Song of May

You'll find May in the shade of a sun-shelter down on the Papago Indian Reservation because in mid-afternoon there is a warmth in the rays of a May-sun. May is full of lazy weather and loafing weather, sitting-around-in-the-sun-doingnothing weather.

Travelers. If you find yourself out on the Silver Bell road, west of the Tucson Recreational Area, in May such a sight would be the reward for your travels.

And, again, peering about, you will find a Papago basket weaver whose fast, deft fingers are making veritable creations out of sunlight and dried reeds from the desert. May is in the smile of the Papago basket weaver.

Along the highways of our land you'll find a prospector off to the hills. The open road beckons in May and for all travelers there is gold in the sunshine and happiness is in the very air. The call of May is in the lure of the open road and the beckon of horizons not so far ahead. . . R. C.

Eavesdropping on Summer

Spring's May dance is at its peak. A few more days, a few more whirls, and with a swish of a flowery dress Spring will be gone and Summer will be with us. Now is the time to check the summer wardrobe, test the tires, get out the fishing tackle, unfold the maps, and prepare for Summer's vacation days, days of gypsy wandering where fancy wills and where vagrant turns of the road beckon.

Lucky, indeed, is the person who happens to be an American and live in America when Summer comes. Endless sunlit miles are America's domain, the right and freedom to travel those miles, unmolested and unharmed, America's heritage. Summertime is traveltime for America. And the highways of Arizona will join in the fun.

What tantalizing possibilities for traveling America is the portrait of summer in Arizona: The Grand Canyon, paint pot of the Heavens Lake Mead, a small ocean of shimmering blue the Painted Desert and the Petrified Forest, pastels in antiquity. the colorful Indian peoples of northern Arizona, the Havasupais, Hopis and Navajos... Monument Valley, a study in distance and dim shapes against the backdrop of skies... Canyon de Chelly... Betatakin and Keet Seel Wupatki Walnut Canyon Montezuma Castle Tuzigoot Ruins Rainbow Bridge... Wonderland of Rocks... we pause for breath! Tonto Natural Bridge...Oak Creek Canyon Kinishba Ruins Sycamore Canyon... and Blue and Coal Canyon, there by Tuba City Boulder Dam . precious jewels called Mormon Lake and Lake Mary the great forests of Coconino, Apache, Gila, and Navajo counties the trout fishing streams of the White Mountains. the adventure trail through the Kaibab Forest and another with historical remembrances, the Coronado Trail! The list is endless. A toss of the coin will lead to strange and exciting places in this strange and exciting land.

Good roads, good weather, good skies! Arizona is equipped with everything the exacting traveler can ask whose way is the nomad's way during carefree Summer.

Considering all that Arizona has to offer, it is small wonder that Summer comes early and stays late in this sun-blessed, beauty-blessed Empire in the West... R. C.

Around the Maypole...

This month of May we speak in passing of mountains, monuments and missions. In these pages you will find a few things from southern Arizona, central Arizona, and even a travel sketch from 'way up in Monument Valley where Arizona ends and Utah begins. Considerable space is devoted to Yavapai county and we feel that nothing could be in closer harmony with that theme than our cover study, a pictorial by A. Frank Purcell, of Prescott. Old battered spurs, old weather-beaten boards! Mr. Purcell entitles this study: "Off the Range." Did you ever stop to ponder the role spurs have played in the colonization of the west? They're just as important as the rifle and the saddle, and some day soon we'll try to find someone who can do us an essay on the subject.

In connection with our Yavapai sketch please study closely the Yavapai county map prepared for ARIZONA HIGHWAYS by the Arizona Artists Project, W. P. A. We think it is pretty good and we plan to present similar maps, from time to time, dealing with every county in the state. When you start studying these maps you realize the extent of this state, its miles of desert, mountains, forests, plateaus, canyons, all bearing the label of enchantment.

For a long time now we've admired the weather, as do all people visiting Arizona. They say that the only thing you can do about the weather is talk about it. Well, this issue Raymond E. Maher, formerly with the weather bureau, is doing the talking and we believe when you read this essay you'll know why we have the finest climate in the world. You already know we have the finest climate in the world.

