USA > California > Imperial County > The history of Imperial County, California > Part 18
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Mrs. D. D. Lawrence was the first salaried custodian of the reading room. It was not long until the requirements grew beyond the possibili- ties of the little reading room, and through the efforts of those inter- ested in this primitive library, the board of city trustees was persuaded to apply to Andrew Carnegie for a fund for a library building. This request was complied with early in the year of 1908, and about a year later Mr. Carnegie placed $10,000 at the disposal of the library board. This was the first library established in the Imperial Valley.
The subscription library, supplemented by a collection of traveling library books from the state library, continued to supply our fast grow- ing populace with good literature until it merged into the Carnegie Public Library, and was formally opened to the public April 3, 1909. The library continued in rented quarters until the completion of a
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LIBRARY DEVELOPMENT
Carnegie Library building when it was formally opened in December, 1910. The grounds planted to trees, shrubs and flowers are well cared for and present an inviting feature.
As the library is an integral part of education the co-operation of schools and library is made a special feature of classes from the high schools which are instructed in the use and arrangement of books. The story hour for the children, the Audubon Club for the older ones, the child's study club for the mothers, are all under the direction of Mrs. Hatch, who has brought the library to its present and efficient condi- tion.
ESTABLISHING THE COUNTY LIBRARY
BY MRS. THOMAS B. BEEMAN
IN FEBRUARY, 1912, the supervisors established the County Library with headquarters at the county seat, El Centro, in the Public Library. Imperial County was the sixteenth county library to be established in the state. Miss Anne Madison (now Mrs. Thomas B. Beeman) was ap- pointed County Librarian.
No funds were available until the following September, but the State Library made a loan of 885 books, to give us a start. Permission was granted by the library board of the El Centro Public Library to loan us some of their books, so some of the state library books were placed on the shelves of the public library and some of their books sent with the rest of the state books to three established branch libraries: Braw- ley, Calexico and Holtville.
In Brawley, on April 15, 1912, a branch was established on Main Street in a small store just below the bungalow hotel, Miss Frances Clippinger being appointed custodian. Book cases and the necessary furniture were donated by the people of the town. The club women do- nated a book case, full of books, which contained many books by stan- dard authors. A reception was given in the evening and speeches were delivered by well known people of Brawley and El Centro, and by the County Librarian, who explained the whole system of the county free library. This branch was moved from one place to another until 1914, when it was moved to the beautiful new quarters in the new city hall. The Brawley Women's Club donated $100.00 worth of furniture, and the city fathers furnished the rest room adjoining the library.
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HISTORY OF IMPERIAL COUNTY
At Holtville about one dozen books were found in the old city hall building, which were remnants of a small library they had had. On May 27th, 1912, a branch was established in the old city hall with Mrs. Ida Robinson in charge. A reception similar to that held in Brawley was given and in 1918 this branch was moved to pleasant and commodious quarters in the new city hall.
In the county library service the object is to reach everyone in the county to extend this free book service. The schools needed this ser- vice so the law provided for the schools a plan whereby they could re- ceive the free service of the books by turning over their books and library fund yearly.
In 1912 three schools took advantage of this plan. Today in 1918, out of the fifty school districts all but five are affiliated with the County Library. In 1913 more than fifteen other places had been provided with books, these being placed in stores, postoffices, drug stores, schools and homes. At Imperial Junction (which is now Niland) a unique branch was established in February, 1913. Finding no available quarters, a box car standing on a side track which was used for a postoffice provided the location for our branch there. The branch proved very popular in a year's time and larger quarters were secured and the branch was moved to a store which had been erected in the meantime. In 1918 it still has a branch at the store for the adults and one at the school for the chil- dren.
Alamo school library, which was located in the school house, had to find new quarters on account of the crowded condition of the schools. The very enterprising young custodian in charge enlisted the interest of everyone living within a radius of fifteen miles, and as a result, a portable one-room building fitted up with book shelves and attractive interior, was purchased by these people and placed on the school grounds. It has become one of the most thriving of our branches. A school library at Bard, situated on the Colorado river, has to have its books ferried across the river. The horse and wagon carrying the books drive right onto the ferry and are ferried across.
