Imperial Valley press., 1922-03-04
GRIM REAPER
CALLS c. R.
LOCKWOOD
DiscOverer of Imperial Sue
cumbs i'm Los
Angeles
PNEUMONIA IS CAUSE
Sudden End Not Antici-
pated, News of Death
Comes to Partner

Word was received in the city this
morning of the death of c. r. Rock
wood in Los Angeles at midnight last
night Up to the hour of going TO press
it was impossible to obtain details, but
it is believed by those who have been
in touch with Mr.. lockwood during
the past few months that death was
indirectly the result of a severe ease of
pneumonia with which he was stricken
ABOUT Il year ago.
lie has been in failing health for
several weeks, the most alarming symp-
toms being a heart affection with
which he has suffered ever since rccov-
ering from pneumonia. Evidently the
end WAS not anticipated for relatives,
two brothers, +. II. Rockw0od and Will
lockwood and u nephew, Roy Rock
wood were all in the Valley. The
The news of his death came to his bus
mess partner, Bavlcs Walker of this
city. who has been Interested with him
in extensive farming projects across
the line in Mexico.
Sketch of MI. lockwood IS Career
The most dramatically interesting
story of the Imperial Valley which has
ever been written is that penned by c.
Il. Roekwood aud published in Il special
edition of the CaleXico Chronicle III
May, 1909. II is II story of vision, hope
deferred and tragedy and in all chap
ters Mr.. lockwood himself is the chief
actor. In IN introduction to the story
written by O. r. Tout who was then
editor of the Chronicle, there appears
the following:
NJ. Il De-.
than any one else, Imperial Valley owes
its being. Almost every plan, from the
Leginning Of the history of the Impcr
ial irrigation project, WIS of his origin
ation his untiring efforts to carry out
these plans his unceasing hammering
away, his answering devotion to the
enc great idea for years, have resulted
in the establishment of the empire of
Imperial. 70 no other man belongs as
much credit, nor a tenth part as much.
Mr.. lockwood tells of the seemingly
msurmouutable obstacles that blocked
his way. The chief of these
was the lack OF money--the eternal
lack oi money lie knew the possibili-
e. ties of the desert--thcy were not
dreams. He objects to being called II
'drcamcr. His plans were never Wis
ionary, as has been proved. He father
ed an idea and stuck to it; he knew
that money would be, forthcoming and
il was--although he sacrificed almost
everything. Following every cline that
might lead to financial assistance; tra-
vcrsing the continent time and again !;
crossing the water to the Old World !;
coming home to search for new clews
after each heartening disappointment; !;
deserted by friends and backcrs; chas-
ing every rainbow that shown through
the clouds after every storm; risking
life and limb in the tropics; being com
PEELED to temporarily leave his quest
for support in order to actually live;
in short, dccoting life, energy and vi
tality to an idea. Such is a brief pic
ture of his early trials.
But that was not Ill. Seeing success
possible only by surrendcring his own
interests he was not slow to sacrifice.
Such was his devotion. He trusted too
much--had too much confidence in his
fellow man. And when the California
development Company was finally on a
footing that could forescc success, he
found himself entirely disassociated
from the management of affairs--after
sixteen years of untiring labor and
effort.
1t is a tragic story. lockwood has
been saddled with the responsibility of
failure that does not belong to him.
We find that had his plans been car
lied out to the letter the Imperial Val
Icy would probably never have had
s--------------------
(Ganf,npnI rnhYnaA