Imperial Valley press., 1922-07-19

| and 1000 carloads of watermelons were
shipped in the short period of 40 days,
/ but what of the great transportation
machine that made it possible for these
| people to market this tremendous per
ishable crop in such short space OF
| time?
To begin with, it was necessary to
throw into the valley hundreds of extra
men, such as train and enginemen,
clerks, telegraph operators, machinists,
engine watchmen, crossing watchmen,
ear repairers, also extra trainmasters
and train dispatchers and others Incl
dent to big work of this kind. Office
space and sleeping quarters had to be
arranged for This was done by spur.
ing out at Brawley and FL Centre,
number of coaches and caboose ears
which were equipped with extra roofs
known as sun nroofs-electric lights and
fans. also shower baths,-everything
possible being done for the comfort of
the men entrusted to do this work.
The remarkable results achieved
show how the men responded. The
whole Imperial valley from inland to
Calexico, including estmoreland and
branch, was operated as one great
train yard-a beehive of activity, and
not an accident worthy of note occur
red. Regardless of how hot the day
or the night, the shipper was met by
the railroad man with a smile. These
highly trained transportation men ap-
preciated their positions as agents of
great public service corporation and
acquitted themselves in 4 splendid man
ner.
In one "a hour period there were
loaded and moved out of the valley
64S carloads of cantaloupes and 60 car
loads of watermelons, or Il total of 7OS
carloads of perishable goods. At this
time there were 16 switch engines EN-
ployed, trains being run east out of
the valley and 3 west. The eastward
trains were run via the Inter Califor
MIA railroad, or that part of the South
ern Pacific known as ''The Back Door
to the Imperial valley
Early in the morning the work o.
initially icing the refrigerator ears be
gins. The cars are then spotted for
loading and, after cantaloupes are load
ed, the ears are spotted for re-lclng,
then made up into trains and moved
out Of the valley.
Unfortunately, for economical oper
alton on the part of the railroad, this
business has increased to such phen
omenal extent that the shed and load
ing facilities do not properly take care
of the daily shipments AS result, an
unheard of lot of switching must be
done to serve the various loading plat
forms For instance, III many cases
only four ears can be spotted at the
platform, while in one day as many as
55 cars will be loaded. No doubt this
matter will be Strengthened out in the
near future.
The melon business is now over and,
as quietly as they came, this large
body of men have departed. The valley
has again resumed its normal position
and is now busily engaged in the small
business of supplying the markets of
the North American Continent with
the first table grapes of the season.
Closely watching this transportation
feat were j. II. Dyer, general manager;
II. II. Williams, assistant general man
ager; w. II. Whalen, superintendent.
On the ground in direct charge were:
C. NJ. Murphy, assistant superintend-
ent; II. r. Hughes, trainmaster, assist
ed by B. w. Mitchell, E. B. Herdman,
l.. l.. Laughlin.