Great care has been exercised in the purchase of books so as to get the books which the people demand in good authentic editions and by the best authorities, and at the same time as economically as possible. The aim is not to buy every book a person may ask for, but to build up
181
LIBRARY DEVELOPMENT
the library so that it will be a well-balanced library on different sub- jects. For the more expensive books and particularly books called for occasionally, requests are made to the state library to supply such books. Specialties are made on some subjects, for instance : everything practical on agriculture is bought. Books on California are freely bought. Everything on Imperial County which is printed from a news- paper to a book is preserved. The library, like any other business, has to be advertised. For this purpose the newspapers have been used freely. A booth was established at the County Fair. Talks were given by the County Librarian at schools and clubs, and many window dis- plays have been shown.
Custodians' meetings are held at least once a year at headquarters. At these meetings library work in all its phases is discussed. Six months training courses have been given by the county library to pro- vide trained assistants for the work.
In 1916 the county library moved its headquarters from the public library to the Wilson grammar school building on West Main street. In 1917 this building became crowded and new quarters were provided in the high school building, where the county library is now located. New service is called for at all times. The county farm, which cares for the sick people, has its collection of books. Surveying parties working for the government sent word they wanted some books about ten miles out on the desert. Books were sent them. The soldiers on our border, at Calexico, have been provided with small branch libraries at their camps. The clubs of the valley are all provided with material for their various programs and entertainments.
Students taking correspondence courses from the University of Cali- fornia are given individual book service and furnished with the books they need to aid them in their special subjects. The high schools be- longing to the debating league have been supplied with plenty of ma- terial for each subject debated.
Since the war a very active part has been taken by the county library in teaching conservation of food. Window displays on saving of meat, sugar, oils and fats, gardens, etc., have been given with gratifying re- sults.
No books go to waste. Even though they are too worn to rebind, these worn out books are sent to the county jail and county hospital.
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HISTORY OF IMPERIAL COUNTY
The county library serves as a big school for all the people whether they are in school or have graduated with high honors.
Total volumes in the County Library January 30, 1917, were 15,092 ; number of branch libraries in the county number 58; number of schools affiliated with the County Library number 44; first start of El Centro Public Library, February 21, 1907; ordinance passed establishing free Public Library June 29, 1909; total cost of building, $11,349.26 ($10,- 000.00 gift from Carnegie) ; appropriation from taxes first year, $3,- 000.00 (1917-1918, $5,500.00) ; number of volumes in library first year, 703; March, 1918, 7,717; circulation first year, 700 volumes; circula- tion 1917-1918, 40,363 ; cardholders first year, 91 ; cardholders March, 1918, 4,271; first board of trustees: W. C. Whitescarver, Phil D. Swing, Mrs. J. Stanley Brown, John Norton, Dan V. Noland ; present board: J. J. Simmons, president; A. W. Swanson, secretary ; B. Salo- mon, Franklin Reading, Chas. L. Childers; first librarian, Miss Merle Whitescarver ; present librarian, Miss Agnes F. Ferris.
CALEXICO LIBRARY
BY MRS. BESSIE H. WOFFORD
ON JUNE 3, 1908, a number of ladies met to organize a club, one pur- pose of which was to open a reading and rest room. Through the me- dium of various entertainments and the untiring efforts of the various club members who were called on frequently to devote time, material, and labor, an adobe building, formerly a noted pool hall and blind pig, was secured at a nominal rental, and here was established a reading and rest room which are well patronized. The first year, through the efforts of one woman, the subscription for seventeen magazines was secured. The Imperial Valley Improvement Company presented four comfort- able rocking chairs to the reading room.
Up to 1911 the reading and rest rooms were maintained entirely by the Woman's Improvement Club. In 1911 Mr. Whalen, the new super- intendent of the Los Angeles division of the Southern Pacific railway, became interested in the reading room as a place for his men in leisure hours, and through his influence the Southern Pacific practically do- nated the use of the building, furnished ice and water, all of which ex- penses were formerly borne by the Woman's Club.