Our cover panel in April issue, you will recall, was a study of Roosevelt Dam getting ready to overflow. Before we were off the press, came more rain, more water, and zingo! Roosevelt overflowed. Our timing was wrong. But this issue we try to make amends to present, for the record and for posterity, a double panel study of Roosevelt over-flowing, a cascade of white, foamy water over the spillways, raising a cloud of white spray.

We hope you enjoy our study of "St. Francis on the Desert," which has to do with the Franciscan Missions on the Gila River Indian Reservation and the murals our friend Jimmy Stevens has been painting there. Jimmy comes from San Carlos, is of Apache heritage, and a great artist. Sometime when you're out our way visit the missions of St. Francis on the desert and see for yourself.

With summer travel coming on we wanted to get in an essay this issue on Monument Valley just to remind you of something to see. Joyce Rockwood Muench has written expertly on the subject and we were lucky enough to get pictures in keeping with both the subject and her writing.

And if you want an historical sketch we refer you to Hal Hayhurst's Yuma Prison story, within these pages. We only regret space didn't permit a longer study of this landmark, lately dedicated as a museum.

We have a picture essay by that very able photographer, Chuck Abbott, who tells of old Ramon Quintero, the mail carrier in Tubac, the ancient pueblo in Santa Cruz. Twentieth Century, did you say? Ah! Yes! But it's grand to know marks of older times still linger.

We hope Spring has dealt kindly with you and that Summer means happy traveling. So long and good luck until next month... R. C.

ARIZONA HIGHWAYS

PUBLISHED IN THE INTEREST OF GOOD ROADS BY ARIZONA HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT RAYMOND CARLSON, EDITOR ONE DOLLAR PER YEAR 10C PER COPY PRESCOTT COURIER, INC. PRESCOTT, ARIZONA ADDRESS ALL COMMUNICATIONS TO ARIZONA HIGHWAYS, ARIZONA HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT, PHOENIX, ARIZONA CONCEIVED AND PRINTED THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

VOL XVII MAY, 1941 NO. 5

SIDNEY P. OSBORN, GOVERNOR OF ARIZONA ARIZONA STATE HIGHWAY COMMISSION J. M. PROCTER, Chairman, Tucson SPENCER S. SHATTUCK, Vice Chairman, Bisbee KEMPER MARLEY, Commissioner, Phoenix E. H. MCEACHREN, Commissioner, Miami LOREN W. CRESS, Commissioner, Flagstaff M. C. HANKINS, Secretary, Phoenix A. R. LYNCH, Assistant Attorney General, Special Counsel

W. R. HUTCHINS, STATE HIGHWAY ENGINEER

For the month of may, the year of our lord nineteen hundred and forty one, arizona highways has the pleasure of inviting you to a few pages and a few words dealing with travel and life in the old west..

Song of May 1 arizona camera portraits at random Speaking of the Weather 4 why our climate is the best Roosevelt Dam: April 14, 1941 8 just water over the dam A Visit to Montezuma Castle National Monument 10 antiquity in a cliff Valley of the Monuments 14 of distant places of beauty

"Old Yavapai" 20 the county in the hills

Picture Map of Yavapai County Center Panels 26

St. Francis in the Desert of murals and missions

Yavapai Inferno 30 prescott's fire in 1900 Yuma's Territorial Prison 32 the big house on the colorado Carrying the Mail to Tubac .36 recalling days of yesterday Road Projects Under Construction 43 something new in highways Yours Sincerely and Sincerely to You inside back panel "hellos" from here and there 1941 Arizona Highway Map back panel a traveler's aid F. N. GRANT, Deputy State Engineer SID SMYTH, Director of Personnel and Purchases B. H. MCAHREN, Vehicle Superintendent R. A. HOFFMAN Chief Div. of Bridge and Certification E. V. MILLER, Chief Division of Plans J. W. POWERS, Engineer of Materials

GENERAL OFFICE

A. F. RATH, Manager, Planning Survey GEORGE STEISEL, Supt. of Equipment J. S. MILLS, Chief Division of Estiinates HORACE MOORE, Patrol Superintendent HARRY DUBERSTEIN, Right of Way Agent WM. MURRAY, Purchasing Agent

FIELD ENGINEERS

PERCY JONES Chief Locating Engineer JOE DEAROZENA, District Engineer District No. 1 R. C. PERKINS, District Engineer District No. 2 J. R. VAN HORN, District Engineer District No. 3