previous visitor, although
Washingtonia palm seed, with its thin am not sure of that figure, for counting these palms, deep in the northern slope of
APRIL, 1946 19
waterfalls and vertical rock faces blocked the way the exploring party detoured up
over the rocky walls on the side of the canyon.
the Santa Rosa mountains have been dis- of them being in the south tributary. There their desert real estate when they came out
covered many times before. is no trail in Cat canyon—one just follows for a first inspection. It is rough country—
This majestic oasis marked the upper- the stream and goes where the rocks are a land that can be appreciated only by
most habitat of the palm in this canyon. It least formidable. The elevation at the those with a bit of romance inside them.
truly can be said of Cat creek—the higher mouth of the canyon is 800 feet, and at the If any of those cabinsite owners by
up you go the more entrancing becomes the uppermost palms 2300 feet. chance should read this story, they will at
scenery. A few cottonwoods grow along the least know that gorgeous Cat creek is in
I continued a half mile beyond the creek, and at the upper levels the air was their backyard—and that they are not far
group I have just described and then scented with wild apricot in blossom. Bees from a delightful palm garden retreat if
climbed a ridge where I could look down were swarming over the trees getting a rich the winds and the floods become too
into the various branches of the upper can- harvest of honey. Wild apricot's claim to rugged for comfort in Section 36.
yon. Just as I was starting the ascent I saw distinction is due to its flower, not its fruit. • • •
a picture that was reward enough for six The tree puts on a gorgeous display of
hours of strenuous hiking over the boul- white blossom with an occasional tint of DAVIS CITY BEING LAID
ders. pink, and then produces a bitter little nub- OUT AT NEW DAMSITE
Silhouetted on the ridge above and be- bin of fruit that never seems to get ripe. I Davis City, new town being laid out by
yond was a mountain sheep—a great ram have been told the Indians ate them, but Reclamation service engineers near the site
with his head so turned that the span and I have never tasted a wild apricot that did of proposed new Davis dam in the Colo-
curve of his horns were sharp against the not pucker my mouth. rado river between Needles and Boulder
sky. He was nearly a quarter of a mile away, February was too early for the spring dam, is teeming with activity as the Utah
watching me. We gazed at each other for flower display, but I found encelia and the Construction company prepares to start
a few minutes and then he dropped from hardy chuparosa in bloom. The flower work on the $77,000,000 project. The
sight on the other side of the ridge, and buds of bisnaga cactus were swelling, but townsite is on the Arizona side of the
the mate I had not previously seen fol- I saw not a blossom. river, two miles downstream from the dam
lowed him. These rare animals were too The sun was down by the time we location. The contractor's work camp is to
far away for a picture, without a telephoto reached the floor of the desert again. As I be on the Nevada side of the river, with
lens. Perhaps I'll meet them again, for tramped across Section 36 on my way out housing for 2,000 men and their families.
there are many trips yet to be made into of the canyon, I wondered what the new Negotiations are underway with the
the Santa Rosas. It is a magnificent range owners of the 5-acre jackrabbit home- General Electric company to supply five
of mountains. steads, many of whom signed up for their 45,000-kilowatt generators to be installed
We counted 424 palms on this trip, 29 claims without seeing them, thought of in the power house.
By MARSHAL SOUTH
APRIL, 1 946 21
position. I think this is a faithful thoroughness that calls for well as the plaster of paris and may be tinted in the same way.
high praise. Often it is a good idea to give the entire pot, when restored, a
color rub of suitable thin flat tint. Only experiment and the
Ollas—genuine and complete ones—are becoming harder
and harder to find. About the only way left to get one is to consideration of the needs of each particular piece can provide
follow the trouble-beset path of carefully collecting the frag- the key to success.
ments of smashed ones and sticking them together. Nor, I as- New buds and blooms are opening everywhere as the desert
sure you, is there any sense of owning something inferior when moves forward into another spring. The blazing fires of the
you exhibit a "stuck-up" pot. On the contrary it somehow seems chill evenings grow less and less necessary and the stove has lost
much more valuable than an uncracked one. For memory of the much of its attraction. The chessboard, however, still retains its
toil—and the thrill—of fitting a heap of bewildering clay sherds popularity. The game has found favor with the youngsters and
together until they finally emerge as a graceful pot always will they spend much of their leisure in thoughtfully moving Pawns
remain in the mind. Somehow it seems to enhance the value of and Knights and Bishops into strategic positions and gleefully
the relic enormously. At one time it was somewhat of a problem crying "check!" whenever they have the enemy King bottled
to get a good tough cement with which to stick the bits together. up. Through the long winter evenings and on the stormy days
But there are now on the market excellent cements, so the when rain and howling gales kept them all confined to the
novice who embarks on the fascinating job of pot restoring need house our young trio developed considerable aptitude as chess
have no worries on the adhesive score. players. Especially Victoria, our five-year-old. She has taken to
the game like a duck to water and asks no odds from anyone.
All in all I can recommend the careful collection and re- Wrinkling her little nose thoughtfully over every move she
assembling of Indian potsherds to anyone who is in search of a wages a skillful, strategic battle and usually comes out winner,
new hobby. Experiments soon will provide knowledge and skill. both with her brothers and the grown-ups.
There are, for instance, several ways of filling in the gaps caused
by missing pieces, which, though not as genuine and correct as An ancient game, chess. But then, everything in the world is
actually shaping and baking new clay sections, nevertheless "ancient"—or "new"; whichever term you prefer to use. For,
serve very well and are simpler to accomplish. One of these actually, there is nothing that is either new or old. All the in-
methods is to stick a cardboard or stout paper backing behind gredients which are juggled together in this whirling sphere
the hole, on the inside of the pot. Then the vacant space is care- that is our home have, as far as we are concerned, always been.
fully filled in with plaster of paris, which when it sets is artis- They do not change. But successive individuals, races and civili-
tically scraped and sandpapered down to exactly conform to the zations, get a thrill out of re-assembling the parts of the funda-
contour of the pot. After this, by the application of the right mental jig-saw puzzle in patterns which they believe are "new."
shade of a bit of oil color, carefully rubbed in by the tip of the Nature is expert in hiding "yesterday" beneath "today." Not
finger, a very presentable repair can be made. A little portland far from where we have our present abode there are ancient
cement, mixed with a small quantity of fine sand, will work as stone houses. No, not Indian houses—pioneer houses. They are
roofless. The walls are very thick. Built by infinite labor from
rough rocks, fitted together dry, without mud or mortar. Heavy
bushes grow now inside the spaces that once were rooms. And
the dust and sand have silted up into great mounds that cover
deep all traces of human occupancy. Who built those houses?
As it happens, from inquiry among old timers, I think I know.
But it is a story that is already becoming dim. And the period,
from the time those houses were lived in to the present, does
not span much more than 70 years. What would you expect,
then, in seven hundred years? Or seven thousand?
When we first came out to the wilderness of Ghost Mountain
we used to pass, on a section of desert trail that was close to
the highway, a neat little wooden house. It was empty, and had
been so for some time. We remember it because, once, having
had occasion to visit it, we were able to release a desert sparrow
which had become trapped in the abandoned garage.
Just a few years ago—five or six—that little house was pulled
down and carted away. And we marvel now, each time we pass
the spot. For the desert has blotted every sign of where it once
stood. Of all that cozy little home, which once throbbed with
human hopes and fears and joys, nothing now remains save a
vivid picture in our own minds—a memory of dusty sunlight
and the flutterings of a tiny bird. The desert has blotted it and it
has gone. You would cheerfully testify that no house ever had
stood there since the beginning of the world.
sxainhous • •
THROUGH INTEGRITY
•
1946
. . . take the thrilling trip on mule back down Rainbow Trail 'mid
No man can well afford to shirk
colorful scenes so vivid no artist could portray . . . to the most His duty. Life is just.
spectacular of all national monuments . . . RAINBOW BRIDGE. If he attends unto his work.
