Imperial Valley press., 1940-02-08

An hOur and hall later, we saw
him land and take off ahead of us
from the small. distant airport tuck
ed behind a huge point of black
rocks. jutting out into the beautiful
blue gulf.
Sure enough. there was the air.
port with men working on the run
ways. Eight miles back. the railroad
which We had followed southeast
ward had come to an end in the
midst of crews and equipment, push
ing it straight toward Punta Pen
aSco.
All Wastcland
All that territory is vast. uninhab-
itcd. forbidding desert. Only at two
points since leaving the farms south
of Mexcali was there evidence of
|habitation. These were at Campo
(El GulfoD and FL Doctoro where
an emergency airfield has been laid
out.
Punta PenaSco turned out to be a
small cluster of rock huts on beau
tiful point overlooking the gulf. A
natural harbor dotted with almost
worn-out fishing boats tucked itself
into black. rock breakwatcr. so
even it appeared to have been made
by government engineers. rather
than mother nature.
About fifty adults and hundred
or so Mexican children comprised
the population. There was ono Am
erican-he who bought the fish from
the small fishing boats supporting
the town. And there was a Jugo-
Slavian named Juan. 1t was from
his ancient fishing boat that we
caught upwards of thousand
pounds of fish.
The waters are alive with fish,
the bays with bait. and the beaches
with clans Evening produced the
most glorious sunset I have ever
seen. and fell slowly without the
fog and dampncss characteristic of
our own California coast from San
Diego northward.
An Ideal Spot
Tho fine fishing. the warm. COM
Portable temperature. the absence
gulf and the fine small boat harbor
combined to produce the same
thought in the minds of Cage. Cum
diff and myself: an ideal spot for
| a fishing club
Just how far behind the parade
We were. we learned at midnight
when We were awakened by the
Of n
people arriving to the tune Of the
excited Mexican voices and the am
pic chorus of dogs.
I dressed and went out to talk and
visit with the new arrivals. The
party of five was headed by State
Senator William CoXon of Casa
Flanca. Arizona. we'll known in I'M
peral Valley for his activities in
developing the Sunset highway, a
short cut through Arizona to I'm
pcrial Valley and San Diego.
Sen. Coxon told me the story.
"Wc are building seaport here"
he said in the darkness. ut will be
Arizonas own seaport. Only 72 miles
from the Arizona border. am down
I.tlt IION W dUOul Dul IlcN IOdI.
New road" I queried.
Yes. YOU see we arc going TO
build a hard surfaced. oil highway
to tho Arizona line. That biz stone
tank recently was built for the oil"
! had noticed the large excavation.
and thought il was the foundation
Of some vast. uncompletcd building.
Shipping Competitor
The railroad from Mexicali Is
completed TO within eight miles of
here" he went on. 1T can bring in
products from up your way. and the
highway will permit us to truck our
products down here. At present. un-
der interstate commerce laws. VIC
arc pcnalzed by the necessity of
shipping our copper, timber. farm
products and ali the rest. hundreds
of miles across California to your
ports. We will just ship 70 miles to
here. our own harbor."
But this harbor can't accomO-
date steamers and freightcrs." I OBJ
jected. In the darkness wondered
it was dreaming all this.
The Mexican government is 60
ing to dredee out to accomodate
frcishters." Coxon explained.
But the tides" I said. "thc tides
are l8 and twenty feet"
That's all taken care Of" cffuSed
the senator. "Over there. that inside
bay is to be dredgcd and here at
the entrance. will be built large
lock. Frcighters can come in at high
tide. The lock gates will be closed,
and then the low tides wont bother
ships while loading or unloading"
"Unloading?" l almost gaSped,
Certainly. Think how much
cheaper We can ship in from eastern
seaportS than VIC now can when
ships must land at California ports
and then tranship by truck or train,
over to Arizona points,"
But all this will cost money" I
exclaimed.
Money Being Spent
Yes. Mexico has already set aside
$7000,000 for this job, and is in
viting investments. All investments
of more than five thousand pesos
arc to be tax free. Quite few Arl-
zonianS arc investing considerably.
And the port is to be a free port.
No customs"
"AlI that will build real city
here" I said. Think of the town
that will grow up. It will be great
winter resort. I have never seen
such marvellous winter resort mater
ial and -
CoXon cut in
"Oh yes. VIC have laid out two