I Live in the Desert the Year 'Round and Enjoy Every Summer of It.

The early pioneers who settled in Arizona's desert valleys were thankful for the sun's power which produces such a long growing season for fertile, irrigated land. Yet after a fruitful spring harvest, many cursed the intensity of its summer gaze.

They sought relief within the thick adobe walls of their homes. These were built with high ceilings in hopes that the heat would rise. Following nature's example, major activities were confined to early dawn and evening hours.

But many simply fled to cooler country. After the spring harvest ranchers would load their families in a wagon and head for the "high country" where they would camp for a month or two.

This precedent was to be followed for decades. Modernized transportation brought a welcomed escape for the masses who had moved to the major desert cities of Phoenix, Tucson and Yuma as well as those who lived in countless smaller towns.

Early autos sputtered their way across the desert on molten ribbons of asphalt which led toward the cooling ocean. Those who could afford it traveled by rail. Sweltering Phoenicians left the city in droves by taking "The Peavine" (a part of the Santa Fe line which traveled a very twisting trail), to Iron Springs and other summer resorts which were soon established in Northern Arizona.

Merchants sorrowfully watched business ebb as the cities, filled with vacant buildings, assumed an almost ghost-town atmosphere.

But gradually the picture began to change. There had always been those who, for financial and other reasons, had been unable to escape the heat. These people simply learned to live with summer. Their number grew as the population increased.

Technological advances soon brought air cooling and refreshing recreation waters. Then came revolutionary refrigeration! More and more Arizonans began staying home and enjoying a casual way of summer life in their delightfully cool desert houses; refrigerated cars bustled down thoroughfares in the heat of the day and business continued as usual in enclosed shopping centers and towering office buildings of glass and steel. A multitude of new activities became available to meet the recreational demands of these stay-at-homes.

Within a half century man has virtually created a new environment. Not only have desert residents learned to live with summer, but they have actually grown to enjoy it!

But, while the way of life is easier during the summer months, oldtimers declare the temperatures are just as high as they ever were. The hottest day on record in Phoenix was June 24, 1929, when the thermometer soared to 118 degrees. However, statistics reveal the average maximum temperature for that city ranges from 101.4 in June, 104 in July to 101.6 in August. During that same three-month period, Tucson compares with 98.8, 99.2 and 96.6 degrees. Yuma takes top honors with sizzling 101.9, 106.2 and 104.8 degrees. Many Arizonans today wonder how desert residents survived these summer months before the advent of cooling. There are still some Phoenicians around who remember the days when everyone slept outdoors on screened verandas, sleeping porches or on the flat roofs of adobe homes.

For many years overhead fans provided the only type of cooling system. Some residents were said to have wrapped themselves in wet sheets or hung wet sheets from the ceiling and placed a portable fan behind them.

Evening desert picnics and outdoor barbecuing became increasingly popular as women sought escape from hot kitchens.

The desert refrigerator was a crude but effective device used to keep meat, milk, butter and other perishables from spoilng in the extreme heat. It was simply a frame covered with burlap over which a punctured container of water was placed; the constant dripping kept the cloth damp.

Irrigation canals provided cooling dips for many, as did the Salt River in those early days when it ran freely through the Salt River Valley. There were even special swimming holes on the river. There, for an admission fee, the public could use a bathhouse and rent swimming suits. The first evaporative coolers did not appear on the scene until the late 1930's. According to pioneer Arizona newsman, Ernie Douglas, “The first evaporative cooler originated in Indio, California, while the Los Angeles Aqueduct was being built. A lot of the workmen patronized a pool hall there, and the owner was seeking some way to reduce the heat in his establishment. He contacted the owner of a service station who said he would try to invent something to ease the situation. The result was the evaporative cooler. The idea spread to Imperial Valley and in a short time these coolers were all over the Southwest,” he reports. Production began on such a mass scale that for a time Phoenix was known as the “cooler capital of the world.” Refrigerated air conditioning came to the relief of desert residents in the early 1950's. Since then a whole new way of life has evolved. Enclosed shopping centers with cool malls and bubbling fountains offer citizens both bargains and relief from the heat. Surveys reveal retail sales during the summer in these cities are now fairly constant with percentages enjoyed during the remaining months of the year. The sport shirts, shorts, swim suits and sleeveless dresses seen everywhere in the city during summer reflect the comfort and recreation-oriented attitude of the people. Naturally, water sports reach a peak at this time. Arizona ranks second in the nation in boats per capita — and most of them are owned by desert dwellers. Last year from January 1st to June 30th, the Arizona Game and Fish Department registered The earthy beauty of the Indian lands and the people is only minutes or a few miles from the paved highway.

