Imperial Valley press., 1912-01-10
PROMINENT RAILROAD
MEN ARE VISITING
IMPERIAL VALLEY

Imperial valley is being inspected
today by party of we'll known South
ern Pacific railroad officials, accom-
panied by w. F. Holt, head of the
Holton Inter Urban railroad. They
arrived here in special cars on the
regular train last night and had their
cars set out at Holt Park.
In the party are President Sproule
of the Southern Pacific; H. V. Platt,
general superintendent; Mr. Stubbs,
general freight agent, and H. B. Tit
comb, district engineer.
They made their first stop in Impe-
rial valley at Rrawley, where they
were met by citizens and taken in
automobiles to view the city and sur
rounding country. At Imperial they
also took an automobile trip through
the surrounding country and visited
the orange grove to the east of that
city, coming to Ell Centre to spend
the night.
This morning they made the trip
over the San Diego and Arizona road
across the New river bridge and out
toward Dixieland and then returned
to Ell Centro and proceeded to Holt
vile. This afternoon they are visit
ing Calexico and will return to Ell
Centro this evening
This trip is one of much Importance
to Imperial valley. President Sproule
is making his first visit here since he
was placed in the position of president
of the Southern Pacific, and the in
L,
opportunity to note the remarkable de-
velopment that has been accomplished
here within a few years.
To q representative of Los Ange-
les newspaper before leaving on this
trip President Sproule said:
Tomorrow | am going down into
the Imperial valley to get acquainted
with the people there That is a won
derful country and is one of the most
important assets of the Los Angeles
commercial world.
Il remember when we first went in
there it was simply barren desert.
1t did not pay to haul anything in or
out of there by freight, so we entered
into an arrangement with the Wells
Fargo people and we did all our local
business by express.
'We brought the first melon seeds
which were planted in the valley from
Rocky Ford, Col, and we had to do a
great many other things in the pio-
| neering line which railroads usually
do not do. We had to teach the peo-
pie there the value and the use of
water, which has changed that entire
valley into one of the most productive
SlAntc with tho I-apiOI
climate considered, that there is on
the globe. | shall be glad to so back
there and see what has been accom-
plished in the time since | made my
last visit | know there has been a
wonderful change
"On my first visit there | went by
mule team and we struck one of those
awful looking sink holes in which ma
tural flowing wells had softened the
ground so that mules and wagon and
all went down into the ground, and
We had picnic of a time getting out.
Today | understand that same sink
hole is one of the most productive
spots in the valley. l shall be pleased
to note the difference"
Remarks made by Mr. Sproule dur
ing his rounds today indicate that he
is duly impressed with the progress
made here on all lines. At Ell Centro
the party visited the industrial district
and took especial interest in the pro-
cess of making cotton seed oil at the
Imperial Valley Oil and Cotton Com
pany's plant
In connection with this visit the
announcement is made that President
Sproule has established Headquarters
in Los Angeles and that hereafter he
will divide his time between San Fran
cisco and the southern city. This
means that instead of conducting the
entire executive direction of the South
ern Pacific system from the general
headquarters in San Francisco. Presi-
dent Sproule will handle at close range
from Los Angeles the affairs of the
railroad in this territory This signi-
ficant innovation will also extend to
two other leading executive Offices
of the system, that of Vice President
and General Manager Calvin and Vice
president and Passenger Traffic Man
ager r. O. Mccormick.
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