Imperial County History

Attention is first directed to Imperial Valley with reference to live-stock in early part of the second half of the last century. In the extreme southeast part, or that portion of the Valley extending into Mexico and to the extreme point of the delta of the Colorado River in Mexico, range grasses and overflow growth have furnished feed for wandering herds of cattle for many years. In the years when unexpected rains had, during the winter season, moistened the desert loam, short-lived grasses sprang up and furnished temporary feed of considerable luxuriance to stockmen and their herds from the Coast Range hills lying between our Valley and the Pacific shores. Aside from this, no hope or anticipation suggested itself to a living soul, with reference to live-stock, except the promise of irrigation from the spectacular but, as yet, useless Colorado River.

A veritable stockman's paradise, in which the question of feed would never rise as an uncertainty, but to know with the accuracy of a factory manager the output of his plant. Fertile soil, water and sunshine continuous forever, with judgement and attention to recognized scientific principles of agriculture. In the earliest days of agricultural effort our first crop was barley, due to simplicity in planting and propagation and harvest.

From the green, rich fields of the growing grain thousands of "feeders" were shipped direct to the packers, after which the grain was harvested. This was the first form of live-stock activity, and eminently successful it is followed to the present day, mostly by large stock owners shipping their immense herds into the Valley in the fall, to be finished by spring or before the summer heat.

Next followed extensive planting of alfalfa. A very natural corollary to this was the importation of dairy herds, either by owners or tenants. If one branch of live-stock activity more than another could be classified as most successful, that distinction should belong to the dairy industry. More than a few farms have been paid for entirely from the dairy proceeds, and in an extraordinarily short time. The by-products and customary side lines - hogs and chickens - have accomplished almost unbelievable results, and it should freely be urged on the prospective farmer of small means to follow this line if he is in any degree qualified.

Sheep deserve prominent mention, and have always been fairly identified among the live-stock statistics of Imperial Valley, although not until recently, since the prices of wool and mutton have leaped beyond the wildest dreams of the most sanguine, having the sheepmen truly come into their own. Two shearings of wool per annum, and milk lambs in February and March, is all the experienced sheepman need hear in order to believe anything of our Valley.

Fowl of every description thrive without restraint; dampness and chill - deadly to chicken turkeys - entirely absent, thus removing the greatest element of risk; Los Angeles market quotations on everything pertaining to poultry; many farmers' wives are yearly clothing themselves and families, to say nothing of the summer vacations and new flivers, on the proceeds from their chickens. No expensive chicken houses or shelters; a certainty of maximum results on an infinitesimal outlay.

Hogs! Nothing promises more. Although contrary to the accepted idea, probably more equipment and care are necessary to successful hog growing than to any other branch of live-stock production. Twelve months outdoors in the sunshine - God's greatest prophylactic - then with provision for cleanliness and reasonable sanitation the bugbear of the hog game - cholera - disappears, not to mention the recommendation of the United States Department of Agriculture concerning vaccination with the virus and serum process for cholera immunization. On every acre of land a crop of corn and a crop of barley each year - two crops of grain per annum; six to nine crops of alfalfa. No place on earth but suffers from comparison. Farm labor shortage, and the crops can be harvested by the hogs themselves - both grass and grain. Every antagonistic element practically under control - Nature working with man to accomplish an unbelievable production.

Stockmen from every part of the United States have invested and settled in Imperial Valley, and, without exception, have done so with the basic idea of permanent insurance. If all else fails, Imperial Valley will save me and mine.