Imperial Valley press., 1936-09-15
a HEARING ON THE PROPOSED
CHANGES IN THE I. VS.. ID. RO4D

Before proceeding further with the
revival of the proposal to alter the grade
on the Imperial Valley-San Diego high
way, public hearing by the county
board would be most advisable.
Many valley residents are not aware
OF the details of the proposal and still
others are not sure of its advisahilitv
and necessity. Among the latter esne-
cially are residents in the cities of Holt
vile, Imperial and Ell Centre who are
not certain but that the proposal con-
talns provision for taking traffic or
material portion of it, along the bor-
der through Calexico.
With the exception of a short time
many months ago there has been little
public opportunity to consider and weigh
the factors involved in the plan. and
before venture of this size actually
gets started, most of us would like to
see what it's all about
Some of the questions which arise and,
which should be answered are:
Isn't the project almost entirely to the
benefit of San Diego?
Although the application is to be made
to P.W.A., where are the unemployed
to come from who are to be used on the
Job?
Is it correct that the two counties must
raise somewhere between $30O,000 and
What share of this is to be paid
by Imperial Valley? Do we receive that
much benefit from the change?
II the purpose is to reduce shipment
costs to San Diego to the same price as
prevails for truck shipment to Los An
geles, where does the Imperial Valley
farmer benefit?
Would lowering the grade on this
part of the route, but not lowering
grades almost as steep at several other
points, provide the truck operators as
level route as they demand?
By eliminating grades on the East
West route, and thus helping San Diego
get our trucking business, how would
that help reduce trucking rates from
San Diego into the Valley? San Diego
would benefit from the former but with
out the latter, Imperial Valley could be
getting no equal benefit.
Is this move by San Diego mer-
chants to help take trade from valley
merchants?
Although all the publicity stresses the
elimination of about 9 miles of noun
ain grade, why does the proposal in
clude twenty miles of connecting road
from the underpass on highway 80, to
Darrough's corner, short distance
from Calexico?
Does the proposal include hard sur
facing and if not, what assurance does
the county have that the state highway
system will provide such? Or that the
highway system will take over the Cal
eXico Cutoff in the state secondary sys-
tenn.
What good would the twenty-mile
cutoff do to any other part of the val
ley except district No. l?
What about Brawley's contention that
the best route is via Kane Springs and
Julian?
Would the reduction in grade from a
maximum of 8 per cent at a few spots,
down to an average of Az per cent to
5 per cent, bring the reduced shipping
costs which are anticipated? If so, what
assurance do we have the truckmen's
promises in this respect would become
fact.
Is the whole project worth the ST.
100000 to S1,800,000 which is estimated?
In fact, what is the estimated cost
of the project? Quotations vary and
no one seems to know exactly what the
cost would be-
Has the entire matter been properly
and thoroughly investigated?
Only intense study, public hearing
and discussion can answer these doubts
on the part of Imperial Valley people
If the project is meritorious it should