Imperial Valley press., August 15, 1908, Image 1

About Imperial Valley press. (El Centro, Calif.) 1907-current

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Imperial Valley Press.
VOL. VIII.
VOYAGERS TO DELTA AND GULF
FIND CHANGES MADE BY RIVER
Islands Created, Bay and Port Obliterated By Deposit of
• Silt, Colorado Makes New Channel to Gulf, Fam
ous Tidal Bore of Estuary Fails to Show Up,
An expedition down the Colorado
into the Gulf of California, Instiga
ted by Arizona Charlie Meadows, left
Yuma on the morning of July 28 and
returned on August 9 with some inter
esting information concerning the
changes wrought by the river in
recent years. The party consisted of
Meadows and his wife, Miss Hallie
Low; Allen Kelly, Editor of the Press;
Capt. C. S. Hall and Engineer Wil
liams of the lola. The lola is a six
ty-foot stern wheel boat, used in
freight service between Yuma and
Needles, driven by a four cylinder
gasoline engine, and is one of the
fastest craft on the river.
• Arizona Charlie's main purpose was
to select a location on tha gulf shore
for a summer resort for Arizonans,
where they may fish, shoot, bathe and
disport themselves generally after
the fashion of beach resorters in
stead of going to Los Angeles, Cata
lina and other coast points. He had
cruised in the gulf some years ago
and found good fishing and shooting,
and he intended to go far enough be
low the Colorado delta to get into
the region of clear water and sandy
beaches. Tlie lola, however did not
reach clear water, and so far as the
discovery of a suitable location for a
resort was concerned the expedition
was not successful. Another effort to
find the right place Will be made 1 by
Meadows Jater.
Lonely Waters.
The Colorado, below the mouth of
the Hardy, and the upper end of the
gulf have been visited but seldom in
recent years. Nothing but curiosity
would impel anyone to make the trip,
as there is no settlement or habitation
of any sort in that region, and the
days of water transportation by way
of the river and the gulf ended more
than a quarter of a century ago. In
the old days before the railroad came
to Yuma, ships came up the gulf to
Port Isabel and transferred cargo to
river boats, and there was a dry
dock at the head of Shipyard Slough
on the east shore of the gulf opposite
Montague Island. Port Isabel is stili
on the maps, but it is only a memory.
From Yuma to the Gulf in' a
straight line the distance is 60 miles;
by the river, Which is more crooked
than a life insurance financier, the
distance is more than doubled. Any
good power boat can run down in a
di»y to tidewater, but it takes three
days to crawl back against the swift
river.
That Awful Bore.
Many would-be explorers of the del
ta have been deterred from going
down below the mouth of the Hardy
by tales of the awful "tidal bore",
told by some rivermen and repeated by
Hassayampans; who pretend to have
passed through hair-raising experi
ences. The "bo-e" is the advance
wave of the ir joining tide rolling
over mud Hats, and as the spring tides
rise about 80 feet it is very probable
that at certain times and at certain
points the bore may be high enough
to be troublesome to a craft caught
unprepared to ride it. According to
the Sinbads of Yuma, the wave is any
thing from three to thirty feet high,
advances with great speed and makes
a terrifying noise that may be heard
for miles. It appears to be the un
written law of the Hassayampans
that one who has been "buffaloed" by
the bore stories shall tell a bigger
one when he returns, thereby getting
back at the other fellows, who can
not expose him without owning up
to being liars themselves.
It is well known that one who has
drunk of the waters of the Hassay
v ampa never thereafter can tell the
truth nor leave Arizona. The editor
of the Pre.ss, not having known the
taste of that remarkable river and
being only an occasional or sporadic
• liar, is riot constrained to perpetuate
the bore myth of the Colorado, and
therefore frankly confesses that he
encountered no bore on the Colorado
after leaving Yuma.
Log of the lola.
A few extracts from the log of one
of the explorers tell the results of
the voyage.
Offlolol Pnper 1 of Itnpeirlol Courtty nnd City off El Centro.
EL CENTPwO, CALIFORNIA, SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 1008.
About 100 miles below Yuma, by the
river, banks very low. Driftwood
lodged against willows has made a
levee which holds water in the river
at level one or two feet higher than
the ground beyond. Stick of giant
properly placed would cause consid
erable overflow of lands to west
ward.
Look for place near mouth of river
to moor secure; from "bore" said to be
due about 1 a. in. Run up in behind
point and tie -up to bank. At day
break skipper calls all hands in hurry
to get lola off shore before she
turns over. "Bore" has sneaked in
quietly, lifted lola high up the bank
and "beat it" back to the gulf unbe
knownst. Shove lola down slippery
mud slope into water and . get under
way. Keep sharp lookout for coming
of that terrible bore at turn of tide
and conclude that we met he bore
and did'nt see it. Anchor at dark in
gulf west of Montague island.
