Imperial Valley press., 1916-06-12
Big Crowd Returning
From San Diego Tour

were garbed in silk court costumes
and drew compliments all along the
line of march. On the back Of the
float several thousand valley booklets
were stored and these were given cut
along the line by boys.
A second float was one prepared by
Mrs. Ella Swickard, who has charge
of the cotton booth at the exposition.
1t is called "From Field to Loom," and
showed colonial DANES spinning on
old fashioned wheels. The Delta
creamery of Imperial entered float
made up of boxes to contain 10000
pounds of butter, the Valleys daily
butter output. There followed in line
over hundred machines. One valley
man said he counted another forty
in the San Diego Ad Club section.
Many Valley machines did not join in
the march. The estimate was made
by the Valley committee that the num-
ber of Valley machines which made
the drive was between 225 and 25O.
The machines in line were decorated
witt pennants furnished by the Valley
Day committee and also with some
particularly neat fringed banners bear
ing booster slogans. While not ex-
Iaggerated, the legends were of a ma
ture to make San Diegans who have
never been to the Valley sit up and
take notice. "Is that right?" and
l"Ca1 that be true?" were comments
made from the sidewalks.
When the parade reached the expo
sition. it was reviewed by President
Davidson, officers of the Ad Club and
exposition officials in stand erected
in the Plaza de Panama. The greet
ings extended by the president were
RESPONDED to by Galen Nichols, dis
trict attorney Of Imperial county, who
dwelt eloquently on the conversion OF
the desert, the growth of the Valley
and its present opportunities.
After the ceremonies the Valley peo-
pie scattered to see the exposition
SIGHTS. Many "stunts" We're "pulled"
by the Ad Club which shared the
day with Imperial Valley. At luncheon
III. J. Penfold, secretary of the expo
sitioil. and Miss San Diego entertained
the queens and princesses, while Ros-
sitter Mikel, director of special events,
and Auditor Pendleton had as guests
a number of Imperial and Alameda
county citizens. 1t was coincidence
that both counties had their special
days together. A toast was proposed
by Senator Bulla, former president OF
the Los Angeles Chamber of Com
merce, to "Imperial County, the onlv
county on the coast which grows cot
ton, and to Alameda County, the only
county which makes cotton goods"
One Of the Alameda county guests was
Colonel Theodor Gier, a well known
yintner and director of the state Ag-
ricultural Society. When told that the
Valley had brought over ripe grapes
he was dumbfounded. He has SUI
fered heavily from frost damage IN
the north and declared that grapes
there were but in bloom.
In the afternoon a carload OF can
taloupes donated by the distributors
now in the Valley was served in the
Southern California building. Charles
il. Wilson. manager of the building,
had organized staff of over dozen
persons to care for the rush and ham
died the crowd in fine shape. 1t was
thought that a carload could not be
disposed of, but they soon disappeared.
The melons were Of superior quality
and gave good publicity for the Val
lev melon industry. Complimentary
boxes with cards BEARING the inscrlp-
ton. "Compliments Of Imperial Val
ley," were sent to all exposition oftl-
ciais, foreign representatives and state
and county representatives.
Mrs. Wilson, hostess of the build
ing. gave musicale in the wonder
fully decorated Blue room in the aft
ernoon, while in the lecture room