Rest at picturesque RAINBOW LODGE, backed by the breath- And cleaves unto his trust
taking span of Navajo Mountain . . . where comfortable lodging, In God and Good and Higher Power,
excellent food and hospitality are, as before, directed by Bill and
Mrs. Wilson. He will become more wise.
Through our integrity each hour
W R I T E BILL W I L S O N , TONALEA, ARIZONA, FOR RATES
We rise!
AND A BROCHURE DESCRIBING " T H E RAINBOW."
—Tanya South
Long Walk of
Very Slim Man
By RICHARD VAN VALKENBURGH
Hastin Il'tsosigi's
, .„ \ "LDNG W f l L K -
APRIL, 1946 23
w /fe ^e.i? sketch oj the Navajo crossing small wind cave. For three days we lay there with no food. The
•k to Fort Sumner. only water we had we got from the moss of a small seepage. On
the fourth day a man named Klogi found us.
The bullets came so close that they scorched my skin. Then I "He told us that the soldiers had burned up everything in
seemed to smother, and then fade away into sleep. the canyon. They had killed many people. After that they had
"When 1 came to, pale curtains of moonlight were creeping ridden away toward Fort Defiance. It was now time to get out
clown the sides of the upper canyon walls. I didn't know whether of de Chelly. Many of those who had escaped were fleeing west-
I was dead or alive. I stayed there until the moon died and dark- ward across the Chinle valley to hide on Black mountain.
ness came. Then I moved away from the now still bodies of my "That night we three climbed down from our cave and started
family. out. Instead of going down the Canyon de Chelly to its mouth
"A faint rustle nearby startled me. There in a crevice lay at Chinle we turned up the Canyon del Muerto. Klogi knew
Llth baa, my little sister. Fear had taken her voice. In some way about a trail that led to the north rim. After climbing to the top
] guided her away from that place of death. Together we felt we went westward until we came to near present Pinyon on Black
our way down the dangerous ladders that dropped into the mountain.
black pit that was the bottom, of the canyon. "There we found many Navajo. A few headmen were holding
"When our feet were on solid ground we crept toward the them together. Some said, 'Let's go farther west and hide in the
main canyon. Just at the last point we stopped. Horses were Grand Canyon.' But most of them decided, 'We'll take the
coming. While we looked, the red glow of a fire lighted up the chance of surrendering rather than starving to death down there
streaked side of Lightning Rock. Then the soldiers crossed half way to the Underworld!'
rhrough the light and went splashing up the canyon. "So we came off the mountain. We started across country to-
"With the smell of smoke and death chasing us we scuttled ward Lukaniteel, the Wide Reeds, which today is called Gan-
back into the side canyon. In the darkness we climbed up to a ado. At Lizard springs where the Chinle-Steamboat canyon roads
APRIL, 1946 25
'They would be dancing a different kind of dance if there
weren't white soldiers around!'
"One winter day when the snow was up to the horse's fetlocks
the soldier chief came around and said, 'Get ready to travel.'
By the next morning the wagon train and the walking Navajo
stretched out like a great black snake in the snow from Fort
Defiance to the Haystacks near present Window Rock.
"By slow stages we traveled eastward by present Gallup and
Chushbito, Bear spring, which is now called Fort Wingate. You
ask how they treated us? If there was room the soldiers put the
women and children on the wagons. Some even let them ride
behind them on their horses. I have never been able to under-
stand a people who killed you one day and on the next played
with your children . . . ?
"After many days we reached Tosido, Warm spring, which
they now call San Rafael. There was a big fort there. It was here
that we were issued our first beef. We needed it for the weather
was cold and we were weary. Many of the old people had lain
down and died beside the road that was leading them into
captivity."
San Rafael, now a New Mexican village, was the site of Old
Fort Wingate. Built near the famous springs of Ojo de Gallo, it
was first garrisoned in 1863 by the 1st New Mexico Volunteers
under the command of Col. J. Francisco Chavez. During the
Navajo roundup of which Very Slim Man was telling, it was an
important post on the eastward trail to the scene of Navajo
captivity, Fort Sumner, New Mexico.
"Here we Navajo saw our first flour. When they gave us
the bags we didn't know what it was. So we just started eating.
We were an awful sight with that flour all over our hands and
faces as we tried to chew up the sticky dough in our mouths. . .
"After a good rest at Tosido they started us out again. Travel-
ing down the Rio San Jose we passed near Cubero and Laguna
Pueblo. Then we went across the plains until we reached the Rio
Grande river at the pueblo of the Natoho, Enemies Near Water,
which they now call Isleta Pueblo.
"As the river was up we had to cross in small parties on rafts.
I was on one of the last to cross. Just in the middle of the stream
it began to sink. We Navajo jumped off and splashed around
like a bunch of drowning prairie dogs. Just as I began to go
under the prayer my mother taught me went through my mind.
"I swallowed a lot of water. But when I came up my head
bumped a log. I clung to it. After a mile or two of floating
around, the log grounded on a sand bar. When I waded out
shaking like a wet dog all I had left was my breech clout and
this little jish which was tied around my neck.
"Keeping clear of the Natoho, for they were stealing Navajo
children, I caught up with my people at Be'eldil dasinil, Place of
the Bells, which the Mexicans call Albuquerque. This Navaio
// was on ladders such as these that Very Slim Man climbed name was given at this time, for every morning the Navajo heard
down into the bottom oj Canyon de Chelly after the mas- the bells ring from the cathedral towers.
sacre of his family in 1863. Photo by the author. "After many sun's travel eastward through mountain ranges
and across great plains we came to the Pecos river. Turning south
we followed its banks until we came to where there were already
fork we had to stop and rest. For many of the women had little many Navajo living. When they saw us they cried, 'Now you
children and were having a hard time. have finished your Long Walk. You will never see Navajoland
"Just about the time we were ready to move on we heard a again!' "
yell from the low rim above, 'Muerto por los Navajo coyotes" At the completion of his "long walk" the 13 year old Very Slim
And a bunch of Mexicans charged down shooting and yelling. Man had traveled 800 miles across part of Arizona and most of
Again I took hold of this pouch and prayed the prayer that my New Mexico. Hwelte, as the Navajo called Fort Sumner was
mother had taught me. located at Bosque Redondo, some miles south of the present
"From nowhere there came a Bilakana (American) captain town of Fort Sumner, New Mexico. It was established in 1864
and a bunch of soldiers. Riding in between us and the Mexicans by President Abraham Lincoln as a reservation for the Mescalero
he yelled, Hold up Armijo! Enough women and children have Apache and the Navajo.
been killed. These people are my captives. Now my men are ' Things were bad at Hwelte. The water was sickening. There
taking them to Fort Defiance!' was no firewood. And when crops were planted either the grass-
"So they took us to Fort Defiance. Over 2000 Navajo were hoppers or the hot winds stole them. Then smallpox came. Our
there in one big camp. The Zuni and Ute were dancing around people died so fast we could not bury them. All we could do
all the time bragging, 'Look what we have done to the Navajo.' was watch the coyotes tear them up . . .
