Imperial Valley press., 1919-03-17
CONGRESSIONAL
PARTY PLEDGE
AL AID

on the war and why should we n,
relieve ourselves of this huge dut
by developing our potential wealth.
promise you a solid delegation for tn,
All-Amerlcan canal from my part OF
the country"
Congressman Hicks: "When the ALL
American Canal bill comes up, Oliver
of Alabama and a Democrat. will
vote with Hicks of New York, Re-
publican, to see that you get it."
Congressman Lea: "All you have
to show Uncle Sam is that you have
a bona fide business proposition and
your rpopoition will receive favor
able consideration. |. as Califor-
nian and an American, and as an
admirer of the Imperial Valley, know
ing your problems and realizing their
merits, pledge my support, not only
by my vote, but in and out of COM
mittees, for the All-American ca
nal"
Other congressman spoke in like
vein. Representatives of the Valley
who brought the water question ia
vorably to the attention of the vsi-
tors We're Attorney Phil d. Swing
and Acting Chief Engineer C. N. Per-
fy.
Today the entire delegation, ac-
companied by about seventy-five VAL
ley people, went below the line to
visualize what they heard propound-
ed in the Irrigation District office
and what they saw on huge maps
concerning flood protection and wa
ter supply.
About 125 diners and some Is 9TH
ers who came after the banquet had
been served, heard the speeches. Lo-
cal men who spoke were H. II. Clark
OF Cailpatria, rpresenting the North
End: Frank ID. Hevener, representing
the South End; d. w. Pontius of San
Diego and l. 7. Sparks of Ell Cen
tro. while Joseph F. Seymour of Ell
/ Centre acted as POSTMASTER
In the course of the speaking, Con-
gresham Kettner declared that he
would not seek reelection and would
retire from office.
His colleagues gave him glowing
testimonials and said it would be a
calamity for the district to lose its
energetic representative.
Before the members of the House
Committee on Naval Affairs reached
the Imperial Valley yesterday, and
as an introduction to this section of
the Southwest, they were the guests
of ID. w. Pontius, manager of the
San Diego & Arizona railway, on a
special train which had been provid-
ed for the journey from San Diego.
Manager Pontius took occasion,
whenever the opportunity offered, to
give them true concept of the value
of the railroad, not only to San Die
go, but, in a greater degree, to the
Imperial Valley in it's relationship
to the government projects which are
either being constructed or are about
to be started on the coast
When the train reached the bridge
across Campo creek, where it stopped
for a few minutes, Mr.. Pontius de-
clared, in a short speech, that long
before the government had completed
its proposed works in and around San
Diego the railroad would be in shape
to haul the passengers, the freight
and the food which would be needed
to support them.
"We have only eleven miles of roao
to build" declared Mr.. Pontius, "anC
we are going to complete this short
stretch as rapidly as is humanity pos
sible. Long before the year is out,
this railroad will have brought the
Imperial Valley within six hours of
San Diego"
After the party had partaken of
lunch at Jacumba, the members, who
numbered nearly 100, were taken to
the end of the completed track at
Carriso gorge. A short stop was
made there, and then the party were
taken back to Jacumba, where they
were taken back to Jacumba, where
they were taken in charge by the
residents of the Valley, who took
the members of the Naval committee
and several representatives of the
railroad and the San Diego Chamber
of Commerce to FL Centre by auo-
mobile, arriving here about 4:30 p. m.
10 Won api iov 1"Tha Greatest Tbinp