Imperial Valley press., 1914-08-21


cial attention to the high average
grade of the cotton Of this valley and
ask highest advance possible. Banks
here lave financed cotton growers
heavily and are not in position to
make further advances for maturing
and gathering of crops, which is six
weeks ahead of any other section in
the United States. Urge immediate
leeds and local handling of funds.
Imperial Valley Bankers Assn.
Imperial Valley Chamber of
Commerce"
Secretary of the Treasury McAdoo
has called meeting in Washington
Of all the cotton interests of the
United States to discuss measures of
immediate relief. The telegram will
he presented at this meeting Monday,
August "a, and it is hoped will result
in an appropriation from the Treas
ury which will enable local bankers
to finance the maturing and picking
Of the present crop.
1t was first proposed to send rep
resentative of banking interests to
take rart in this meeting but it was
found that delegate could not pos
sibly arrive in Washington before
Tuesday morning. Both Mr. Brown
and Mr.. Best are thoroughly con-
versant with conditions here and the
opinion is expressed that their efforts
will surely result in government aid.
The cotton situation here is pecu-
liar N that the valley is practically
isolated from the rest of the cotton
production regions of the United
States and has never been obliged to
look outside its own local territory for
aid. The southern states have in the
past received aid from the govern
ment ranging in loans of from twenty
to twenty-five dollars per bale and it
lis hoped that the valley will be able
to secure a similar appropriation.
The Imperial Valley at present has
$4,000 acres planted to cotton with
prod 4ction of approximately $4,000
tales. Should the committee be able
to secure twenty-five dollars on the
bale this will mean $1.225,OOO to be
used in development of the present
crop.
At the present time the local banks
are unable to make further loans and
without outside aid the growers will
be forced to sell at loss if the crop
is gathered at all. The cost of pick
i ing per bale on the Mexican side is
about twelve dollars, while on the
American side the cost ranges from
fourteen to fifteen dollars. With
loan of twenty-five dollars on the bale
the producer will be enabled to gather
his crop with margin of from ten
to fifteen dollars to cover expenses
aside from the actual marketing.
The Imperial Valley cotton crop is
placed on the market at least six
weeks earlier than any other cotton
grown in the United States and here
tofore has commanded better price
than the southern product. Up to the
present time small quantity has bee,
ginncd at Calexico which has sold
readily at nine cents, but this amount
has been wholly inadequate to supply
the demand.
A concerted effort will be made to
secure the needed appropriation from
the government and should it's passage
be effected the cotton growers of thu
valley will undoubtedly obtain imme-
date relief from the present depress.
ing situation.
The following is list of those
who we're present at last nights meet
ing:
C. T. Beers, First National Bank
of Heber.
Dan Leonard, First National Bank
of Calexico.
William Gunterman, Calexico Bank.
T. Z. Doherty, Ell Centre National
Bank.
C. H. Connect, First National Bank
of Seeley.
0. K. Thomas, First National Bank
of Imperial.
p. H. Black, Farmers and Mer-
chants Bank of Imperial.
B. r. Brundage, Security Savings
Bank of Ell Centre.
VIM. Page, Security Savings Bank
Of Ell Centre.
| R. G.. Webster, First National Bank
of Holtville.
c. H. Eckert, First National Bank
of Ho'tville.
]. A. Gibbs, First National Bank
of Holtville.
A. j. Smith, American State Bank
of Btawley,
E. F. Riggle, Staple Cotton Grow
ers' Association.