Aroused at 2 a. in. by squall from
south. Short choppy sea rises. Lola
gets squared away and runs up
coast until wind abates and then an
chors in ten feet of water. Tide falls
about 20 feet and leaves lola high and
dry on mud eight of mile from shore.
Lost Bay.
Aug. I— Run down the gulf look
ing for entrance to Ometepes bay,
shown on charts of 1877 as shallow
circular pool approached through a
slough. No entrance discoverable.
Bay not visible from top of pilot
house. Not improbable that bay has
filled up and become part of wide
stretch of tide land flats. Skipper
decides wind find sea too high for
uafp run to San Felipe, thirty miles
south, and puts about. Run through
school' of mullet. T.hree large mullet
jump aboard over rail and appear
surprised. Expression of chagrin
not so noticeable in fry jug pan. .
Run north and - then east between
north end of Montague island and
southeast end of new uncharted Is
land formed; by building up of bar at
mouth of Colorado. New island mile
and a half long, ow and covered
with salt grass, i^arge number of
curlew and plover along the shores.
Missing Port.
Keep on to Souora shore and run
southerly looking for Shipyard
slough, but see no trace of Port Isa
bel. Beacons and marks shown on
chart* have disappeared. Making at
least S miles an hour with the tide.
Chart shows Port Isabel entrance six
miles S. E. from head of Montague
and Santa Clara five miles farther
east. Two hours run to Santa Clara
river. At low tide channel is dry.
Santa Clara river nothing but tidal
slough three miles long at base of
sand bluff. Climb the bluff, 600 feet,
and get view of region. No trace of
Port Isabel to be seen. Seems to be
obliterated by mud. Obvious that
there is no connection between the
Santa Clara and the Colorado. River
pilots, Mexicans and U. S. Geological
survey map in error. Country back
of bluff is dreary waste of sand.
Nothing in any direction but desola
tion. No fresh water, no game,
.nothing but mud and salt flats.
New Colorado.
Return northwestward along shore
and at point northeast of head of
xMonntague find mouth of river of
fresh water about fifteen miles above
Santa Clara. Stream about 200 feet
wide, and current deep and strong.
This is the new mouth of the Colo
rado, confounded by river men and
map makers with the Santa Clara.
At rough estimate, one third of the
discharge of the Colorado is through
this channel which drains the over
flow of several breaks above the col
ony by a route probably from ten to
twenty miles shorter than the old
channel. Conclude not to go up the
new river because of probable ina
bility to get througn the drift at
points of diversion. At old Thomas
camp on west bank of old river,
Meadows goes ashore to look for
game. Returns with two mallards
and several plover. Antelope sign on
flats. Land to westward is flat and
barren, covered with drift left by high
river. Some suit grass and mosquito
south of landing. Mud 'and drift to
west and north to foot of mountains.
Three ranges in sight, highest about
10,000 feet. Nearest twenty miles
from shore.
The expedition ' demonstrated that
the delta region below the Hardy and
the region about the head of the gulf
are not good summer shooting or fish
ing grounds. The land in almost in
credibly desolate and barren. In win
ter,' no doubt, water fowl may be
found In vast numbers. For sport,
one must either go up the Hardy or
down the gulf coast at least as far as
.
WOULD RAISE FINE HORSES.
W. Vi. VValden, a btockman of the
Coachella Valley, has been spending
several dtiyo in 101 Centro and vicinity
tl.e paKt week, and may conic here this
fall to cfitablif.li a stock farm for the
purpose of raining high-grade hordes.
Mr. VValden was one of the owners of
the Coachella Valley Stock Ilancli, but
recently sold nis interests in that con
cern. He has had several head of
horses on pasture near El Centro the
pafct few months.
SHADED STREETS
EL CENTRO WILL HAVE WHEN
TEN THOUSAND CLUB'S PLAN
IS CONSUMMATED.
PUBLIC SERVICE ASSUMED
Property Owners Asked to Leave
Planting and Care of Trees for Two
Years to the Club and to Pay Their
Share of the Cost of the Work.
The tree-planting committe of the
Ten T housand Club has sent to every
owner of a lot in the City of El.Cen
tro the following circular letter:
Trees are an unquestioned necessity
in the Imperial Valley. The comfort
of our people depends on the wise dis
tribution of shade. In equal degree
the beauty and attractiveness of our
city as a desirable residence center
depends in a great degree on the uni
formity and system with which our
streets are bordered with shade trees.
