Imperial Valley press., 1936-07-02
IMPERIAL VALLEY NEEDS
BETTER TRAIN SERVICE


The Southern Pacific railroad is
spending more than twelve millions of
dollars in improvements of many kinds
throughout its territory. Of this, two
million alone is for new. stream-lined
equipment to operate between San Fran
cisco and Los Angeles.
If such improvements are possible
elsewhere, we believe the railroad could
well afford to consider putting Imperial
Valley on the main transcontinental line,
rather than leaving us on branch line
which sees little if any important traf-
fic crossing the continent
At present, the big volume of traffic
comes west to Yuma and is there diverted
northwest along the foothills through
INLAND. Passengers approach but do
not enter or even see the majority of
the famed Imperial Valley. In fact,
they can only view the sandhills from
a distance, and on the other side is
barren foothills, and dry washes.
Imperial Valley, with its $4,000 people
and its wealth of freight tonnage. IS
left isolated except for an occasional
shuttle on a branch feeder line
1t would appear entirely possible and
feasible that a connecting line could be
built from Araz Junction, or thereabouts,
over to the branch now extending TO
some 30 miles or so, a distance not
very important to railroading, but very
important from the standpoint of poten-
tial increase in business.
Though the tendency of the day is to
shorten distances, the actual + Il t e
through Imperial Valley would be hardly
more than ten or fifteen miles increase
over the present distance if map calcu-
lations are anything to go by. And
such a slight increase in distance could
be easily offset by the increase in modern
day speed equipment; and elimination of
the present steep grade which must
be negotiated at lesser speeds and usual
ly under double power.
That the railroad can easily come
across the sandhills is indicated by the
success of constructing Highway so.
Either it can follow its own right-of-
way, or it can plan and take steps now
to come across on the bank of the All
American Canal.
The great inducements which the rail-
road could offer long-haul passenger
service as the result of such a change
would appear many. It could tell the
Eastern visitor to % See the famed
sand hills, Americas Sahara; (2) Ride
along on the banks of Americas great
est irrigation system; and (3) See
Imperial valley, famous Tor prOQucllNl-
ty. That's almost enough to make US
want to take the trip ourselves.
Furthermore, the railroad could easily
expect to receive greatly increased pas
senger traffic from Valley points, as the
route would extend through Holtville
Ell Centre, Imperial, Brawley and Cali
patria on the existing rail network. 1t
might be logical to run the rails through
CaleXico, unless the Border city con-
nection would prove too extensive In
either case, the availability of quick,
fast service with a wide selection of
trains, should induce many to go by
train, who now go by motor car.
Freight shipments, which the COM
pany now handles in capable manner,
could be even more prompt, and accom-
plished with less elaborate arrange
ments 1t would appear very reasonable
indeed that the railroad could expect
increased trade to and from San Diego
as the result of quick transfer in Ell
Centro
We don't profess to know anything
about railroading other than that the
plan would appear sensible from
standpoint of common sense. After all,
the law Of supply and demand dictates
most progressive moves and we believe
that the same law works in this case.
The railroad needs the Imperial Valley
which brings a big volume Of freight