Imperial Valley press. (El Centro, Calif.) 1907-current, 1940-03-14

| great stone structure of many
rooms in which tourists, fisher
men and official visitors find both
shelter and comfort. Fishing boats
bob at high tide behind a break
water of piled stone, waiting for
the Americanos who come after the
great white sea bass, the tanner,
brightly spotted pintos, or the
great game fish that abound in
the gulf waters.
Over this modern outpost daily
sounds the drone of airplane mo-
tors, and on the roadway winding
about its hill chatters busy trac-
tor, while a few miles to the north
steel rails advance steadily on Pun
ia PenaSco. Within a month, gov
eminent engineers say, the rails
will reach their Decentralization
PenaSco will be a railhead village.
An oiled roadway, too, is creeping
southwark. aimed across the miles
at Penasco.
For Penasco is two thingS-it
is northern Mexicos bid for the
title of the Riviera of America,
and it is a direct link between the
rich territory of Baja California
and the capital, Mexico City.
Tourist Service de Luxe
Mexicalis eyes are turned south
ward these days, but between Mex
icali and Penasco lay mile upon
long mile of sand dunes and deS-
ert-a discouraeing prospect for
American tourists. The railroad
may overcome the handicap in
part, but another factor will over
come it sooner. 1t is the LineaS
AereaS NortenaS the Northern
Airlines.
The tourist or fisherman who
essays the trip by motor from the
Imperial Valley gives up at least
a day to jouncing roads and desert
discomfortS. The man who steps
into Lineas AereaS plane will
reach PenaSco in an hour and a
half at most-and gets a practical
lesson in geology on the way down.
Nor is there one minute of the
trip when he is out of gliding dis
lance of an emergency landing
field selected by Mexican Off
Gals.
LineaS AereaS is not just another
airline. 1t is a manifestation OF
the new "manana" that has come
to northern Mexico. 1t is signal
soaring up from the fire of activi-
ty that is turning Penasco from
10 ,ri1lnnO rncnrt thot
may one day become major sea-
port serving Arizona and south
eastern southern California.
Spreading Feelers
Ostensibly private company,
Llneas AereaS in less than year
of its existence has sent feelers
northWard, into Los Angeles and
other coast cities, bidding for CAL
ifornia tourist travel to Penasco.
Harry Crosby. Los Angeles race
pilot. represents the firm there.
One of the pleasantly energetic
young men who are giving man
ifornia is L. c. Herrera, general
manager of the airline under COL
onel CardenaS. its owner. Sent up
from central Mexico because the
people here are mostly agricultural,
and we need the other callings
too" Sr. Herrera is typical of new
faces in business establishments.
official offices and government po-
sitions in MeXicali. PenaSco is his
love-
I'VE arc going to build cabins
there" he will say. land establish
a large dining room and refresh
ment place. To tourists in Penasco.
we will send anything they want
from MeXicali or the states, in
less than "a hours after they make
their wants known. They simply
telephone their request to Mexicali
we send what lney want down
by the next plane. Milk, fresh
meat, anything j.. -
At PenaSco, the visitor hears
more. A CzechoSlovakian fisherman
has ordered 120-foot sport fish
ing boat sent down from Los An
geles, for fishing parties the
government plans eventually to
extend the railroad on from Mexi-
cali through Penasco to Mexico
City =. the harbor is to be dredged
at cost of thousands of dollars,
to make depth for seagoing YES
sells Arizona business men arc
financially interested in the ven-
turc, seeing in development of
PenaSco a chance to give Arizona
its first and only seaport Pen
assoc will be made a free port,
exempt from tariff laws
There is another revolution in
Mexico these days. and Pcnasco is
| its spearhead-b this time it is