Imperial Valley press., 1922-05-20
CHAMBER HEARS
NEED OF BUILDING
NEW COURT HOUSE

Necessity OF organized effort to in
sure authorization of courthouse bonds,
was urged last night by County Audi
tor Walter d. Carey in an address made
to members Of the chamber OF COM
merce at their annual meeting III the
Barbara Worth hotel. He invited the
members of the chamber to visit the
county house and see existing condl-
tions for themselves, feeling certain
this will induce them to greater eff
forts in behalf of the bonds. Mr..
Carey stated that in 1907 Imperial
county was last, or 5Sth among the
counties of the state. In 1920, or IL
years later, Imperial county was 18th
in the list, while many other counties
in the state were losing ground.
Today the present courthouse is
iammed with valuable records, large
portion of which are constantly eX-
posed to fire menace and in the event
they were destroyed their replacement
would involve much greater financial
outlay on the part of the county than
the cost of Il new courthouse.
1t has been estimated the speaker
said, that interest charges on the bond
issue would amount to less than inter
est charges the average rancher has to
pay for borrowed money, and by rent
ing the old courthouse for stores, ETC.,
good income toward paying the inter
est could be derived. The bonds would
run a long term of years, and possibly
at the date of maturity the;fpresent
site of the courthouse, if found neces-
sarv, could be used to hquidate a great
portion of the issue. The speaker as
sured members of the chamber that the
bond issue is matter of Importance to
every businessman in Ell Centre, and
asked active support of the chamber
in making the election a success.
The report of President Cooper enum-
Grated the various activities of the
chamber for the 16 months period in
which the chamber planned entertain
ment of Governor Stephens, arranged
| celebration of completion of the high
way from Calexico to Ell Centre, con
Quoted two successful Chautauquas and
| is in the front ranks III behalf of the
Imperial county fair and the court
house bonds. The chamber also con-
Quoted the successful fair held in Ell
Centre last fall.
George Z. Bowles, chairman Of the
| good roads committee, told of the work
that has been done on the various
roads of the county and activity of thl
chamber of commerce agitation for
good roads. The speaker told of q
new survey which has been made fol-
a road from Holtville to Yuma, south
| through Mexican territory for several
niles in order to avoid the sand hills
This survey has not yet been accepted
The chamber was instrumental in the
widening of the upper half of Noun
tain Springs grade and is working
now to have the lower half widened
next fail and winter. Though many
obstacles have been encountered, the
speaker said the chamber would not
give up until there is first class
| highway from Los Angeles to Calexico
and another from San Diego to Yuma
| The completion of these two highways
would mean a tremendous stride for
ward for the whole Imperial Valley
and they would be completed just as
soon as it was possible to obtain funds
to do the work, he predicted.
Secretary j. Il. Coyle read his report
of the work that has been done by
chamber headquarters in distributing
literature and informing inquirers. The
register kept at the chamber of com
merce shows visitors from every state
III the union, with New York leading
Illinois second and Massachusetts
third. There were also visitors from
| Canada, England, Scotland. Australia
| I,Uypt Zealand aud Moyi.n
+. w. Judy announced that the Chau
tauqua this year would clear $276.0S
Mrs. Bird Hobby, on behalf of tn,
| stenographers ut the courthouse, offer
ed their services to the chamber il
! any work they might undertake fol
the courthouse bonds. Previous to thu
annual meeting, Il banquet was serveC
i'll the main dining room of the hotel
which was thoroughly enjoyed by mem
| bcrS of the chamber and their families