Imperial Valley press., 1919-01-03
HIND Us | n
HEGIR A D j 7
.0F VALLEY,
| S REP 0 R 7
Many Hindus Pack Up Bag
and Baggage and = Land
Lease Trading Is Brisk at
the Present Time.
An exodus Of Hindus from the

An exodus of Hindus from the
imperial Valley is in progress.
During the past two weeks it is
estimated that between forty and fif-
ty of the turbaned erstwhile ranchers
have shaken the dust of the Valley
from their boots for good.
The exodus reached it's climax on
New Years eve, when the train out
OF this city carried at least twenty
Hindus, all declaring they were leav
ing for good. Realty men confirm
the news by exhibiting cancelled op-
tions for land rental and the loss of
many rental prospects.
Although there is no apparent rea-
son back of the migration, the ex-
cuse oftenest given is "White man no
treat us right" but there are some
who believe there are other causes.
The Hindu generally believes he has
been Disseminated against here; that
he has been charged and MIXED for as
much as the traffic will bear, and
that even the courts are packed
against him.
So eager are some of the Orientals
to go that they, are said to be will
ling to give up their leases on land
even at sacrifice, if necessary. The
trading in leases held by Hindus is
brisk. though no reason is assigned
for the hegira.
Even old Gopal Singh, who is cred
tied with having made $4,000 clear
in the Valley during the last year
was among those who cleared out
last week. He stated that he did not
intend to return. MANY of the Hin
dus are returning to their own coun-
try, now that the war is over. Those
who have accumulated a few thou
sand dollars can return to India and
live like princes for the remainder of
their lives.
Realty men declare that whole
sale leaving of the turbaned farmers
will bring a realty crisis here, reduc-
ing land deals to a minimum. with
subsequent dropping in values. as
values are determined largely bv the
income to be derived from the prop
ertv.
Since the coming of the Hindus
land rentals have increased steadily
uIlll lOudy leases are IHdoc tlliiiOGt
dailv for from $25 to $50 an acre
Realty operators fear rentals will
drop back to the former figure of
$12 to SIS an acre if the Hindus are
lost to the Valley.
The killing of Albert ice Singh,
who is allied to the Mexicans
through marriage. NAV have started
feud which has not yet beer
brought to. the surface. Certain it is
that many Hindus are being kille1
in Southern California. nd especial
| ly in the Imperial Valley.
"The season is open," is com
mon expression among the lower
classes wherever Hindu is killed
and this feeling has convened feal
to the hearts of the dark-skinned for
eigners. Many of them work witt
arms close at hand fearing attack
and there is no gainsayine the atti
tude of contempt for "ragheads'
| which MANY whites show toward the
laborers who wear turbans about
| their heads.
Officers of the county know some
thing is going on, but have not ye
| fathomed the cause, as the Hlndus
through fear or natural reticence. re
fuse to talk freely, and as there
has not vet been complaint laid be
fore the sheriff or other authorities
no real investigation has been made
Some say that a certain element o
whites are not "congeniaP' neighbor
and have "thrown the scare into" th'
Hindus.