An old warrior who had killed many Mexicans grunted one day, "Many of our young men sneaked away and raided the Mes-
A P RIL, 19 4 6 27
calero Apache and the Comanche far to the east. It was on one after four years of captivity we Navajo could return to Navajo-
of those raids that I almost lost my life. But when people are land."
hungry and cold the most important thing seems to be either The paper that very Slim Man spoke of was the Treaty of 1868
food or mischief. signed by General W. T. Sherman of the Indian Peace commis-
"We traveled into the sun for six days. In the blue-black of sion and the Navajo chiefs. After 77 years this treaty still is con-
early dawn we stampeded a Comanche horse herd. Driving our sidered by most of the Navajo as the Magna Charta of the tribe.
stolen animals in front of us we moved fast. For we knew that "Like many of the other Navajo, another boy and I left
we'd be chased right back into Hwelte. Changing horses we rode Hwelte the day before the treaty was signed. After reaching
day and night. Navajoland we stayed around Fort Defiance until Cha1 ts'oih,
"As we drew near the Pecos we got careless and slowed down. Big Belly, whom the White men called Captain Frank T. Ben-
Suddenly from behind the brow of a low hill the Comanche nett, issued sheep. Then we returned to our old family camp at
charged down on us. An arrow struck my horse. "When he went Horizontal White Rock point.
down I was thrown. I rolled over in the dust and played dead. "Our hogans were burned. The things that we had cached
Again I repeated the prayer my mother taught me and felt this in the rocks five years before had been stolen by the packrats and
little bag hanging around my neck. the weather. All I possessed in the world were the clothes I
had on, three sheep, and this little medicine bag that you have
"Lying there, expecting every minute to be stuck through been trying to trade from me . . .
by a Comanche lance, I prayed. Then I heard the pounding "So we left Horizontal White Rock point. For the memory of
hoofs. I stayed dead. Dust flew in my face as the horses stopped. our dead people, whose bones still lie on that alcove above the
I prayed harder. Then I heard a Bilakana voice say right over Canyon de Chelly, hovered over the place. As there were a num-
me, There's no wounds on this Nawie. He's only stunned I ber of Navajo getting started around Chinle we made our camps
guess. The Comanche got his horse. And they almost got him. there. For 68 years I have lived right here on top of this knoll."
He can thank his lucky star that he still has his scalp on his Then taking the tiny bag with the turquoise bead in its mouth
head!' Very Slim Man laid it down between us as he said, "Now you
"Soon after the soldiers rescued me from the Comanche they can understand why I never could part with this thing that
held a big council at Hwelte. A big chief came from 'Washing- saved my life four times on my Long Walk to Hwelte. Would
tone.' And after sitting around a table for a long time with Bar- you still want to trade me out of it?"
boncito and the other chiefs, they signed a paper. This said that I shook my head—as every reader of Desert would have done.
APRIL, 1946 29
period. However with the revocation of
Minei and, . .
order L-208 late in the year the placers
and gold-ore producers were able to re-
sume operation and this explains the gains
now being made in states where "pure
Tonopah, Nevada . . . Caliente. Nevada . . . gold" is mined.
John Callahan reports the discovery of • • •
After lying idle for 12 years, the Doc
Wilson turquoise mine in the Lone Moun- a fine deposit of turquoise on his property Kingmctn, Arizona . . .
tain area is to be reopened by Wilson and near Columbus in Esmeralda county. The Averaging $70 a ton, regular shipments
his son, it is reported. New equipment for gemstone is being found in nodules rang- of ore to Clarkdale smelter are being made
deep mining is to be installed, and accord- ing from a half inch to two inches in di- by Jack Miller of the Eagles mine in the
ing to the owner, all the output already has ameter, and is said to be a rich robin-egg Cerba range 19 miles north of here. For-
been contracted for. blue. The claims are a few miles west of merly known as the Bismark mine, the
• • • Coaldale. property is a gold-silver producer with
Bishop, California . . . • • • some lead. The property is an old pro-
ducer, but has lacked transportation to
Bodie, famous old camp north of Mono Washington, D. C. . . . market for any but the highest grade of its
lake, California, is to be reopened by a With all war-time restrictions removed, ores.
British group operating as Sierra Mines, gold-mining is on the upswing again. Pro- • • •
according to reports. The company has ac- duction for 1945 was as follows in fine Carson City, Nevada . . .
quired the property of the Cain estate and ounces: Arizona, 75,000; California, 172,- Ten million new silver dollars com-
plans to build a mill of 500 tons capacity. 100; Colorado, 99,811; Idaho, 21,000; memorating the World War II victory, and
The mines were rich gold-silver producers Montana, 45,500; • Nevada, 101,500; 10,000,000 half dollars symbolizing the
in the early '80s. New Mexico, 5111; Oregon, 4600; South lesson of Pearl Harbor would be minted
• • • • •
Dakota, 40,253; Utah, 274.500; Wash- under two bills introduced in congress by
Shiprock, New Mexico . . . ington, 57,500, and Wyoming, 2. Alaska's Senator E. P. Carville of Nevada.
Helium deposits on the Navajo reserva- 68,588 brought the country's total output • • •
tion near here are to remain in the ground to 967,465, compared to 995,799 for First carload of "Wonder Rock" to be
for the present according to officials of the 1944. While Utah led in 1945 production, shipped from a deposit 21 miles east of
Bureau of Mines. A war-built extraction at the end of the year California was mov- Tonopah, was sent to Tacoma, Washing-
plant will be held in readiness for pro- ing into the lead with South Dakota and ton, for processing early in February. Own-
duction if needed, but since the helium Alaska also showing tremendous gains. In ers of the property are C. L. Perkins, G. L.
plant at Amarillo, Texas, is taking care of Utah mines gold is recovered largely as a Scholl and I. F. Macy. The colorful rock is
current needs, the Shiprock deposit will be by-product of other mining, and conse- to be cut and polished for ornamental pur-
retained for itandby purposes only. quently its yield was high during the war poses.
This vital electrical energy comes from: built a power system as efficient, as modern, as
• Two Hydro-Electric Plants on the profitable as any in the country . ..
All-American Canal. In order to guarantee facilities for the District's
• An eight-unit Diesel Plant at Brawley. power load for the next five years, Imperial Valley
voters on December 13, 1945, approved a $6,200,000
• A Contract with the U. S. Bureau of Reclama-
Power Revenue Bond Issue to finance a construc-
tion for use of its transmission line from
tion program that will include a 20,000 kilowatt
Parker Dam.
steam electric plant with ultimate capacity of 40,-
• An exchange agreement with the California- 000 kilowatts, new substations, transmission lines
Electric Power Company. and added "betterments and improvements" to the
From these sources, power flows into miles of Dis- system.
trict lines through scores of substations and trans- Imperial Irrigation District's Power System is
formers, into homes, offices, factories and farms. Paying for Itself Out of the Revenue it is Bringing in.
Since 1936, the people of Imperial Valley have DISTRICT POWER IS GOOD BUSINESS!
E TT E R S ... Gentlemen:
Walla Walla, Washington
APRIL, 1946 31
Jobs for Tenderfeet? . . .
Black Mountain, North Carolina
Dear Sir:
We are addressing you in the hope that
should you find it convenient to publish
this letter it may attract the attention of
persons in a position to assist us.
