davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Imperial Valley press., 1942-03-04
Dreams Became
Facts Throuqh
Early Efforts

threatened with no water at all
because Of insufficient flow in that
aratc stream There began to be
talk Of storage Store up the sur
plus water in dams and prevent
llcOds Keep il behind the dams
needed in time of drouth Such
;sl arrangement. it was felt would
pU the valley in a sounder fl
ancial position and settle the worry
and unrest because of the uncer-
t.,iu water supply.
STORAGE PROBLEM
TIN: storage suggestion was
lfoWno3 ON ry many valley resi-
dcAls because ta"y feared it would
hamper or delay the building Of
the All American canal which, they
said, was more important and
should be built first The major
lty Of the people, however, decided
to ask congress to help with the
storage Of water and the All
American canal as two parts of
the same project This was done
in 1919. This two-headed project.
everyone agreed, wuold mean a
long. hard expensive fight They
were ready to fight and prepared
to do what was necessary.
Everything was dcne to hinder
the development and everything
done to overcome the hindrances,
Throughout all the years. that
little band of work hardened nev-
er-giye-up pioneers stuck to their
Imperial Valley press., 1942-03-04
nperia Valleys Story History Of Glorious Conquest

water shortage There is water
behind Boulder dam to supply the
need.
The All American canal is ccm-
plete. Water now runs IN Amer-
can soil from the Colorado river
to the farming sections of the
greatest irrigated area in the ma
ton
TIL All American canal was first
used Feb. IA 1912.
Imperial Valley press., 1942-03-04

greatest engineering feats in his
tory towers toward the sky. Be-
hind this great bulwark is stored
the water 6 the wild Colorado
liver. wait....P fer he times when
il is neeceu. HarneSsed at last.
the Colorado river cannot run out
o. its channel and flood the val
l.y, sending tumbling torrents of
Wate@ in frantic confusion. No
more will the valley suffer from
Imperial Valley press., 1942-03-04
bygOne time.
ARMOR DISCOVERED

Armour and spears discarded or
lost by the Spanish conquiStadors
have been found buried in the
sand. mementoes of the valiant
travellers who brayed the unknown
in the name of conquest
The very name California" must
have been born. some historians
say. when these early Spanish
travellers came up from Mexico
and crossed the CClosdo river
to gaze for the first time across
the sandy wastes which barred
THEN way to the coastal regions
they sought. California means hot
furnaces in Spanish, proving. so
some historians say that the first
glimpse CT the gyea; region later
name California first was seen
from its eastern boundaries some
time before the area was viewed
from The sea by ocean travellers.
Imperial Valley press., 1942-03-04
Sands
EmbdIn1
Past

Sands of the Imperial Valley
desert bear traces of bygone eras
remains Of prehistoric dwell
ers footprints Of early Wis
itors mementOs of its hu-
man discoveries e.. monuments OF
its conquerors all written
for those who care TO read
Fage after page of history was
written in the sands. covered by the
winds and hidden through the
timelesS cons before man first gaz-
ed in wonder from the hills down
INTO the shimmering depths OF the
mysterious cup later named Imper-
ial Valley.
Swept alternately by the thunder
ing waves OF ocean and the truant
waters OF the turbulent Colorado
river. torn by volcanic disturbances
Wracked by earthquakes. swept by
forest fires Imperial Valley WGS
born in travail Left then to bake
beneath the soaring rays OF a semi
tropical sun: LEFT waiting for its
destiny
LITTLE YET DECIPHERED
Little OF the rich historical past
has been read by man and what
little has been read still is in the
throes OF being interpreted and ex-
planned. Theories cloud the fielo
OF actual discoveries
Evidences of marine life abound
in the sands IN many sections oi
Imperial Valley CLANS shells anC
oyster shells, great beds of them
are found in the desert 10 the Wesr
of the mainly settled sections Hid
den away on a ledge ii the north
west section of the valley IS coral
Atlantic coral. Thet is something
the scientists are trying to under
stand
OLD SEASHORE VISIBLE
High up on the ledges Of the
hills which surround the valley are
the marks of the ancient seaehort
The marks left there when waters
covered the valley and the Wayes
Tapped at the feet Of the hills
Within the memory Of man. OF
course, the Colorado river has
flooded into Imperial Valley And.
if left unchecked would have fill
ed the great valley in time. There
are evidences that the erratic Colo
RADIO did this many times before
man knew anything about il
Imperial Valleys volcanic past is
shown in the bubbling mud pots in
the inland area. There the earth
gives off steam and boiling water
and molten mud gushes up and
gurgles down the cones built up by
constant expulsion Of mud.
PREHISTORIC FOOTPRINTS
Imbedded in the earth in north
western Imperial are the harden
ed footprints OF strange prehis-
toric beasts Bones of these his
torical animals also have been un-
earthed in various spots.
Indian spear points and arrow
heads. countless numbers of them
have been collected by the patient
ones, who search the sands for
them Indian pottery was found OF
ten in the past on the shores OF
the seven lakes that rain in shin
ing chain through the center of the
now irrigated area. These relics
grove that Indians fought and
hunted on the floor of the valley
and travelled across the uncharted
sands between the Colorado river
and the foothills to the west.
In the petrified forest area III
the southwestern part Of the val
ley are trees said to show the
marks Of fire. Forest fires, then
must have swept the area in some
Imperial Valley press., 1942-03-04

