MOUNTAIN MELODY

Our way is through the high, cool mountains in summertime, high in the mountains where the aspen and pine, the fir and the spruce choose to dwell. Our way is along the wayward streams wandering down through the forest and meadow; our way is by the lakes you find here and there in the high mountain regions of our land, the lakes like gems in regal settings. In a country by popular and erroneous report a desert country, it is surprising how many mountain ranges can be found. The broad shoulders of mountains rise in almost every part of the state as if the land was trying to get closer to the sky. The land is a checkerboard of mountain, foothill, desert. Wherever you stand in the desert you can look up at some high mountain top. About this time of the year you always look to the mountains, as the saguaro looks to the pine.The pine, literally millions of which reside in our mountains, is one of the most majestic trees. It is a living thing, just as you and I, subject to sickness and death and tragedy. It is a living thing, too, just as you and I, subject to contentment and repose and happiness. It grows tall and firm and strong and wears its age gracefully. It is a patient and philosophical tree. Its age is much more than the traditional four-score-and-ten and with age, as it should. comes wisdom and with wisdom, patience. In all the world nothing has the tantalizing odor of a pine forest. There is a tanginess and a bitter-sweetness that fills the air and it is the most invigorating of all smells. Nor was there ever music on earth like the music of the wind in the tall pines. The lapping of the waves on an ocean beach is the only music comparable, and that is not as restful.

Compared to the pine, the spruce and the fir are more stand-offish. These are the sedate trees, with courtly and stately airs, very beautiful as living things, whose low murmuring is that of cultivated and modulated voices in easy conversation. These trees, too. make music with the wind. The merriest of all is the aspen, whose green leaves are full of chatter and laughter, delicate instruments for the wind to play the most sparkling of mountain melodies. In summertime the aspen come into their greater glory. They put on their dresses of gayest green and they enjoy themselves to the fullest. In autumn their gowns turn to gold and then when winter's chill is upon the land the leaves fall, the aspen remaining bare and forlorn looking; so maybe that is why they make the most of their summer fling.The birds, which leave the mountains to the snow and silence in winter, return for the summer and anyone can tell by listening to them how happy they are to be back. Their days are full of the joy of living, the joy of bright sunshiny afternoons, the joy of clean, cool, fragrant mountains. Nothing so bespeaks sheer joyousness as the song of birds, unless it is the music of mountain streams, the gurgling music of cold, clear water running over the polished stones of the stream beds. Where the descent is steep, the streams flow swiftly and break off into falls. Here the song of the mountain streams is loudest, so loud that the music of the nearby trees can scarcely be heard.

Summertime in the mountains is a time of melody and music. The trees, the birds and the streams blend their voices in perfect harmony. R. C.The call of the mountains is strong in the air and the open road invites and entices. The horizons dance in the sunlight, alluring hoydens, full of promises of things to come. The trout splash in the streams, the grasshoppers sings their song of the season. The distant places, small dots on the map, take on a romantic quality as you consider this and that dot for the journey tomorrow.

"LAZY WEATHER"

It's lazy weather, out-of-doors weather, traveling weather. It's road-map weather, cold-coke-at-the-next-stop weather. It's "fill-er-up" weather. It's the beginning of vacationtime when Mr. and Mrs. America, this summer free as the wind and completely unfettered by restrictions and worry of war, take to the road. All kinds of folks going to all kinds of places-places you get to by train, automobile, airplane, boat, horse-and-buggy or muleback, places the more venturesome get to by swinging in the last forty yards by grapevine. All these places are in Arizona and the deep West.

There are many places in Arizona that are very interesting but few travelers get to. Larry Cardwell describes such a place this issue in an article "Out Where the Steaks Begin." The place is northern Gila County where Larry was in the cattle business. It's rough country and there the cattle grow particularly ornery. Larry will drop around regularly from now on. He's a good writer, knows whereof he speaks, and speaks entertainingly. He's the author of a fine book, "Mountain Music," in which he tells of his experiences as owner of a small cattle spread near Payson.

Bill Carr of Tucson contributes "Water, Range and Timber" and it's timely. Out here in Arizona we are going through what we could call a "dry spell" but it's really a full-fledged drought. This article deals with some of the work being done by government agencies to get the most out of the soil, to make the range more productive, to make the water go further. It takes a look-behind-the-scenes like this to make us really appreciate what many unsung and comparatively unhonored people are doing to make our part of the world a better place in which to live.

