Imperial Valley press., 1913-11-25
Good Roads
Convention
fCoNTINUED FROM PAGE oNEl

consider the possibilities for mo-
ment.
First, what have we here in the
valley and what are the conditions
surrounding it? There is area from
Calexico to Imperial Junction approx
mately AZ miles in length and averag
ing 22 miles in width.
On the east of this productive area
we find mesa, triangular in shape,
having base width along the Mex
ican line of 20 miles and running to
a peak east of Imperial Junction, this
mesa being limited on the east by
range of sand dunes extending from
Mammoth wash to just below the
Mexican boundary. These dunes are
of the yellow powder or elbow sand"
variety, and much of the entire area
in width of three to five miles and
for it's length of az miles is changing
more OF less every year in shape, size,
height and position. Particularly is
this true of the northeast side of the
dunes. The prevailing drift of the
sand during the heavy winds of the
spring months is toward the Southern
Pacific railroad tracks, and in the trips
across the dunes recently there were
places where last year the San Diego
racers passed over a brushed track
which this year is covered Is feet or
more in depth. These sand hills GER
tainly present a formidable obstacle
to progress for any road seeking to
cross them. They are not impossible,
by any means, nor is it impossible to
build road across them, but any
road so constructed must be subject
to constant and everlasting attack;
attack by foe who is ever on the
job, night and day, year in and year
out, time without end; foe who will
not fight in the open, but will seek to
conquer by undermining where over
whelming is impossible; an enemy
which has standing army of mil
lion soldiers in every trench and on
every hilltop ready to swoop down
on defenseless opponent at mere
breath of wind
This fight will be one which will
call for stamina, patience, money, men
and teams, all of which of course can
be had, but why undertake such an
unequal struggle when it is wholly un-
necessary? That is the point exactly,
"wholly unnecessary" when there is
an easy and simple alternative, so
reasonable and so free of physical diff
fculties that it is wonder that it has
not been utilized long before.
Beyond the sand hills the Southern
Pacific railroad has built its line
across the desert to Yuma, and the
track is in general from one-half a
mile to three miles distant from the
hills. At several places near the north
end of the dunes the sand has drifted
close to the track and strenuous
fight is now on to keep the track
from being overwhelmed. Later in this
report these conditions are detailed.
South of the present valley and
across the Mexican line lies as fine
an area of land as ever existed, an
area equal to all the territory north
of the line now considered as Imperial
valley, a district rich in resources
and having soil equal or better
than the best up here.
Some day, and perhaps not far dis
tant either, Uncle Sans Imperial val
ley will take in AZ miles south of the
present border, as it does now the
AZ miles north of the line. And in
stead of the geographical center OF the
valley moving north, as now seems
possible, it will move south to the
present border line.
When that takes place there will
be an opportunity for another road to
Yuma, one which will be easily main
tained in close proximity to the rail-
IOdu IlOW SOliiSNoiiiS OefiS<NiNN S''N
Yuma, the logical place for road
tapping the very center of the future
Imperial valley.
But the time is not ripe now for
this all-Mexican road. 1t is an easy
one to build, but there is an easier
one still, one which until now has not
been proposed, and which is detailed
later in this report. North of the sand
hills and running practically at right
angles to the railroad, Mammoth wash
debouches into Imperial valley. Be
tween this wash and the end of the
sand hills there is a stretch of sandy
mesa, where it has been proposed to
build the ocean -to-ocean road, aban-
doning the one now following up the
wash. If the road is to be built at
all, and one will certainly be built