guns. They aggressively carried the
fight to all quarters because they
had to- They stuck it out with the
same dogged determination they
showed when they settled on their
farms before there was even a
canal built to carry the water they
must have
They won the fight
ACHIEVED
Mighty Boulder Dam one e ne
Imperial Valley press., 1942-03-04
ert
FIGHT FOR 4 DREAM

This dream OF wedding the des-
ert and the river was not brought
about without gears Of sacrifice
disappointment. labor, heartache
bitterness. and suffering on the
part of the dreamers who envis-
ioned the uniCn. Financial worries
dogged the dreamers and kept
them chained for years. In fact,
financial chains still fetter the val
ley making it one Of the costliest
developments in the nation
Eut going back to pre-develop-
ment days the dreamers finally
found a man. George Chaffey, who
would finance the irrigation sys-
TEN only if he had assurance that
$4,000 acres of the desert would be
taken by bona fide settlers.
Imperial Valley press., 1942-03-04
SETTLERS NEEDED

Then began the tremendous, the
absolutely fantastic plan, to get
settlers fcr the land before the
irritation system was even start
ed. The plan TO brin2 men and
women and children 10 a water
less. unsettled. almost unknown
desert in the hope that water
would be brought more than so
miles from the Colorado river.
But they did il. This fantastic
thing actually happened.
Long before the canals were
started families were living in I'm
perial Valley in tents and in ar
row weed shacks Families which
had 10 depend on water supply
brought by train to Flowing Wells
now inland and then transport
Cd b. team and wagon across tor
tuous desert trails . he vicinity
what Is aow Imperial and the ter
rit.rY surrounding j.
MANY Still HERE
Many Of those prc-%dteI settlers
ale alive todaE. The lcil the tale
Of America s mss' uubclIrveablc
settlement Leuod VIII an unccn-
cern that leaves their listeners
gasping in astonishment Most Of
them really are surprised at the
fuss made abcu, thrIc daring cour-
age and fur igatcd, adventurous
epIrit. l. vas al. il . days work
with them.
CT course the weak ones left.
Those easily discouraged by hard
ships were the 1ust - leave a haz-
ardCus venture aud md some
thing easier That ri. the hardest
Of tcc lot the mos: Courageous of
them al TO carry on the work
And they did the work well.
CANAL DIG
Dust rgac mro the desert air as
canal construction bfpan accord
Imperial Valley press., 1942-03-04
FIRST EXPLORATION

