Show EMION the word oasis and it conjures up in the mind thoughts of the sahara desert in africa thoughts of a cluster of sheltering a bubbling spring a place of coolness in a region of blinding heat an exotic and romantic spot in a country ruled U over by a picturesque sheik so it Is something of a surprise to learn that there Is a genuine in the united states a scenic spot in our land of many natural wonders that Is unique in the isea world and that cannot be duplicated except in the old that Is the oasis of palm springs on the edge of the colorful coachella Coa chella valley in southern california around it stretches the colorado desert with its e er shifting sand dunes enticing mirages delicate wild flowers and unique plant life throughout the bear the sun drenches the land with its warm rays directly in back of the village rise the precipitous walls of the mighty san jacento mountains reaching skyward to a height of almost two miles and here Is where the miracle exists the peaks of the san jacintos are covered with snow almost the year round one may stand in the village and gaze on engaging panoramas of desert scenery feel the vibrant rays of the sun turning his skin to a nut brown hue and then look upward to see a mountain covered with snow appearing almost close enough to touch in the clear desert air the desert Is a colorful rainbow like place dominated by vivid purple hues when sunset creeps over the sandy land there Is no more beautiful sight in all the world the sands aglow with varied tints which blend gracefully into the lengthening shadows one of the wonder spots of palm springs Is palm canyon whose yawning mouth forms a beautiful back door for the village palm canyon Is a winding gorge lined on both sides with tall graceful palms these palm native of this locality are of the washington variety and their origin will probably be forever a mystery eminent scientists believe that they date from a previous geologic age as these are the only palms indigenous to the united states the canyon Is filled with thousands of thee desert sentinels which rise to surprising heights and extend many miles up the canyon through this grove of stately palms flows a cool murmuring stream bearing out the old arabian proverb that A palm shall grow with its feet in water and its head in the fiery furnace of heaven it Is expected that the ex trance of this canyon together with portions of murray and andreas canyons will be made into a national monument preserving tor posterity the virgin splendor of this sub tropical wonderland this lg but one of the picturesque canyons in this vicinity the place abounds in beautiful back country ravines each with its different scenic attractions and legends that have come down through the ages from the ancestors of the cahuilla indians andreas canyon named after a chieftain of the tribe that inhabited this region in earliest days still contains relics of forgotten times it like palm canyon la the home of many gorgeous palms one would not expect to find a coral reef in this desert land but euch Is the name of a mountain wall on the southwestern side of the valley there la no real coral deposit here of course but the vanishing water of an ancient sea left a quantity of calcium carbonate close ly resembling coral and so the queer appel was bestowed on the place the devils garden la an aptly named me a short distance from the village here Is to be found a concentrated growth of all varieties of cacti including the plump barrel cacti those water filled life savers of the deserts whose value the government has set at 25 per cactus theatergoers the world over have to the sight of a romantic beert charging over a dune on his trusty dusty mount As depicted in the films these dunes look tor all the world like the sands of the sahara which they represent the ever shifting sand dunes near palm springs have been the back ground tor many a desert cinema production the great masses of sand with their wind ruffled furrows are a memorable sight to see canyon named tor the evil spirit of the cahuilla indians has many interesting geological formations A short distance up the canyon a beautiful waterfall tumbles down to the weary traveler just oft the desert this cool spray of water appears like a mirage other notable spots of interest around palm springs are canyon the trail two bunch palms thousand palm canyon snow creek canyon seven palms painted canyon murray canyon mission creek canyon magnesia spring canyon the garnet aliis and hidden spring canyon the salton sea one of the queerest of nature Is located at the south end of the Th falls coachella Coa chella valley A great inland sea it Is the lowest body of water in the united states and la feet below sea level it was formed by overflow of the colorado river and Is now a fis hermans and fowl hunters paradise its boulant surface permits many unusual aquatic teats but the unique location of palm springs does not begin to tell the story of this fascinating land of rare allurement this enchanting village which in the past decade has been aroused from the doldrums of a sleepy watering place to the position of americas foremost desert resort the history of palm springs does not go back to antiquity in fact the village Is comparatively ively new it Is believed that the indians of the southwest camped around the warm springs in the days before the era of the white man to capt juan bautista de anza probably goes the honor of being the first white man to visit palm springs this valiant spanish conquista dor lead an overland