Imperial Valley press., 1908-03-07
ANGELENOS ASTOUNDED
 BY WHAT THEY SAW HERE
Filled Up With Facts and Figures by Valley Farm CTS, They Ride Home on RainbowS and Set Their Friends on Fire With EagerneSs to Visit the Most Fertile Valley in the World,

There was no hesitation on the part of the Los Angeles men, who were in the valley last week, about declaring that El Centro was the liveliest town in the county The proofs of active enterprise were so obvious that they could not refrain from comment. They saw brick buildings going up all along Main street, and every one rented in advance and months rent paid, and the manner in which they were greeted showed them that they were in a buoyant, busy community. They were received in the evening in an opera house that is better ill every respect than many cities of hundred thous- and can show, and they were sur prised to find the stage filled with cotton plants grown in El Centro.
 The reception went with a swing and spirit of fun and good fellow ship that banished cold formality. Pop" Pearson, the cantaloupe man, started it off right. He was the first speaker called after the brief formal speeches of Stanley Brown and George Stewart, and the subject given him was TWhy I am here" Pearson de nies being platform speaker, and he said the subject should have been Why am here?''
 
 Cantaloupe Facts.
 Then he forgot he was making a speech and proceeded to talk canta- loupes, and in ten seconds he had the Los Angeles men taking notes. T have covered all the United States in business travelling" said Pearson, but always kept my residence and my family in Baltimore. Twelve months ago 1 came, and 1 hadn't been here, AS hours when 1 determined to settle here. The future of this region seemed to me greater than that of any other I have seen, and 1 have seen crops growing under all conditions. The land here produces 100 per cent more to the acre than any other; the returns for labor on the land are 100 per cent more than anywhere else. Last year the valley shipped 5Og~cars of 'cantaloupes, and the growers re ceived $25O,00O This year there are about 5000 acres in melons. That means from1500 to 2OOO cars, and net returns anywhere from three quarters to a full million dollars.
 Besides melons, there are 250 acres in beansrs75 acres in cucumbers, 150 acres in tomatoes. That means an other $15O,OOO net returns to farmers. There are many experienced growers and many noylcos. They arc all Iak- ing good, and in five years this will be the most productive piece of ground in North America"
 Pearson's Hit.
 Here Pop started to compliment the settlers on the large capacity of their think tanks, and word that he wanted got away from him. He tried to put salt on it's tail, but missed, and then he broke into an honest laugh at his own confusion and said; We'll cut that out What I mean is Chat we don't take off our hats to any other Rubes on earth" And then the crowd laughed with him and cheered and got into the humor of having a good time with no frills on it.
 Willis Booth, of Los Angeles, talked on "the spirit of making good" He said he saw it lncarnated in Imperial Valley Figures could give no idea of what the visitors had seen; orators could not tell the story of the re- claimed desert The excursionists had seen and they were astonished. Mr. Booth cordially invited the valley peo- pie to return the call next April and help receive the naval heroes who are sailing thousands of miles in order