We are two college students interested
in obtaining summer employment at a
western resort or dude ranch with a view
not only to financial gain, but also to fur-
thering our knowledge of the culture and
people of the West. One of us is an art
student with three years' experience in
pottery and ceramics at the Cleveland
School of Art. She has had considerable
experience teaching horseback riding, and WE'RE GONNA RAISE THE PRICE
in silver jewelry and enamelling work. The Here in the Desert Magazine office we've been rather proud of
other is a recently discharged veteran who our achievement in being able during the inflationary period of
speaks French and German and has had the past six years to hold our subscription price at the same figure
selling, clerical, and restaurant experi- as when Desert was started in 1937—at $2.50 a year.
ence. We are both tremendously interested
in the prospect as an opportunity to learn We've seen other prices advance all along the line. Despite the
and to observe as well as an opportunity to valiant efforts of the OPA, living costs have gone up very appre-
earn our educations. ciably. Nearly all other magazines have increased their rates. The
We would appreciate any advice or in- printers have had three raises—and they are earning every cent
formation, or any pertinent references. they get. Halftone engravings and paper and ink all have ad-
LAURIE MATTLIN vanced. Even the boy who sweeps the office gets nearly double
JOHN M. BAILEY, JR. what he did in 1940—and deserves it.
• • • Even now, in spite of all these increased costs, we might be able
Another Centipede Victim . . . to hold the $2.50 line—were it not for one thing. And this is the one
Tulsa, Oklahoma thing—
Gentlemen:
I have just finished reading W. D. BEGINNING WITH THIS ISSUE ALL MAIL SUBSCRIBERS
Woodson's article on the desert centipede. WILL RECEIVE THEIR COPIES IN ENVELOPES OR
Now I want to tell you my own experi- WRAPPERS.
ence.
I was raised in southeastern Arizona. Those envelopes are the straw that broke the camel's back. Long
About 1910, if memory is right, when I ago we decided that as soon as the kraft paper could be obtained,
was a very small boy I was bitten by a cen- we would start mailing the magazine in envelopes. Only a few of
tipede, a big fellow over seven inches long. our subscribers—those living in the rural areas—have been get-
Of course I was very frightened, and so ting their Deserts in wrappers. All others have gone out unwrapped
was mother, as we had heard many tall —and when the handling was careless, the magazines arrived in
tales about the centipede. Well, it wasn't not too good condition.
very serious. I had a sore leg for a time, And now we can get the envelopes—but the cost of them has ad-
and about a week later two tiny cores came vanced nearly 50% during the war period. We find it impossible to
out where the fangs penetrated the skin. mail Desert in envelopes at $2.50 a year. And so, beginning April
I can say this, I have had more pain from 1, the rate schedule for our magazine will be as follows:
the bite of a desert wasp or the scorpion.
All this for whatever it contributes to the Old Rate New Rate
truth about the centipede. 1 year's subscription $2.50 $3.00
A. L. CALDWELL 2-year subscription 4.50 5.00
• • • Gift subscriptions included
Devil's Claw in Ohio . . . in same order 2.00 2.50
Urbana, Illinois Newsstand copies .25 .25
Dear Mr. Laudermilk: Loose-leaf binders 1.25 1.25
I am writing in appreciation of your ar- A large percentage of our subscribers pay for two years in ad-
ticle in the February number of Desert vance. For these, the new $5.00 rate means an increase of only 25
Magazine, describing Devil's Claw. About cents a year—just about enough to pay for those envelopes.
five years ago one of those plants grew in
our garden in Delaware, Ohio. It was a We know our readers, and especially those who are keeping per-
curiosity to all who saw it, as it grew and manent files of Desert—will like the envelope idea. We hope all our
developed its strange pods. Next season I subscribers will feel that Desert merits the price we are charging
planted seed, but it did not grow. So it was for it.
like an answer to a prayer to find it all Cordially,
written up by you in Desert. I wish to
thank you for this interesting article—but
for this I may never have learned its name /CtXAA-JLlA
or life history.
LEONA WALLACE Publisher.
A F R I L , 19 4 6 33
Boettiger Now Phoenix Publisher . . .
APRIL, 1946 35
Navy Lab Will Make Rockets . . . Power Company Will Expand • . • Roy Rogers Starts Guest Ranch . . .
TRONA—Construction of a new $5,- BLYTHE—California Electric Power LAS VEGAS—Roy Rogers, Republic
500,000 research laboratory at Naval Ord- company plans to spend an estimated studio western star, announced February
nance test station at China Lake, now un- $250,000 for transmission line and rural 25 he will build the nation's most elabor-
derway, is expected to be completed with- electrification in Blythe and Palo Verde ate residential guest ranch near this "last
in next nine or ten months, Lieut. T. P. valley, it was revealed in February by R. H. frontier town of the West." In addition to
O'Brien, in charge of construction, an- Knaggs, resident manager of the company. a large string of palominos, property will
nounced in February. Laboratory will • e e be headquarters for Roy Rogers Rodeos.
house facilities capable of turning out 500 Next Riverside County Fair and Date Stocked on the ranch will be the greatest
rockets daily. Influx of construction work- festival will be held in Indio in February, amount of rodeo stock in the world, ac-
ers is expected to reach peak of estimated 1947. cording to Philo J. Harvey, Beverly Hills
500 men next August. • • • attorney. Rogers ranch will include three
• • • Idyllwild resort holdings were sold in parcels of land in the Paradise valley sec-
Incorporated area of Indio, according to February by Dr. Paul D. Foster, Los An- tion, with 400-acre Warm Springs ranch
recent survey, shows population of 3030; geles, to Glen Brubaker, superintendent the largest parcel. Construction on the
Greater Indio has between 5000 and 6000 Hemet Packing company; Jerry Johnson, project was expected to start soon.
population. Idyllwild real estate broker, and Al Firnell
of Long Beach. Briggs is New Land Use C h i e f . . .
e e e
LAS VEGAS—Heading newly formed
Purchase of 800-acre Arrowhead Lake division of land use and settlement, Ian A.
and 3200 acres of surrounding mountain Briggs has been added to bureau of recla-
land by Los Angeles Turf Club Inc., op- mation's region III staff with headquar-
erator of Santa Anita Park, was announced ters in Boulder City, according to an-
recently. Included in purchase are several nouncement in February by E. A. Moritz,
hotels. regional director. Briggs, member of Uni-
e • e
versity of Arizona staff for 22 years, will
Negotiations were completed February supervise the agricultural and land use
A secluded community of homes 17 for use of Unit B of Torney General work of the bureau's irrigation projects in
for a select clientele; highly de- Hospital by Palm Springs Community region III, and will direct bureau's settle-
veloped, landscaped and with
all utilities; surrounded by desert Hospital, according to Florian Boyd, presi- ment program in region III, assisting vet-
with mountain views on all sides.
Here's healthful desert sunshine dent of hospital association. Unit B is the erans and others in settling on public land
of its best; just 12 miles south-
east of Palm Springs on Rt. 111. former El Mirador hotel, taken over by when made available for homestead entry.
HOMESITES from $695 to $3000
army during the war. Areas chiefly affected by this administra-
FULLGROWN CITRUS ACREAGE
AND DATE GARDENS Available
e e e tion are Coachella and Imperial valleys in
For Further Information and NEVADA California, and Gila project east of Yuma,
Descriptive Folder Contact Arizona.
Desert Admirals Need a License . . .
PALM VILLAGE LAND CO.