Melchoir Diaz and his men Cne
hail of the land expedition under
Francisco Vasques de Coronado.
travelled to the mouth of the Colo
RADIO river and went by land TO a
point above the Gila river where
he crossed the Colorado and eX-
plored some of the country to the
west It was Diaz who is believed
TO be the first white man 10 set
foot On the soil of what is now I'm
perial Valley. That was in 1910.
In 1774 De ANA and his party
crossed the desert by way of New
river on the way to the missoins
of San Gabriel lie followed the
water holes to the west and cross
ed the mountains.
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1942-04-24

way to win this war is to invade Germany
and Japan. To the extent that the bomb
ing of Tokyo and other Japanese cities is
q preliminary step in such an offensive,
it may be said TO mark turning point IN
World War II. We, the lay majority who
urge this bold course, have no illusions
that It win be easy. The cost in blood,
sweat and tears win be beyond anything
this sad world ever yet has suffered. But
1t can be done,
An offensive against either Germany
or Japan preSuppoSeS the availability OF
millions OF well-trained fighting men.
These millions must be provided with
ample armament at least as good as the
axis possesses - tanks, planes, guns,
munitions. The men, the material, food,
clothing, medical supplies, must be car
ried safely across thousands OF miles or
Submarine-infeSted ocean, week after
week, month after month This will
require, ship tonnage almost beyond
comprehension. We are training the
men, We are producing material at an
eVer-increaSing tempo, We are bulldlng
ships probably faster than ocean carriers
ever before were turned out.
On behalf of the armchair strategistS,
we concede that we laymen cannot know
exactly at what moment there will be
enough men properly trained and ade-
quately equipped, with enough ship ton
mage to carry them to battle and main
tain them until victory is won, That is
for the best generals and admiralS to de-
termine, just as they must solve the
equally difficult puzzle of selecting the
iumping-off places for invasion of Ger
many and Japan, We don't envy the
brass hats either of those jobs, But we
do insist, respectfully, that they must De
done at the earliest possible moment
And we hope the bombing OF Japan was
the first step toward taking the war to
the enemy homelandS,
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1942-04-24
Saw ItI.n,t Sol

New England faces quiet summer
season If the gas rationing plan goes
through as now announced. Limiting
motorists to Scant five gallons week
pretty definitely eliminates any thoughts
of another banner season for resorts,
Maybe that's as 1t should be for perhaps
we shouldn't think of vacations with
thousands of American young men lat
Ting on foreign fronts to preserve our
American way Of life. On the other hand
the nation cannot go into shell at home.
And while the drastic gasoline ban
won't have quite this effect, 1t will have
q very serious bearing on our economic
structure. Use of the automobile is the
backbone of a great many occupations
today. It provides many a household
with its entire wherewithall. To cut this
off abruptly may not be as wise a course
Of action as officials believe However,
there is some consolation in the report
that Petroleum Coordinator Harold L.
Ickes doesn't think it's going to be neceS-
sary 10 curtal gasoline so Stringently.
If this came from anyone else in Wash
ington we might not be comforted, put
coming from Mr.. IckeS, who was bearing
down on gasoline consumption along the
Atlantic coast a good many months ago,
Il really does indicate that there may be
hope for the tourist in the next few
months. If you keep any sort of accounts
on the amount of gasoline your car con-
sumes in the course of week, you'll re-
gard the 5-gallon ban with the same sort
Of horror that your four-lumpS-ln-a-cup-
of-coffee addict gazes at the forthcoming
sugar rationing.
II the 5-gallon edict does go through,
Won can rest assured travel by private car
viii be SO scarce that youngsters playing
by the roadside will stop to watch the
passing motor-car and eXclaim about 1t,
lust as they did some twenty-five and
fhSrty years ago. Gasoline stations Will
have many side-lineS and service sta
lions will be servicing everything from
baby carriage to "bulldozer".
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1942-04-24
Are You Relieved?

Connecticut residents participating in
the first aid classes being sponsored in
eyery community these days may take
some consolation from recent radio re-
marks by Chief Justice William M, Malt
bic of the Connecticut Supreme Court.
Or on the other hand they may feel so
flushed with pride over their knowledge
and accomplishments that they may
show mild resentment. But they should
be relieved to know that any errors OF
Judgment or commission they make IN
rendering first aid to victims of the war
will not be held against them. In short
responsibility for the same will not be
theirs.
We presume this means in legal sense
for It was apparently in such vein that
Chief Justice Maltbie spoke in a radio
forum with Col. Samuel Fisher recently.
So many queries had been propounded to
the State Defense Council that 1t was
deemed advisable to announce publicly
some sort of a policy with regard to the
same. Presumably it will govern the ac-
tions of civilian defense workers through
out the duration.
To be precise the Chief Justice speak
ing on responsibility of persons giving
first aid said: "If the first alder Is doing
the best he can, he is not liable for the
results Of lack of skill or errors in judy
ment 7" In like vein he said that vol
unteers hurt in the course of their duties
are in much the same class as the soldier
on the field of battle, making sacrifices
out of patriotism and loyalty and devo--
ton. All Of which is quite true and
should be the governing motive through
out the entire civilian defense program,
IT'S one way in which the folks back home
can keep faith with the boys in the 'front.'
line trenches.
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1942-04-24

