Imperial Valley press., 1911-12-12

|
who is a stockholder and director in
the Holton Power Company, which
corporation is the owner of large en-
terprises in the great Imperial Valley,
has Just returned from visit of in
spection of these properties, and Of
| the valley and it's resources. Mr..
! Phinney went down with w. F. Holt
| in the latter's private car, and third
member of the party was J. d. Schuy-
! Ter, the well-known engineer Mr..
| Schuyler went for the purpose of
gathering data in regard to the COM
pany's holdings, to form the basis of
| a statement to stockholders and 9TH
ers interested.
Mr.. Phinney was astounded-no
other word will express it, he says-at
| the growth, development and prosper
ity of the valley which only a decade
ago was little more than vast desert.
He had not been there for several
years, and the substantial manner in
| which the towns have been built, the
| fact that the farmers have developed
crops which are comparatively sure
and which bring good returns, and the
very apparent prosperity of the set
tiers of the valley, were points which
were strongly impressed upon his
mind, and which caused him to ex-
press himself enthusiastically about
the future of that section, where so
many Redlands people are interested.
| The party spent four days on their
trip, going first to Ell Centro. which is
the central point of the Holton Power
Company enterprises They looked
over the ice plant, electric works and
the other institutions which form the
company's holdings Saturday morning,
and the Redlands man was impressed
by their magnitude and the large bust
ness they are doing. Ell CentrO is
splendidly built up, her business
houses being entirely of brick, her
stores large and we'll stocked, her
homes pretty and evidently the dwell
ing places of a happy and contented
people.
In the afternoon they went over to
Holtville, the town of the east side,
and there one of the greatest develop
ments of the valley was found Holt
vile is the center of the dairying in
dustry, and the great fields of alfalfa,
fine herds of cattle, the creamery, eX-
calent business houses well filled with
goods suited to the needs of the peo-
pie, demonstrated the substantial
character of the growth of this town
and it's envirOns. But dairying is not
the only industry carried on there,
though Holtville is easily the leader
therein One cotton field of 100 acres,
from which the first picking brought
two bales to the acre, demonstrated
the value of that crop and gave some
thing of an idea of the possibilities OF
the soil and climate of the east side OF
the valley. Many turkeys find their
way to a remunerative market at this
season of the year, hogs pay well, and
melons are a spring crop which have
found favor with many. Several flow
ing wells in this section are very un-
usual for a so-called desert" section
their natatorium being supplied by
| xritI OF Of
degrees.
In Holtville, Mr.. Phinney talked
with some of the real estate men, and
everywhere he received good reports
The people themselves were well
dressed, and bore in their faces the
unmistakable signs of happiness and
prosperity.
On Mexican Battle Ground.
At Calexico the same thrift ant
growth were encountered-on the
American side of the line. This towr
suffered more in the disastrous food:
of few years ago than any other
but is situated in a naturally rich an(
productive section, and is doing well
Farming there is of the general char
acter, with stock raising, alfalfa ant
hay probably the leading products.
The Redlands party went across th
! line and saw the scene of warlike ac
tivities during the recent Mexican
revolution. The Mexicans established
pot holes" or miniature forts, aloni
by the great cut which the river made
when the Colorado's waters wer
pouring through into the Salton Sea
and eating back toward the intake an,
from these Xantapp nOintS there War