Imperial Valley press., 1926-12-13
sun AND WIND
ASSIST RECOVERY
FROM BIG STORM
San Diego and Los Ange-
les Roads Open to Tray
ell With DetOurs.

Strong northwesterly winds and
n warm southern sun are powerful
influences at work to bring Impe-
rial valley back to normal after
last week 5 downpour. Under pres
ent weather conditions the dirt
roads should be in passablc shape
for both cars and trucks in the next
two or three days, it is estimated.
II will be the same length of time
is said.
Herculanean efforts on the part
CT the state highway commission
crews under the leadership of f. G.
Davis, in charge of road work be
tween Brawley and Indio, have
made it possible for automobiles to
go over both routes out of the val
ley leading to San Diego and Los
Angeles. The highway to San Di-
ego, so far, is the only one open
to stages and heavy duty trucks.
Two DAYS of work on the Noun
tain Springs grade with dynamite
and steam shOvels has made q one
way road along that thoroughfare.
Because Of water running from the
break in the west side main canal
at DiXieland, it is necessary for
vehicles to pass through about one
and onehalf feet of water there.
From Coyote Wells to the foot Of
the Mountain Springs grade, it is
estimated that about three miles of
pavement is partially Or entirely
washed away in spots. After pass
ing Sheppard S bridge there is Il
stretch of a mile or more, where a
temporary one-wav road runs
through the sand where the high
way is washed out. With care in
driving the route may be safely ne
gotiated, state officials of the Auto
mobile Club of Southern California.
Many Cars Held Up
The first ears permitted to pass
over the corduroy road at the San
Felipe wash on the Los Angeles
Highway, got away at about $3.50
Sunday morning, when Foreman
Davis started them off. 1t was es-
timated that by noon, approximately
1000 automobiles had assembled at
estmorland te make the dash to
Los Angeles and other northern
points when the word was broad
casted that that important link in
state highway travel would be open
once more, and by actual count pa
ears passed over the corduroy road
in one-half hour There were a con
siderable number, it is reported, who
stayed at Westmorland in their ears
all night so that they might be the
first to get away. On the other
side of the Trifoleum canal bridge,
where planks were laid over the
foundations of the new
structure and the building of tempo
rarv approaches, it is estimated that
about 400 ears were assembled 10
make their way to Imperial valley
and other points.
Cars that had been deserted on
both highways when the flood water
began swirling over the road, were
released from their imprisonment
Saturday and Sunday. Three ears
IN the San Diego highway near the
bridge were so deeply em-
bedded in sand that it was necessary
TO dig them out. One was buried al
most to its top. At this point,
sand has been washed across the
highway to such an extent that it
IS easily 10 or 12 feet deep under
he railroad bridge where the road
learance is about 90 feet. There
s now clearance of about five
Feet for autos and less for loaded
rucks.
Hundreds of residents of the val
ev made the trip to Coyote Wells
md that vicinity Yesterday to view
he damage done by the storm to
he highway and the railroad.
According to R. c. Ramsey of the
raffic department of the San Di
go and Arizona, it is impossible 70
state at this time when the line will
De open through to San Diego. He
states that there is a daily round
Continued on mage three