If you are among those who plan to travel into the Indian country this summer you might like to read about another automobile trip into the lonely land a trip made in 1915. Curtis Zahn tells of this trip in an essay entitled: "The Automobile Is Here to Stay." His kinsfolk made the trip from Los Angeles to the San Juan and the trials and tribulations of the journey were something to write about. As far as we can determine this was the first automobile trip ever made into Kayenta and places north. How surprised the Zahns would have been if they could have looked ahead to 1946. Monument Valley, in 1915 the end of the world, has been a mighty busy place lately. John Ford, the great director who made "Stagecoach," has been on location in the valley making "My Darling Clementine," with Henry Fonda, Victor Mature, Linda Darnell and a large supporting cast. These motion picture people built on the valley floor a set that represents Tombstone in the 70's. The picture, of more later, will be released, we understand, in the fall.

One of those "small dots on the map" having a romantic quality, which we mentioned a few paragraphs before, would describe Rainbow Lodge, jumping-off place for Rainbow Bridge. We were up in that delightful country not long ago and in glancing through the guest book at the Lodge, were again amazed by the travelers who have drifted along through the years. Yes! if you build a better Rainbow the world will come to your door better rainbows, western hospitality and good cooking! Great combination!

We met Jack Breed at the Lodge, an amazing young fellow he is, and because his photography is much in this issue and will be in other issues to come, we thought you might like to know more about him. He's the kind of chap you are most likely to meet in out-of-way places, the more out-of-way the better. He was born in Swampscott, Massachusetts, June 3, 1917 (Swampscott papers, please copy) of an old New England family. A 11th great grandpappy, Elder William Brewster, was one of the first ministers in the country, and a 7th great grandpappy had something to do with a set-to on Breed's Hill in the Revolution. He graduated from Harvard in 1940, his special topics being geology, geography, archaeology and anthropology. He's been coming West since 1933, catching snakes and taking pictures. He spent four years in the Navy Air corps and as soon as he got out of his uniform he cranked up "The Jaunty Jack," station wagon, and headed for northern Arizona, his favorite part of the world. The Navajos call him "Beclaja-a-yazzi" which means "Little Pants." About the time you read this he'll be entering the holy and blessed state of matrimony, choosing as his bride a girl who has never been west of Pittsburgh. Next fall they will make their home in Tucson and become permanent residents of Arizona. To all of which we say: "Welcome and best wishes." . R.C.

ARIZONA HIGHWAYS

"Civilization Follows the Improved Highway"

The magazine, Arizona Highways, is presented by the people of Arizona to bring you in word and picture the story of our state, yesterday, today and tomorrow to guide your pleasant journey through this smiling land of time enough and room enough and to tell you of the unhurried life therein to point your way to the distant places throughout our great Southwest, which add to your travels the spice of adventure and discovery; and, to share with you our pride in our own corner of America, the deep West, so rich in scenic enchantment, so colorful, so real...

ARIZONA HIGHWAY COMMISSION

LEGEND

For June-lovely, languid, lazy June-Arizona Highways presents these intimate glimpses of the the smiling land: "MONUMENT VALLEY".... The Cover. Josef Muench has made a colorful study of one of the more colorful parts of the colorful West.

MOUNTAIN MELODY. 1 The mountains in summer dress are lovely to see.

WATER, RANGE AND TIMBER. 4 Scientist and technician strive to make the land yield a greater harvest.

DESTINATION-QUARTERMASTER CANYON......10 Lake Mead becomes watery highway to scenic gem.

THE AUTOMOBILE IS HERE TO STAY 14 A 1915 auto trip to Navajoland was high adventure.

"VALLEY OF THE MONUMENTS" A picture essay showing sky and sand and stone, artistically sculptured by time and the weather to form a shrine of natural beauty deep in the lonely country-Center Insert.

GUEST BOOK OF RAINBOW LODGE.. 26 Visitors are many; they come from many places.

THE BLUE... 30 The river reflects the sky-the setting is exquisite.

OUT WHERE THE STEAKS BEGIN. 32 Larry Cardwell takes you on a roundup that may be a little different from what you expected.

OF LAKE, PINE AND MOUNTAIN..... 38 The White Mountains provide an airy playground for the summer traveler into the deep West.

YOURS SINCERELY. 40 Things of interest in the mail and a few. lines of poetry.

ARIZONA HIGHWAYS is published monthly by by the Arizona Highway Department, Phoenix, Arizona. All communications should be addressed to ARIZONA HIGHWAYS, Arizona Highway Department, Phoenix, Arizona. The Tariff: $2.00 per year. 35 cents per copy. "Entered as second-class matter Nov. 5, 1941, at the post office at Phoenix, Arizona, under the Act of Mar 3, 1879." Narrative and illustrated material herein published are the property of the person to whom credited and cannot be reproduced without permission. ARIZONA HIGHWAYS will not be responsible for unsolicited manuscripts or illus trations. Material contributed for editorial consideration should be accompanied by return postage.

ARIZONA HIGHWAYS is is copyrighted, 1946, by the Arizona Highway Department, Phoenix, Arizona.