Imperial Valley press., 1941-03-07
THE NEW
PIONEER SPIRIT

The first pioneers came into Imperial
Valley by horseback and in covered wag-
ons, through sand dunes and over noun
tains. Driving them was the urge to
prove they could do what other men
said could not be done Obstacles that
seemed insurmountable challenged them,
and they met the challenge. They con-
quered.
The day of the first pioneers has pass
ed.
Z With its passing came a lull in the
spirit. The spirit was still there, just
as some of the pioneers were still there.
A few even carried on, fighting doggedly
to build higher and higher the temple of
agriculture and industry that stands as
monument to those first corners. With
out these few, the rot of inertia might
have set in around the foundations of
the temple
For many, however, the spirit of the
pioneers was asleep. They stopped build
ing for the future; they rested on the
Stairs. set there by earlier efforts They
lived for the day at hand, unmindful of
the things their hands could still accom-
pHsh. There was a reason.
The physical obstacles had been over
come, the land was in production, the
canals had been dug, homes had been
built. The desert was no longer an all
embracing menace There was no longer
battle of muscles and cunning against
the most stubborn elements of nature
Today the time is at hand for the awak-
ening of the spirit of the pioneers. 1t
is the same indomitable spirit, but now
new vision must guide its energies. The
challenge is just as great as it was in
the beginning, but it is a new challenge.
q The first pioneers planned and strug-
gled to build for the future. We who fol-
low would be unworthy of their heritage
if we remain content with the fruits of
today. If we allow mediocre security to
dim the vision with which our predeces-
sors saw into the future, we should in
deed deserve their greatest scorn.
When other men said to those first
pioneers
There is no great future in this val
ley the first pioneers answered:
"You are blind."
And by their work and vision they
proved themselves right.
What kind of people would we be, the
successors of those first Corners, if we
now nod agreement when other men say,
as they said in the beginning:
There is no great future in this val
ley"
Today as then, the answer must be,
'sYou are blind"
For there is great future in this val
ley.
As in the beginning, it needs only the
spirit of the pioneers-the spirit that will
not stand still-to reach its full flower
The new pioneers must work with mod
ern tools, with finances and publicity
and the twin sciences of business and
agriculture, to carry on the work of the
early settlers. Just as the first men and
women placed the land in cultivation and
set homes down on the desert. so we to-
day must use our efforts to assure that
the land will provide its fullest fruits,
the homes their greatest comfort
We have gone through period of
uncertainty, but it is ended now. The
financial growing pains of new COM
munity have been cured. Again we are
able to show the world a foundation
swept clean, in readiness for greater
building.
But now, as it was in the beginning, we
cannot sit still and expect others, from
other places, TO erect that greater build
ing for us. We can obtain their help
but only if we tell them of the future in
store here, and only if We ourselves, be
gin the building.
The day of the first pioneers has ended
but the day of the new pioneers has only
begun