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4 Imperial Valley Press Official Newspaper of Imperial County and City of El Centro PUBLISHED EVERY BATURDAY Editor Allan Kelt) Bw.lnes. Manager Lewis Havermale One Year $1,00 Three Months !'.!!!'.!!!'.'. .25 Single Copies 05 WATCH THE SUBSCRIPTION DATE ON YOUR PAPER The number of our paid circulation and rates of advertising will be furnished on application. Entered as second-class matter March 3. 1906, at the postofflce at El Centro, California, under the act of Congress of March 3, 1879. OPPORTUNITY FRITTERED AWAY Last December a brief, concise bill for the protection of as signees in good faith of desert land entries was sent from Imperial Valley to Senator Flint, who had promised to procure the passage of such an act and had asked the settlers of the valley to prepare a* measure and forward it to him. The bill was in the form of a sec tion to be added to the desert land act, providing "That the records of the Land Office shall be conclusive evidence of the validity of a desert land entry when the claim passes by assignment to a quali fied entryman, and no defect of original entry shall impair the right to final certificate and patent of an innocent purchaser (with out notice) of such assignment, provided such assignee shall have complied in good faith with the requirements of this act." Nothing could be plainer than the meaning of that paragraph. It said precisely what was meant and could not be construed to mean anything else or more. It was endorsed by the Governor of California, by Imperial County Chamber of Commerce, the Los An geles Chamber of Commerce, the Settlers' Title Committee, the Re publican Committee of Imperial County and by the press of South ern California. But Senator Flint did not introduce it. It was not until the middle of February that it was ascertained that he had not presented and did not intend to present the bill. Secretary Ballinger, or some clerk in his office, objected that the bill would validate assignments not held in good faith and false proofs of an nual expenditures, and Senator Flint heeded that stupid and groundless objection in preference to the demands of honest and intelligent people for fair dealing by the government and fulfill ment of his own promise. The senator introduced on February 18 a substitute bill pre pared by Oscar Lawler, a measure written in such wretched Eng lish and so cluttered with provisos and prentice attorneyisms that nobody knew what it meant. £ committee of settlers went to Washington and managed to clear up some of the obscurities of Lawler's masterpiece, and the bill passed the Senate. When the bill got to the House Committee on Public Lands, Mr. I. W. Gleason bobbed up with another section designed to val idate his and the Oakley-Paulin outfit's traffic in assignments. That is the very thing that Secretary Ballinger professed- to fear and to oppose in the bill that contained no clause that could possibly be distorted to mean anything of the sort, and yet Mr. Gleason as sured the committee that his section was drawn by lawyers of the department and approved by the secretary. Mr. Gleason and others in his position may deserve protection in a course that was approved by the Land Office and subsequently declared illegal, but that is another story and there are two sides to it. By tacking his section to the Flint bill, Gleason aroused oppos ition to the whole bill and brought on a row that threatens to de feat the plain and proper purpose of the original measure, name ly: the. protection of innocent purchasers of atsignments, which ie all that the people of the valley have asked. Lawler, Ballinger, Gleason, Havens and the rest of the butters in have so botched, bungled, bedeviled and obfuscated the business that there is small chance of passage of any bill for the protection of honest settlers against blackmailing contestors on one hand and grand-stand "fraud hunters" on the other. And Senator Flint and representative Smith have given a beautiful exhibition of the art of how not to do it. It is not probable, however, that settlers holding their land un der assignment will lose their property or be subjected in the fu ture to the hardship of expensive defence against speculative contestors. The Skinner-Davis decision, which protects them in a great measure, is likely to be sustained, and there is ground for hope that the Wellborn decision in the Hammers case, which pur ports to invalidate all assignments, will be reversed by the Supreme Court and the most serious cloud upon titles thereby removed. But it is to be regretted nevertheless that assignments taken in good faith by qualified entrymen have not been and are not likely to be validated by specific act of Congress at this session. OWNERSHIP OF CANAL SYSTEM It is not probable that the settlers of Imperial, Valley will be called upon to determine the question of purchase of the C. D. Cos. property at receiver's sale this year, as litigation is not likely to be ended for some time, but they should lose no time in preparing for action. The Southern Pacific is not a philanthropic enterprise, and no doubt it will try to get all it possibly can out of the prop erty. It is up to the water-users to find out just what the system is worth and how much the railroad has actually put into it, that they may go into the matter in a businesslike way and bid intel ligently when they have the opportunity. Also they must have an organization legally and financially qualified to acquire the property and operate it for