Imperial Valley press., 1911-10-05
"reminiscences OF THE
EARLY DAYS OF CAlEX|C0
A Piopeer Newspaper Man, Returning to
Imperial Valley After Long Alb
sence, Writes of Times Past
[J. c. Overshiner in Calexico chrorioe1


herewith write few of the "early
"reminiscences" of the history of Calexico
and the Imperial valley, having in a small
way taken part in some matters in the
capacity of newspaper publisher.
Before we slid down froms the old min
ing town of Julian that nestles among the
pine forests on the summit of the noun
tains skirting the desert sands about
ninety miles to the west we We're pub
fishing the Julian iner and frequently
printed accounts of the first efforts of
the promoters who were apparently un-
dertaking an impossible feat, that of
transforming vast area of glaring, burn
ing. shifting sands 'into an oasis of frag-
rant gardens. orchards, vineyards alfal-
ia and cotton fields The visions of these
earliest pioneers of that part of the great
colorado desert named the Imperial val
ley We're often ridiculed by pessimists
as being chimerical and sort of mirage
of the brain superinduced by living too
long in a torrid cline. the numer-
Gus thriving cities that have sprung up
in an emerald empire. though not with
the speed given by the magic wand. yet
within such a short time that all who
are now Zealously planning and laboring
to enlarge the area of developments and
Improvements are in the ranks of the
pioneers that the remote historians will
take pleasure in recording their meri-
torious achievements.
When the writer arrived at Imperial
June l, 1904, with his little newspaper
plant, after suspendins the Julian Miner,
he started paper called the Imperial
Hara1l hilt foy
per was started called the Standard by
parties having capital. a desideratum not
closely allied to the Herald venture, so
the Herald pulled up stakes and pitched
its tent in CaleXico. and the Caexico
Chronicle was started, September 27, 1904,
in the block almost opposite to the build
ing now occupied by the CaleXico Chron-
icle. When We arrived from Julian there
We're two papers published in the valley.
the Imperial Press and the Brawley News.
At that time the natural traits so
common in aggregations of human beings
seen the wosi,i over began to be strongly
n evidence i'm Imperial and throughout
the valley. and dissensions, factions and
conflicting interests enlivened industrial
and social affairs, engendering a spirit
of acrimony. and keeping the courts more
or less occupied, but not to such an ex-
tent as to stop the car of progress
though it's wheels moved more slowly by
the constant friction.
The difficulty of controlling the waters
of the Colorado used for irrigation caused
loss and hardships to many settlers, but
finally that was overcome, and develop
ments am improvements began to make
rapid strides, ushering in all the modern
conveniences and comforts enjoyed by
communities that have reached a high
degree of advancement and prosperity.
When the Chronicle was started there
were only three or four stores in the
town. the California Development Com
pany having the only hotel accommoda-
tions, the Southern Pacific depot being q
BOX car. the railroad having then but
recently been extended to Calexico.
On December l, 1904. the new Southern
Pacific depot building was completed. and
on Wednesday, January IL, 1905, the
Shattuck & Desmond construction outfit
began work on the Southern Pacific right
of way to Yuma building twenty eigh,
miles of the road as rapidly as possible
but several years expiring before the road
was finished to Yuma.
While we were connected with the
Chronicle the first two-story brick erected
in Calexico was the Holt, Carter and
Paulin building on the corner of Second
street and Paulin avenue. At that time
the progress of building houses and res
'uences was rather slow. The last hip =
cursion from Los Angeles by the Emerson
,ealty Company arrived at Calexico No
"ember /, 1907, and the town was en-
4vcneo for three days with music by the
band and banquets. large crowd being
N attendance beside the hundreds of ex-
'ursionists. at the daily auctions. over
$4,000 worth of lots being sold. 1t was
the first and last real estate excursion
with which Calexico was favored.
Not long after the above demonstration
we sold the Chronicle to Charles A. Gard
1er, who had formerly published the I'm
perial Press, and afterward the paper
changed hands until several years ago il
passed into the able management of Mr.
Tout who issued the paper as a daily
with an extra weekly edition.
The changes have been so great within
the past six years in Calexico and the
other towns of the valley that it is difficult
to find any familiar landmarks. Under
the new regime caused by the establish
ment of Imperial county and the cOnse-
quent impetus given to a.. lines of in
dustres, not only have the facilities fol
extensive irrigation been greatly en-
hanced. but the towns are now amply
supplied with electricity for lighting and
motive power. broad streets and many
miles of wide sidewalks. hanked by solid
blocks of brick business houses and many
handsome residences, attest to the re-
markable growth and prosperity of q
country but a few short years ago CON
sidered a dreary and desOlate desert a
menace to the life of the prospector %,
traveller who failed to carry with him
sufficient water for his desert trip.
With the completion in the near future
of the railroad between San Diego harbor
and Calexico, and the extension of rail-
road lines from Calexico down Lower
California ana in other directions, there
will occur changes and improvements In
this border city that will make it's pres
ent thriving appearance seem like pioneer
beginnings when we look backward not
many years hence.
---~s-.~--uDe
Plain sewing. Mrs Eaton half bloch
east of steam laundry s34
Sc CRET ORDE ERS
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