The Iayman ventures diffidently to
advise the expert. This is particularly
true when the layman does not know
all the contributing facts. We do not
make bold to tell the generals and the
admirals how to win this war. We can
say, however, that somewhat more than
q hundred thirty million Americans will
be wild with delight when sound strategy
permits us to carry the war direct to
Tokyo, Berlin, and Rome.
The Armchair StrategistS OF America,
unincorpOrated, are convinced that the
axis must be beaten at home. Counter
offensive activities, designed to hamper
the Nazis and the Japs in their attacks,
are necessary. We don't belittle their
importance. But we do feel that they are
mere stopgaps. Germany and Japan
have spread their tentacles over the
world, seizing one outlying territory after
another. We can't restore peace BY
ariuously recapturing the lost posses
sECns island by island.
we amateurs are convinced thaf kneA
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1942-04-24

The New York Herald Tribune shows
no partiality in holding both Democrats
and Republicans equally responsible for
failure to agree on congressional reappor-
tionment in the last thirty years. Yes,
thirty years, for New York has not
changed its congressional district lines,
according to reports, since 1911 when II
set up as districts and two congressman
at-large. Listen to this comment on
what happened when reapportionment
bills were presented at the current legis-
lative session: "But the bills were hoWled
down and literally hooted, AS usual,
combination of Tammany heelers and OF
upstate Republicans led the opposition,
for the simple reason that both groups
would have been affected adversely by
the reapportionment The fact that
a threat of interference by Washington
has brought the whole matter to head
again does little credit to the leaders IN
the Legislature, The project deserves
favorable action on its own merits
And that goes for every state where re-
apportionment is needed, our own IN
Guided
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1942-04-24

Garbage disposal was sor
point in Bridgeport for 80 year.
not because Of the complaints
the surrounding community bu
because the incinerator IN use Il
bridgeport gave of odors which
disturbed at least half the city.
Mayor McLevy built brand new
incinerator, built 1t himself on de
signs furnished by his engineering
department with the advice Of Q
famous sanitary expert. This plant
burns not only garbage, but rub
Dish collected by the city's public
works department, the rubbish act.
bage. The city has an odorless gar
bage. The city has an odorless gar
bage disposal plant that is work
ing very satisfactorily and return
ing dividends In by-productS. Bet
ter look It over, there are no
patent rights and we don't have tc
pay any royalties to Germany fol
the plans.
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1942-04-24

get over seasickneSs was 10 keep
busy.
The treatment may be sound or
unsound as regards seasickness,
but certainly it Is Just the thing
for many person who has become
sick in heart and mind. The Cos
pei Of work has its limitations, but
1t also cOnfers many blessings on
those who follow &c. The best way
to get over disappointment Is to
keep busy at something that win
get the mind on the thing We have
missed. When sOrTow takes some
person or some thing out OF the en-
chanted circle in which our life has
moved. the wise procedure is TO MI
that empty place as quickly as pos
sible with plenty Of interesting
tasks. The stories Of people who
have turned failure into thrilling
success by trying to forget their
failures In the midst of much work
would MI the stacks Of 3 good
sized library. Work has a salutary
effect upon any mind which needs
to disengage itself from q tragic
and iFretrievable past.
Many q person sitting in the
midst Of his trouble and wxinging
his hands would be fortunate II the
door should open and the sturdy
old first mate with q rOpe-end in
his hand should come IN 10 inject
some wholesome common sense in
10 the situation.
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1942-04-24

