Imperial Valley press., 1931-07-28
Valley Remains
In White Spot
On Business Map

Imperial Valley folks have cause
to be gratified by the appearance IN
the August number of Nations
+ Business" of map showing Impe-
rial Valley still reposing in the
white spot OF good business con-
ditions, indicating that Imperial
Valley is still holding its own de-
spite depressed financial condition
in most of the United States, This
months map. according to Manager
Hays of the FL Centro Chamber of
Commerce, differs but little from
. the map of the previous month, eX-
cept that in the middle west some
OF the black spots indicative of
quiet business have disappeared and
fair has taken their places.
/ The FL Centre Chamber of Com
meree reports each month to Frank
] Greene. editor Of Bradstreets, who
also prepares the business map Of
Nations Business" and it is to
these reports and other sources of
/ information that Greene looks for
the material from which these eco
nomic maps are produced. Impe-
rial Valley has the distinction Of
having had good business for
nearly three years past. longer than
any other community. and at this
time it is one OF only two large
white areas on the Nations Busi-
ness map.
1t is not surprising" states Man
ager Hays, that Imperial Valley
should be recognized as a place
where business is relatively good.
Many of the merchants report in
creased sales in June, 1881, over
June of the preceding year. While
prices for cantaioupes have been far
from satisfactory. the labor payroll
has been approximately the same
and in most cases the landlords
rent has been paid. The shippers
operating largely on eastern money
have not shown profit; but these
profits, If they had accrued. like
the losses, would have been absorbed
in the east. Grain prices are also
down in the valley, but crops are
being produced more cheaply than
ever before and Imperial Valley
agriculture is attaining higher ef-
ficiency. Tractors are being used
in increasing numbers. The ranch
owner and his workers are learning
how to handle the tractors better
and are getting more work out of
them. The result is that even with
depressed grain prices Imperial
Valley is getting by"
1t is predicted that business con-
ditionS will be better in the fall In
order to stimulate increased buying
the chamber of commerce directors
have decided to sponsor a Home
Coming" celebration. with a sales
event to stimulate the sale OF mer-
chandise. The chamber has mailed
TO all the business men OF the city
a QUESTIONABLE asking for their CO.
operation and their suggestions, and
it is felt that this years Home
Coming will be real celebration.
One of the principal benefits of
such q celebration is to show local
buyers the fact that FL Centro
stocks are complete, and that prices
here are readily comparable with
those prevailing elsewhere.
Another reason why business has
held up so well is attributable to
the relatively large amount of state
highway construction which has
been done in Imperial county. Dur
ing the last 12 months six fairly
large contracts have been let in
the county. Much of this highway
money is spent directly for labor
and this has augmented revenue
from other sources very materially.
In fact. business in all California
appears to be on the upgrade ac-
cording to records of the state di-
vision of corporations, as indicated
in the report of Raymond L. Haight,
commissioner of corporations for the
first quarter of 1881, and he predicts