Imperial Valley press., 1911-11-25
JUDGE FARR TELLS J0bbERS
HOW THEY GAN AID VALLEY

F.P Gregson, traffic manager of the
Associated Jobbers of Los Angeles,
recently wrote the Press regarding
the relationship between imperial Val
ley and Los Angeles, saying ne had
been impressed by the comments OF
ssxhis journal On the need for closer re-
lationship.
Judge F. G. Farr, as attorney in the
freight rate case of Imperial Valley,
about to be heard by the state railroad
commission, was asked by Mr Greg
son for a statement regarding the
closer relationship, TO which Judge
Farr has replied as follows:
AT Los Angeles, Cal, Nov. 81.
"Mr. f. P. Gregson, Traffic Manager,
Associated Jobbers of Los Angeles,
City:
Dear Sir-Referring to the ques'
tion you asked me yesterday, name
ly: What should Los Angeles do to
bring about closer business relations
with the people of Imperial Valley? !
take occasion to reply to your verbal
\ inquiry in writing, to the end that 4
conditions nor fail to state the facts.
"At the very feet Of Los Angeles, for
ten years. has lain veritable empire,
begging to be permitted to pour it's
treasures into her Golfers Los An. :.
geles has, during all that period, fur
nished not only the natural market,
hut the sole market which could be
reached by the people of that won
derful valley.
"Ten years ago it was desolate,
uninhabitable desert. Today it is the
garden spot of California, with ap-
proximately two thousand ranches ia
cultivation, embracing about 225,000
acres of land, now supporting popu-
lation of 10000 intelligent, Industrious.
ehterprising people, and with 225,000
acres more susceptible of irrigation
from the present system Of canals and
bitches.
" "All this has been accomplished
withhin decade, not only without
financial assistance from Los Angeles
the direct and naturally sole benefic-
iary Of the success of the gigantic
enterprise-but in spite of the appar-
ent total Indifference of your business
men and your money to the fate of
the people struggling with stubborn
heroism to create an empire at your
very dOOrs-an empire which would
pay you rich tribute for thousands of
years. .,.. ...
what have you done for us during
these struggling, pioneer years? Moth
ing-absolutely nothing! Many of our
people have recently concluded that
Los. Angeles has no time to devote to
anything but a contemplation of her
own greatness and advertising her
=. wonderful climate to wealthy people
in the Atlantic States. Your leading
men and financiers seem to proceed
upon the theory that what you need
most of, all is big city, and that
achieved, the country which must
largely support that city can take
. care of ITSELF. There never was a
greater mistake. You are commenc-
ing at the top with the idea that you
can build downward. This accumuaa
tion of money in your bank vaults is
wholly adventitious and can never
help your city while it is kept locked
up.
"For years the people who were
; trying to develop the most wonderfully
fertile agricultural section on the
continent have been vainly begging
you for help, and not dollar has been
forthcoming. Thousands OF bales of
cotton are now held I'm Imperial VAL
y ley awaiting better price, bat Los
: Angeles isn't furnishing a dollar, to
help hold a commodity as staple as
sugar or coffee, and many farmers are
: compelled to sell their cotton at a
sacrifice. >i2<;.t'H -
~ "Hhndreds of ranches could be made
; to yield twice as much as they are now
y yielding If money could be borrowed
Il to make better improvements. Think
of it, men hesitating to advance money
on land upon which two bales Of cot
= which eight tons of alfalfa per acre
can be cut In seven niDnths' and the