Yours Sincerely and Sincerely to You

DESCENDANTS OF THE BATTALION PIONEERS:

As a descendant of Captain Jefferson Hunt of the Mormon Battalion, and John Hunt, his son, I wish to express my thanks and appreciation for the splendid article concerning the Battalion, by Juanita Brooks, published in the May number of your very excellent magazine, "Arizona Highways". My father, John Hunt, a lad of thirteen years, was too young to enlist in the Battalion, as did his father and two older brothers, but he drove the outfit that carried his mother and her seven young children, all the way from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, to Santa Fe, New Mexico then back to Pueblo, Colorado, where the women, children and sick soldiers spent the winter of 1846, then on to Salt Lake Valley, where they were re-united with their father and brothers in July, 1847.

John Hunt was a pioneer of six western states. He came into Arizona in April, 1877 and remained here until his death, June 1, 1917.

These forty years were spent in helping make Arizona what it is today.

John was Captain of Company C in the Utah Militia in 1868, organized to protect the early settlers from Indian raids and outlaws.

You might be interested to know that the descendants of these Mormon Battalion heroes are also willing to offer their lives in defense of their country. Corporal Charles L. Flake, a grandson, gave his life in World War No. 1 and Sergeant Quince A. Hunt, also a grandson, was killed in action with the Marines on Wake Island. First casualty from Navajo County and one of the first from Arizona.Today John Hunt has one son, twelve grandsons, and twenty-seven great-grandsons in active service. Besides these there is one in the F.B.I., four building planes, and one having served six months, received an honorable discharge on account of accident disability. Making a grand total, with the one who lies buried on Wake Island, of forty-seven near descendants.

Is there another man in Arizona, or in the United States, who has made a greater contribution?

Among this number is one Lieutenant Colonel, one Major, four 2nd Lieutenants, four Sergeants and one Corporal.

Every one of these service men is a native son of Arizona and all are members of the Mormon Church. They are not only serving their country, but are serving their church in many capacities. John himself was a Bishop for thirty-one years.

I am grateful that to me the grandest State in the Union, has so worthy a representative as "Arizona Highways," going into all parts of the world, to let people know what a grand State Arizona really is. I also appreciate the fact that your June number is devoted to the Indians, our only real Americans. A people who are buying war bonds very generously and are furnishing more "fighting men" per capita in the pres-ent conflict than any other group in the United States.

Again my thanks for the wonderful work you are doing.

Nettie Hunt Rencher, Snowflake, Arizona.

OF FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN NATIONS:

I have just read the letter of Sgt. Clarence A. Hulsey in your July issue. May I say "thank you" for publishing it?

Some of us who know both the American and the Briton, spend a lifetime in an endeavor to create a better understanding between our peoples but in publishing Sgt. Hul sey's letter, "Arizona Highways" has probably done more to bring this about than we could ever do.

THE VITAL STATISTICS AND THE VITAL ORGANS:

I received today and read with pleasure your July issue of "Arizona Highways."

You are to be highly complimented on your presentation of the article "Behind the Scenes on Induction Day." While this is not a glamorous subject, your handling of it is in keeping with the always high character of your publication.

Please rest assured that this Headquarters deeply appreciates your courtesy and cooperation with our Public Relations Section in accepting this article for publication. We also thank you for the large number of extra copies you supplied. We will see that they receive proper distribution in the right places.

IMPRESSION OF OUR LAND AND PEOPLE:

I have intended for a long time to write you and express my sincere admiration for the job you are doing with ARIZONA HIGHWAYS.

My admiration is augmented by the fact that the quality of the magazine has not been reduced during the war period-in fact, insome ways it has seemed to me to have actually improved.

Being in a chronic state of disgust over the attitudes and abilities of the average "travel promoter," your magazine gives me the pleasure and the privilege of being able to point to one example in the domain of travel and regional promotion which combines common sense, clean approach, and a lack of both the "arty" and the commonplace.

