Imperial Valley press., 1909-08-28
GOOD ADVERTISING
Local Chamber of Commerce Issues New Leaflet and Sends Thous. ands of Desert Farmers to
 Exposition.

EHHOStAlOUs
 Through the generosity of it's pub fisher John B. Baker, 5000 copies of the special edition of the Desert Far mer. containing an extensive account of Imperial valley developments, and profusely illustrated, has been donat ed for distribution at the Alaska Yu- kon Pacific Exposition at Seattle
 The Fl Centro Chamber of Com merce undertook the expense of trans portation of this large shipment of literature to Seattle, and the amount necessary to meet this expense and the preparation of leaflet to be in- serted in each copy was readily met by the business men of this city.
 The leaflet, which was prepared by the Chamber of Commerce publicity committee, composed of Dan " No land, Allen Kelly and Lewis Haver- male, is also to be used as leaflet for general distribution, and is as fol- lows
 Heart of the Valley, Fl centro
 Capital of Imperial Co.,, Cal
 The city of El Centro was founded in 1906 by w. F. Holt, who built a two- story brick hotel, an opera house and office building, an electro light and power plant and ice factory, and then invited people to settle on the new townsite.
 In August, 1907, the town had only 125 inhabitants, but because of its central location and it's railway con- nections it was made the county seat when Imperial County was created out of the eastern half of San Diego coun- ty.
 Settlement was rapid during the fall of 1907 and the following winter, and in April, 1908, El Centro was incor- porated as a city of the sixth class, with a population of 125O.
 Unique Frontier Town
 Withdrawal of valley lands from en- try, pending completion of a new gov ernment survey, retarded progress in Imperial County for about a year, and in April 1909. Fl Centro's population had increased only to 1900, although the construction of business and resi- dence buildings was not interrupted Fl Centro's business section of six city blocks is built entirely of brick constituting the most substantial frontier town in the history of the west
 Commercial Center
 Fl Centro is not only the political capital of Californias newest and most fertile county: it is the commer- cial and social capital of Imperial Val ley More freight goes out of the valley from Fl Centro than from any other shipping point, and the receipts of the railroad from freight and pas senger traffic are greatest at Fl Ger tro station, being exceeded in South ern California only at Los Angeles.
 Educational Facilities
 Fl Centro is especially proud of it's public schools. It has two public school buildings, one of them, which has just been completed, being the largest grammar school building in Imperial Valley, costing 1925, 900. Cram mar schools nave six teachers; High school, six teachers and excellent equipment. The city has free pub lie library and reading room, which will soon be housed in $10OOO build ing provided by Andrew Carnegie
 The Catholics Methodists and Pres byterians have substantial church ed ifices, and the Baptists, Christian Church and Christian Scientists have strong congregations, which soon will have their own places of worship.
 Public Utilities
 The city has electric lights, power and water, supplied by private enter prise, and a gas plant to supply fuel