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LIBRARY DEVELOPMENT
In 1912 the Calexico library became a part of the state and county library, and the librarian was paid by the county, another burden being removed from the shoulders of the financial committee of the club women.
THE CALEXICO CARNEGIE LIBRARY
APPLICATION for a gift from the Carnegie Corporation was made in February, 1915, and a promise of $10,000 was received that spring. Plans were made for a $10,000 library building, but proceedings were halted through the inability of Calexico to furnish a site as required by the Carnegie Corporation. With the acqusition of Rockwood Plaza as a park and civic center this difficulty was removed, and in February, 1917, the City of Calexico dedicated a library site in the northwest cor- ner of the south half of Rockwood Plaza. A new obstacle now appeared in the fact that construction costs had soared to such an extent since the approval of the original plans that it was impossible to count on constructing the building they called for with less than $15,000. An effort was then made to secure an increase in appropriation, which the extraordinary growth of Calexico appeared to justify. The Carnegie Corporation, however, saw fit to deny a further sum, and it became necessary to draw entirely new plans for a building about three-fourths the size of the one originally contemplated. In due time the new plans were approved, and on November 5, 1917, bids were opened for the construction work. The lowest total sum, omitting certain features, which the library board felt justified in making, was $12,337.61. It was decided to pay the excess amount from the library fund of the City of Calexico which had been accumulating since 1915. Permission to do this was obtained from the Carnegie Corporation, and contracts were let. The general contract was practically concluded on February 20, 1918, but to date a few other items remain uncompleted, and consider- able of the furniture has not arrived, due to freight congestion in the east.
The building is a two-story affair, with the lower story half in base- ment, and is of a semi-Spanish Mission style of architecture. It is con- structed of hollow tile, the exterior being finished in white plaster, and the roof of red clay tile. The main floor plan is patterned quite closely after certain requirements of the Carnegie Corporation, and has adults' and children's reading rooms separated by the librarian's booth.
CHAPTER VIII
AGRICULTURE
BY WALTER E. PACKARD
THE spectacular incidents connected with the reclamation of the desert and with the subduing of the turbulent Colorado have given Imperial Valley a charm of romance that is hard to equal. A history of agricul- ture under such conditions must be a story of human interest as well as a statistical record of development, for the tabulation of crop values and crop increases, or a simple study of varieties and yields would neglect the record of human endeavor which has overcome obstacles well nigh insurmountable. The spirit of the pioneer who traveled across the wind-blown wastes to build homes and schools in the board and canvas shanties of the pre-railroad days is the real force that has made possible the remarkable development in Imperial Valley agriculture.
The rich natural resources in climate, soil and water furnished the necessary raw material for the fashioning of most productive farms by the pioneers. The farming was at first rather crude, but in fifteen years the production has gone from nothing to an annual output of over twenty million dollars' worth of farm products. On account of the roughness of some of the lighter soils the harder clay soils were the first to be farmed, and many discouragements were encountered during the early days. As the valley settled up the rougher areas were leveled and put into crop, so that now over four hundred thousand acres are under cultivation. The barley and grain sorghums of the early days, although still of importance, do not command the same relative place with other crops.
There is no agricultural area in the world where the climatic condi- tions are more extreme than in Imperial Valley. Located below sea level, with a record of humidity below that of the Nile Valley, with an annual rainfall varying from two to three inches, and with temperatures as high as are recorded in any agricultural area, Imperial Valley at least presents conditions that are unusual. The early spring and long growing
1
The first crop grown in Imperial Valley. Taken September 24, 1901
VIEW OF THE SORGHUM FIELDS AND IRRIGATED LAND NEAR CALEXICO
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AGRICULTURE
season make specialization possible. Imperial Valley has become famous for its production of out-of-season crops, such as cantaloupes, early- table grapes or lettuce, for the crops of high value and unusual interest such as dates and cotton, and for the large yields of field crops made possible by the long growing season.
