Imperial County CA Archives History - Books .....Preface And Memorium 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, 3:24 am Book Title: History Of Imperial County California 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 PREFACE 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 wras 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. F. C. FARR. IN MEMORIAM SCARCELY had Judge Finis C. Farr finished his work as editor of this history than death came unheralded to him with apoplexy. He was a man whose character had borne the testimonial of public office alike in Missouri, his native state, and in Imperial County, where he had been a participant in public affairs from the earliest of pioneer days. At the time of his death he was Register of the United States Land Office at El Centro. He was a charter member of the Masonic Lodge at Imperial and an active member of the Imperial County Bar Association, both of which organizations have been quick to spread upon their records testimonials to his ability and his character. In a sense, then, this book, representing practically the last of his many works for the public good, will be a monument to his memory, and in the years to come will be evidence of the high type of men who constituted the pioneers of Imperial Valley, and who undertook to shape its development to the lasting good of humanity. 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/prefacea198nms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/cafiles/ File size: 3.8 Kb