210 W. 7th. LJL 14. TU-31S6 BOULDER CITY—If you're one of "Pizen Switch" More Beautiful? . . .
those desert admirals—with a boat on Lake
Mead—don't be surprised if a man in uni- YERINGTON—Some of the residents
form taps you on the shoulder and asks to here believe their town will be more pop-
see your license. It'll be a national park ular with tourists if they change its name
For Nice Things . . . service ranger, who issues licenses for all back to the original "Pizen Switch,"
• INFANTS' AND
boats on the lake, from kayaks to speed- reminiscent of its importance as a cow
CHILDREN'S WEAR boats. Anything without a motor, such as town since I860. If there is enough com-
• LADIES' READY-TO-WEAR a sailboat or rowboat, costs $1. Power munity approval it is planned to ask next
• MEN'S FURNISHINGS craft license costs according to length—$2, session of state legislation to make the
• FINE LINENS up to 15 feet, $3 from 15 to 20 feet, $4 change.
from 20 to 25 and $5 for all more than 25
OUSTER'S feet. Rangers say there are about 300 boats
now on the lake. Licenses may be obtained
206 W. TENTH STREET PHONE 246
LANCASTER, C A L I F O R N I A from park rangers at Boulder Beach, Las
SCENIC GUIDES
THE HEART OF ANTELOPE VALLEY The Key to Western Travel
Vegas Wash and Overton.
'RlLLA CUSTER GALEN CUSTER
FIRST EDITION
USS Nevada's Silver "Comes Home" SCENIC GUIDE TO NEVADA
WINNEMUCCA—Silver service of the
More than 500 places to see in Neva-
30-year-old battleship Nevada, to be used da, with complete information, photo-
in atomic bomb experiments, will return to
WILD FLOWER SEEDS its home state as a loan from the navy until
graphs and detailed maps.
A Hundred Travelogues in
Attractive SOUVENIR GIFT package another U.S.S. Nevada is built. It was One Handy Book.
1 packet 20 varieties through former Senator Tasker L. Oddie's Guides to other Western States
1 packet each 3 rare varieties efforts that the Tonopah mines gave 5000 will follow soon.
ounces of silver for the service in 1916. Set
ALSO: Beautiful 4i/2x5"/2 hand colored Price $1.00 Postpaid
photo of floral landscape, nice for fram- was made by jewelry firm of Gorham and
ing, 6 views available—mailed to you in Co., New York. ADDRESS
plain package for re-mailing—postpaid e e e
$1.00. Guy Edwards, for ten years superinten-
SCENIC GUIDES
P. O. Box 288
S. S. LAWRENCE—SEEDSMAN dent of Boulder Dam recreational area, SUSANVILLE. CALIFORNIA
P. O. Box 408 Las Vegas, Nevada recently returned to his duties from war
Send for Yours Today
service.
APRIL, 1946 37
Hotel El Rancho, Gallup resort hotel, Postwar Highway Budget O k a y e d . . .
in February was purchased from H. E. SALT LAKE CITY—Utah's first post-
Stove Pipe i l l s Hotel Zimmerman by Joe Massaglia Jr. of Albu-
querque, and W. D. Owen of Amarillo,
Texas. Extensive remodelling is planned.
war road budget calling for expenditure of
$5,193,079, exclusive of federal matching
offers you funds, was approved February 27 by state
• • • road commission. Predicated on estimated
Comfort and Relaxation in the
Fidel brothers, owners of hotels in Al- revenue of $4,500,000 during 1946 from
Heart of Death Valley.
buquerque and Santa Fe, have purchased gas and motor vehicle taxes and a war-
the 75-room Meadows hotel in Las Vegas. built reserve, the budget provides $1,973,-
EUROPEAN PLAN — DINING ROOM
BAR • • • 308 to match approximately $5,500,000 in
MODERN ACCOMMODATIONS Shipments of cattle out of New Mexico federal funds.
HOTEL AND COTTAGES during 1945 totaled 829,069 head, com-
pared with 744,204 in 1944. New Outdoor Group Organized . . .
"The Oasis of Death Valley"
• • • PROVO—Dr. George H. Hansen, head
OWEN MONTGOMERY. Manager UTAH of Brigham Young university geology de-
partment, in February was elected chair-
Anybody Know About Award? . . . man of the newly formed Central Utah
WHITE ROCK—Harvey Natchees. 25 Outdoor association. Projects of the group
DESERT SOUVENIR year old Ute Indian who was the first include development of Timpanogos,
A four-color picture suitable for framing
American soldier to enter Berlin, wonders Provo canyon and other central Utah out-
shows the Covered Wagon Train of '68 what became of that award he thought had door attractions.
crossing the desert; now on display at been posted for the first Yank who en-
Knott's Berry Place, Highway 39, two tered the Nazi capital. Although he has • • •
miles from Buena Park out of Los Angeles been home since January he has heard Outdoor scenes for Harvey Girls, MGM
22 miles. This remarkable oil painting 20x60
feet took over one year to complete. A copy nothing more of the supposed award. In picture, were filmed in Monument Valley.
will be mailed you together with the special the meantime he has taken up life as a
souvenir edition of our Western Magazine chicken rancher, with his wife Clara and
jampacked with original drawings and pic-
2-year-old daughter Maxine, after doffing
tures and complete description of Ghost
Town and Knott's Berry Place. Both will be
mailed with current issue of our 36-page
the uniform he had worn for three years.
"While I had that on," he said, "I was
Your Next Outing
magazine for 25 cents postpaid in the U.S.A.
Thousands have already viewed this great
work of art and acclaim it a wonderful con-
tribution to the history of the West. Ad-
somebody. An American soldier. Proud to
be one. Now I'm just another Indian. I
was thinking about settling down outside
Trip to the desert
mission is without charge whether you stay the reservation but then I decided my real —will be more fun and more
for the chicken dinner and boysenberry pie place is with my people." While overseas, profitable if you refer to Desert
or not. Send 25 cents for all three: picture, Magazine for maps and pictures
souvenir and current issue to Ghost Town Natchees won the silver star, bronze star
News, Buena Park, California. and purple heart with oak leaf cluster for and suggestions of the things to be
action as advance scout in Third armored seen along the way.
division. . . So if anyone knows about that —Long - time readers of Desert
award, just notify Natchees. have solved the problem of having
The SHANNON Line this information always available
LONG WAVE Monument Plans Near Completion and easy to find by inserting each
ULTRA VIOLET LAMPS issue in a loose-leaf binder with the
SALT LAKE CITY—Formal permis- complete year's index (October
High Power—High Brilliance sion from war department for use of a 50-
For Spectacular Display
issue) in each volume.
acre triangular tract at southeast corner of
also Fort Douglas military reservation as part
Fluorescent and Phosphorescent of the projected "This Is The Place" state DESERT BINDERS...
Materials of All Kinds park was received in February by John D. —are permanent and easy to
"Shannon Glow" Giles, executive secretary-treasurer of the use. They are a handsome addition
state pioneer monument commission. Plans to any library. They open flat—
KEESE ENGINEERING CO. now are virtually completed by state road
7354 Santa Monica Blvd.—Dept. DM and they preserve your copies in
Hollywood 46. California commission for building roads to monu- good condition and in order.
ment site, Giles stated. Arrangements also
have been completed for quarrying the —They come in numbered vol-
granite for the monument. The historical umes, 1 to 9 (the current volume is
NON-RATIONED . . . park will have a total of 577 acres. No. 9) or will be supplied without
volume numbers. Each binder
Basketball, holds 12 copies.
Days of '47 to Start July 15 . . .
Bowling, SALT LAKE CITY—Ray Van Noy, Mailed postpaid and taxpaid
to you for
Baseball city license inspector, has been appointed
new secretary of Days of '47 Inc., the or- $1.25
SHOES ganization which will stage Utah's his-
torical celebration in Salt Lake City July
VAN DEGRIFT'S 15-24, inclusive. Events include crown-
ing of the queen, pioneer ball, rodeo, LDS
717 W. 7th Street
tabernacle choir concert, parade, pageant El Centre California
LOS ANGELES. CALIFORNIA
in University of Utah stadium.
