Imperial Valley press., 1913-06-09

In 1900 no land was under irrigation
IN Imperial valley.
In 1909, i90,7ii acres We're under
irrigation.
In 1912, 2S0,000 acres were subject
TO irrigation.
This year 100000 additional acres
will be added, making total of $780,
, 600 acres with an unlimited supply
of water at a low rate. Imperial val
ley claims TO have the cheapest and
most efficient irrigation system in the
United States.
TRANSFORMATION GREAT
The Transformation has been 50 great
IN tins section during the last few
years it would be difficult for the old
tuner who crossed the former desert
On the old stage line between here aud
Yuma before the advent Of the west
crn railroads to realize that it is the
same country. The Imperial valley
vas an absolute desert before The great
irrigation bitches were put through It,.
bringing life to the soil and crops
without weeds. there being no weed,
for The weeds to spring from. In less
than ten years the valley has hl05Somci
into a garden spot. The richness or
the sOil is likeAed unto the valley Of
the Nile.
In fact. Imperial Is often referred to
~ Tie Nile valley of America. The
son il an extremely deep loan which
has been undergoing formation for
countless ages. Every year the Colo
RADIO river has been bringing down
rich deposits of silt which. through
the agency of the numerous bitches,
is spread all over the valley. giving
back to til" soil all that the crops have
taken out during their growth.
The three essential features the val
lev boasts for successful farming are
soil. heat and water. Practically there
i no bottom to the soil. Borings have
been made 10 a depth Of 1900 feet.
showing no change of formation 1t
is All silt.
The early spring and summer heat
of tie valley is considered great
asset It develops and ripens fruits
ana produce early in the season, en-
ahling the farmer TO get his products
on the market first and secure fancy
prices.
ARE BUT TWO SEASONS
Despite the fact that it is just as
warm as ever in the valley, it is claimed
that it is not near so noticeable to the
residents as it was a few years ago,
the contention being that the increased
amount of vegetation has had ten
dcncy 10 cool the atmosphere to the
human comfort. There are but two
seasons. winter and summer. The one
merges into the other.
The So-called winter is recorded
from October 1 and continues for seven
months or more, with the most ideal
weather. almost rainless and so mild
and even that the growth of the most
tender plants is seldom interrupted.
The lowest temperature recorded was
u degrees above zero and that was
reached but once since settlers first
came into the valley
Durin@ the months of December and
January few light frOsts may be
expected. hut these are seldom strong
enough to nip tomato vines. The an
nUal rainfall averages about two
inches and there are no fogs. From
October to April it is one long session
Of sunshiny days, when an overcoat
| is hardly ever necessary and rarely is
If too warm for comfort. In April il
/ grows warm and quickly becomes what
! the cotton planters term ideal cotton
weather. During this period it is warm
| by day and night and the heat is never
| broken by the coming Of cool snaps
! TO Kill young cotton, but continues to
| the middle Of September, when it be
gins to grow cooler.
Everybody who has visited the val
ley and studied conditions is enthusi-
astic over its possibilities as a pro
ducer.
VALUABLE TO SAN DIEGO
Few people in San Diego realize
the value of Imperial valley to San
Diego said :. G. Ingle. "They don't
know what an asset they have there
f. w. Scripps, the newspaper pub
Usher took a trip to Imperial before
the new county road was built. He
took along an extra machine carryina
skids with which to get over the bowl
| ders at that time in Devils canyon
After making thorough investigation
! he said that if San Diego had no other
! asset, the Imperial valley would make
| this a great city. 1t is a back country
that can't be beat. When the new
railroad is completed between here and
Yuma, giving direct transportation, the
valley will work wonders with San
Diego"
Products of the valley include cot
ton, hay, grain, alfalfa, barley, dair!
products, all kinds Of vegetable prod
uce, figs, apricots, late pears, dates
olives, oranges, lemons, grapefruit
peaches, almonds, pomegranates anC