their benefit. There is no merit in the theory that the Southern Pacific must go on indefinitely putting up money for protective works because its own interests are involved and that the people of the valley can sit complacently idle and stir no finger to help themselves. Nobody having good sense holds that view of the situation. It is not good for the valley that one corporation monopolize means of production as well as transportation. If the railroad becomes the actual owner and operator of the irrigation system, it will own the valley to all intents and purposes, and the settler may find himself working for the Southern Pacific on the "all-the4raffic-will-bear" plan. £Bo far, the railroad company has dealt pretty decently with I 'the valley, and no right-minded man forgets that it thr^wriu rej IMPERIAL VALLEY PREBB sources and equipment into the breach and saved the valley when no other ngency on earth could cope with the emergency. The government's equitable obligation to pay the cost of that service has not been discharged yet. But corporation policy is determined by the character and temperament of the men in control, and the Southern Pacific may not be always managed by men like Calvin and Kruttschnitt. There is a row on inside now that affects the interests of the valley more than appears on the surface, and partly because of that row the railroad is anxious to get the irrigation system off its hands. It will be well for the valley to help the railroad let go while it is in the humor, and to make the best bargain possible for the canals. GOOD NEWS FOR THE VALLEY The best and most encouraging piece of news that has been given to the people of Imperial Valley since the break of the Colo rado was closed is printed on the first page of this issue of The Press. It is the announcement of the incorporation by W. F. Holt of a company to build a complete valley railway system connecting all the cities and tapping their tributary districts in a way to give to all the ranches easy access to markets. the news is good because it is known that Holt does not pro claim his purposes until he is ready to carry them out and never starts anything that he cannot finish. Sometimes' his enterprises appear to be in advance of the general rate of progress and to be inspired by an audacious optimism, but all of them have been justified in the outcome and even his confidence has sometimes fallen short of actual progress in this land of swift achievement. The difference between Holt and the average man of affairs is that Holt looks further ahead and sees more clearly, and by getting ready for what is coming he hastens its arrival. Complete reclamation and agricultural development of the land under canal in the valley depend upon extension of means of transportation. This is obvious to all. But very few highly im proved and productive farms are to be found more than three or four miles from the railroad, although the land farther away is just as good and water equally available for reclamation. Rail roads develop the value that in land and make thorough culti vation profitable. Owners of outside lands know that they want railroads, but they have not expected to get them for some years. Holt figures that now is not too soon to begin the building of a comprehensive system of inter-urban lines and he digs up a couple of millions to start work with. It will be noted that the Imperial Valley Railway Company is not asking the farmers to give it the money with which to build its roads and that there are no "promoters" working up the pro ject for a share of the bonus. Sometimes these professionally "promoted" schemes work out, but more often they peter out like wildcat mines, leaving the people who put up the money to hold the empty sack. Holt is president of the Imperial Valley Railway Company and he is going to build all the railroads that the valley needs for its complete development. Governor Hughes, of New York, was Taft's most formidable opponent in the contest for nomination in 1908. With Roosevelt out of the fight, Hughes could beat Taft to a frazzle in 1912 if he want ed to run. Hughes in politics is a menace to the very existence of the machine in the state of New York, and Taft thinks the party machine is the most holy thing in the world and the repository of all patriotism. Taft appoints Hughes to a place in the Supreme Court, and all the machine organs howl joyfully. They hate and fear Hughes like the devil, but they literally slobber over him for his "noble sacrifice of private interest on the altar of patriotism," said sacrifice being his acceptance of the appointment that side tracks him out of Taft's way. "Politics absolutely ignored in the selection of Hughes" say the .machine organs, the while they do the skirt dance of delirious delight. Lloyd Griscom says his passing from the political arena effaces the most conspicuous pres idential possibility that New York had furnished to the Republi can party ,and Hughes says he accepted the appointment because he is sick and tired of politics. Taft "ignored political conditions of any sort." Sure. And the organs think all the people are damphools. The Lincoln monument fund of $100,000, raised forty years ago and handed over to members of Congress as trustees, has been lost or mislaid in Washington and the surviving trustees have for gotten what they did with it. Twelve bronze cannon were given by the government to the association, and those have been mis laid also. The people of the Republic are not ungrateful, but their servants in