A PERPETUAL INVITATION

All travelers following those exciting roads of adventure west- ward this summer are invited by the friendly citizens of the state of Arizona to visit our land. Arizona will not disappoint you. Four hundred years ago the first tourists came into this colorful and exciting empire of the West. With the advent of the Motor Age and the era of widespread good roads throughout Arizona came the travelers, thousands and thousands of travelers. Each year their number increases. These travelers come to worship beauty at our shrines of scenic delight.

Most of Arizona is still the same Old West as it was before God turned it over to man.

They come to our desert for rest and surcease from hurry. They climb our mountains, wander like carefree gypsies through the Indian country of our land, explore our canyons, and study remnants of a civilization long since gone. In this annual parade come people from every state in the Union, every nation on earth. Arizona enriches them for they seek beauty and color and inspiration. The finest highways on earth lend them speedy and safe conduct, and the glory and magnificence of our land, hidden in secrecy for long centuries, is their constant delight. Back roads and trails that lead to one wonderful state of discovery after another.

Movie and Television sets are located near Phoenix and Tucson

36,500 boats. Both power craft and sailing enthusiasts utilize the chain of six Salt River Project lakes, as well as Lake Pleasant, to the west of Phoenix, and San Carlos Lake, near Globe. The Colorado River, Lake Havasu and Martinez Lake, near Yuma, also provide hours of summer recreation to boaters, water-skiing enthusiasts, swimmers and fishermen. River tubing, particularly on the Salt and Verde rivers, is now another favorite sport.

Anglers find the desert lakes offer primarily largemouth bass, channel catfish, and walleye. White bass can be caught at Lake Pleasant; striped bass on the Colorado River lakes and tilapia in the Yuma canals. Trout and smallmouth bass are found in the irrigation system waters. Frog gigging along the maze of canals in Yuma and throughout Maricopa County is another popular summer activity.

Though dining out in a wide variety of refrigerated restaurants has become a standard summer pastime, outdoor home entertaining (centered around the pool and barbecue) reaches its peak at this time of year. In the Phoenix area alone there are some 25,000 private backyard swimming pools, in addition to an estimated 4,500 public and commercial (hotels, etc.) pools. Now even surfing is available since the man-made waves of "Big Surf" came to the valley. Where water is not directly involved, desert residents prefer to pursue recreational activities in the cooler morning and evening hours. Early golf games and desert moonlight rides by saddle clubs are favorites. The public is catered to by a multitude of golf courses, drive-in theatres, bowling alleys, movies, museums, cultural events and city park programs.

In addition to an assortment of cultural and athletic classes, the Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department utilizes local high school facilities for a variety of craft courses available to teenagers and adults. A day camp program for children, swim classes at the city's 19 public pools, and music programs are a small portion of the activities offered. There are over 100 park areas lighted for night use, giving this city one of the highest national ratings for lighted fields.

Many facilities such as the Phoenix Art Museum and the Phoenix Zoo have summer programs which feature special art classes and evening programs.

An estimated 35,000 students will be attending summer classes at the University of Arizona and Arizona State University this year.

In addition to a varied "Sunday in the Parks" series of cultural activities, Tucson residents find hours of enjoyment available at the nearby Desert-Sonora Museum, Sabino Canyon and Madera Canyon recreation areas.

Refrigerated cars and campers have been a boon to summer travel in these desert regions. Many Tucsonans and tourists as well delight in a weekend trip to Nogales, Mexico, or continue farther south to the fishing paradise of San Carlos Bay near Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico. Yuma fishing enthusiasts frequently head for El Gulfo during the summer, while hundreds of other desert residents drive through Gila Bend on their way to the waters of Rocky Point, Mexico.

Tourists no longer completely avoid Arizona's desert communities in the summer. Conventions are even being booked in advance for these sizzling months which used to witness the dwindling of all activity.

Today people still vacation to cooler parts of the state and nation, but they do not flee as they once did. Trips are apt to be shorter and residents are genuinely glad to return home.

Refusing to be beaten by the harsh desert summer, man has continued to pursue progress in his scorching cities and towns. In doing so he has created a haven upon the barren earth.

Nothing moves in the scorching summer heat . . . except man, who has conquered it.

OLD RIVER

Here where the meadowland lies lush with grass, See where the ancient river slips and glides. How soft it moves among the reeds, how slow, As old as time, as patient, and as calm. Yet once it was a wild and rushing stream, Churning the earth and raging at the land, Young trees between its teeth. Through canyon walls it ran, oblivious of boulders. Then, it was impatient for the sea, but now Its wide and placid surface murmurs here, Sunning itself among the quiet reeds. Even the wildest torrent comes to this.

