Imperial Valley press., 1908-02-15
LAND OF PROMISE
 FOR RICH AND POOR
RedIandS Editors Impression
 of Imperial Valley
Destined to Be One of the Principal Assets of the Great Southwest--Mar- veIIous Results of Intelligent Use of Capital.
[Redlands Facts.I

The visit of a party of Redlands people into the Imperial Valley the other day doubtless left as many diff ferent impressions on their several minds as there were people in the party. But it is safe to say that all were astounded by the immense de- velopment of what had been a des- ert, and were shown very clearly the marvellous things that can be done by intelligent use of capital, when there is behind it an abiding faith in the ultimate outcome of the project. And it is largely the one man who has been instrumental in bringing things out" down in that valley, and it is needless to say that the man is w. F. Holt of this city. His faith in the outcome, and the faith in him by the investors, who sent in their money. has been the great factor in the de- velopment of that magnificent farming country destined to support a large population and to be one of the prin- cipal assets of the Great Southwest, furnishing to the people hereabouts just the things they need-beef and pork and dairy foods, with early fruit and vegetables as a probability, but not an assured staple, as yet.
 The greatest impression made upon the mind of the writer was the fact that Imperial Valley is land for both the poor man who has but little to invest in addition to his hard work, and for the capitalist who desires to invest his money and his superintend- ing ability, but who has no idea of becoming "the man with the hoe" There are numerous instances at hand of men who have gone down there into that country equipped with little money, but brave hearts and willing hands. who are carving out com petence in shorter time than they could in countries where the avenues of that particular kind of effort do not lead as rapidly to fortune.
 There is no doubt that the man who goes down into the valley and expects to handle his own farm will have to put up with many inconveniences and discomforts. It gets everlastingly hot down there in the summer months and the farmer cannot neglect his land and his crops at that season any more than at any other time. If he has stock he must be there every day to look after them. And any new country has not the comforts and con veniences that an old country has, al though in the towns of the valley mar velous strides in this direction have been made, Fl Centro being equipped with electricity, a steam laundry, an ice plant and many of those things only supposed to go along with older communities and a thicker popula- tion.
 On the other hand, the man who goes down to invest his capital will doubtless get adequate returns if he is successful in getting the right man to handle his interests-but the same is true here or elsewhere where the country is older and better developed. Probably a certain amount of his own time must be given to looking after the investment, unless he chooses to be one of those who is willing to let his land lie idle, and profit by the general growth of the country-but the fewer of those capitalists who go into the valley, the better for the coun- try. To sum the whole matter up, there is abundant room for labor and capital down in the Imperial Valley, but no man need expect either to yield him riches, except by a moderate com bination with the other and by some naraonaI intaraaf i'm fha O1tcOma