Living in the mountains as I do for a good part of the time creates a special sensitivity towards the cheap exploitations so painfully evident in the advertising and promotions of the Natural Scene. There is little sympathy for the basic qualities of the land or its people.

Your magazine conveys a true impression of Land and People, and should serve as a model for all publications of this type.

I am very happy to be on your mailing list!

Ansel Adams, Virginia and Ansel Adams, Operating Best's Studio, Inc. Yosemite National Park, Calif.

SANTEE IN THE U. OF A. GALLERY:

I want to thank you most sincerely for the fine article and cuts of the University of Arizona Gallery of Modern American Paintings in the July issue of Arizona Highways.

This is a splendid piece of recognition for our University Fine Arts Department and we greatly appreciate your generosity and splendid courtesy in the matter. I was sorry that you referred to our not having any of the works of Ross Santee for our collection. He is now represented by seven of his drawings which appeared in the Arizona Highways and also six of his excellent etchings. These were donated by Carl Fredric Clarke of Detroit, Michigan.

As to Maynard Dixon, we would feel enriched by one of his splendid works but as we have no budget for the purchase of art works we will have to await the generosity of some public spirited citizen. His DESTINATION UNKNOWN is a distinctive work which we should be proud to possess.

I know there are other fine Southwestern artists who deserve to be recognized but we will eventually get to them.

Arthur Olaf Andersen, Dean, College of Fine Arts, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona.

and many more of our western artists will be represented at the University Gallery. Some day people from all over the world will recognize this gallery as one of the important art galleries in America. It can be made such if Arizonans wish it to be so.

OF TRUCKING AND TRUCKERS:

I have read the July issue of Arizona Highways from cover to cover, and hasten to send our congratulations to you and your staff for the fine write-up you have given the trucking industry.

The article, "Trucking in Arizona Today," certainly shows that you have made a very thorough research of the truck industry in your State.

I am sure that every member of the trucking industry appreciates this fine piece of work.

I have read with interest the fine article entitled "Trucking" carried by your magazine, "Arizona Highways." You have done a splendid job, and I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you on it.

This article should be very helpful to the trucking industry.

I have just had an opportunity of reading the July issue of your splendid publication and would like to congratulate you on the fine thought and work you have put into this issue. Your "Trucking" feature is quite one of the best things of its kind yet to appear and I am sure it will be widely read.

I hope to have the pleasure of bringing it to the attention of numerous people interested in transportation.

NOTE FROM NORTH AFRICA:

Today was one of the most enjoyable days I have seen during my stay here in North Africa. The reason, I received my first copy of the ARIZONA HIGHWAYS magazine since I came overseas.

Being a Phoenician for twenty-one years I might tell you that I wouldn't miss reading the magazine at all.

As I lay in my pup tent this afternoon reading the April edition, I couldn't help but remember all the fascinating and wonderful trips that I've taken through the different parts of the state.

This summer, instead of fishing on the the Little Colorado, or in Mormon Lake, or instead of walking through the tall pines on the Mogollon Rim, I traded my little trout rod and reel for a more appropriate object, and instead of fishing, I'm hunting.

Sometimes I believe the little trout is a better sportsman, at least, when he is "hooked" he doesn't give up, no, he puts up an awful fight. He fights until his breath is finally exhausted. Way of all Americans.

During my stay here, I've visited a few of the larger cities, Oran, Algiers, Bone, and I've seen quite a bit of beautiful country between. Of course, I may be prejudiced, but I have yet to see any desert, or mountain ranges that can compare with those of Arizona.

The climates are almost identical, and luckily, I was reared in a climate such as I was, consequently, I'm able to stand the heat here much better than a few of the other boys.

I wish to thank you very much for sending me the magazine, as you'll never know how much a few pictures and stories help a fellow's morale.

