Imperial Valley press., 1943-05-20
VACATION GASOLINE IS
A VALLEY NECESSITY

The ratoning board has announced
that there will be no extra gasoline issued
during Imperial Valleys not months SO
that our people may take vacations.
This is no reflection on the rationing
board The board has no alternative other
than to follow orders from higher up.
What the board members feel about the
questioa is unknown, but we would wager
that the board unanimously diSagrees
with this stringent ruling by which they
are compelled to abide.
No matter what tne rules are. extra
gasoline for vacation purposes should
De allowed Imperial Valley people who
seek it. and Washington authorities
should be convinced of this fact.
We believe such an exception to the
nationwide rules governing gas ration,
ing would be thoroughly justified and
warranted by the facts of the case.
We say this advisedly and only after
due deliberatiOn.
No one wants to be accused of lack Of
patriotism. and we believe the very alb
sence of concerted effort to achieve en-
larged gasoline appropriations is largely
due to fear that such charges might be
launched against the applicants.
There would, however. be no grounds
for such accusation because in no section
Of this entire United States is relief from
intense heat more necessity and less
luxury than in this county and other SIM
liar areas of the great American desert.
If seeking desert coolers and increased
allowances for vacations is unpatriotic
here then it is unpatriotic for the people
CT Fargo, S. D., or Duluth, Mimi, to ask
for greater allowance of coal and fuel oil
in winter Relief from our heat is just as
essential to health and human endurance
and efficiency, as light and food and
water.
There are many, many people who have
resided here a long time, who would not
be tied to the community were it impera-
tive that they spend the entire summer
here without vacation relief. And there
are thousands of Wage-earnerS who, with
out such cOmpensating factors as coolers
and vacations, will be very much inclined
to pull up stakes and move to the beckon-
ing climate and high wages of coastal
communities.
Not the least Justification OF our stand,
is the deplorable transportation facilities
available. AS far as vacation travel is
concerned, we have no train or bus con-
nection with the cooler zones. These
meager facilities are taxed to their ut
most. In fact. they are so overloaded,
and Accommodations so questionable, that
they fall far short of meeting the ordi
nary, essential demands of everyday bus
mess, though not Of any fault of their
own.
Residents Of the east and of the central
west and of Los Angeles and Orange and
Riverside and San Bernardino counties
can reach vacation spots by interurban
and TROLLEY and regular buses. But we
can't We have only one way of transport
and that is the old family car.
Lastly, we might as we'll realize that
if increased rationing isn't forthcoming
its absence will stimulate gas chiseling
and bootlegging to startling degree.
Not that the people want to fall so low.
but in many cases they will be forced
to such devices. Distasteful as it may
sound. there is no use to close our eyes
to the probability.
To prove" all this to unframed and in
experienced authorities far away from
here would be no easy task. 1t would take
all the ingenuity and combined effort
available to valley people. But we should
arnass onr forces to this end without
moments delay, and it is to be greatly
hoped that we do.
If the valley doesn't try to accomplish
this for itself, nobody else will.