APRIL, 1946 39
MINERAL SPECIMENS of all kinds. Collec-
tions for museums and students. Micro-mount
GEM MART ADVERTISING RATE
7c a Word — Minimum $1.00
mineral collections. Rocks and minerals by
the pound or by the specimen for display,
study and research. H. Goudey, Box 529,
Yerington, Nevada.
BRACELETS and RINGS—Matched sets in NEPHRITE JADE in blank cabochons, black, MINERAL SETS—24 Colorful Minerals (iden-
unusual quality stones of Montana Moss olive and dark green, 16x12 mm $1.00 each. tified) in l x l compartments—Postage paid,
Agate, Arizona Picture Wood, Flowering Ob- Rare quality apple green 16x12 mm, 18x10 $3.50. Prospector's Set of 50 Minerals (iden-
sidian, Turquoise, Chrysocolla or Sagenite. $2.50 each. Postpaid. Satisfaction guaranteed. tified) in l x l compartments in cloth rein-
HAND MADE, individually designed mount- Write for prices on quantity and finished forced sturdy cartons, Postage paid $5.75.
ings of HEAVY STERLING SILVER, by cabochons. j . W. Carson, Bridgeville, Calif. Elliott's Gem Shop, 26 Jergins Arcade, Long
skilled Navajos. Selling at a fraction of the Beach 2, Calif.
price asked by retailers. Must be seen to be
appreciated. Sets at $16.50 to $45.00 plus WHOLESALE ONLY: Lazulite, Agate Wood,
federal and state tax. As always, your money Nevada Agate, Nevada Variscite, Obsidian, WANTED TO BUY, or trade for Franklin
back if not satisfied. Can furnish prices on black, Obsidian, black and red. Amygdeloids, fluorescent minerals. Western States crystal-
practically every known faceted gem stone. Carnelian, Travertine, Death Valley Onyx, lized or rare minerals. Also iron meteorites.
THOMPSON'S STUDIO, 385 West Second Lone Mt. Onyx, Paymaster Onyx, Death Val- John S. Albanese, P. O. Box 536, Newark,
Street, Pomona, Calif. ley Curly, Box 495, Goldfield, Nev. New Jersey.
A PRIL, 19 4 6 41
Los Angeles lapidary society has a "guest DESERT ROADS FOR J. Lewis Renton, vice-president Northern Cal-
kitty" to which members donate polished speci- ifornia mineral society, San Francisco, showed
ROCKHOUNDS his beautiful color slides of thunder eggs, agates
mens. At every meeting guests receive one of
these as a memento of their visit. Mojave Desert Gem and Mineral society has and minerals at February meeting of Monterey
compiled following information on road condi- Bay mineral society. He called attention to
tions in Mojave desert as of February 17, 1946: characteristic coloring and structure typical of
Black Mountain, Opal Mountain, Harper specific areas. The group plans a raffle of do-
Lake district—closed areas. nated specimens at each meeting to swell the
treasury. Membership has reached 68. A. L. Jar-
Bicycle Lake, Camp Irwin—road to camp in vis, Watsonville, was elected federation director.
excellent condition, area open to rockhounds Hugh Brown, representative of Western Min-
who must check in at the military post. No traf- eral exchange, talked briefly on American min-
fic beyond the camp limits to civilians. eral guide. He showed a fluorescent display and
Goldstone, Copper City, Leadpipe Springs, cutting material.
Eagle Crags, One Willow Springs, Hidden • • •
Springs, Leach Springs—closed areas. February Pseudomorph, bulletin of Kern
Fossil bed. Inscription Canyon areas—road
GEM VILLAGE not passable account water washed and sandy.
county mineral society, Bakersfield, California,
discusses tellurium and tellurium ores. It states
Paradise for Rockhound, Artist. Collector. Mule Canyon—road good to south entrance; that tellurium is one of the r u e elements usu-
Hobbyist and Sportsman dangerous but passable to north entrance; be- ally classed as semi-metal. It is so soft that it can
Plan to visit the only Gem Colony yond to palm wood location, passable with cau- be scratched with a finger nail. It is used to give
in America tion, rocks and sand and unimproved road. glass a reddish tint; can be alloyed with zinc and
Over 40 lots sold to date. Write for par- Calico, Odessa, Doran Canyons—roads pass- aluminum. It is claimed that such an alloy is su-
ticulars. We have a large stock of cutting able but surface generally rough. perior to aluminum in tensile and torsional
materials, slabs, cabinet and museum strength. These economic uses, however, are so
specimens, cut stones—both facet and Coyote Lake, through Mule Canyon or from insignificant that at present tellurium has small
cabochons, fluorescent minerals, mineral beyond the checking station—road passable, commercial value.
books, Indian silver jewelry. Do silver some sand, high centers at points.
and lapidary work to order. Lavic, Mt. Pisgah, Amboy Crater, Mitchell's
Caverns, Newberry Springs, Newberry Moun-
Special — Colorado Plume, Agate, tains, Hector—all excellent roads, main high- MINERAL
sawed slabs from $1.00 to $30.00, on way 66. IDENTIFICATION
approval. New find, none better.
Afton Canyon—roads not passable. SIMPLIFIED
FRANK AND GRACE MORSE By O. C. Smith, A.B., A.M.
The Colorado Gem Co., Bayfield, Colo. 2nd Revised Edition
Chuckawalla Slim is proudly displaying two Price $3.30
fossil clam shells completely opalized. The re- Plus Tax in California
placement is excellent quality fire opal—treas- Order from — O. C. SMITH - Dept. D
ures for any rockhound's collection. 6157 Santa Ana St. — Bell, California
CA1CITE in superb crystal groups. Un- Red Cross was to give a brief presentation of the
usual combination of b a s a l pinacoid work and needs of that organization. Dr. Rob-
anc scalenohedron. erts, rockhound as well as Red Cross official,
2"x2"—$2.00 to 4"x5"—$7.50
DESERT ROSES (Chalcedony). Picked
has served in Alaska and in Europe. February
22-24 field trip was planned to Trona as guests
of Se^rles Lake gem and mineral society.
Navajo Indian
for beauty a n d size.
25c and 50c
• • •
Commander David A. Evans, U.S.N., talked
Silversmith
STRAWBERRY G E O D E S. Complete on streamlining your attitude at February 13 I now have expert Navajo silver-
showy geodes, nicely broken to show meeting of Long Beach mineralogical society. smiths making jewelry to order.
crystal lined interior. Weight from 1 to Members having exhibits were: Otoupolik, mer- Rings, bracelets, pendants,
15 lbs. a n d priced from cury minerals; Webb, ore minerals; Gordon, cut
and polished work. January field trip to Mint brooches, earrings, etc. Have your
$1.00 to $15.00 cabochons mounted in pure silver
canyon area yielded specimens of oil sand,
BEAUTIFUL DESERT SAGENITE. Small howlite, colemanite, moss agate, nodules. Paul mountings. Prices on request.
slabs ideal for cabochon a n d bracelet Fischer found an outstanding piece of eye
sets. agate. February 23-24 field trip to Chocolate We carry a large stock oi Indian Jew-
50c per square inch mountains was planned. It is reported that this elry, and cut and carry in stock tur-
district is to be made into a permanent bomb- quoise and petrified wood cabochons.
Complete Satisfaction Guaranteed ing range, precluding future field trips. Wholesale, retail.
Please Include Postage • • • ART'S GEM SHOP
Write for Price List. Visitors Welcome. James O. Jackson, Phoenix, Arizona, has in- 218 N. 3rd St. Box 225
augurated a guide service for central Arizona. GALLUP, NEW MEXICO
JACK FROST He knows the desert thoroughly, both the (Home of the Navajo)
59 El. Hoffer Street Banning, California places usually visited by tourists and interesting ART PUFFER, Owner
spots off the beaten path.
