Imperial Valley press., 1923-07-20
Chamber Endorses U. S. Date
Station Here; Swingle Talk
Urges Action From Growers

Prompt and vigorous action must
be taken by the people of Imperial
County if the efforts of those in
, tercsted in obtaining a government
date experimental station here are
to succeed. was the decision of DR.
W. T. Swingle, of the Department
of Agriculture, his assistant, Pro
fcsSor Thackery, Farm Advisor +
L. Garthwaite, and men prominent
in the date industry, who addressed
the FL Centre Chamber of Commerce
weekly dinner Wednesday night in
the Oregon hotel. Establishment
of & date experimental station here
by the government, will be accom-
pliShcd if the people of Imperial
Valley. really desire it, the speak.
crs said, but in order to obtain the
assistance of the government, it
must be assured that there is really
4 demand for such station.
As the principal speaker of the
evening, DIR. Swingle reviewed the
date industry in this country. He
briefly described the experiments
that have been made in the past
- years, in order to ascertain the
varieties Of dates best suited for
commercial growing here. He made
the important statement that I'M
Perial Valley is the largest area in
the world adaptable for date-grow
1.h
ed. The Importance of developing
the date industry here was empha-
sized by the speaker, who told his
hearers to what extent the develop
ment could reach with the coop
Grafton of the people of the valley
and the assistance of the United
States Department of Agriculture.
Valley Most Desirable
Professor Thackery stated the
combination of good land, cheap
water, and mild climate, makes
Imperial Valley most desirable for
date culture and urged a conccn-
trated effort on the part of the
people to assist in getting an eX-
perimental station located here.
The approval of this project by
the government must be based on
the interest of the people concerned
and ii is important that the people
of Imperial Valley should enlist the
support of influential people in in
ducing the Department of A1ricul-
ture to provide for the experimental
station in its budget.
Farm Advisor Garthwaite explain
ed the present situation here. The
supervisors have voted to donate
10 acres of land for the date OK
perimental station, but have not
taken any action as yet Oh funds
necessary to equip the station.
When this subject was broached to
them a short time ago, one super
visor was heartily in favor of it,
one was against it, one was absent,
and two stated they did not know
if there is sufficient interest among
their constituents to warrant them
in voting for the proposition. The
matter will be acted on at the Aug
ust 6 meeting of the supervisors.
Mr.. Garthwaite advised a ham
mering campaign from now on, to
convince the supervisors that there
is a demand for a date station, and
urged endorsement of the PROPOSE
tiOn by every civic organization III
the valley, rs well as large at
tendance of interested parties at
the August meeting as the best
means of convincing the supervisors
that they should act favorably on
the question. He briefly outlined
the cost of establishing and main
tanning the experimental station,
and the return which the investment
will bring to the county within the
next 10 years. This outline was
published in Il recent Press editorial.
Roland Rcedand Dir. II. i. Tillot
son, prominent in the valley date
industry, endorsed the remarks of
the previous speakers and urged
prompt and vigorous action in i'll
ducing the supervisors to consider
favorably the establishment of a
date experimental station.
Charge Unfair Methods
Stanley Hale, Il director of the
san Diego Chamber of Commerce,
who recently made "A trip TO FL Pa
SO in the interest of the BOrderland
Highways association, told the
members of the chamber of the
propaganda that is being distribut
I'd by organizations to induce west
bound tourist traffic to come to
California via the Phoenix Blythe
Los Angeles route rather than the
Imperial Yalley-Saa Diego |
'oute. He urged a closer cooper
lti0n between the cities Gi0ng the |
,order to combat this propaganda.
lie charged that downright false
'oods have been issued by paid rep !
of those in favor of
he northern route, relative to the
of the border route, and
aid prompt and vigorous action is
.ecessafy if this evil influence is
N bp pvpreOmp.