The history of Imperial County, California
It is related of Lord Byron that when a boy in school he, with his fellows, was required to write a paraphrase of the Biblical account of the miracle of turning water into wine; within a few moments he handed to his teacher this line: "The conscious water saw its God and blushed." Nothing could have been added which would have strengthened or added beauty to the matchless setting.
May we not, in humble imitation of that great genius, say of Imperial Valley: Its fruitful soil was caressed by the wasting water of an unregarded river and blossomed in perennial beauty? The magic touch of the life-giving water was not an accident. It followed the most intense and unremitting efforts of big brained, big souled men, who wrought under such difficulties and discouragements as would have daunted smaller men. What heroes they were, and how richly they deserve the crowns today so grudgingly bestowed, but which the future will surely bestow upon them.
And the pioneers who located the first ranches and planted the first crops — who can fitly write their heroic annals? Who tell of their privations and sacrifices which resulted in making life within the magic borders of Imperial Valley the priceless heritage of man? Standing today by the grave of that infant civilization which blossomed, amid such hardships, upon a desert, we would fain lift the veil and see the unthought-of transformation which fifty years will bring. Even in infancy, a colossus, a giant, what will the years bring to this wonder land? It deserves a better, wiser, abler historian than any man alive today can be.
Table of Contents
PART I
Chapter I
History of Imperial County I
Chapter II
Formation of the Colorado Desert 82
Chapter III
Early History of Imperial County 97
Chapter IV
Irrigation 154
Chapter V
Educational 159
Chapter VI
Religious 167
Chapter VII
Library Development 177
Chapter VIII
Agriculture 184
Chapter IX
Horticulture 192
Chapter X
Imperial County Farm Bureau 198
Chapter XI
Medical History 209
Chapter XII
Journalism 219
Chapter XIII
Transportation 224
Chapter XIV
Banking 227
Chapter XV
Chambers of Commerce 233
Chapter XVI
Fraternal 238
Chapter XVII
Architecture 243
Chapter XVIII
Federation of Women's Clubs 246
Chapter XIX
Woman's Christian Temperance Union 257
Chapter XX
Imperial 264
Chapter XXI
Calexico 269
Chapter XXII
Brawley 272
Chapter XXIII
Holtville 274
Chapter XXIV
El Centro 279
Chapter XXV
Seeley 286
Chapter XXVI
Calipatria and Niland 287
Chapter XXVII
The Mud Volcanoes 291
Chapter XXVIII
Live-Stock 293
Chapter XXIX
The Northern District of Lower California 296
PART II
Biographical 311
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But this work is devoted to the southernmost point of the state known as Imperial County, which is the youngest and newest county of the great Pacific Commonwealth, having been formed in 1907 from the eastern portion of San Diego County.
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