APRIL, 1946 43
W. Scott Lewis, 2500 N. Beachwood drive, HUGE SILVER NUGGET FOUND Jess Abernathy spoke on the art of cabochon
Hollywood 28, California, suggests that min- cutting and construction of the diamond saw at
eral students might find it convenient to pos-
IN SOUTHERN ARIZONA February 7 meeting of Gem Stone Collectors of
sess an alnico magnet. Latest type, Alnico V is Paul Bloomer, an employe of the Bixby ranch, Utah, held in Hotel Newhouse, Salt Lake Gty.
15 times as strong as a chromium steel magnet. Globe, Arizona, reports having found a 48 Exhibit of the evening was a 1560 carat, facet
Its composition is 8 parts aluminum, 14 nickel, pound nugget of native silver in Richmond cut, smoky topaz.
24 cobalt, 3 copper and the balance iron. basin, 13 miles from Globe in the Apache moun-
tains. Such a find might have an intrinsic value,
Fred Rugg is chairman of fifth annual show
Jay Wilson, who has been acting vice- by the ounce, of more than one thousand dollars of gemstones by Los Angeles lapidary society.
president and secretary of Long Beach Miner- at present price of silver, but would bring an The exhibit will be housed in Los Angeles
alogical society, resigned the secretary job in immensely greater price as a fine specimen, from county museum on Exposition boulevard May 4-
order to devote his time to duties of vice-presi- some museum or wealthy collector. June 28.
dent and program chairman. Mildred Bond was Such finds, although rare indeed, are not at
elected to fill the vacancy. Her address is 1521 all unheard of in southern Arizona. A number
Gardenia, Long Beach, California.
of years ago an experienced prospector, Floyd
Blevins, found in the same area nuggets worth Miners and
several times as much as the one found by "I Prospectors
Before you buy any lapidary equipment- Bloomer.
~ | INSTANTLY
W IDENTIFY
URANIUM
Imperial Lapidary Guild, El Centro, Cali-
NEW CATALOG fornia, after being inactive during the war MERCURY
THE NEW COMPACT 3V period, recently reorganized and already has 18 MINER A L I G H T SCHEELITE
active members. Leo DeCelles is president, L. G. DETECTS U R A N I U M WILLEMITE
[LAPIDARY UNIT Beleal is secretary-treasurer. Guild meets sec-
ond Fridays at member homes, and takes Sun-
"The available methods for detecting
uranium lacked one or more of the de-
sired characteristics. Eventually, however,
and other valu-
able ores with
For months my mail has been heavy. I an- gem which increases in polish as more and more
swer some inquiries direct when they repeat scratches are worn away by using wheels covered
information previously given in these pages. But with cloth to which fine grits of carborundum
I alwi.ys spend more time on letters to folks who have been glued and additional wheels of felt
are where I was a few years ago when I didn't or leather to which you apply finer wet abrasive
agents. After long and arduous effort something
IRIECC
know my head from an agate. Typical of these
exchanges of correspondence is the following
letter from Nellie Glover, of Tracy, California,
happens to the surface of the gem that few men
who are not scientists really understand. The LAPIDARY SUPPLIES
who can be pardoned for thinking she can polish
rocks with a brush. If you cut rocks all you will
molecules of the mineral (all stones are min-
erals) on the surface being abrased seem to melt
*
gain by reading further is the memory of how and flow together just as if they all split at VRECO Lapidary Equipment will again be
little you knew yourself about gem cutting at once (molecules are composed of atoms, you available. So, may we ask you to please be
one time. see) and the surface takes on a mirror-finish patient for a little longer; new VRECO
polish free from scratches. It stays that way equipment is on its way. VRECO Dependa-
Mrs. Glover writes, "I would like to get some forever if some harder substance doesn't come bility is well worth waiting for.
sort of little outfit to polish stones. I have a lot along to scratch it again. This polish is im- VRECO Lapidary Supplies are available for
of agates and other pretty stones that I have measurably thin and is called a "Beilby layer" immediate delivery. Order now.
been saving through the years. Now my family after the man who advanced this theory of the
is raised and I have time to play and wondered flow of solid surfaces. VRECO DIAMOND SAWS . . give you better
if you would have some advice about what I performance . . longer life . . faster cutting.
'hould get. I have a small electric motor with a "To avoid the great labor of grinding big 6-inch $4.50 12-inch .$ 8.75
brush for garage work which I could use. I have rocks down to very small ones we saw them in 8-inch 5.50 14-inch 11.00
never done any stone polishing or seen it done slices just as your butcher slices baloney in his 10-inch 6.80 16-inch 13.75
and I don't want to spend too much on it but cutting machine. As rocks are hard we can't have POSTPAID
just polish for my own pleasure. Please tell me teeth in our saws as in wood saws or a sharp Arbor Hole Sizes: 1/2", 5/8", 3/4", 7/8", 1"
what t need and where to get it." edge as in the knife blade in the slicing machine. Be sure to specify size required.
I didn't offer Mrs. Glover the facetious replies We therefore insert very small pieces of dia-
mond in the edge of our circular saw blade as VRECO GRINDING WHEELS a r e m a d e ex-
I got when I asked others the same questions pressly (or gem stone grinding.
the diamond will be harder than anything we 100 Grain
seven years ago. These replies were usually built
try to saw with it for it is the hardest substance 6" 100 & 180 220 Grit
around the idea that you don't have to be crazy known. This blade revolves in oil to keep it
to polish rocks—but it helps. Here is my letter 6 x %-inch ___ $ 2.10 $ 2.25
cool (water would rust it) and is powered the 6 x 1 -inch 2.50 2.60
which can just as well serve as an open letter to same way as other equipment.
all people "queer" enough to pick up and hoard 8 x 1 -inch 3.60 3.90
pretty rocks with no definite purpose in mind. "Until recently lapidary equipment was al- 10 x 1 -inch 5.00 5.30
ways homemade but now you can buy it from 10 x 11/2-inch 7.00 7.50
"Dear Nellie Glover: 12 x 1 -inch 6.75 7.25
advertisers in these pages about as cheaply as
Your "electric motor with a brush for garage 12 ll/ 2 -inch_ 9.60 10.40
you can make it. You should buy some books 12 x 2 -inch
work" will be of no value to you in polishing and read about gem cutting before you spend
_ 12.30 13.30
"the pretty stones you have been saving through Arbor Hole Sizes: 1/2", 5/8", 3/4", 7/8", 1"
money for equipment. Get the Art of Gem Cul- Be sure to specify size required.
the years." The motor is a start toward a lapidary ling by Dake (SI.50) and Jewelry, Gem Cutting
shop but the only use for the brush is to clean & Metalcraft by Baxter ($2.75) from our book
up the shop itself. department. If you are still interested, read VRECO DRESSING BRICKS—
"You see, Mrs. Glover, rocks are not polished magazines about minerals and gem cutting and For removing glaze and loading from
as you would shine a pair of shoes, which have observe the many gem and equipment adver- Grinding Wheels. Keep them cutting
to be polished often because the shine disap- tisements in them. These magazines are The at top efficiency.
pears. A polished rock keeps its shine forever if Mineralogist at Portland, Oregon and Rocks & 8"x2"xl" Dressing Brick $ .75
some harder substance doesn't come along to mar Minerals at Peekskill, N.Y. A postal request to
the p:>!ished surface. Your window panes and the publishers will bring you a free sample copy,
I am sure.