Washington are mighty forgetful and lose many valuable things in the shuffle of politics. . Bad weather in the South has been disastrous to early cotton plantings and there is prospect of a short crop this year and high prices in the fall. Imperial Valley's prospective crop will not af fect the market, but it should be large enough to bring quite a lot of money into the valley, and every planter that takes proper care of his field should get a large return for his investment. Lazi ness and negligence alone can make a failure of cotton-growing in this region. ARRESTED IN SAN DIEGO Word has been sent from San Diego that J. W. Webster, of Brawley, charg ed with selling mortgaged property, is in custody there, and an ofllcer from thin county has gone to San Diego to bring the prisoner back to this county. TOUTING FOR A SALOON The Calexlco Chronicle advocates the establishment of a licensed sa loon in Calexlco to compete with the) booze kennels of Mexican and catch the money that now goes across the line. WATER BONDB ARRIVE The municipal water bonds arriv ed' In El Centro yesterday, and as hooii as they are signed and |eady for de livery to Adams ft Co., the $69,000 will be paid to the city. Failure of the old Board of Trustee* to n>ake a [contract for delivery In installment!! Kill coat tho city $1600 In interest / **tt could have been saved. REXALL From BOSTON The world's famous Rexall remedies at your very door. For the past six months we have been urged by tho United Drag Co. of Boston to take the agency of the famous Rexall medicines in which there Is a remedy for every human all. And not until we were convinced that it was the best and most reliable line of goods on the market would we accept it, as our reputation and high degree of responsibility would not permit us to stock any- thing of inferior quality. At a cost of several hundred dollars we have placed at your command a line of goods that will not only make friends for our store, but customers for the Rexall remedies. As every package bears an absolute guarantee and wo stand ready to refund your money without question if you are not satisfied. Remember, a remedy for every human ail. We want you to ask about tnese remedies. For sale only by Exclusive Rexall Agent*. DUNAWAY & LOWE Of Coarse Valley Lumber Company El CENTRO CA LEX I CO LEROY HOLT, Prwldent. pp a | j up Capital TRUE VENCILL, Vice- President. r r R. B. MOORE, Vice-President. . $^0 000 J. V. WACHTEL, Jr., Cashier. «|»JV|VVV The First El Centro, California Every accommodation consistent with conserva- tive banking extended to customers Haying Tools Well, a few. Just have space to tell you thai you will have to let us know when you are coming to town after that New Standard Mower. We are so busy setting them up, that we can hardly fjnd time to tell you all of their good points, and have to tag them with the buyer's name to avoid mistakes in delivery. Don't crowd, but stand in line, for there is another car due in a day or two. - . Alfalfa Rakes? Be patient, and we will supply your wants with what you know to be the best and heaviest rake sold in the valley. It has one-half inch teeth, (twenty-six of them), and has made more farmers happy, than any other tool sold in the valley, barring the Standard Mower. See the Continental (Johnson) Header. With its reel adjust- able from the driver's foot board; guards on a level with the plat- form canvas, four and six horse hitch, and the strongest and best built frame ever put on a header. Reversible feature for heading corn. Take a look at the Johnson Grain Binder, and we will show many desirable features; tongue truck, transport, wide elevator; in fact the best eight foot cut binder you ever saw in the valley. We will tell you more soon. Remember that we sell Cotton Tools, (while they last). Better hurry and don't wait, for things are moving some. Don't thipk we do not carry repairs for all our implements and wagons. Our lines are the oldest and most reliable made. Visit us and see with your own eyes. ■ ' Delta Implement Co. PHONES: MAIN 3 EL CENTRO BRAWLEY HOLTVILLE Central Hospital (Incorporated) EL CENTRO, CALIFORNIA Thorough equipment for any Medical or Surgical Case. lat- est equipped ■ operating room. Rooms exclusively for Maternity Cases, where the patient has ev- ery convenience for comfort and quiet. New two- story building, with spacious screened-in veran- das. 30- bed capacity. Graduate Nurses. RATES: Ward, (15.00 per week. Private Room, 120.00, $25.00, and $30.00. For other in- formation address Central Hos- pital, or Dr. Virgil McCombe. WE ARE MAKING A SPECIAL OFFERING NOW ON Cotton Flumes and Cantatoupe Flumes THEY ARE OF REDWOOD, ONE-HALF INCH BY ONE AND A HALF INCHES, AND ONE-HALF INCH BY TWO INCHES. COME IN AT ONCE AND PLACE YOUR ORDER. FULL STOCK OF LUMBER ALWAYS IN OUR YARDS J. 8. Jon** El Cer.iroM.9r. W. C. JONEB, Calexlco Mgr. Bahirday, April 30, IMO. THE "BO88." ; Tree Protector \A vV MADE OF YUCCA PALM SJkSfok)/ Is cheap, durable, and «A» wf/W quickly put on the tree. It """*V. lr\*t P revents rabbits '*•»> de- \ -^MV'^V *troying your trees. A sure f \f Nj^ 1 protection against frost, jw'l|feo sunburn, grasshoppers or Igjfijjjp dry winds. Can be easily Hut!; removed; will last for W'kW years. Send for samples. krosi prices per 1000 10 In. long 7 in. wide % 9.50 12 in. long 7 In. wide 10.50 El 4 In. long 7 in. wide UJJO 16 in. long 7 in. wide 18.00 18 in. long 7 in. wide 14.50 24 in. long 7 in. wide 17.00 30 in. long 7 In. wide 20.00 Yucca flanuf act tiring Co,. 1380 Willow St., Los Angeles, Cal.