Imperial Valley press., 1908-10-31
ADVERTISING THE VALLEY


 Systematic, comprehensive and ef- fective advertising of the opportuni- ties offered to investors and home builders by Imperial Valley will follow the action of the County Chamber of Commerce in raising a fund by equal contribution from each of the five ci- ties in the county. The County Cham Der is composed of the united local bodies, each represented by delegates, and its function is to do for the coun- ty as a whole what each component body does for it's own locality. There is no conflict of interests in the coun- ty organization, which derives its strength from unity and cooperation.
 Every other county in California spends part of the public funds for advertising, and assurances have been given that the Supervisors of Imperial will get into line and make provision for an exhibit of county products in Los Angeles and for such other work as should be undertaken by the people as a whole because it benefits all
 Chambers of commerce are city or ganizations, supported by city busi- ness men, and the farmers as a rule are not members for opvious reasons, and are not asked to share the burden of their expenses although the work of such bodies often is directly prof. table to the farmer It is eminently fair that the people outside of the cities should pay a part of the cost of coun- ty advertising, and the only practica- ble way for them to do so is through the county government and from the money raised by general taxation. Even then the greater part of the cost must be borne by the cities.
 There is no good reason why the Su- peryisors should not devote part of the public fund to giving publicity to the attractions of the county, and there are many reasons why they should. They will be sustained and ap- plaaded by all progressive citizens in providing for creditable continuous exhibit of the products of the county The Fl Centro Ten Thousand Club has started the work by renting space in the Los Angeles Chamber of Com merce and engaging persons to se- cure the attention of colonists and others, and induce them to visit the valley. That part of the general work should be taken over by the county.
 The County Chamber of Commerce has engaged competent person to deliver daily in Los Angeles lectures on Imperial County and to arrange for excursions to the valley. The excur- sions will prove the most effective ad- vertisements, for nobody can realize what has been done and what can be done with this ancient desert until he has seen it. and having seen it he be- comes a more enthusiastic and san guine prophet of progress than the most optimistic boomer.
 It is the man from outside, as a rule, who sees first and most clearly the op- portunities for profitable investment and the possibilities of new develop ment of resources and industries He comes with fresh eyes and alert curi- osity, and often he finds openings for enterprise which the busy settlers have overlooked or passed by for fu- ture consideration.
 Imperial Valley is too great a propo- sition to be comprehended at short range. We who are here have only scratched the surface of it's potential wealth. The thousands and hundreds of thousands who will come here in the next few years will achieve things to amaze even the dreamers of to- day.