The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-08-13

Los Angeles, CAL, July 20, 's6.

the best route to take to California, but
If I give short sketch of our expert
ence perhaps they can decide whether
or not they will follow in our path.
We left lola Monday afternoon, July
18th, and arrived in Los Angeles the
following Friday, about twelve O'Clock.
Our journey to Fort. Scott was without
incident, and the time which we had
to wait there-about five hours-was
pleasantly spent with friends. Leav-
ing there at 1l:45 we reached Fort
Worth the next evening. Almost the
only thing to be said of the country
is that ii was very dry. Indeed Fort
Worth was the only place from Kan
sas to California where we discovered
signs of recent rains And there they
had not been abundant, but were suffl-
cient to ripen the melons, grapes and
peaches, of which we were fortunate
enough to obtain q limited supply.
Wednesday morning brought us to the
land of the mesquit brush and prairie
dogs. The soil here was a dull red,
and after noticing its color and abund-
ance one of our party, with an eye to
business, suggested that he could make
q fortune by bottling it and selling it
for tooth powder in the northern states.
] tell you this SO that if he should af.
firm that he intended to change his 10
cation and engage in the real estate
business you may understand what he
means. That day was cool, and al.
though the scenery was very noun.
famous, we began to congratulate our
selves upon being SO favored; but the
next morning our Joy was turned to
mourning. We found ourselves in
New Mexico, and about nine o'clock
we crossed over into Arizona. The
country here looked somewhat differ.
ent from any we had seen before.
There were great stretches of white
sand, and in some places it was blown
into tiny drifts and looked much like
the wavelets 30 often seen on the sur
face of the water. The monotOny was
relieved only by sage brush, soap weed,
and several species of cacti, which
grew very high and stood like giant
sentinels in the desert-for it was a
real desert. And we saw two splendid
mirages; they each took the form of a
lake of blue water, and with the re-
Election of the mountains in them the
whole scene was SO perfect it was very
difficult for some of us to be convinced
that we could not believe our eyes.
About the middle of the day the heat
began to be very oppressive and from
that time until the next morning all
we could do was to do nothing and en-
dure. There was strong wind but
the air was as hot as if it had come
from q bake oven. The thermometer
stood l36 in the shade during the day,
when we crossed the Colorado river at
Yuma the report was 1l6, and it was
then two o'clock in the morning and
people had to leave the sleeper in Or
der to get breath Of air. The con.
ductor and others told us that it was
not very warm, that they did not feel
the heat, and we could soon become
used to it. One of our party said
"Well. if I ever get to be a minister
shall never preach of fire and brim-
stone,' for if people can get used to Ar
iona weather they can get used to
anything" We were all glad when
the long night was over, and we were
really in California. Every grove OF
trees and stream of water was hailed
with delight, for they told us we were
nearing civilization. The last few
hours of our journey before reaching
our destination were very pleasant, and
our attention was entirely taken up
in watching the ever changing scene
from the car window. The orange or
chards, and the beautiful avenues of
eucalyptus and pepper trees were en-
tirely new to us, and each came in for
its share of expressive "ohs" and
''ahs."
We reached Los Angeles at last, and
congratulated ourselves upon having
made SO long a journey in safety. We
were soon in carriage and ON our
way 10 the hotel, but were scarcely
started when something about the car
riage gave way and the horses became
frightened and whirled around. In a
very short time We found ourselves on
terra firma; then having transferred
TO another carriage we were
soon safely landed at the st. Charles
hotel. Saturday morning our party
took the train for Pasadena, a beauti-
full little village about twelve miles
from here. Having reached the depot,
we hired a carriage and spent the en-
tire day driving around. We visited
San Madre Villa, which is up close to
the mountains, and all around it are
beautiful drives and extensive orange
and grape ranches. We drove through
one orchard and enjoyed the sight
very much. 1t was something of q
trial to be compelled to leave the fruit
alone, but We felt the necessity when
we read the following appeal painted
upon a board near the gateway:
And you will be welcome here for Welcomes