FROM ARIZONA TO ALASKA:

Your magazine is not only a source of enjoyment to me, but to numerous other persons located in this isolated station. The C. A. A. personnel, Contractor's men, Eskimos, Army personnel, and various passing-through flyers and boatmen join me in expressing thanks.

The Eskimos in particular are very curious concerning the mode of life Outside, and the character of the various States; your edition is quite interesting to them and shows unmistakable signs of being thoroughly read when returned to me. Given time enough, I guarantee to make the Koyuk Eskimo one more Arizona booster.

character of the various States; your edition is quite interesting to them and shows unmistakable signs of being thoroughly read when returned to me. Given time enough, I guarantee to make the Koyuk Eskimo one more Arizona booster.

Enclosed is a snapshot taken while on location with the P. R. A. on the Alcan Highway between Tanacross and the Canadian border. I'm the one in the loud shirt, in case you have identification trouble. Perhaps some of the personnel in the Engineering Department might recognize the subject,

ONE WHO KNEW THE WEST:

The magazines came this morning. My son got home about 10:30 and I at once took them out of their envelope. Of course, I hunted out the one with Mr. South's story first. Looked at the pictures, sketched over the reading, then thumbed through the rest of the pages.

I took my magazines into the library and proceeded to look through all of them. Then returned to the May number and started reading Mr. South's story. Well, I almost forgot to get dinner for these hungry men, but put the magazine down with the story about half finished. I hustled dinner on to the table and later the dishes through their suds and as I had a cake in the oven I sat down to finish the story. Result: The cake has an African brown.

proceeded to look through all of them. Then returned to the May number and started reading Mr. South's story. Well, I almost forgot to get dinner for these hungry men, but put the magazine down with the story about half finished. I hustled dinner on to the table and later the dishes through their suds and as I had a cake in the oven I sat down to finish the story. Result: The cake has an African brown.

To say I am delighted with the magazine is putting it mildly. I am sorry I did not know of it before.

Iowa, my native state, introduced me to deep snows and cyclones. California, to the ocean. skunks, and swallows. Nebraska to prairie fires and blizzards. New Mexico, to horseback riding, prairie dogs and horned toads. Arizona, well life began there. I met my husband (a New Yorker) the first evening we landed in Fort Huachuca. Both he and my dad were civilian employes. We continued to live there for some years after our marriage, and we were married at Tombstone. Some years later my husband became Probate Judge of Cochise County. We moved down to Cananea after his term of office expired, later to return to Naco. Then we moved to the southern part of Oregon thus leaving the land of sunshine. In 1917 we moved here to New York state. I have never returned to the southwest altho in 1931 I was in Oregon to visit with two of our daughters. I spent a year there then returned to the east much to my dislike.

I get very homesick for the desert and the mountains. Sure we have mountains here and I can look for miles up into the Adirondacks, both north and west, but they look like hills to me. And they are all green, with here and there a farm slashed out in them. The Mohawk river rolls along in sullen oily silence dark and murky looking, not sparkling and dashing as the mountain streams do.

My bread moulds, the cake moulds, the bacon sours and moulds. Preserves if not eaten in a day will have a glorious growth of mouldy whiskers. Oh, give me the desert, sand storms and all.

OF CHERISHED MEMORIES:

Redolent of old-time fancies and forgotten, far-off days was a copy of ARIZONA HIGHWAYS, recently sent to me by a friend with the remark that he thought that an old Indian like me would enjoy it. I did enjoy it.

Tell me this: Do the Joshuas still cast their skeleton shadows in the Mohave? Do mountain lions still sing soprano in the arroyos at nightfall? Does Shonome's Altar still loom on the drift of the Painted Desert sand? You may not recall the last, as I believe they now call it the "White Mesa."

I live in a bustling city now, but the past still looms very pleasant through the softening haze of time. And when at nightfall the shadows creep over the roofs of the quiet town, cherished memories leap out of the gray dusk and once again people the deserts and mountains of old Arizona with the laughing faces of those with whom I wandered and played in the old days, to which I now look back longingly.