Deming graphic., 1921-12-13

migEt nave atthlneu are neiu III trust
for the American people.
Even the apparent absence OF mois-
turc In In itself wholly deceptive. In
the humid lands the moisture Is above
ground, In southern New Mexico II Is
underground. Putting the moisture
where II will do Its wor In garden and
field Is the task Of modern engineering.
The subterranean reservoirs contain
vast quantities OF purest water that
even now have begun TO flow over the
furnished soil with results beyond the
dreams Of the most prophetic. II is
not too much 10 expect that Anglo
Saxon civilization will consummate its
destiny In the arid southwest, building
the temples Of the new world ms mar
velous ~ those OF the old world. whose
courts are buried under the drifting
sands Of the desert.
As the unread riddle of forgotten
races Is written In the ruins OF the
sterile waste. 30 the story OF the geo.
logical past Is inscribed on the bare
rocky precipices. Lava beds. white
sands, extinct volcanoes, sea forma-
tions and volcanic intrusions bear silent
witness, unobscured by the obliterating
rain and vegetation that heal the scars
Of nature elsewhere. This In not q
primitive land for the marine shells on
the mountain tops and the marks left
by the surf OF an ancient sea ON the
rocks vouch for the story Of successive
creations. as though nature were rest
ing few minutes for her arduous Ia
l-bors. II II any wonder that the
stranger feels awed and subdued In this
mighty workshop, is oppressed by an nm
canny foreboding that the Titan work
ers may return nt any time 10 resume
the uncompleted tasks. The barren
hills are not only workshop they are
even more a treasure house. the loot
from which would ransam all the
kings OF the earth Metals that are
base. hut useful. metals that are both
precious and useful yield themselves
in quantities that swell the national
wealth OF America beyond the dreams
|of Croesus. What more could crea-
tor do for his chosen people than place
within their reach the means Of gratify-
Ing every legitimate wish. permitting
them to complete the work of his own
hands?
The yastness Of the desert appals
men OF little souls. Here everything
Is on scale Of limitless magnitude.
Sense OF distance in the desert IL lost,
size. proportion AMI perspective are de-
ceptive. The conquistadores thought
they saw magnificent cities at a great
distance; what they really saw were
the squalid mud pueblos OF the abort.
gines perehed on rocky hilltops within
each march. Mountains they believed
10 BE- within reach took days Of weary
toll to gain. And they thought they
saw many things which really had no
existence at all. In the heat OF mid.
AFTERNOON sun In the summer. when
thirst goaded their weary steps. they
looked forth many times to see pleasant
lakes Of cool water bordered by green
trees that promised ease and rest-al.
most they would reach the shores.
where limld water broke In tiny wave
lets. only to have water and trees van.
ish In the sultry air. Less frequent.
'ly they came upon pools Of sweet water
In the most desolate places-there are
many such lakes I'm the desert where
failfed rocks allow the underground
waters to Sush forth into depressed
basins These early Rdventurrrs. M
the later settlers, found many pleasant
surprises, and not few bitter disap.
pOintments, due to their lack OF know.
ledge OF the country.
II the days on the desert are en-.
chanting no less are the nights enthral.
ing In their voluptuous wichery
In the brilliant colors OF the setting
sun the mountains stand out In start-
ling clearness, their prominent peaks
dyed In the rosy light that shades into
the purple OF the foothills and black
or the plain. As the sun sinks In the
west the blackness wells up and flows
over the plnnacles, dispaclng the warm
reds and pinks and obscuring the sharn.
er outlines. Then the stars flash out
like the lights Of great
city-and somany. 80 luminous and so
close TO the earth that II would seem
possible 10 pluck one from hilltop. |
But the mOOn-when IL is full-leapS |
up In its golden glory. turns To silver |
and rules tho night. The stars fade, |
the mountains stand forth in the weird |
light. soft Of outline. but magnlfied into |
grotesquo proportions. The wind
touches the Aeolian harp OF the night.
tnkling hnrmonles that fill the lorg
hours with forgotten melodies. II ev-
er the spirits OF the dead races that
once lived, md loved aud died here 1
seek the land they possessed, II Is
easy 10 believe that at Eight they brood
silently over the s,cnvS OF their va
lshed happiness.
At the first streak Of dav Tho music.
The spirits and the aznrr 'c ~ night
vanish IN the lcaden light Of dawn; n
yhostly stiffness prevails, aS the mount
aims slowly lift their bulk from the pail
hat wraps them round. The air is
,ool. dry and light and 80 pure that
he gods ON far Olympus might renew
heir Immortality by inhaling its ex-
lilirating freshness. AS In the half
t.,hf ~ oronfuor fha ntornfa fua aCafn