Imperial Valley press., 1911-11-23
SUMMER
BOOM
By NJ. QUAD
Copyright, 1911, by Associated Lit
erary Press.

1t was Deacon SpOOner VINO started
it. The doctor sent him off to sum
mer resort for two weeks to get rid
of fever, and when he came home he
had the biggest kind of an idea in his
head. He got down to the postoflice
that same evening and said to the
crowd:
What we want to do is to turn in
and make High Hill summer resort
She's got everything the heart could
wish for, and if we don't see 10000
people here next summer it will be
our own fault. I'm primed with facts
public meeting for next Tuesday even
ing
The idea met with favor, and the
meeting was called, and during the
interval the price Of butter and eggs
went up 80 per cent. Most of the
families in town decided on taking
boarders, and they decided that $40
per week would be fair charge.
There was q large turnout at the
meeting. and Deacon SpOoner went
right to business by calling for order
and saying:
''The idea is to turn High Hill into
summer resort and welcome thou
sands to her gates. TO get boom
under way our motto must be Pro
Bono Publico.' There must be no
hanging out, no examples of individ-
ual selfishness. I'm one who is will
ing to turn my house into a hotel for
the summer to accommodate the
strangers who will come here, and
III also make the price of board as
reasonable as possible"
Deacon, about what would be your
price for board?" asked Truelove
White from the audience.
From $40 to $12 week, l guess"
was the reply.
And what would you fodder the
people on?"
MOSTLY on meat and taters. but of
course apple sass and custards would
come in pretty frequent"
'"Then l move that the price of board
be fixed at $11 per week all round,
with extra for washbowls and lookin'
glasses"
The deacon put the motion to the
meeting. and it was carried, and he
then said:
There will be hundreds come here
who will want to buy land and build
cottages. I've got twenty village lots.
and in order to start the ball rolling
I'll put 'em in at a low value. hope
others will follow my example"
What would you call low value.
deacon?" asked Moses Turner as he
rose up.
well. might say $500 apiece.
presume they'd bring twice that. but
we don't want to rob anybody"
Then came the question Of hauling
the people to and from the railroad.
Nothing so discOurages person as to
meet with extortiOn on the start. He
had thought the matter over. and 1t
was his idea that the charge should
be 81 per capita in each direction. In
case any one started livery stable In
town-and three or four such institu-
tons would be sure to rise up-the fixed
rate should not be above IS an hour
for a horse and blackboard. When he
was at a summer resort he had long
ed for pumpkin pie. and it was not to
be had. People who came to High Hill
would long. The pumpkin pie would
be ready. but there must be no extor-
ton. Every pie. no matter whether
round or square. should be cut into
four pieces and the price per piece
should be 25 cents.
There was one thing more. and the
deacon proceeded to state it. The
people should turn out to welcome
every new arrival and make him feel
TO home. but for every such turnout
there should be fixed charge Of 30
cents and the same should be collect