FISHING THE GULF

A Road to the South

The delectable days of Spring are tantalizing in their invitation to follow the open roads into the desert to determine what sorcery the season has in store for the traveler. One of our roads to the south leads to the Gulf of California where the blue sky is reflected in the finest fishing waters you can find anywhere. One particular road picks an easy route southward from Gila Bend and Ajo, through Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, across the border into Mexico, and then to Rocky Point, a placid village by the sea. The road is not just for fishermen. It is a road which takes one through spectacular desert scenery, skirts strange desert foothills and mountains, and reveals how beautifully the touch of Spring can transform desert flora from drab gray-green to gayer colors.

It is not a road for the hurried. It is a road that demands a slower pace, despite that fact that it is built for more speeding wheels. A turn of the road will disclose vistas that invite contemplation and inspection. A desert tree or a cactus plant, bedecked in spring blossoms, begs a closer acquaintance, and will pose so prettily for a picture. Then there is the dreamy land of our neighbor to the south whose people are always so gracious and interesting.

Another of our roads to the south will take you through Nogales and almost as far into the interior of Mexico as you would care to go. This road leads to Hermosillo, Sonora's elegant capital city; to Guaymas, the gay resort city on the Gulf; to Ciudad Obregon and Navajoa, busy farm centers in the Yaqui and Mayo valleys; and then to Alamos, village of colonial charm, in the mountains above the Mayo valley, where yesterday, today, and tomorrow blend in a gracious, hazy sort of way.

Yes, the song of Spring is in the air. There is an invitation in the melody to be up and about and to follow the roads to the south.... R. C.

WHAT'S NEW Arizona SUN

APPOINTMENTS IN THE SUN: The Yaqui Indians of our state celebrate Easter in ceremonies which are part pagan, part Christian. On Easter Sunday these rites are brought to a close at Pascua, near Tucson, and at Guadalupe, near Phoenix. We would like to remind you that Easter Sunrise Services will be held again at Grand Canyon and if you are within traveling distance you will find the trip most enjoyable. Again we would like to say that if you plan to attend these services dress in warm clothes. Mornings can be quite chilly on the rim of the Canyon in April. WEATHER NOTE: While there is still need of much more water in Arizona, the winter season brought some of the heaviest rains to the state we have had in years. April and May should be beautiful months in the desert. AT LONG LAST AN INDEX: We are proud to announce that we have for sale a cumulative index for this publication for the years 1925 through 1951. Sponsored by the Arizona State Library Association and published by the Arizona Trade Bindery, this index was compiled by Donald M. Powell, reference librarian, University of Arizona Library. This index can be secured by writing ARIZONA HIGHWAYS, Phoenix, Arizona. The price, $1.00. Add to postageCumulative Index, 19251951. Vol. 1 through Vol. 27. Indexing similar to Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature. Size 9 inches by 12 inches, with heavy paper cover.

OPPOSITE PAGE “THE TIDE IS OUT” BY ALLEN C. REED. From the crest of the rocky ridge above Puerto Peñasco these idle commercial fishing boats seem like toys left by a child on the expanse of sandy beach. The color photographs in this issue of Arizona Highways were taken with a Speed Graphic, and Ektar lens on 4x5 Ektachrome.

FRONT COVER “FISHING THE GULF” BY ALLEN C. REED. The Gulf of California in Arizona's back yard makes a fine place for the salt water fisherman to get a workout. Here Glen Stark of Phoenix takes his turn in matching his skill on light tackle with a sailfish. On deck are sails taken by J. H. Willsey of Phoenix and R. J. Griner of Glendale.

Paul Litchfield AMERICAN

Thirty-five years ago the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company started a farm in Arizona. There was a serious need for that farm. America's supply of long staple cotton was cut off by World War I. At that time long staple cotton was essential in tire manufacture and tires were essential in the war effort. So the Goodyear folks decided to raise their own long staple cotton in Arizona, which they did. A young executive of the company, Paul Weeks Litchfield, now chairman of the board of Goodyear and one of America's distinguished industrialists, was the inspired genius behind the Goodyear farm operation in Arizona. The desert, as anyone can see who visits Goodyear Farms at Litchfield Park, became a productive garden. Here, in thirty-five years, has been written an important chapter in the story of American agriculture. When there was no longer a need for the farm, through the use of other and more serviceable fabrics than long staple cotton for tire manufacture, Goodyear Farms became a great experimental laboratory for testing farm equipment and especially for experimenting with rubber tires on farm equipment. Today the farmers in Iowa, in North Carolina, in Egypt, in France, in India, in Australia, in New Zealand-in short, farmers of the world-have their work made easier and more effective because of studies made and accomplishments achieved at Goodyear Farms. Mr. Litchfield, the déan of America's rubber makers, serving America and Goodyear through the years as engineer, executive, president and board chairman of the firm, never neglected the "farm." And the "farm" has repaid many times over the thought and care and money put into it to make it useful and productive. It is a pleasure to tell you in this issue the story of Goodyear Farms, Laboratory in the Desert. In doing so we express our gratitude for Goodyear's contribution to our state, and we pay homage on this important anniversary to the man who did so much to make the Goodyear farming operation what it is today-Paul Litchfield, Litchfield Park, U. S. AHere is America at its best.... R. C.

LEGEND

ARIZONA HIGHWAYS

VOL. XXVIII. No. 4 APRIL 1952

RAYMOND CARLSON, Editor

GEORGE M. AVEY, Art Editor

HOWARD PYLE

Governor of Arizona

ARIZONA HIGHWAY COMMISSION

YOURS SINCERELY

ARIZONA HIGHWAYS is published monthly by the Arizona Highway Department a few miles north of the confluence of the Gila and Salt in Arizona. Address: ARIZONA HIGHWAYS, Phoenix, Arizona. $3.00 per year in U. S. and possessions; $3.50 elsewhere, 35 cents each. Entered as secondclass matter Nov. 5, 1941 at Post Office in Phoenix, under Act of March 3, 1879. Copyrighted, 1951, by Arizona Highway Department.

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