Tree planting and care of trees
along our streets are clearly a public
duty. The nature oi the -work, togeth
er with the conditions of property
ownership in our new city makes it
highly inexpedient to leave these
tasks to private initiative. Different
caoices of trees by different owners
of adjoining property; no choice at all
by non-resident owners; lack of uni
formity in caring for trees once plant
ed, and the necessity of replanting
and nuturing the young stock all
unite to make private' effort fore
doomed to failure.
On the other hand, the city govern
ment has too numerous and too
heavy demands on the public treasury
to be justified to take over this work
as a public charge.
The i Uentro Ten Thousand Club,
as its name indicates, is organized by
practically till the public spirited cit
izens of the city, to make El Centro
worthy a population of ten thousand
people, as soon as that number can
be induced to locate here. The club
has taken up the matter of systema
tic and uniform tree planting, among
otner things general public interest.
A committee has been appointed con
sisting of Geo. A. Carter, President
of the -Valley State Bank; H. C. Gris
wold, real estate dealer; Irving Ja
quay. experienced Horticulturist, and
W. O. Hamilton, of the Valley Hard
ware and Implement Co.
After investigation and study of
local conditions, this committee, in be
half of the Ten Thousand Club, makes
the following x)ffer to owners of res
idence lots in the city of El Centro.
The Committee Will furnish desir
able shade trees, suited to our clim
ate, plant them, furnish water for irri
gation and care for the trees during
a period of two years at a total cost
of eight dollars on each inside lot
and twelve dollars for each corner
lot. The committe agrees to keep
growing trees in each designated
place, replacing such trees as may
die during tne two year period.
If you approve this plan, please
send at once eight uollars for each in
side residence lot owned by you in El
Centro and twelve dollars for each
corner lot, to Geo. A. Carter. Bl Cen
tro, who is treasurer of the Club and
Chairman of this important commit
tee. About two thousand trees must
be engaged now for fall planting and
the work begun as soon as the money
is available.
The consent of all will be neces
sary to accomplish the work in a sys
tematic and satisfactory way.
The cost to you is a very moderate
one in view of the assured results,
and we confidentially counc on your
hearty and prompt cooperation in this
effort to beautify and adorn our city,
and add materllly to the value of all
our property, and minister to tb.e com
fort and pleasure of both residents
and visitors to the real Central City
of the Imperial Valley.
PROBLEM OF FIRE PROTECTION
SOLVED BY CITY GOVERNMENT.
Chemical Engine Will Be Delivered Soon to the Volunteer
Department Organized By Commissioner Buttress,
Chief Appointed and Regular Drills Arranged For,
El Centro has tackled the problem
of fire protection in the same manner
it takes hold of other difficult sit
uations, and as a result it is anticipa
ted that by the end of September
the town will be in a fair way to
Bf.fegard its valuable property.
Plans made by Fire Commissioner
C. F. Buttress include the organiza
tion of a volunteer fire company, with
regular weekly drills; the call at
some time during each week to a fire,
; 1 ,i location unknown to the member?
of the company at the sounding of an
alarm; the location of a 230-gallou
chemical engine in a fire-house in the
very center of the business district;
and the proposal of an ordinance
making fire service compulsory on ev
ery business man, and exempting
from city jury duty every man who
contributes $10 yearly to the fire
fund.
By September 1 the new fire en
gine will arrive in El Centro. It is
a chemical engine with two tanks so
that a continuous stream may be play
ed. One tank can be charged while
the other is in operation. With this
engine come fifty feet of three-eights
inch hose, axes, picks, and other fire
fighting apparatus.
It is proposed to erect a frame fire
house, in which to store the engine,
on the north side of Main Street,
about midway between Fifth and
SEEK PROTECTION
Directors of No. 1 Ask Secretary of
Interior to Review Land Decisions.
The directors of Water Company
Xo. 1 have sent to the Secretary of
the Interior a communication relating
to the effects of recent decisions in
contest cases given by officials of the
Land Office in Los Angeles. They
point out that land-holders not guilty
of any fraud are made to suffer for
the ilegal acts of others, and they
argu that; under the rule or the law
as it now stands, wrongs may be com
mitted against innocent holders of
assignments by former holder.-* of
land who may be dishonest enough to
swear that such lands were not enter
ed upon good faith.
The resolutions urge the Secretary
to review as early a* possible the de
cisions in the Davis and Bowker
cases, and to give the present occu
pant the preference right of entry in
such cases where such occupant is an
innocent purchaser and has shown
good faith in the reclamation of the
land so purchased.
