Imperial Valley press., 1910-07-30
VALLEY RESIDENTS MAY SOON TALK DIRECTLY WITH PERSONS
 AT POINTS HUNDREDS OF MILES DISTANT
Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company to Immediately Begin Construction of Toll System Connecting the Imperial Valley and Yuma With Los Angeles
 and Many Pacific Coast Points

The visit to Imperial Valley points last week of Calvin M. Seeley, super intendent of the Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company, and other off, cials of this concern has brought about the consummation of a plan which has been under consideration for some months, and which will unite the Imperial Telephone system with long distance lines that will give splendid service to all parts of the Valley. The news is of such impor- tance that the Los Angeles Times plays up the story on it's first page with large headings. It says:
 A campaign of expansion and i'm provernent has been instituted by the Pacific Telephone ana T,legl aph Co. which will play large part in the development of resources of the great Southwest, movement every day gaining momentum from some new direction. Superintendent Calvin M. See'ey has just returned from tour of the Imperial Valley and announced yesterday that his company will i'm mediately begin the construction of an extensive toll system in that dis. trict, moulding a special pole line and heavy copper wires from San Bernar. dino.
 This is but one step in movement which will cover the Southwest with network of telephone wires. Ar engagements are being made with near ly all of the independent exchanges to furnish long distance service by connecting the local systems of small CT towns. This method of communi- cation greatly facilitates the trans action of business and brings the new agricultural district in close contact with the market.
 The new Imperial Valley line will be built from San Bernardino to Im- perial Junction, Fl Centro, Imperial, Holtville, Brawley and Calexico, mak- ing connections with every telephone exchange in the valley. The equip ment is to be of such a character that it will be possible to talk as plainly with Los Angeles as it is between Pasadena and the City.
 This was not decided upon," said MT. Seeley yesterday, until I had made tour of inspection through the valley and accumulated mass of data regarding conditions there. I must say I am amazed at the way this new district has come to the front. There seems to be no limit to the de- velopment down there and I am con fident that investments made for fu- ture business will be we'll placed. Our own plans contemplate putting in the best service in the state; in fact something better than first class. The importance of direct communication with markets in a district as thor oughly agricultural as this cannot be over-estimated. It comes next to the railroads, and we anticipate immedi- ate results in building up the valley and at the same time adding to our own business by this move.
 "The telephone systems of the South west are being centralized and made more and more efficient by the exten- sion of toll lines. We are now able to offer means of communication be- tween patrons of independent lines in various towns by our arrangements for furnishing long distance service. It is impracticable for a small system to build interurban lines, and it would not be economical to have such lines duplicated
 "In my trip went pretty we'll over the Imperial Valley country. I started at Yuma and then took the Interstate line back through North ern Mexico The development of land across the border promises to extend the importance and productivity of tn Imperial Valley greatly in the near future The products there are simply marvellous in size and abun- dance, and the people who go in with