Imperial Valley press., 1909-11-20

serving what the people are doing here in the way of development and improvement.
 1 When I was a school boy, study ing geography of the United States, | this section was marked on the map in large letters, THE GREAT AMER ICAN DESERT and we were taught that life could not exist here below sea level. Everything that made life miserable was found here. My child ren and children's children, when they study their geographies, will find in place of the desert the great flower garden Of America
 'I can look forward and see what this country is coming to. It is the most talked of region in the United States today. Everywhere people are talking of Imperial Valley. In Sac ramento, San Francisco and Los An geles, and in the smaller places, you will hear the question asked: Have you seen Imperial Valley?'
 This is a remarkable country, and 1 it is certain that it is to be one of l the best cotton growing districts in 1 American. Nature has given to you here the soil, perpetual sunshine and an abundance of water to raise the crops that are necessary for civili- zation. It has been said, and his tory teaches that it is true, that mud I and civilization go together. There are a great many things. think, that the State ought to do for you. It should help you to work out the problems of agriculture and l. think that the State of California | should come right down to the heart of this valley and establish an ex- 1 perimental station that will help all of you. We have one in Riverside, and they are established in a few other counties and as soon as I get ! back to the northern part of the State I shall make it my business to go before the Regents of the State University, over which I have the honor to preside, and tell them to get l busy in this section.
 'I came here for the purpose of getting acquainted with you, and to | see if I could learn something of this great section of the State. I did not expect to find a valley of this kind; I have been wonderfully sur prised at it's material advancement and development. I have been in all the valleys of California, and over most all of the United States, and I have never found a valley of the size of Imperial Valley that has so much fertile soil and such great pos abilities for development.
 This is no longer the Great Am erican Desert, but it is going to be, and is rapidly becoming one of the richest section of the State of Cali fornia
 There is no other State in the Union that can compare with the State of California, and Imperial Val ley will not stand second to any other section of this magnificent State"
 Governor Gillett closed his address with a beautiful tribute to California, with it's wonderfully varied stretch | of seaboard and inlands, it's favorable | climatic conditions and it's wonder fully productive power, and to the high class of its citizenship
 General chaffee Talks Lieut. Gen. Adna R. Chaffee spoke | briefly, telling of his surprise at the remarkable development of Imperial valley. although he has been more or less in touch with it for the past | four years He said:
 q twas in this valley two years ago, and at that time 1 marveled | at what had been accomplished with in such short stretch of years. My surprise has been heightened by this visit. Everywhere we have been we have found great progress since the former visit; wide stretches of land have been brought under high state of cultivation, and material prosperity is to be seen on all sides Your ranches have made wonderful development and your towns have a