Yours Sincerely

YOURS SINCERELY Grandpa's Help

I thought you might be interested in a situation that took place after my first visit with you. You gave me a number of samples of information and publications that you produced on Arizona. When I got home I laid them on the coffee table to read. My eight-year-old granddaughter was visiting, and she immediately started pestering me for those publications. I thought this odd until I found out she had been given the state of Arizona to report on in school. Grandpas always give in, and she used your materials to make her report. She was proud to tell me she got a ninety-four and did not get 100 only because of spelling errors. It just goes to prove that your fine publications serve many purposes.

Robert Miles Milwaukee, WI

Curious Each Month

For more than five years I have received your excellent magazine as a subscription from my cousin in Sedona. And each month I am curious about the next issue. My wish is to visit this marvelous country one day. My compliments and respects to the photographers for their interpretive art and technical perfection.

Hermann Gutknecht Landshut, West Germany

Thanks Prescott

I want to take this opportunity to thank the people of Prescott for their help in producing the Prescott issue of Arizona Highways. You let me in your homes, on your ranches, on top of your roofs; you allowed me to stand safely in your streets, head buried under a dark cloth, in your schools, theaters, and many other places such as the forest and plaza where we all share equal access.

For me, this assignment reaffirmed my conviction that Prescott is a wonderful place to live and photograph. Your trust, patience, and generosity were always appreciated. I hope you enjoy the issue.

Christine Keith Prescott, AZ

Arm-chair Traveler

A gift subscription to Arizona Highways in December, 1973, has had me traveling Arizona for eleven years. They have been a month-to-month experience of aweinspiring photography and informative articles that have made me feel as if I have really been to Arizona. I am eagerly looking forward to another two years of travel in your wonderful state of Arizona.

Helen M. Barrett Salt Lake City, UT

More Than One Railroad

There is one glaring error on page 21 of the July, 1985, issue. In her "Grand Circle Tour," Maggie Wilson states, "The DurangoSilverton is the last remaining privately owned railroad in the United States....It also happens to be the only coal-fired, steam operated, narrow-gage railroad in the United States."

Wrong! There are two other such narrow-gage railroads in the U.S. These are the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railway running from Chama, New Mexico, to Antonito, Colorado, and the East Broad Top Railroad in central Pennsylvania.

Thomas G. Morad, Jr. Slickerville, NJ

Overwhelming Response

Since the June issue came out, my mail box has been filled and the phone has not stopped ringing. Your story "The Annual Almost Across Arizona Bicycle Tour," by Charles Bowden and photography by Jack Dykinga, has completely filled our tour. In fact not only has the regular tour filled to the capacity of 150, but we opened an extended tour and that, too, has filled to 150. I now have over forty prepaid reservations on the waiting list.

Almost without exception, the comment has been "that wonderful story and

A New Videotape Offering: Arizona Highways: That Ever-Fantastical Magical Magazine

For the first time, Arizona Highways is offering its famous photography on videotape.

The magazine's archives of back issues were made available to producers of a halfhour television special, "Arizona Highways: That Ever-Fantastical Magical Magazine."

Included in the program broadcast in Phoenix are 160 photographs taken by fiftyseven contributing photographers.

The magazine's images of Arizona's beauty are blended with interviews with two long-time Arizonans: Governor Bruce Babbitt and Senator Barry Goldwater, who relate their intense affection for the state.

Dolan Ellis, Arizona's official balladeer, narrates the program and sings ten original songs.

Videotape cassettes are available through Arizona Highways for both VHS and Beta recorders. Each tape is $21, including postage and handling.

Use the order form in the enclosed fall/winter catalog (order code: VIDEO) or write to Arizona Highways, 2039 West Lewis Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85009.

44/Arizona Highways Magazine "photos in the June Arizona Highways really excites me." I have received letters and phone calls from almost every state. One person read the story on an airplane and called from the airport to make a reservation for the tour.

Thank you for the story. I have met by letter and phone some of the neatest individuals in the world and am now anticipating meeting them in person.

Worth Preserving

Ever since I came back from Arizona last November I have been wanting to write to you to thank you for all those wonderful pictures. During my month's stay in Arizona, I saw with my own eyes the wonderful unspoiled nature you have in your territory. That is worth preserving and worth photographing to let other people know what you have.

Highways Hits the PRC

In June I spent three weeks in the People's Republic of China visiting printing plants and lecturing as part of the United States People to People Citizen Ambassador Program and the China Association for Science and Technology. As is the custom in China, a small gift is often presented to the host by the visitor to show appreciation for an effort or deed. I took with me thirty Arizona Highways Magazines with a letter of appreciation in English and Chinese enclosed. Towards the end of my visit, I was actually rationing the magazines as they were in such great demand. Magazines of your quality are not produced in China on what we would consider a monthly commercial basis.

Many of the Chinese read English, so your thirty magazines will get wide distribution, and, on the chance someone wanted to subscribe, I left your subscription card in each magazine. Unlike the Russians, who considered your magazine propaganda, the Chinese were impressed with the state of Arizona which is kind of an unknown area to them.

I want to thank you and your staff for providing the magazines. You can now say the splendors of Arizona have been exposed to the Chinese. I couldn't find an official census, but the Chinese estimate their population at 1.25 billion. What a target market for your magazine. Just think, if one percent of the Chinese population decides to visit Arizona, you would have to build a whole new city to accommodate them.

The American Color Corporation produces the film and four-color separations from which our printer, W. A. Krueger Company, makes the printing plates.

Keep Quiet

We have been receiving and enjoying your Arizona Highways Magazine for many years. Because of the pleasure we have enjoyed, I write to send you a serious warning! In the May edition, you have an article about Williams - "I Like a Little Town." But, if it's small and beautiful, why don't you keep quiet about it?

Some years before the war, an English writer, H.V. Morton, wrote a travel book In Search of England in which he stated that Broadway in the Cotswold was the most attractive village in England. The result was that the village was ruined. It is now a place to avoid. Please don't let this happen to places like Williams.

Although Williams is small and beautiful, it has been well-known for years as a tourism center and "Gateway to the Grand Canyon." On our way through there this past summer, the town looked busy, but just as lovely as ever.

God's Country Beckons

I have been an Arizona resident, off and on, for many years-going back to 1955 when my parents first moved there. I also have been a reader of Arizona Highways, off and on, for almost as many years. Thinking back over these years, I can only say that your magazine has gotten better. Without sacrificing one bit in fantastic photography, you have broadened the scope of the magazine to include more in the way of history, human interest features, various scientific disciplines, etc.

Perhaps because so much of my life was filled by partaking of what Arizona has to offer I feel Arizona tugging at me so strongly when I read Arizona Highways. I am sure there are many other people who have never set foot in Arizona who feel "God's Country" beckoning to them from the pages of your magazine. Someday I want to come home.