Imperial Valley press., 1912-09-30
RAWLEN AND THE VALLEY


- 1t is unfortunate that in Braw-
ley a feeling exists that its interests
differ in the matter of highway from
the remainder of the valley, and it
is still more unfortunate that people
of Brawley feel that their interests are
antagorized by Ell Centre and other
towns.
The situation of Brawley is such
that 1t expects, and has a right 10
expect, that it will be a very impor-
tant commercial point. II lies in the
northern half of the valley, where ag-
ricultural development in the imme-
diate future will be most rapid. and
the territory Immediately available is
sufficient to maintain a city in the
near future of several times the pres
ent population.
1t is natural that the people of
Brawley should see this fact more
plainly than others. but ii is unfor-
tunate if it hides the further fact that,
in spite of its bright future, the in
terests of Brawley are identical with
all the valley.
In the discussion of the highway
question, the Press long ago advo-
Gated what it called a Grand Circuit
highway, which should take in the
central towns of the valley, leading
from Brawley to Los Angeles and from
Ell Centre to San Diego. If Los Ang-
eles would become party to the
building of the road Los Angeles
now is manifesting a willingness TO
bear portion of the expense of a
ghway-looking to its extension 10
Yuma
But the question is now raised by
what route the national highway 70
Yuma will be built, and the Press in
sists that there is but one route on
which the road can be built if il IS
to benefit this valley, and that is the
shorter route via Holtvine In this
the interests of Brawley are the same
as those of Ell Centre and other towns.
1t is apparent that there is to be
great travel across the continent, and
to the extent that transcontin entail
travellers are shown the opportunities
and magnitude of this valley will the
highway be beneficial to the valley.
Moreover, a considerable population
is being built up in the eastern part
of the county who will require com
munication with the cities of the val
ley, and the Holtville route alone af-
fords such opportunity.
Between Brawley and Yuma on what
is known as the Mammoth wash route
there lies about sixty miles of the
worst of desert, and yet on that route.
rather than through Imperial valley.
it has been proposed by the national
highway promoters to build the road
1t is understood that some offense
has been given those promoters by
the statement that the people of this
county never will consent to assume
the expense of maintaining such a
road.
If it were to be said that the people
would not bear the expense of a road
ever the Chuckawalla mountains prob
ably no one would be offended, and il
is in the same spirit, and not as a
threat, that the remark is made about
the Mammoth wash route
The people of a county must ne
cessarily in framing their road build
ing policy, so design il that il viii
be of benefit to those who pay the
expense, and they surely will not SUD
port plan which does not offer cor
responding benefits.
The Holtville road would be of bene-
mt in two ways. 1t would be used TO
extent Dy those who
maintained it, and it would be of ad-
Vertising benefit to the entire valley
by taking all automobile tourists
through the valley.
The Mammoth wash route wouId
practically never be used by residents
of the valley, and, aside from a short
trip near Brawley. it would have no
advertising value. 1t would be more
apt to do harm by connecting the
long desert trip with the name of
Imperial valley. This being the case.
II is wise now to point out that the
lack of utility of that road would be
SO apparent that the people of this
valley would never consent to nav for
its maintenance
As for the road to Los Angeles. the
Press can see benefit especially pro-
viding IL is made a part of the Grand
Circuit route which this journal has
urged for several months a route
which will include Los Angeles. the
long ocean line, San Diego, the coast
range mountains, Imperial valley. and
the citrus fruit districts of the Uppe,
santa Ana and San Gabriel valleys
IL would be the greatest automobile
road in the world. and would be of
benefit to everybody