Imperial Valley press., 1923-03-15
FORCE TAKING
OPTIONS FOR
BIG LAND POOL
100000 Acres to Be Pool
ed in Campaign for
New Settlers
Movement Sponsored by
Non-Pr0fit Board
Public Spirited

Action on the pan to obtain op-
tions on 100000 acres of Imperial
Valley land, sponsored by the I'm
perial County Development Board,
began today with force of work
ers in all parts Of the valley busily
engaged in signing up landowners
on the option forms provided by the
development board, of which A. II.
Keller, of the First National Bank
of FL Centre is chairman.
The purpose of the movement rs
outlined by o. j. Renfrew, county
development agent, is stated as fol
lows:
Under the title OF the Imperial
County Development Board, o non
profit corporation has been formed
by public spirited men from all
parts of Imperial Valley. 1t is pro-
posed to direct land settlement or
colonization movement which will
have for its sole purpose the bene-
fit of the whole valley.
This organization is the result of
many months Of conference and
planning. The method adopted is
simple and commands the support of
every citizen and owner of land
and especially those who desire to
sell all or part Of their acreage.
There is no Disgusting the fact
that there is very large number
Of people who have been hit very
hard by the recent slump and who
are carrying heavy mortgage obli-
cations on their land. 1t is also a
fact that many are trying to farm
too much-thus there are those who
are ''land poor' and their most
practical relief lies in disposal of
it. AT the same time it is essential
for the greatest prosperity Of the
valley that it have q larger num-
Der Of small farms. Imperial Valley
can accommodate an almost un-
limited number Of them.
To bring about these results, this
development board, composed Of
these responsible public spirited cit
izens, has adopted this simple plan
which it proposes to pu. into effect
and to which it asks you to give
your unselfish support.
Sales Agency
The plan is to put into pool.
through option, at least 100000
acres Of Imperial Valley land and
to raise an adequate fund with
which TO advertise and conduct its
promotion campaign. When it has
acquired the necessary land under
option, 1t will then negotiate fav-
orable sales contract with % highly
reputable and competent selling Or
ganization.
This board will function as q
clearing house to classify and ad-
wise. concerning the lands and to
give orderly direction to the colon
ization plan.
Committees are at work in all
parts of the valley and in numerous
coast points presenting the plan to
land owners and taking options on
lands for a period of at least IS
months. The land owners places his
own valuation and terms of sale on
his own land, of course, if he prices
it too high it will not sell as read
lily as the land priced more reason
ably. The land owner is given GER
tain sale Withdrawal privileges,
making tho option very fair to him.
Refinancing
From the very personnel of the
board of directors of this Develop
ment Board it would appear that
arrangements might bemade for re-
many loans now burden
some to present owners through sale
Of all or part Of the land into small
or units If farmer is struggling
with 100 acres heavily mortgaged,
half of his holdings can be market
ed and his distress relieved and out
Of it. will grow two prosperous so
acre farms, or still further, four 40
acre farms.
1t is aot the intention Of the de-
volopment board to urge the option
ing and sale of lands Of present sue
cessful resident farmers, but rather
TO turn its attention to resident
owned lands and those under finan-
cial stress.
Plan Has Advantages
What has heretofore been indie.
pendent listing of lands without any
chance Of concentrated action in
selling, is now to be a wholesale
optioning or pooling of lands by
thdS owners through this non profit
and the driving Of the
very best obtainable bargains with
a live selling organization and the
not only Of sales force
but a consolidation Of all advertiing
toward one direct result. In other
words, it will work on the same plan
as though one person owned all of
this land and set about to work out
an efficient sales plan.
1t asks you as a land owner to
cooperate with it, TO pool your
lands and subscribe to its fund. 1t
is proposed to take subscriptions
from land owners on the basis Of rs
cents per acre. 1t will even arrange
for easy term payments of your sub
scription.