Imperial Valley press., 1932-12-13
VALLEY PIONEERS
CLAIMS UPHELD
Continued From Page u

ial Valley. His answer was ''last
night"
w. A. Edgar ImperiaD - Ie-
clares the date of the storm as TAX
en- from his diary was January %,
1902. Backed up also by Mrs. Ed
gar'S statement. Asserts the snow
entirely covered the ground and
was away down on the noun
tains". Knowing ''W. AS meth
odical habits and reputation for
accuracy, we stick with him. It's
January 30, 1902. AS u. H" made
no mention of having apologized
TO wv. A" this morning, he pos
sibly knew better than to ques-
ton the latter's opinion. (Now
we're square).
T. ID. Mccall Mac" would
rather be con the other side" any
time if it meant a good scrap He
says it was 1901 the snow appear
ca and demands retractions from
calumniators of the pioneers who
have been placing their tongues
III their cheeks when the snow was
mentioned.
Mr.. and Mrs. Leroy Holt-Both
reported to be in Los Angeles. We
regret being unable to get Leroy's
apology to Ray Edgar. We al
so regret not having Mrs. Hollis
verdict in the matter for we would
bank on her to come mighty close
to January %, 1902.
II. ID. McPherrin Also out of
town. And another regret for the
Judge-elect might make another
one to string with w. A. Edgar.
John Norton States that the
first snow was in December, 1901
and that he we'll remembers it be-
cause it was the first year he was
here. Water had just come into
the canals and he was irrigating
his first crop of barley when the
storm broke. Snow lay on the
ground, and the air was SO cold
that when the snow began to melt
little, sheets of ice were formed
on the ground.
George Varney-In his opinion,
there has never been any snow
in Imperial Valley in sufficient
amount to be really called snow
In 1902 a few flakes of snow were
seen in the air but melted upon
reaching the ground. From time
to time snow has appeared on
Mount Signal and a few flakes
have been in the air, but he has
never seen snow lying on the
ground before.
Walter Carey Concurs with
George Varney. States that he
came to the valley in the fall of
1902 and if there was snow that
December he saw nothing of it eX-
cept a few flakes in the air which
melted as soon as they touched the
ground. 1t is possible, he admits,
that in different parts of the val
ley conditions might have differ
ed, but he has never seen snow in
the county such as experienced
last night. y
That a slight snow storm occur
red in 1918 is the consensus, of
opinion by many who were here
then. Mrs. Evalyn Boman WeS-
terfield reports that she remembers
it distinctly because the high school
was moving from its old building
to the then new one on the site
where the present high school
stands.
Hail. sleet and snow occurred
and the weather was so cold that
the water pipes froze and school
was dismissed She states, how
ever, that the snow was not Suffi-
cient to remain on the ground for
any time. ewes" Miles at Glenn
ents supports this contention also.
b. A. Harrigan, agricultural COM
missioner, reports that records in
his office show that a slight
snow occurred in 1913 and one in
1924 but in both instances the
snow melted upon reaching the
ground.
First snow in the history of the
valley, according to Harrigan, goes
back farther than 1901 however,
for he says that in De Anza's ac-
the valley he states that he was
held up one day because Of
heavy snow storm.
Bill Reams-Another pioneer and
former mayor of Ell Centro, back
again after lengthy absence in
other parts. says it showed in 1901
and that the snow covered the
ground. Uncertain as to the date
but positive that it showed.
Undersheriff Rodney Clarke, pio-
neer resident of Imperial Valley
and a cattleman in Mexico recalls
that 1--WE seen it snow once or
twice, but never like this. In '27
it showed in Mexico, where the
mountains come down to the river"
Judge /. Mayfield, for 27 years
valley resident, does not remem-
Der any snow fall, but heard of a
heavy snow in 1901 or 1902.