Imperial Valley press., 1919-11-15

Delegates from the Imperial valley
left for the scene of the spike-drivine
early this morning all going in auto
mobiles. A large number of persons in
private cars also left to view the cere
monies, which took place shortly after
noon.
The Brawley official delegation, men
ton of which was not made last even
ing, was as follows: Mayor A. P. Hig
gins, Councilmen r. r. Stilgenbaur, w
A. Covington, Earl McReynolds, and
Harry A.~Staub. In addition there was
a delegation of representative business
men. including City Engineer George
Wade, f. s. Lack, S. II. Thompson
George Krueger II. A. Hastain, f.
Beal, w. T. Dunn. Joe Nickerson, Harry
Stewart, Joseph Simons, J. S. Sanborn,
w. c. Eaton, AL kalin, and j. l.. Taeck-
er.
Lunch was served at Jacumba, and
afterwards the short Kun to the scene
of the spike-driving was made.
After the driving, which was "shot''
by eight motion picture cameras, Frank
lIevener, sof CaleXico; Mr.. Spreckels,
and General Manager d. w. Pontius
made brief talks
The party started for home late this
afternoon.
The San Diego & Arizona railroads
new construction-from San Diego to
T2l Centro-comprises 147 miles, much
of it through the rugged Carriso noun
tains. The line, as it will be operat-
ed-from San Diego to FL Centro, and
thence on Southern Pacific tracks to
Yuma by way of the Inter-Caifornia
railroad, detouring into Mexico-will be
2l9 miles in length.
Twice the railroad dips downs into
Mexico. Eighteen tunnels have been
driven through the native rock, sever
al of them requiring absolutely no
tmbering on account of the solid for
nation of the material through which
they were bored. 1t was this heavy
tunnel work that delayed the compile
ton of the road work on which was
prosecuted continuously during the war
period although practically all other
railroad construction in the United
States came to a standstill.
The railroad enters Mexico at Tia
Juana, and debouches southerly sixteen
miles from the International line. then
swerving nOrtherly to the boundary
again. making a dip of fortyfour miles
in Mexican territory at this point
In order to avoid complications and
to comply with the Mexican laws, a
separate corporation, known as the
Tia Juana and Tecate railroad, has
been formed to officially handle the
section of the road that dips into the
sister republic. The officers of this
corporation are the same as those of
the San Diego & Arizona Railroad com
pany.
In addition to the Pullman service
proposed, the trains on the new road
will carry safe-observation cars be-
tween San Diego and Yuma. and the
scenic beauties of the new route and
the richness of the fertile acres of the
Imperial valley will thus be impressed
upon the travellers. Pullman service
will be interchanged with the Southern
Pacific at Yuma.
The first through freight service
will also start on December l. and the
first freight train out of San Diego
will be composed of twenty cars of
goods shipped to Imperial valley mer-
chants by the KlauberW Waggonheim
company On the following day the
first freight train from Imperial valley
TO san Diego will carry twenty carloads
of cattle, shipped from El Centre by
Charles Hardy. one of the leading cat
tie raisers of that region. On the same
date trainload Of lumber will be sent