Imperial Valley press., 1908-02-08


 college which may fill an important place in the educational interests of this part of the State
 It is proposed, says the Los Angeles Times, to institute such a school in the heart of the Imperial Valley. It probably will be backed by the Con- gregationalists. That is the present intention, although there has been no official action taken by the Congre- gational Association of the seven southern counties.
 The little town of Heber, about middleway between El Centro and Calexico, and on the Southern Pa cific's branch railroad through the I'm perial Valley, is the site selected. It is the hope of the owners of the town site to make there an educational cen ter for the dense population that is certain to fill up the Imperial and Coachella valleys.
 The possibilities of agriculture in arid districts of the Southwest open 
 the way for an agricultural school where best methods for such condi- tions may be taught. In connection with the usual college courses, there will be expert instruction on farming under irrigation .and in the unusual conditions found in sections of South ern California, Arizona and New Mex ico.
 Old Plan Revived.
 When Heber was laid out, several years ago, there were ambitious plans for the creation of an agricultural college, and certain sections were re- served as a college site and lands to be sold to raise an endowment fund.
 With the series of unfortunate cir cumstances under which the valley had to struggle for a time, develop ment at Heber came to a practical standstill; and all thought of the pro- posed college was abandoned. But with the remarkable revival of activi- ties in the entire valley, the opening up of hundreds of new farms, and the influx of large agricultural pop ulation, the leading Congregational ists of Los Angeles and Southern Cali fornia feel that there is a field open, and that the tentative offers made them by the Imperial Land Company are too valuable to be turned down.
 There have been several confer ences between officers of the land company and Superintendent J. L.. Maile, district missionary of Southern California, and other Congregational ministers. A definite basis of agree ment has been reached and the gen. eral proposition will be, submitted soon to the churches of Southern Cali fornia.
 Experiment Station.
 It is proposed to erect college build ings worth at least $25,000, at the start, and it is the belief of those in terested that this outlay will be the beginning of a group of handsome buildings.
 There has also been under discus sion a proposition to tender the United States government, or the Bureau of Plant Industry, Department of Agriculture, tract in connection with the proposed agricultural callege for general experimental work on plants suitable for growth on desert irrigable lands.
 Dr. B. F. Boiler, for the past few years pastor of the Olivet Congrega- tional Church in Los Angeles, has been approached with the proposal that he resign his pastorate and de- vote his entire attention to the es- tablishment and development of the school
 Dr. Boiler has had much exper- fence in educational work, and for seven years was superintendent of the schools in the State reformatory institutions of Illinois. He was also engaged in school work in connec- tion with his church work at Cleve- land, and has had wide experience
 H.DF