DEATH OF DAVID STORMS.
David Storms,' who was internally
injured in a runaway near Silsbee,
last week, and who was taken to the
Central hospital for treatment, died
there on Saturday evening. Mr.
Storms was twenty-eight years of age,
unmarried, and leaves a brother, who
resides at Silsbee. The funeral ser
vices were held in El Centro on Sun
day morning, and the interment was
in the Imperial cemetary.
HOSPITAL EXTENSIONS
Dr. Me Combs to Build New Wing and
Provide Quarters for County
Patients.
Central Hospital, which has been
awarded the care of county patients,
is to be enlarged materially during the
coming fall, and by December 1 Its
capacity for the care of patients will
have been almost doubled.
Dr. McCombs Is completing details
for the new wing which is to extend
to the east from the main structure.
It will be 34x00 feet, surrounded on
three sides with eight and a half foot
screened porches.
Under the new wing will be a base
ment, in which will be located dining
room, kitchen, electrical treatment
rooms and baths. These additions to
the present equipment will give El
Centro one of the best hospitals lv
the Southwest.
Work on the addition will begin
October 1. and it will be ready for use
by December 1.
Sixth streets, which would place It
almost In the center of the business
district.
Mr. Buttress is now iv correspond
ence with the Souther Pacific offici
als, with the prospect of securing the
donation of a tire from an engine
drive wheel, wlrtch will be mounted
at the proposed fire-houae and used as
a fire-gong. Strokes on such a tire, it
is said, may be plainly heard in all
parts of town. The town will be di
vided into districts so that the alarm
will Indicate just where the fire Is lo
cated.
Commissioner Buttress has appoint
ed as Fire Chief E. Sherman, who has
had experience in military -fire com
panies, and who proposes to give the
volunteer fire company weekly mili
tary fire drills. At least twenty men
in a team will be thus drilled.
For the good of the service, Com
missioner Buttress proposes to have
piles of rubbish at various parts of
the town set on fire at unexpected
times, and to call the firemen out to
extinguish the blaze. Mr. Buttress
has had valuable . experience iv
managing fire companies at Rome, N.
Y.
The expense of the equipment now
ordered will amount to about $1,000.
Its installation in El Centro will be
of such benefit that there is prospect
of a decrease in insurance rates be
cause of its presence.
PASTURING ON RIVER BRUSH.
About one thousand head of cattle
are pasturing on the brush along the
Colorado River on the Ulythe lanch.
Frank Murphy and Jam is Walsh have
shipped 1000 head c!." cattl'j from the
Arizona ' ranges to th-j Indian Reser
vation, across the river from the
Blythe ranch. They hope there will be
enough feed raised in tlw falo Verde
Valley this season to fatten this herd.
SCOOP WHEEL IS WORKING.
Since Wednesday of last week the
big scoop wheel on the Colorado river
above Yuma has been pouring the
river's water into the gravity canal.
Only one engine was operated for
power to turn the wheel the first few
days, but after the wneel was finally
adjusted the second engine was placed
in operation and the volume of water
increased to four times the size of
its flow at the start.
FOR THE STATE FAIR
Frank Wiggins Clamors for Imperial •
Valley Products.
Frank Wiggins wants samples of
Imperial Valley products for exhibi
tion at the State Fair, which opens
in Sacramento on August SO, and for
display later at Albuquerque and in
Los Angeles. He writes:
We are willing to take charge of
material from here, providing it is de
livered to us at the S. P. Depot. If
addressed to the Chamber of Com
merce, Los Angeles, it will be carried
tnrough and delivered, to us free.
We know it is out of season for a
great deal of the material, but such
as honey, grain, vegetables, hay, cot
ton hemp and corn could be demon
strated with a few samples of excep
tionally good growth. Individual
farmers could send them to the depot,
and the commercial organiations
could easily forward them and the
expense would be minimum to each
and all of them."
Good samples delivered to the El
Centro Ten Thousand Club will be
forwarded. There is no time to be
lost. Anyone who can supply credit
able specimens is urged to bring them
In at once.
LICENSED TO WED.
On August 8 license to wed was
Issued to George C. Reher, aged 37,
a native of Nevada, and Sue Comer,
aged 35, a native of North Carolina,
both residents of Imperial.
PROBATE CABE3.
Alice Hocker has filed ■ a petition
for letters of administration on the
estate of James B. IJocker. Conk
ling & Brown have filed a petition for
letters of administration on the es>
tute of Alice 8. Cossar.
No. 19