Imperial Valley press., 1931-08-06
CHAMBER HEARS
fine TALK BY
]. R. CABBERT

One of the largest groups assem-
bled during the summer seasons
greeted j. r. Gabbert, OF Riverside,
when he addressed the dinner meet
ing of the El Centre Chamber of
Commerce last evening. Gabbert
brought with him motion pictures Of
Boulder Dam and Boulder City, and
scenes incidental 10 the construc-
ton of the new high tension power
line OF the Southern Sierras Power
company connecting Boulder Dam
and San Bernardino.
The Riverside visitor, who is edi-
tor Of the Riverside Enterprise, told
of the speed with which the giant
task was performed, involving an
expenditure of sl,50O.00o. The work,
he stated. was finished ahead of
contract time, and at all times was
we'll in advance OF schedule. There
were erected a total of 1909 steel
structures or towers carrying the
aluminium wires which presently
convey electrical energy to Boulder
Dam, and later, when the power
plants there are constructed, will
bring current from the dam to
Southern California communities.
Gabbert praised the supervision
of the work, which was so per-
formed that there were but two seri-
Gus accidents to the workers,
neither fatal. These resulted from
defects in material, he stated, and
not from human detection. He de-
scribed, and his pictures illustrated,
the extreme difficulty of transport
ing construction material over the
San Bernardino mountains, the
MojaVe desert, and the rough ter
rain near the dam site. Tractors
were largely used, performing tasks
not heretofore attempted by these
iron horses. The movement of 90
ton transformers, 18 feet high, over
rough roads and untouched rocky
hillsides was shown.
During his talk the Riverside
visitor gave highly humorous
toast to water" extolling its vir-
tues and describing its beauty as a
purling stream or in the form OF
dewdrops upon violet's petals, but
decrying its unsatisfactory qualities
as a beverage. His auditors assumed
that the speaker was advocating the
increased use of milk, an objective
which the Ell Centro Chamber of
Commerce is vigorously seeking to
bring about.
Gabbert. as publicity director for
the Nevada California Power cor
poration and associated interests,
has frequently visited El Centro,
and has many friends here. Writing
under the pSeudonym -. r. G." his
column has been widely read here,
and he is regarded as a most sin
cere friend of Imperial Valley.
Last evenings meeting was pre-
sided over by Mark M. Munson,
vice president of the chamber of
commerce and the chairman of its
program committee During the
dinner Munson j. Dowd, chief en-
gineer of Imperial Irrigation dis
trict, and guest of the chamber,
was requested to report on the flow
of the Colorado river, and gave
cheering news of much higher
river gauge, with increasing guam
titles of water available for irriga-
ton, following recent general rains
in the Southwest and in the upper
reaches of the river. A number of
visitors were introduced by Chair
man Munson, who responded
briefly.
Following the dinner, chamber di-
rectors discussed the organizations
campaign for increasing hog raising
in Imperial Valley. The chamber is
now prepared to finance the placing
Of the foundation brood sows upon
the dairy ranches Of the county, as
means of utilizing the surplus
skim milk, and to bring back TO the
community the prosperity which it
formerly enjoyed through the rails
ing of hogs Several speakers
stressed the Importance of the
movement, and the desirability of
dairymen throughout the valley
contracting the chamber and secur-
ing their ALLEGATION OF hogs for
their ranches.