Arizona's Four Footed Flivver

ARIZONA HIGHWAYS AUGUST, 1936 ARIZONA'S FOUR

In 1936 there was a movement afoot in Arizona to immortalize in bronze that lazy, stubborn, fleabitten, contrary, but onetime indispensable little pioneer, the donkey. At large he is commonly called the jackass; but in the Southwest that name with its absurd connotations is seldom heard-the long-eared little citizen is respectfully referred to by his Spanish name, burro.

The monument was proposed as a memorial to early day prospectors of the state. It would represent two figures, the typical bearded and tattered prospector and his packladen burro. The plan grew out of an increasing sentiment that these two, the burro along with his master, were literally the advance agents of present day Arizona civilization.

Historians have called attention to the fact that the seeker after gold has ever been the trail-blazer for pioneer movements; and in the Southwest at least, the burro, who was the prospector's inevitable complement, is recognized as a co-founder of empire. For even a hundred years prospectors have been making history in Arizona; cities have sprung up and flourished upon sites of their discoveries. Bonanzas have changed political and industrial destiny.

The burro, native ass of Andalusia and Barbary, was brought to this country by the early Spaniards. In the days of the first white settlements in Arizona, when wagon roads were virtually non-existent, burro trains were utilized to bring in supplies necessary to the settlers. A train of a hundred or more burros brought flour to Wickenburg and Prescott from Pima Indian villages, grain from Ehrenburg, Colorado River port, and salt from Zuni salt wells across the New Mexico border.

Eats Anything, Goes Anywhere

The burro was particularly outfitted by nature to become the servant of the prospector. He is sure-footed on the trail; he can do with less food, less water, and less rest than the horse, mule, or ox. He apparently subsists equally well on succulent green grasses or dry bark and weeds.

Some wag has remarked that the burro and the goat probably have a far back common ancestor. They have the same incredible "toughness"; both are dexterous climbers; and both will "eat anything." A cowboy told of having a chuck wagon raided by some roving burros.

"They tore open everything," he said. "Kicked out the flour box, ate the flour, ate up slabs of bacon, pawed open canned peaches and licked the juice, even chewed some extra shirts and sox we had."

The burro is still used to a considerable extent as a pack animal by both Americans and Mexicans. He is employed in lieu of a truck to carry chickens and hay to market, and to pack wood and water for family use. Children have them for pets and to ride. The prospector and his burro are still familiar sights.

However, a large percentage of the burro population, no longer needed, was turned loose to become a part of the wild life of the west. Thousands of the tough-skinned little beasts now exist in a wild state in Arizona, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, California, and along both sides of the Mexican border. A generation or two of living wild as do the panther and the deer, changes the docile donkey into an entirely different sor: of animal. Oren Arnold, western writes, has observed: "The (wild) burro is correctly called the wildest wild animal in America. The great snarling panther or mountain lion (which is also called puma or cougar) is America's worst predator. He constantly kills and eats growup horses, cows, antelope, and deer. But if -as often happens-he springs from ambush to attack a wandering burro, he quickly regrets his action.The burro becomes a whirlwind of teeth and hooves. His skin is so tough and so protected with heavy hair that the lion cannot make the customary quick slash and tear and kill. The burro jumps, squeals, kicks, and turns in the air. Surprised Mr. Lion is shaken off. But before he can renew his attackand remember he is a cat, with catlike motions he is being pounded and pawed and bitten by this strangely ferocious donkey. Within a few minutes the cat is glad to slink off and lick his wounds while nursing his surprise."

The typical herd of wild burros conisists of 15 or 20 jennies and their lord. In order to maintain his position as boss of the harem, a jack must be able to whip all comers. Sometimes two jacks will fight for days for herd supremacy,The loser overcome with exhaustion, is forced to quit the herd. Prospectors claim, and historians bear them out, that without the burro, the Southwest would be 25 years behind the times. Had it not been for the burro, they say, discovery of important mines might have been delayed for many years and mining unquestionably has been the backbone of Arizona's economic development.

FOOTED FLIVVER

Event for canned "chow." Forthwith numbers of wild burros were slaughtered for canning. The burro is protected to a great exExperienced by the prospector who will not willingly see destroyed the friend who shared with him the hungers and thirsts, the scorching days and solitary nights of the destert.

The more sentimental among the donkey's friends go further and point out that he is a sacred animal. The Savior rode a donkey to the gates of Jerusalem, they recall; and they add that Jesus placed a cross upon the beasts' back as a reward for its service. True enough, every burro is marked with a more or less distinct cross. Some of the prospectors claim that a burro never dies that is, of natural causes. "Did you ever see a dead burro?" They challenge the skeptical. And the answer is usually "no." Manufacturers of dog food discovered that burro meat makes a good ingredi-

tent, however, by public opinion, influ-