ON LOOKING AT DESERT MOUNTAINS

Where is the land more glorious? Where is the land more fair? Drop all your preconceived notions And hear God himself declare: This is the land most glorious. This is the land most fair.

GOLD

The aspen are gold. The sun and the sky are gold. The whole world is gold.

BENEATH THE MIDNIGHT SKY

By dusk the desert stirs as Saguaro awake from somnolence, to silhouette the stars.

By dark soft blossoms loom beneath the midnight sky, and then . . . as swiftly disappear with dawn.

HOPE

Hope is a listening for sounds unheard, Whether of voice or wind or bird, Upon a lonely hill; the far Faint gleam of a clouded star; The look of water where no waters run; Pre-dawn of a day not yet begun.

Hope is a mountain we shall climb - Not today . . . Sometime . . . Sometime . . .

IN THE YEAR 2000

An empty, barren desert; Shifting, shiftless sand; A broken, splintered flag-pole, A withered, bony hand. Evidence of civilization? No, signs of destruction and death Of man's vile desecration With his last, contaminated breath.

Yours Sincerely AFFINITY WITH NATURE:

I believe the closer relationship one has with nature the better able he is to cope with the stresses man imposes on himself.

Those of us lucky enough to live in the Southwest are afforded this escape because of our accessibility to many beautiful and untouched places. This country inspires us not only to be creative, but also to proportion our problems.

IN LOVE WITH PHOENIX:

I am just in receipt of April's issue of ARIZONA HIGHWAYS, the subject "Phoenix," and just want to say how very much I enjoyed it. I had the pleasure of spending four winters in Phoenix, went there expecting to not like it, but fell in love with it. The photography is beautiful, thanks for such an enjoyable magazine and best wishes to Phoenix in the 100th year!

TOMBSTONE PHOTOS:

Please, and please a lot more on Fly the Tombstone photographer and more old photos of Tombstone and its people. I am a serious student of the Tombstone story and the old photo of Ike Clanton and the Parade in Tombstone is worth their weight in gold. You no doubt have seen the photo of Billy Clanton and the McLowry's (some spell it McLaury) in their Coffins at the old Cosmopolitan Hotel in Tombstone, note the great resemblance between Billy and Ike Clanton. Good luck champ. I repeat more photos of old Tombstone.

FLAGS OVER ARIZONA:

We were most pleased and grateful to receive from you the handsome, framed prints of the six flag paintings by Larry Toschik. It was our great pleasure to be of service to him during his research work here, and we do appre ciate your kind consideration of us.

The pictures are most handsome and attract ively framed. We have them hung in the entrance hall to the executive offices where they can be enjoyed by the many people who come through that way. Please be assured that services and resources of the state historical society are always available to you and your fine staff. I hope that we will have a visit from you in the not-too-distant future.

We know of no magazine of the same type that is comparable to ARIZONA HIGHWAYS. The quality of pictures and articles is with out peers in our estimation. We look forward to its arrival each month.

We would like to see a special edition cover ing Arizona artists and the artists whom you have ran articles on before i.e. McGee Beeler Leigh etc. I know it would be treasured by artists and lovers of art and an inspiration to beginning artists everywhere.

A NATIVE'S RESPONSE:

May I personally thank you and Eulalia, (Sister), Bourne for the informative and very interesting article about the Valley of the San Pedro, (Feb. 70). I was born and raised in Benson, graduated from Benson High in 1965, and this article reviewed memories of beautiful Arizona days in my past.

"IN SEVEN SPRINGS PARK" BY M. PAUL JARRETT. Taken in Seven Springs Park, several miles north of Cave Creek, in Maricopa County, Seven Springs Park is one of the most beau tiful picnic parks in existence. Both above and below the park there are so many beautiful things to see that a one-day trip is insufficient. There is a ranger station about a mile down the creek from the park. It is possible to continue on the road to the Verde River, or to Black Canyon Highway via Bloody Basin. Desert foothills have much to attract and please visitors in summer. Arca-Swiss camera; Ektachrome E3; f/18 at 1/50th sec.; 6-inch Golden Dagor lens; Lunasix 191/2 meter reading; clear day.

"SUMMER DESERT SKY OVER THE SUPERSTITIONS" BY DARWIN VAN CAMPEN. This impressive and dramatic scene is repeated often over desert mountains when summer comes to Arizona. Great cloud formations come sweeping in, often bringing violent rain storms that may be short-lived but have almost a terrifying fury in their impact. Few mountain ranges in the West have had the impact on men's imagination as much so as the Superstitions and the fabled Lost Dutchman Mine supposed to be hidden in their dark and brooding depths. A new book has been added to the ever-increasing library on the subject of this range. It is The Killer Mountains by Curt Gentry, The New American Library, Inc. 1968, now in its fourth printing.