The low humidity, fewer cloudy days, the greater intensity of sun- light, and the higher temperatures associated with the lack of rainfall in this arid belt, produces an environment widely different from the conditions in the rainfall sections of the South or Middle West, or in the semi-arid sections of California. The following table gives a general comparison between the meterological conditions in Imperial Valley and other sections :
TEMPERATURE AND RAINFALL RECORDS
No. of years
record
O Elevation
Maximum
Temperature
Minimum
Temperature
Mean
Temperature
Maximum
rainfall
Minimum
rainfall
Mean annual rainfall
Calexico
.IO
I21
61.6
9.3
.64
3.58
Merced
36
173
I20
16
53.2
23.7
4.2
10.3
Phoenix, Ariz.
IO
1068
119
17
69
. . .
.
....
Cairo, Egypt
IO
100
II2
3I
67
...
...
...
Greenville, Miss.
38
397
105
5
64
66.6
32.32
48.01
Savannah, Georgia
.58
65
105
8
65.5
73.3
33-5
40.42
Irrigation has had a slight effect on the relative humidity of the Val- ley, and it is probable that as the irrigated area extends the humidity may continue to rise slightly, enough perhaps to allow sensitive crops to grow which at present do not find congenial conditions in Imperial Val- ley. This increased humidity, due to irrigation, has proved to be entire- ly local, however, as the amount of evaporation from the irrigated area has not been sufficient to affect the climatic conditions in the general locality. A study of the change of humidity from the desert to the cen- tral portion of the Valley shows a decided difference, a rather abrupt change occurring on the line between the desert and the irrigated area. The humidity immediately about the plants in the field is often high on account of the rapid evaporation from the irrigated land and on account of the rapid transportation of moisture from the leaves.
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HISTORY OF IMPERIAL COUNTY
The distinct advantages offered by the climate in Imperial Valley are the earliness and the long growing season. These were soon capitalized by the settlers, who developed early truck which soon surpassed the records from other States. Imperial Valley became known as the can- taloupe paradise of the country, and over five thousand cars were shipped from the Valley in 1917. Other truck was developed and is rap- idly gaining ground. Live-stock of course became an important part of the Valley's industries, for the long season for pasture and the large yields of forage to be secured offered very favorable conditions for cat- tle, hogs and dairy stock. The extreme heat and intense sunlight during the early summer months were too severe for certain sensitive plants such as the avocado or the mango, and trials of these and other similar fruit failed, although these same conditions have proved congenial to the date, which bids fair to be one of the important outputs in the near future.
The development of agriculture in any country is more or less gov- erned by the soil conditions found in the particular localities, and Im- perial Valley is not an exception to the rule. The soils are rich from the standpoint of mineral plant food elements, and if properly handled are very productive. The types vary from the heavy clay, which is exceed- ingly fine and hard to work, to the loosest sands, which are porous and contain little organic matter. The kind of crop grown is determined largely by the type of soil. The truck and fruit planting are located on the sands and sandy loams, while the grains, both barley and wheat in winter and milo or corn in the summer, on the clay loams and clays. All of the soils are deficient in organic matters, as would be expected, and alfalfa is therefore used almost universally as a humus producer. Land that has been in alfalfa for years is worth far more than raw land for truck, cotton or fruit, and is, of course, in great demand. The addi- tion of organic matter, especially through the growing of alfalfa, proved not only important, but necessary in the early history of the Valley.
Much confusion occurred during the early days on account of the re- ported presence of excessive alkali salts. History has proved that these salts do exist in excessive quantities in certain portions of the Valley, while as a whole the agricultural area is comparatively free from exces- sive quantities for ordinary field crops.
A discussion of agriculture in Imperial Valley would not be complete
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AGRICULTURE
without a word regarding the water for irrigation. There is no stream in America which carries more silt per unit volume than does the mud- dy Colorado. The silt is both a valuable fertilizer in the fields and a menace in the ditches. Although the silts carried by the canals carry more fertility than is removed from the soil by cropping, the annual cost to the irrigation district is approximately half a million dollars. The Arizona experiment station has figured that the silt carried by the river would annually build a barrier sixty feet high over an area a mile square if deposited in one place. In addition to being valuable as a fer- tilizer this silt has prevented the rapid rise of water table so common in other sections, by filling up the soil pores and thus preventing too rapid penetration. The silt at the same time has made many of the harder clay soils more mellow by the deposit of sandy material on the soil surface.