The 4O-mile speed limit is gradually
being put into effect in every state. That's
as it should what with efforts being made
to conserve gasoline. A lot of people nave
mistaken ideas about the operation OF
car at high rates of speed, They imagine
that Swimming along at so miles or more
per hour is better for the car than at
lower speeds, The 40-mile limit Is an
economical one. But better than even
This is the very obvious dropping-off in
the number of accidents. That means
fewer highway deaths. While soldiers
are being killed on foreign battlefieldS we
should be conserving life and limb at
home. Keep our highways safe by con-
sentative driving.
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1942-04-24
Universal War Service

President RooSevelt's war manpower
commission is an important step In the
right direction, 1t recognizes officially
what long has been apparent, that the
recruitment of labor for production ranks
in this war on full parity with the con-
scription of manpower for the fighting
services,
Step by step, slowly but surely, we are
approaching the goal of universal war
service. The men we need to carry guns
we take. and send them where they will
do the most good. The factories we need
to manufacture armament and muni-
lions we commander and tell them what
to do, The workers we need to serve
those factories we must likewise take,
and assign where they can serve most
efficiently. 1t isn't pleasant. There is
nothing nice about total war,
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1942-04-24
Press Comment
GARBAGE DISPOSAL
(Rridpenort Teleeraml

A0tluSePOIb 4eACSAaAp
The New Britain Herald remarks
that garbage diposal is a perennial
troublemaker in the hardware city.
First, one of the neighboring COM
munities then another is up In arms
against New Britain. The Herald
says:
cat this juncture it is Southing-
ton which Is in the opposition. The
disposers have leased farm in
Southington and with the aid OF
uies. the c.ty's garbage Is disposed
Otto the Inconvenience and dis
comfiture of nearby residents who
object to the system and the
smell. Health authorities from the
state have been brought to het
scene and a resolution Of con-
domination has been passed by the
town fathers. One of the early
problems of the new Quigley ad-
ministration therefore well may bt
what TO do about garbage disposal
so as not to annoy any OF the sur
rounding towns"
We suggest that Mayor-eleci
Quigley pay a visit to his colleague
Jasper McLevy who viii be glad tG
give him some advice on this point
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1942-04-24

OvrvNyvNyr,
"ANMdES FAYE W., 3oAN x1r,S
SHOHIATE WIZ "ANA .
Au!
BATTLE OF 6A1AAN ENDEA1
BECAUSE o1N n-C, Anno
i RAN wi
The facts behind these head
lines constituted one of the things
which jolted the President and
caused him TO transfer the buying
Of vital war supplies to Vice Presi-
dent Wallace's Bureau Of Econ
onlic Warfare.
what happened was this:
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1942-04-24

1. Which South American country
declared war against Germany IL
World War I? AE
2. To what does the geographical
term down under" refer?
3. The head of the war production
board Is Donald M. Nelson or Leon
Henderson?
A. All the sons Of President
Roosevelt are in military or naval
service; true or false?
5. Who composed the Kreutzei
Sonata?
6. What Is the common name Of
the Society of Friends?
7. Tetanus is another name toI
arthritis, diabetes, or lockjaw?
8. Celtuce is a vegetable, q plas'
tic, or new type Of boat?
8. What was the motto OF TIL
Three Musketeers"?
10. Richard Hakluyt was {
geographer, a philanthropist or 8
Swedish immigrant in America?
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1942-04-24
Selected Poem
LINES OF BATTLE

(Charles Malam in the New York SUM-
Grandfather's ghost stood by the bed.
Smoke was in his eye.
"I'm bringing you counsel, son. he said.
Keep your powder dry!
ave were few and scattered" he said.
"You are many, and strong.
Guard your powder, and count your shot,
and the fight will not be long"
I stood and answered grandfather's ghoSt:i
you were timber and lean
Hunting the foe in the underbrush,
Bringing them down on the green.
But we who follow the city street
Are no less eager and ready
who only load and cap the shells
And keep the supply lines steady!"
The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1942-04-24
: NATIONAL
SPOTLIGHT
Paul v. McNutt
Adds Chairman
To Many Titles
By PETER EDISON
waterbury Democrat washington
Correspondent

washington, April ~ - 50 Paul
v. McNJOtt becomes chairman Of the
War Manpower Commission, It is
his third big government Job, the
other two being federal security
administrator and director Of the
once Of Defense Health and We'll
fare Services. The proper way to
address him hereafter is, Mr.. Gov
ernor Administrators : Director :