Imperial (186 page)

SOURCES

To save space, citations are given here in abbreviated form. Full references appear in the bibliography. Sources for illustrations appear just before the end of these notes.

General epigraph: “As long as a farmer has an abundance of water . . .”—USDA Yearbook (1909), p. 202 (Carl S. Scofield, Bureau of Plant Industry, “The Problems of an Irrigation Farmer”).

Brief Glossary

Literal meaning of the term “campesino”—Boyer, p. 19.

Probable first use by Catholics of same—Ibid., p. 163.

PART ONE

INTRODUCTIONS

1. The Gardens of Paradise (1999)

Imperial County: Lowest median tax income in the state—
Imperial Valley Press
, Thursday, July 6, 1999, p. A4. (Note: At the beginning of the twentieth century this publication was known first as the
Imperial Press and Farmer
, then as the
Imperial Press
.)

“The goal is to create a system that can alert authorities . . .”—
Sacramento Bee Final
, April 23, 1999, p. A4 (“Capitol /State” section, “Canal wired to deter immigrants”).

Deaths of illegal aliens [on the California-Mexico border]: 254 in 1998—
Calexico Chronicle
, Wednesday, July 7, 1999, p. 6.

“Our Opinion” section: “As important as agriculture is to the county . . .”—
Imperial Valley Press
, Thursday, July 6, 1999, p. A4.

“NOTICE OF TRUSTEE’S SALE . . .”—
Indio Post
, Thursday, July 1, 1999.

Tom Wacker: “We are trying to identify . . .”—
Calexico Chronicle
, cover, July 8, 1999.

Calexico Chronicle
’s version of the tale of the burned Dodge van—Thursday, July 1, 1999, p. 7. The incident referred to occurred on June 24.

“Imperial Catechism” of 1903: “What kind of labor can be had for ranch work?”—
Imperial Press and Farmer
, vol. II, no. 44 (Saturday, February 14, 1903), p. 1.

My hometown newspaper: “At least 168 people have died . . .”—
Sacramento Bee Final
, April 20, 1999, p. B6 (“Opinion” section, “Gatekeeper’s toll: Illegal immigrants die in risky border crossings”).

Calexico Chronicle
: “Border Patrol Unveils Public Service Announcements . . .”—Thursday, July 1, 1999, p. 7. The incident referred to occurred on June 24.