Imperial Valley Press

THE RETARDING INFLUENCE OF
OUR CLIMATIC REPUTATION

Residents of Imperial Valley should think twice before "playing up" before interested folk from other parts of the state our temperatures of July, August and September.

A combined committee, representing all parts of the valley, is personally observing an instance of the damage that such an exaggerated reputation may do the valley.

The committee is one trying to have an aviation training field established here. The most formidable obstacle it has encountered—and one which may completely block all hope of success—is the reputation for "unbearable summer heat." Flying authorities throw up their hands and exclaim—"Oh, we couldn't begin to train flyers in your impossible summer conditions."

Well, we acknowledge Imperial Valley isn't the North Pole in the summer time. But, on the other hand, thousands and thousands of people live here through the summer and are pretty healthy, too. Yet, all the argument to the contrary, these people who could by their recommendation bring to the valley $150,000 of immediate expenditure, and an annual gross business of some $400,000, have such an exaggerated idea, implanted in their heads that our chances of success are reduced several times over.

We hope that, starting right now, everyone will take a mental pledge not to exaggerate but stick to the plain truth. Far be it for us to recommend that we tell actual falsehoods about our summer, but we can kind of—well—demonstrate a bit of community good judgment.