Imperial Valley press., 1924-12-10
VALLEY FACING
MOMENTOUS ERA
OF PROSPERITY
So Says Banking Official
Who Cites Facts and
Figures

| The following article prepared
by Winfield Barkley manager OF
/! the county development bureau OF
the Southern Trust and Commerce
Bank, contains some salient truths
| concerning Imperial Valley s growth
and industries, which are of much
. interest. Mr.. Barkley by reason
! of his familiarity with the agricul-
titural industry is in peculiar posi-.
tion TO speak with authority.
He says:
Imperial Valley conditions may
be said to be good, and its people
are most optimistic rs to the future.
Along with the rest of agricultural
America, Imperial Valley appeared
black on the maps accompanying
commercial reports rs to business
conditions, some four years ago.
Today the valley is white being
one of the first agricultural see
tions in the entire country to re,
cover from postwar conditions. The
reason is that Imperial valley is no. 4
one crop section. The harvest time of
one crop overlaps that of the next,
and carloads and trainloads of val
10y products are at all times moving
out.
"The great trouble with Imperial
Valley has been the large acreage
handled by individuals, and the
farmer who has come TO the 1alley
to make killing, planning
elsewhere to live when he has garn-
cred few thousand dollars. The
man with large acreage scratched the
top of the ground, used an immense
amount of hired labor and obtained
indifferent results. Today. the agri-
culturist in Imperial Valley is handl-
ing smaller acreage, blowing deeply,
using intensive cultivation and fol
lowing the precise rules of irriga-
ton. He is getting results un
dreamed by the pioneers.
"The postwar tumble in prices
received for agricultural products,
eliminated the man who came to the
valley to make money to be spent
elsewhere. He naturally went in
for speculative crops and lost out
when prices dropped. Fundamental
crops are now being emphasized.
There are more than 10000 acres
in alfalfa, and accompanying dai-
ry cattle number 10000 head. With
in three short years, the acreage in
alfalfa has come up from $4,000
acres, while the dairy stock has in
creased in both number and quality.
The acreage planted to barley and
milo maize also has been greatly in
creased. The acreage in grapefruit
has more than doubled during the
past year.
$4,000 Acres In Melons
During the 1923 season, there
were more than 10000 acres in can
taloupes, from which were shipped
more than 10000 carloads of fruit
to all parts OF the United States
and Canada. Prices fluctuated some
what, but the growers, as a whole,
made money. The planting to lot
ruee totalled 81 GOO acres, with ear
" shipments showing but little
profit. Later shipments brought
good prices, and the season, as 4
ghole, was successful.
"a visit to the farm advisor s
office gives munich ground for op-
timism. Alfalfa and accompany
ing dairy herds are named as the
one best bet in Imperial Valley.
Poultry is q coming industry
which is highly recommended.
1t is also pleasing TO note that
much acreage which has lain idle
for some time, is now in crop. Nom
resident owners are gradually being
eliminated, and land is now largely
III tho hands Of actual farmers.
"In digging into figures at the
bank, a discovery is made. In ex-
aetly three and one-half years, the
deposits in the savings departments
have more than doubled. Imperial
Valley has been a developing coun
try, calling for huge sums to put
across agricultural ventures. This
increase in savings indicates that
loans have been met and profits
are now being put aside. On all
sides one is met with an enthlsias-
tic optimism, although one and all
are awaiting an act Of congress
which will initiate the Boulder can
yon project. The Boulder canyon
dam is the one element needed in
the perfect chemistry Of Imperial
Valley 3 greatness.