Imperial County CA Archives History - Books .....Imperial County 1918 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com February 14, 2006, 3:29 am Book Title: History Of Imperial County California IMPERIAL COUNTY This being among the latest productions of this wonderful Valley, reference to it in this record has been deferred to this later chapter. It is, of course, very evident that no such civil division could have been created here until there was a place to put it, or even something to make it from. Then, too, there was no necessity for it, and the settlers were too busy with other things of more importance to their present existence, and did not feel the need of any such local government. It was even doubtful whether there were any political aspirants in the region as yet. This class of idle diplomats is rarely found among the pioneers of undeveloped lands. They come in later after the way of progress has been duly blazed. All this territory had been included in San Diego County from a much earlier period. This great desert region had always been regarded as the most worthless part of that old county. Nobody ever expected that anything good could come out of this vast salt marsh and sandy waste. But in July, 1907, a petition having been received from some of the leading residents of that Valley for a division of the old county and creation of a new county in this Valley, a resolution was finally passed by the San Diego Board of Supervisors calling for an election to pass on this question. The proposed line of division was the section line between ranges eight and nine of the San Bernardino Mountains. The territory embraced in this new county approximated 4000 square miles in extent and then had a population of 20,320. This election was accordingly held on August 6, 1907. Then, on August 12, the vote having been almost unanimous for the erection of the new county, its birth was promptly, though not very loudly, announced. There is no special record of any public proclamation or celebration of the event. In fact, these settlers wrere not given to demonstrations of this character. Meanwhile, however, there had been an active contest for the location of the county seat, especially between the friends of Imperial and El Centro. The result was that the latter, though much younger than Imperial, won the victory by a very small margin of votes. This led to a close contest which for a time came near being taken to the courts for decision. But better counsel prevailed in the end and a board of supervisors was duly elected for the new county. The first session of this local legislature was held in the Valley State Bank building when Mr. F. S. Webster, of the third district, was chosen chairman. And in this place it is significant to record that the very first measure which was adopted by these pioneer officials and settlers here assembled as local lawmakers, was an ordinance prohibiting the sale or distribution of malt or spirituous liquors anywhere in the county except under the most rigorous restrictions. The third ordinance, passed at a subsequent meeting, was a measure prohibiting gambling or betting. This will give some idea of the general character and personal motives of these early settlers from a moral standpoint at least. They were determined to begin right, and they did, for these laws were duly enforced. The first sheriff was Mr. Mobley Meadows, and he secured a temporary courthouse in a part of an old furniture warehouse and real estate office. Two of these rooms were set apart for a jail in which to confine malefactors. It seems that the parent county of San Diego had refused to divide up a proper share of the public moneys to the new county. But these pioneers were not contentious, and after a time a satisfactory settlement of the whole matter was made in an amicable manner. Near the close of 1907 a fine new jail structure had been completed and the county offices were removed to the new building. Two years later a site for a permanent courthouse building was selected west of the Date Canal. But sometime before this the first newspaper in the town was established. The importance and value of a newspaper in the progress and development of any new country, and especially in this Valley county, cannot be overestimated, and this well-edited sheet was fully recognized by these intelligent and enterprising people, who have given it proper support. Additional Comments: Extracted from: THE HISTORY OF IMPERIAL COUNTY CALIFORNIA EDITED BY F. C. FARR IN ONE VOLUME ILLUSTRATED Published by ELMS AND FRANKS BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA 1918 Printed by Taylor & Taylor, San Francisco File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/imperial/history/1918/historyo/imperial206nms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/cafiles/ File size: 5.1 Kb