VRECO POLISHING TRIPOLI—
the diamond in your ring were polished very 2 lbs $ .85
similarly but you can mar the polish on your "Proceed with this advice, Mrs. Glover, and
window panes by scratching it with your dia- learn to create finished gems for your happiness.
mond. That is because the diamond is harder God made the rocks but you can create gems VRECO POLISHING TIN OXIDE
than :he glass. You can cut bread with a knife that shall be deathless and exist somewhere to The superior polishing agent for a
but you can't cut a rock with it because the rock be enjoyed long after you become as the dust you final high polish. At pre-war prices.
is haider than the steel edge. Therefore a rock grind from the rocks. So little of the paintings Per pound $1.25
can oily be polished by an agent that is harder being painted today, the music and poetry being
than ;:he rock itself. An agate, rated about 7 in written, will exist at all 5000 years from now
hardness, can be polished by carborundum, and all the "fancy work" now in existence will VRECO POLISHING WHEELS—
which is rated higher and is much harder. The long have mouldered. The gems, the good ones, Highest quality wheels for gem stone
agate is ground by having the undesirable por- still will be in someone's loved possession if polishing.
tion worn away by the abrasive action of the people exist at all in that long era down the 6 x 1 $ 8.75
carborundum until you have the agate in the years. 8 x 1 6.25
shape you desire it. 8 x 11/2 - - 8.5D
"I feel infinitely sorry for the people (there 8x2 11.00
"This grinding is usually done by a wheel are so many) who never once in their life have 10 x 1 _ 11.00
made of carborundum which is kept wet to hold any desire to create something of joy themselves. 10 x 2 ___ 16.90
down the heat generated by the friction. The But for those who do there is nothing that can 12 x 2 ._ _ 24.40
wheei is mounted on an arbor and driven by a give more wholesome satisfaction than to con- Arbor Hole Sizes: 1/2", 6/8", 3/4", 7/8", 1"
pulley from an electric motor. After you have vert a rough stone of the field or desert into a Be sure to specify size reauired.
"roughed" out the agate to the desired shape shining, sparkling, shapely gem of beauty in the
you have to polish it by wearing away the rough palm of one's hand. This has brought me much
happiness and I hope you will find happiness in
Vreeland Manufacturing Co.
edges and the scratches you can see in the sur-
it too." 2026 S. W. Jefferson St. Portland 1. Oregon
face. You finally achieve a stone that becomes a
APRIL, 1946 45
O
Quit Hetureen Uou and Me
. - .-•• —• .. •••••-. • / ••-• • L/lArfiXff'h
By RANDALL HENDERSON
/ y N BLYTHE, California, a few days ago I stopped for a know something of the effort that has gone into Cavalcade and
_J chat with my old friend Ed F. Williams. For many years the fiesta which accompanies it. It is a tremendous undertaking
Ed has served as a sort of ambassador of goodwill for the for a little community of busy people. And it is all done without
Palo Verde valley. His many civic duties include the secretary- thought of profit or financial reward. If the gate receipts pay
ship of the chamber of commerce. for the costumes and seating and properties, the sponsors are
Williams is the world's champion optimist—but I discovered happy. That is all they ask.
he has one pet peeve. "Why do all the blankety-blank chambers Speaking for the people of the desert country, I want to ex-
of commerce in California insist on picturing the saguaro cactus press deep-felt appreciation to Les Dowe, the president, Max
as a California attraction?" he exploded. "The saguaro belongs Brents, who directed the program this year for the first time,
to Arizona. It is Arizona's state flower. Californians have no and the scores of associates who have contributed weeks of ef-
more right to claim it than Arizonans would have to publicise fort to the success of a project so worthwhile.
the giant redwoods as an Arizona asset." According to H. R. Sisk, publisher of Nogales Herald, who
Williams is right. But I attribute California's infringement was present at the Cavalcade as the personal representative of
more to ignorance than to dishonesty. With few exceptions— Governor Osborn of Arizona, the remains of Captain Juan Bau-
and Ed Williams is one of them—chamber of commerce secre- tista de Anza lie in an unmarked grave at the little Catholic
taries and real estate men know less about the natural history church in Arizpe, Sonora. The church has a record of the burial.
and natural resources of their communities than the average It is Sisk's suggestion that Californians, Arizonans and the
teen-age high school boy. proper authorities in Mexico should honor Anza and his band
Some day, an enterprising little town with a lot of vision in of colonists with two monuments—one at the grave in Sonora,
its leadership is going to abolish its chamber of commerce and and one at Tubac in southern Arizona where the Anza expedi-
organize a chamber of culture—and within ten years it will be tion began its historic trek across the desert to San Francisco
the best town in the United States in which to make a home. And where the first colony was founded.
purely as a by-product, it will have outstripped all its neighbor- Desert Magazine would like to subscribe to such a tribute.
ing communities in commercial progress. * * *
* * * On the cover of the current issue of the California Mining
Either Desert is improving, or Elmo Proctor is slipping. We Journal is the picture of Joshua trees, with the following cap-
sort o' depend on Elmo to straighten us out when inaccuracy tion: "The Joshua Trees of San Bernardino and Riverside coun-
creeps into our desert lore and history—and we haven't had a ties—eight hundred acres of them block the mining industry in
letter from him in months. For the information of those who do that area! This vast acreage has been withdrawn from public en-
not know, Elmo has a little wayside gas station at Cronese, near try to protect a few scrubby trees that are of absolutely no value—
Baker, California. The prize specimen in his rock collec- sentimental or otherwise . . ."
tion is a musical geode. You can hear the broken crystals tinkle There are many of us—staunch conservationists—who will
inside the crystal-lined cavity when you turn it over. agree that a limited area on the eastern side of the Joshua Tree
# * * national monument should be excluded from the park reserva-
Last night I sat out under the stars, overlooking one of many tion. It should not have been taken into the monument in the
barrancas slashed across the face of the Southern California des- first place. It is mineralized terrain with little in the way of
ert when the Colorado broke loose in 1905 and formed the pres- scenic attraction.
ent Salton sea, and witnessed the 1946 presentation of Desert It is true, no one has ever found minerals of any great value
Cavalcade by my old friends in Calexico and Mexicali. there. Probably more money has been put into the ground than
It was a stirring spectacle—the trek of the gallant Juan Bau- has been taken out. Nevertheless, it is good prospecting terrain,
tista de Anza and his colony of first California settlers from Tu- as evidenced by the countless "coyote holes" which dot the land-
bac in 1774-75, the coming of the trappers and mountain men scape. I would favor reopening that part of the monument to
to the Southwest, the march of Kearny's army and the Mormon prospectors. They'll have a lot of fun and recreation there, and
battalion, the stage drivers and freighters on the old Butterfield one of them might make a strike.
road, and eventually the reclamation of the great below-sea- But when the Mining Journal writer takes the attitude that
level Imperial basin—all these passed before me in colorful the whole Joshua Tree monument should be turned back to the
pageantry. mining fraternity because its Joshua forest and other scenic at-
It was necessary to discontinue Cavalcade during the war tractions have "absolutely no value—sentimental or otherwise,"
years, but I am glad it is to go on. One of the charms of this out- he is taking in too much territory. By the immoderacy of his de-
door pageant is that it is presented by folks who have had no mands he is placing every true conservationist in the position of
professional training in the arts of the stage. Their drama is having to oppose his demands. He talks about sentiment, but his
simple and genuine—and beautiful. words are mere gibberish—because he does not know the mean-
Having served 15 years as editor of Calexico's newspaper, I ing of the term.
APRIL, 1946 47
T h e 'J
pictured, in amuging'
Went In the unique cut ^^
*VaiQriG JeaiL'Dntes