Imperial Valley press., 1909-03-20
HARRIMAN'S VERDICT ON IMPERIAL VALLEY

Mr. Hartman told the Los Angeles reporters who inter- viewed him after passed through this county that he could talk about Imperial Valley by the hour He brushed aside the stereoped and nane question What do think of Southern Californian and fired questions back to the ntervewers He asked them what they about Imperial Valley had they it? What did they know about part of the world outside of their parocha boundares He advised them with some asper study the map something about other countries and ask him about something interesting than his opinion of part of the State that he hadn't
 In all his talks newspaper Mr. Hartman since his visit here has spoken Imperial Valley that indicates tive interest the region is obvious that he considers the amaton million of almost incredibly fertile land tributary to his railroad system undertaking of more than ordinary importance to his interests.
 Obviously the importance to transportation interests of the de velopment of country measured by the poducveness of the land the volume of traffic that may be expected to accompany improvement Imperial Valley interests Mr. liar man because produces quantities of things that must be moved market by rail- and because the region will be the home of hundreds of thousands of people whose needs must make bs for railroads
 Hartman with his eyes the producing farms of Imperial Valley From his window he could but little of the work of reclamation But he has pairs of other heads seeing for him. and from results shown report sheets of his subonates he dues and gets possibly clearer comprehension of the progress of development than could be arrived at by personal observation.
 What he heard the ground appears have confirmed the judgment that moved Mr. Hartman to invest about three millions railways canals and protective works in this zion before he it. He finds that the country worth saving which another saying that he considers the cost of closing the Colorado break money well invested About mil that virtually advance to the government honesty due from the government to the treasury of the Southern Pacific MT Hartman scp cal of repayment but shows disposition make the settlers Imperial Valley suffer for the indifference of Congress bus obligations To citizens the county he has said that his that the recamers of the desert have all the they require and the reasonable inference from that is provide whatever necessary keep the irrg ton system at least fair standard of efficiency while mains on his hands.
 The settlers of Imperial Valley know that they land great promise They convinced that they have made locating that what has been achieved but hint of what will be done the Yet this question the minds of the the ground Does efntere
 magnify the value of this land in does the of the prevent from seeing far enough into the future realize fully the possibilities ahead of us?
 The that of large affairs and wide experience, who the valley to study it's conditions invariably become thusiasc and declare that the reality far ceeds their expectations pretty good evidence that the settler generally underwriters rather than overesmae country it's opportunities.
 Perhaps MT Harrman's judgment better than that hundreds others who have been here but has been tested and proved conspcuousy than that of most other and cepted virtually conclusive matters within the of his experience When John Hays Hammond reports mine his bankabe the field of general development of resources of transportation and finance Hartman expert preemnent Hammond mining What thinks about the prospects of territory develop ment is toerab to be right He has told all he thinks about Imperial Valley but he has said enough show that he believes to be worthy of his serious attention and he is advs ing others their attention this That E. H. liar rman much It the settlers and investors Im- pera Valley that they have made mistake and that the predicted this American Nile region irrdescent dream