Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-03-24
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
The "trip oe the bug Crowd THE Pro-
ducts Of that Portion Of the State
Some Incidents.

ducts Of that Portion OF the State
Some Incidents.
On the 18th inst. our party of excursionists,
thirty eight in number, left Sacramento for
Southern Californis, having chartered Sill
yer Palace slseping-car for the round trip.
At Lathrep our car was attached to the
Southern Pacific express. Between Sacra.
mento and Lathrop, from appearances, the
crops have not suffered much from the
drought, and it may be said that the grain
crop looks fair as far as MERGED but beyond
that point, until Los Angeles is reached. the
want of rain is ppirent Except such places
as can be irrigated). At the time we lett
Sacramento we thought only of going to Los
Angeles, but dispatches received from Mr..
Victor, General Superintendent of the South.
ern California Railroad, granting reduced
rates over his road from Cotton to National
City, it was agreed to proceed direct to Ma
tional City, the terminus of the Southern
California Railroad in San Diego county.
Mr.. Jewett, Division Superintendent of the
Southern Pacific Railroad at Los An
geles, very kindly gave US the use of
the car we came in from Sacramento,
boarded the s. G. R. r. cars on our way to
the shores Of the Pacific. Four miles from
Cotton, on this railroad, we reach Riverside
station eight miles from Cotton we are
crossing the San Jacinto plains. plateau or
mesa on the mountain tops over which the
road is laid for some fifteen miles, the highest
elevation of the road being about 1,50O feet
above the sea. At Jacinto station we met
C. McCreary and party, on their way to Riv.
erside. Leaving this plain the train passes
through range of the San Jacinto noun
tsins and enters the Temacula valley. In
this valley there is considerable grain raised,
and the acreage will be greatly incress I'd now
that railroad facilities are at hand for carry
ing the crop to tide-water. After leaving
this valley the train enters the Temacula
canyon, in which the landscape scenery for
twenty miles can hardly be surpassed. In
passing through this canyon the train stops
at Fallbrook for lunch. Our party had pre-
viously sent telegram from Temacula, or
dering lunches for thirty persons. At
present there is not any hotel accommoda-
tioD, but nevertheless lunches were prepared
that could not be surpassed in more favored
localities. Leaving this canyon the iron.horse
passes across the Santa Margurita ranch
(said to contain 10000 acres). When this
ranch is crossed the Pacific ocean is reached
near the station of San Luis Rey, a distance
of fifty miles from San Diego. From this
point to San Diego the Southern Cali
fornia Railroad is nearly parallel with the
shore of the Pacific ocean, and the ocean is
visible nearly the entire distance. It is get
ting dark when San Diego is reached (6:35
P. NJ J, but our party's destination is National
City, which ia reached by $50 P. NJ. Our
host of the National City Hotel was ready,
and our company provided with lodgings, etc.
Chorflu altar 1tpnor
sent by the exhibitors at the National City
Citrus Fair. to convey the entire party to
the exhibition hall-an invitation that
was heartily accepted by all. Here was
found genuine surprise to those of our
number that had not visited National City at
previous exhibits. Six tables, twenty feet
long and four feet wide, were covered with
plates of beautiful oranges, lemons, lines,
apples, etc. Some of the tables were orna-
mented with wresths made of cotton grown
in the vicinity. Many of the Pacific Coast
Press Association excursionists were present.
Wheni is taken into consideration that this
display of citrus and other fruits was made
entirely by the members of the National City
Grange Excepting one exhibit by Mr. Rich
ardson, Of San Gabriel, Los Angeles county,
it must be conceded that the estimates made
by the Kimball Brothers of the productive
ness of the soil of the National ranch and
vicinity are based upon facts which cannot be
contrsdicted. Among the prominent exhibit
ors at National City we met former Sacra
mentan, MIR. Swain, who is largely interested
in fruit growing and nursery business. His
order book shows the appreciation Of many
of our party. 1t includes orders for Sanga.
rine, Mandarin, blood-red. Saint Michel and
other choice varieties of citrus trees.
On the 18th conyeyances were procured and
our party crossed the frontier line Into Mex.
leo. Many letters and postals were written
aud mailed on foreign soil. One of the party,
who could not give up speculation, even in
the land Of the Montezumas, inquired the
selling prics of a favorite commodity. He
was answered, 1.-Two dollars per pound.
when he immediately procured writing mate
rails and notified his ant of the advance in
prices, and also that the scarcity of poles
would prevent an overpreduction in that sec.
ton for the present. Many of the orchards
in the vicinity of San Diego, old San Diego
Mission, Pleasant Valley, Bonnie Brea and
other places were visited, and q unanimous
verdict given that in the near future National
City and surrounding country will be one of
the greatest fruit-growing districts of South
ern California.
On the morning of the 18th our party
boarded the train at National City, and after
q ride of nearly fifty miles along San Diego
Day anu tuo aCiuC OCcau, FcaCucu Odu LUIS
Rey on their return to Riverside to visit the
Citrus Fair. The scenery passing up the
Temecula canyon is grand. In eight miles of
the road an ascent is made of 1,040 feet.
The river-called by some the Temeculs and
by others the Santa Margurita-courses the
entire length of the canyon. At present
water-cresses of choice quality are found in
abundance in this stream. Arriving at
Riverside. shortly after noon, our party
reached the Glenwood Cottage, Frank Miller
proprietor. The day previous the Pacific
Coast Press Association excursionists, say
120 in number, had arrived at Riverside, and
there being but limited hotel accommodation,
minei host of the Glenwood, to use a com.
mon expression, was put upon his good be-
havior. However, our party were well pro-
vided for.
THE CITRUS FAIR AT RIVERSIDE.
The display of citrus fruits, etc.. was mag
ni6cent, occupying at least four hundred and
fifty feet of tables, four feet in width. And
in many cases very fine artistic displays
were made, such as anchors, Tyre, sailing
vessel, etc. Some amusing incidents occurred
during our visit to Riverside. One of our
party, of fair avoirdupeis weight, was accosted.
as soon as he entered the place, on the bug
question, but got off by pleading previous
engagements. The Press Association was
Wen represented IN the nall, out tne SUBJECT
of general remark was the industry displayed
by persons wearing the badge of the Asso-
citation in taking notes, while the Nicksons,
Dsweys, Websters and other known newspa-
per nen were enjoying themselves by ex.
amining the magnificent display.
In the evening the Press Association gave
an entertainment in the pavilion. which was
well received by the immense gathering. The
presiding officer, MIR. Barnes, appeared in his
best, and to say that the ladies and gentle
men taking part 10 the songs, etc., excelled,
is but partial acknowledgment Of the merit
Of the entertainment. Our party are under
obligations to Messrs. White, Bettner, Rude
sell, L. M. Holt and others for favors.
On the 18th conveyances were procured.
aud drive in the suburbs Of Riverside occu-
pied the forenoon, including the famous AR.
Iington, Indianco and other avenues. After
lunch conveyances took us to Riverside, a
drive of two miles. on our way TO Cotton aud
San Bernardino. Our party are not only
under obligations TO Mr.. Miller. of the Glen
wood Cottage, for his efforts to provide for
their comfort when his premises were more
than crowded before we arrived. but also for