expedition from sonora mexico to the coast of california in 1774 however it was not until 1853 that any definite government survey was made of this region in that year a party under lieutenant made a survey of the coachella Coa chella valley and palm springs actual settlements were not made until during the early coincident with the opening of regular traffic on the southern pacific lines to doctor murray one of the early settlers goes the credit of establishing the first hostelry at palm springs situated opposite the present alte of the desert inn it attracted many visitors though it Is now vanished the year 1009 saw the opening of a tiny wayside inn by mrs nellie coatman from this modest beginning was destined to grow the world famous desert inn palm springs became cnown as an ideal place for rest and relaxation and gradually through the years has grown to its present position as americas foremost desert resort now there are three other fine hotels with the highest type of american plan accommodations the oasis the el elrador and the deep well guest ranch complete tho palm springs hotel foursome the el elrador Ml rador the last of the quartet to be erected la a color tul gem of moorish architecture from its tower which rears itself skyward like a desert sen elnel one may obtain a most commanding and inspiring view of the desert the development of palm springs from a sleepy little village to its present position as americas foremost desert resort has been nothing short of phenomenal referred to as the lalage it Is perhaps the most interesting village in the world from october until june the fine hotels are the gathering places for the socially elite during the winter season desert lovers the world over leaving behind them tha holsea and bustle of th city bome fome to pain springs for relaxation comfortable informal atmosphere mo sphere and healthful climate the success of any resort Is predicated upon three things scenery climate and recreational facilities palm springs may be said to be bountifully endowed with all although it Is the enchanting natural surroundings which gain tor the oasis its widespread wide spread fame predicate number two in the success of a resort Is a climate there la scarcely a spot in the united states where the honey laden words describing southern Cali fornias climate as broadcast to the winds by the zealous chambers of commerce have not penetrated southern california s perennial sunshine Is an accepted tact the average noonday temperature at palm springs Is 81 degree 1 the average night temper iture Is 45 these two figures readily tell the story of the resorts climate an ever present sun that tans yet not so torrid as to blister a benevolent sun that drenches this magic land with its golden rays sunset on the desert Is truly a magnificent sight to behold the warm sun slowly fades behind mount san jacento vivid rainbow like colors slant over the desert stretches golden shafts of sunlight brighten the distant hills As night comes on you watch the biggest of moons slowly rise from the ink black depths of far mountain ranges to cast a calm glow over the surrounding desert high overhead myriads of twinkling stare wink down thousands upon thousands more than you have ever seen fogs have never been known to visit the sheltered valley and the average seasons rainfall Is only inches recreational facilities Is the third item which enters into the making of a resort all life at palm springs Is of course lived out of doors there being such a wealth of scenery in the vicinity of the oasis it Is the natural thing for the visitor to take in as much as possible horseback riding Is one of the favorite means of recreation although there are good motor roads to the principal points of interest strange to say there are two regulation golf courses in this desert land entirely grass covered with sand traps au naturel swimming in the open air fresh water pools Is another delight to palm springs visitors moonlight bathing has become one of the resorts most famous attractions tennis Is also a favorite at the oasis the indians add an interesting atmosphere to palm springs the remnants of the desert tribe of the live on a reservation just east of the village and are a contented and picturesque band they are numbered among the mission indians and have long been christian iced an indian pageant Is staged each year during Io vember at the mouth of can on against a majestic background of striking rock formations a dramatic story of indian folklore Is unfolded although aery modern convenience Is available at palm springs the village refuses to become citified and retains a picturesque and charming rusticity an informal atmosphere prevails and the citizenry Is of an easygoing complacent though not indolent nature there has appeared frequently in this story the word desert and it Is the natural when one reads the word to think of barren waste lands yet for certain types of agriculture no more fertile spot exists in all the world than the desert of palm springs indio 20 miles east of the village Is known throughout the united states as the home of the deg let noor due d ue laars ago toe southern pacific lines which by the way la the only railroad line having a station at palm springs after repeated billures fil lures elsewhere planted the first of these palms in indio and they were found to acir fruit isow there are thousands of acres of date bearing palms this locality li also famous for its grapefruit so aldi in s gar content that it need not be sweetens swe etenA br watern union |