The plentiful supply of water in the river has not always been avail- able during the late summer or early fall, on account of the lack of a proper diversion works in the river. Water is, of course, the life of the country, and large losses have occurred through diversion troubles. The fact that there is plenty of water in the river for use at any time during the year is a tremendous asset, as is fully realized.
No experimental data existed to help the farmers of Imperial Valley in meeting the new problems which constantly arose. Farmers' institutes were held during the early days, and these meetings were well attended. This gave way to more local meetings in school-houses as occasion arose. These local meetings have grown into the Farm Bureau, which now has a membership of about seven hundred. In order to study the effects of local climatic conditions on crop growth and to secure reliable information regarding varieties best suited to the section, the State Legislature provided funds for the establishment of an agriculture ex- periment station farm of forty acres located at Meloland. This station is still in operation and is working on some of the fundamental prob- lems of the region. Several reports have been printed as a result of the work carried on at the experiment farm covering variety trials, soils and irrigation work, insect control and cultural requirements.
Imperial Valley was settled in a large part by those who did not have a large amount of capital. Most of the early settlers were dependent upon early returns from the land, or upon work furnished on neighbor-
188
HISTORY OF IMPERIAL COUNTY
ing farms or by the California Development Company. This fact, to- gether with a lack of knowledge regarding crop adaptability, prevented a large planting of fruit, which required time before returns would be forthcoming. The Valley was therefore almost entirely devoted to grain and alfalfa. Barley and wheat were the winter crops and grain sorghums and alfalfa were the summer crops. Alfalfa was usually planted as soon as the land was properly leveled, barley being grown on land as the first crop after leveling.
The early farming methods were not the best. It was not uncommon for a farmer to broadcast barley on newly leveled land, disc it in and irrigate it up, harvest the crop and rely for three or four years on a volunteer crop by discing and irrigating in the fall without further planting. Results from these careless methods did not do justice to the agricultural possibilities of the Valley, but produced a profit on the small investment. An early attack of rust prevented the extension of the wheat acreage, so that barley was the main and practically the only winter crop grown during the early days. Barley was disced into the alfalfa during the fall and produced a good winter pasture at a time when the alfalfa grew slowly, besides making a valuable combination crop in the spring. This practice is still followed and with good results. The acreage in barley is diminishing as the acreage in other crops in- creases. Large areas of the harder soils are still devoted to barley. Bar- ley is still a valuable crop on diversified ranches where a small lot is planted in the ordinary rotation to furnish grain or hay for the stock. The farm binder is becoming more common and the old time combine is gradually losing its place.
As stated above, alfalfa usually followed barley as the second crop following leveling. Alfalfa is the foundation of Imperial Valley agricul- ture, for it not only is one of the universal crops, a crop which pays well, but is the basis of nearly all rotation schemes. Bermuda grass is perhaps its greatest enemy, but when plowed up every four or five years the Bermuda can be effectively controlled and the regular crop produc- tion maintained.
Alfalfa is cut from five to nine times in Imperial Valley and produces from three to ten tons per acre per year. Taking good and bad land to- gether, the average yield has been about four to four and a half tons per acre. The yields vary of course with the type and soil and the treat-
189
AGRICULTURE
ment given. The sandy loams have proven to be the best soil for alfalfa as for most other crops. In addition to the hay crop alfalfa furnishes a valuable winter pasture. Thousands of head of stock are brought in each winter to fatten on the hay stored up from summer cuttings. The winter pasture is usually sold in connection with the hay, the cattle feeding on the pasture and being fed hay at the same time. Most of the alfalfa in the Valley is pastured at some time of the year. On dairy and hog ranches the fields are pastured constantly, a system of rotation of field giving the alfalfa a time to recover between pasturings.
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