The Imperial press., 1904-10-08
SAN DItGOASOIM IMPERIAL
The "Uulon" Discusses the Needs
 of Direct Communication
The New Colony . Marvel of Eater prise and Deserves Better
 Facilities
lUnionI

Five years ago. when the great possi- bilities Oi tlIc Imperial country were becoming apparent, thc problem oi di- rect transportation by rail between that glowing settlement and the port of San Diego began to press foV solution. As a result came a project for an electric road 10 connect the colony with this city. lt was soon realized, however, that the real object to be attained was direct line of modern steam railway from san Diego to the Colorado river, and thence to the east, this great or undertaking including, of course, the desired line from this city to Inl- perial. All are familiar with the out come the present San Diego. Eastern railroad project, in whose success people who understand the railway situation have fnll confidence.
 But during these five years tlie Inn perlal colony las been causing even its most sanguine friends to marvel at its progress. lt has had q phenomenal growth. With about 70,O00 acres of the richest land now under cultivation, tn. colony Is becoming an enormous pro- dncer, but the problem that is today confronting the settlers is the same one that arose years ago-direct transporta-
 
 that the Southern Pacific long ago ran e feeder into the Vallry-a proceeding which in itself was the strongest kind of evidence of tn. growth. productive mes. and hopeful outlook of the colony. But the Imperial people do not find in this branch railway solution of their problem of transportation to market. In the first place. they must ship their commodities to Los Angeics--i00 miles longer hau: than to San Diegp. were there railway 10 this city. Then, tDo. the rates charged fpr freight leave them little or no profit. they claim. And the outcome of it all is that the people of Imperial are thoroughly aroused to the necessity of a direct line to San Diego.
 To. W. F.. Wilsie is due the credit for starting anew the agitation of the question of a railroad from Imperial to san Diego. His clear, convincing re- marks on tn. subject at the recent Farmers Institute at Imperial. which were published at the tim. in these columns, made a deep impression not only upon the colonists, but upon the people of San Diego as well. It is realized here that the city's interest in the matter is quite as deep as that of the Imperial settlement. To cite n case in point: During the past few months San Diego has been obliged to import several thousand tons of hay from points as far north as the san Joaquin valley-a long haul for such a commodity-whiler right in this very county, less than l50 miles from this city. vast amount of hay has been produced and shipped some 250 miles to Los Angeles and that. too, at rates that leave San Diego county growers of that hay scarcely any profit. more iuin- ous "whipsaw arrangement in trans p0rtation and markets could hardly be devised.
 This city must have line to the Im- perial country. It is high time to hark back to the old problem out of which grew the greater plan O! the San Diego Eastern railway. The interests and advancement of the larger undertaking, 1t is needless to say, will only be pro- noted by the success of the lesser pro- ject. Indeed, were the San Diego East ern today built only a quarter of the distance to Imperial, the success of the greater enterprise as we'll as that of the smaller, might be regarded as in sight.
 Of course some readers may say that 1t is an easy matter to declare that a railway must be built, but & very diff ferent one to tell how it is to be built.