SEASON'S GREETINGS FROM THE

AN ANNIVERSARY

November 18, 1938, marked an anniversary for the Arizona Highway Department. On that day, Mr. Howard S, Reed completes his first year as state highway engineer, having succeeded the late, able, beloved Tom O'Connell, whose untimely death saddened us all a year ago. The past year has been one of progress and accomplishment for the department. This is indicative of the business-like manner in which Mr. Reed took charge, together with a constructive road policy laid down by an enlightened commission and the high ability of the department's top-notch engineering staff in translating the commission's policy into tangible results.

The position of state highway engineer is one that demands high engineering ability, a sweeping knowledge of finances, a thorough insight into the road needs of Arizona, a deep understanding of the economics and philosophy of road building, a sixth sense of good will and personality to assuage the demands of sectionalism and the patience of a prophet to lend sane, calm leadership to the department as it is tossed and buffeted about on the stormy seas of politics.

Mr. Reed's task was not an easy one. He was called upon to succeed one of the most able engineers in the country. Yet he went about his business quietly and efficiently and it soon became apparent that the man in the front office knew what he was doing.

The state engineer delegated considerable authority to department heads. His instructions to them were pointed and concise. He insisted upon efficiency over all else and he gave the department heads his solid support. The department readily reacted to his leadership, and road building in Arizona proceeded along on a decidedly efficient basis.

Then an election loomed on the horizon, and as it always does to state departments, a case of political jitters swept over the highway unit. During the trying months prior to the primary, the balanced leadership of the state highway engineer reduced the jitters of the department to a minimum. For the first time since statehood the highway department took no official, unified action in the primary. Mr. Reed said that an employee of the department could vote according to his own political precepts and he could engage in a campaign to his heart's content as long as highway property and highway time was not involved. The traditional political "kitty" which all employees had to donate to "or else" was conspicuously lacking from the highway department this past primary campaign. One of the commissioners issued a statement to department employees that he disapproved of political donations and Mr. Reed saw that that statement was carried out.Mr. Reed is filling the job of state highway engineer in a meritorious manner. No political lackey, he is primarily an engineer possessed with those qualities that give commanding leadership to the largest department in the state government.

Christmas in Arizona « »

December is a delightful month in Arizona. High in the mountains snow falls and glistens in the sunshine and the stately trees and lonely cabins wear gay white coats. The beauty of such scenes is caught in the two photographs by Norman Rhoades Garrett, F.R.P.S., on pages 18 and 19. The "F. R. P. S.," by the way, stands for "Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society." Mr. Garrett's salon prints are world famed.

Snows fall lightly and gently at the Grand Canyon during the winter, and when they do the effect is beautiful to behold. Our cover page by G. E. Ruckstell, we feel, glimpses part of the beauty of Grand Canyon in winter. But on the desert and in the valleys of the southern part of the state, there is no snow and thousands of visitors are arriving to loaf in the sun.

Mr. Ferde Grofé, famed American composer, enters our pages this month with an account of his hauntingly beautiful Grand Canyon Suite, masterful interpretation in music of Nature's foremost masterpiece. We feel honored to have Mr. Grofé with us.

Among other contributions to the season's gaiety we have a study of Montezuma Castle by Joe Miller, an account of the amazing Christmas festival at Madrid, N. M., by Mrs. White Mountain Smith, description of the Wonderland of Rocks by G. W. Hoopman, and Mrs. Lorine W. Garrett's happy narrative of her first winter in the mountains of Arizona. Then, too, Ernest Douglas supplies us with the first portion of his penetrating description of the work of the Modern Irrigators in Arizona. We are exceptionally proud of the two photographic presentations of the southwest scene by Miss Esther Henderson, which appear on pages 20 and 29. Miss Henderson is a portrait photographer who gave up a stage career to make a name for herself in negatives and prints. She lives in Tucson.

We present in this issue an Arizona Sketch Book (center insert.) We have long neglected the artist and it is time something should be done about it. Arizona, with her magnificent scenery, her color and tradition, challenges the artist, and the challenge is accepted.

And while on the subject, we would like to give George M. Avey, highway department artist, credit and praise for lending his willing and deft touch to the makeup of December's pages. He has so many chores to fill around the highway department, you wonder how he gets them done. Yet, he does them alland well.

In keeping with the inauguration of TWA air travel between Phoenix and San Francisco, we devote some photography to the theme. On the opposite page is pictured a TWA airliner roaring above Boulder Dam and Lake Mead. The inside cover shows the immensity of the dam itself. To Don Black, TWA representative, we are indebted for the Pierce's Ferry picture on page 30. Claire Meyer Proctor, whose photography is outstanding, provides for us a road shot on page 31, and R. C. Proctor catches the heart of Phoenix in his "Metropolis," on the inside back cover. Pictures, as they say, tell the story.

That strange genius, Hal Empie, down Duncan way, contributes a few cartoons, and also our Christmas card on page 1. Empie post cards are on sale every place. He works very hard. Hilly Billy Larry, sometimes called Larry Smith, unpacked his bags at a Phoenix camp spot recently, and has delivered a few gags to ye olde Christmas edition.

We hope you find our modest issue to your liking. Until we gallop along next time we extend to our friends and readers all the happiness, all the kindness, all the joy the ages-old expression implies: "MERRY CHRISTMAS!"

ARIZONA HIGHWAYS

PUBLISHED IN THE INTEREST OF GOOD ROADS BY THE ARIZONA HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT RAYMOND CARLSON, EDITOR CIVILIZATION FOLLOWS THE IMPROVED HIGHWAY ONE DOLLAR PER YEAR 10C PER COPY ADDRESS ALL COMMUNICATIONS TO ARIZONA HIGHWAYS, ARIZONA HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT. PHOENIX. ARIZONA PRINTED IN THE U. S. A.

R. C. STANFORD, GOVERNOR OF ARIZONA ARIZONA STATE HIGHWAY COMMISSION

HOWARD S. REED, STATE HIGHWAY ENGINEER

TABLE OF CONTENTS

December's cover is a study in color photography by G. E. Ruckstell, Boulder City, of Grand Canyon after a light snow.

SEASON'S GREETINGS FROM THE ARIZONA HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT

"SILENT NIGHT . . HOLY NIGHT

THE STORY OF GRAND CANYON SUITE.

By Ferde Grofé.

MONTEZUMA CASTLE... Apartment in the Cliffs.

CHRISTMAS COMES TO THE SOUTHWEST.

ARIZONA'S MODERN IRRIGATORS: PART 1

WONDERLAND OF ROCKS

CONVERSION OF A PALEFACE

TWO PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIES OF THE SOUTHWEST

By Esther Henderson.

ARIZONA SKETCH BOOK

TWO ARIZONA SCENES

ALONG THE HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS

ARIZONA HIGHWAY COMMISSION NOTES

ROAD PROJECTS UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

INVITATION TO A SALON