Imperial Valley press., 1923-08-27
FOOD FOR THOUGHT

FOOD FOR THOUGHT
We optimists of Imperial Valley are inclined to
become little puffed UP at times when pause to
consider the remarkable agricultural record of our
marvellous young irrigated empire reclaimed from the
waste desert. And have good reason to swell with
pride over that record much more reason for dis
playing that pride of accomplishment than we have
reason for our downcast periods of pessmism, when
livestock, grain cotton garden produce is little
off in the market and things in general fall to come
way in the full measure of our greatest hopes
But there is broader much more important and
interesting phase the situation of the present and
the future destiny of Great Imperial Valley, than
many of u.s. in our busy, worrying, workaday lives
to comprehend. Some may not readily accept
the truth of the statement that individually the time
will when the the tler of the soil from the East
and MddleWest of these United States who can come
into California, especially into fertile an q
productive a region of our State as our own
Imperial Valley, will be fortunate if he can buy an
acre of good agricultural land at anything like
enable price Nevertheless that statement is absolute
and unquafiedly true
To revert to the matter of our pride in Imperial
Valleys agricultural accomplishments; the Federal
census of 1920 shows that Imperial Valley, with its
population of 1888 souls and only ninteen years
since the first farm irrigated in the valley,
states s of the Union. namely. New Hampshire, Yer
mont Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut Del
aware, Wyoming, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah. or
Nevada. That indeed is record of accomplishment
of sufficient proportions to cause very great deal Oh
prideful putting.
But even our record of producing from our farms
the magnificent total of S65 900 in single year.
shown by the United States Census Bureau, appears
insignificant when consider the vast quantities OIL
and value of food to feed the rapidly grow
ing population of Southern California The city OF Los
Angeles alone in sixty days, will eat more than tne
production of Imperial Valley for entire year. vast
though that production may loom in comparison
tables There are at least twice many people IN
Southern California those who eat IN Los Angeles;
and the population of this end of our great state
growing rapidly that 1t seems Impossible Tor pulio
ing operations to keep In advance OF the rapidly multi
plying hordes teemng into the southwest from ali
parts east and north :.
It is true that Imperial Valley is just in its in
fancy as region Of intensified farming. But, given
every productive acre possible OF rrgation DetWeed
the mountains and the Colorado river producing food
at the highest point of efficiency and lntenscatlon
and it would be impossible for that great area to feed
the future population of Southern California or per-
hons even a small fraction of that population.
ct us think over this flood for thought" One of
the great men of California has aptly said: "A man
must eat" Man and his dependents who also must mus
eat make up the present population OF southern Ca-
ifornia. They all must eat ana someone HusI pio-
duce the food.
As time goes on the rich garden acres in the I'M
mediate vicinity of Los Angeles, and others ceners OIL
population in Southern California, are rapidly diSap-
nearing They are giving way to homes OF urban
dwellers and are being withdrawn from agricultural
nroduction at startling rate. Rapidly not slowly,
and surely the land production areas are being pushed
back by the overwhelming tide OF those VINO oealao %
lust roof under which to Sleep ana eat the resui7
of anothers soil tilling industry. .o4o
There is the premise, the foundation for the state
mont that good tlable Southern California land es
pecally land good as that OF our own h. ipriaa
tion water will be at such premium IN the not great
v distinct future that the agrcuturlst VINO can come
into the state and purchase an acre OF at any price
within will be more inclined 10 prlaelui poiie
tbon even the most optimistic of us today.
Let us all renew hopes; let us be assured tnat
+be fnture of Imperial Valley holds more and greater
things than have ever seen In tne Visohs VI oui
fondest dreams of final success.