The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1910-02-26
WONDERFUL IMPERIAL VALLEY
Former Eureka Resident Writes
Some Interesting Facts Of
This Reclaimed Land

DR.. l.. A. Harcourt, q former resi-
dent and prsoticing physician of Eure-
ka. now located at Wheatland, Califor'
MIA, recently made 9 trip into Lower
California. In q letter to a friend here
regarding his views Of that section, the
Doctor has the following to say OF the
wonderful progress made in the lmpe-
rial Valley since the water was turned
ON to the rich soil Of that former desert
land:
You have heard Of Imperial Valley,
until seven years ago known as the Col
oradn Desert, on whose burning sands
lay bleaching the bones Of those who
had been foolish enough to try to cross
it. About five years ago the irrigation
plant was completed and the water
turned on. To-day 10000 acres are
under cultivation, and what was once
an arid desert is now the most product
i've land in the United States, if not in
the world. In productiveness it is said
to rival the famous valley Of the Nile.
1t has six prosperous towns. eight banks,
schools. churches, hotels, with all mod
ern improvements, and an inter-urban
railway. The hotels would be . credit
to 3 large city. Their rooms are large,
well lighted and ventilated, heated by
steam, have hot and cold water. baths,
electric lights and bells. and some OF
them telephones. In q word, they have
every modern convenience and are up
to date in every particular. The popu.
lation Of the six towns range from 500
to 1900, but there are several smaller
towns equally prosperous.
There are roads running north and
south and east and west every mile, and
in some parts where the farms are small
every half mile. Water is brought to
the highest point on the farms by the
company, the farmers having to level
the ground and build lateral bitches to
irrigate their fields. The water itself
costs less than so cents an acre. The
products so far have been c~antaloupes.
melons, alfalfa, millet, Egyptian corn,
barley. rice. cotton, vegetables. fruit
and trees. Sheep. hogs. cattle and poul-
try are also raised. Hogs are said to be
profitable. Growth is very rapid, and
eight crops Of alfalfa have been harv-
essed in a year, besides furnishing two
or three months of pasture in the Win.
ter. They are experimenting to deter
mine what crops are best adapted to the
soil; but the fact is that anything plant.
ed will grow and yield abundantly. II
is not too much to say that no other
part of the United States has equaled
the progress made in Imperial Valley
since the water was turned on O little
over five years ago.
1t might be interesting to speak Of the
altitude, or want of altitude, of the I'm.
perial Valley, of the Salton Sea made
by the waters Of the Colorado river,
which left its bed. secured out a new
channel and filed the bed or hollow Of
an old inland sea, instead Of emptying
into the Gulf of Lower California. 1t
took years to turn the river into its old
channel, but that has been accomp-
lished. and the settlers now cultivate
their lands without fear of inundation.
! went via the San joaquin Valley
and over the Tehxchapi Pass and ON to
Los Angeles. returning by the Coast
Line. On the latter the scenery is grand.
and would like to speak of its imper.
ishable beauties. but my letter is already
too long. and to say more would tire if
not disgust you.
In closing his letter he wished I O be
kindly remembered to any Eurekans
who had not forgotten DR.. L. A.
Harcourt.