Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-05-04
SAN JACINTO.


| mG OR6Mlmk VI tmC NC ~ k<V0os -
| that Place.
A HERALD reporter paid visit t.
San Jacinto on the LIST day Of May
leaving this city on the first train t
run over the new branch Of the Cali
fornia: Southern Road from Perris tt
to that place.
Although the weather was cold and
cloudy, with a strong inclination tc
rain, the six cars which left the Santa
Fe depot at 8 :15 on Tuesday morning
were comfortably filed with ladies
and gentlemen anxious to inspect the,
to most Of them, as yet unseen beau
ties Of the San Jacinto Valley. After
leaving Downey Avenue the train
stopped only at the most important
stations, taking up passengers at Pas
adena, Raymond, Lamanda Park,
Monrovia, Duarte, and a few more
places until San Berhardino was
re ached. Here an addition of
six more cars had to be
made to accommodate the large
numbers from that place and
Riverside. After a wait OF a few min
utes to enable the hungry travellers
to replenish their Inner men," a
fresh start was made, and with the
aid of an extra engine the steep grade
up to East Riverside was climbed,
and the help dispensed with. An
other quick run was made, and Per.
ris reached, and the long train switch
ed on to the new line. Contrary to
expectation, no demonstration was
made here, and after one Of the quick
est runs of the journey, the road-bed
being excellent, the new town of Win
chester was reached, and the train
drew up amidst the cheers OF the as
sembled citizens who were drawn up
in line, many Of them holding ban
rers bearing the legend Welcome"
The crowd was augmented by the
Chinese navvies who were camped
here, and looked quite imposing. The
last stage of the trip was made
through immense tracts of grazing
land and barley fields, and forty-five
minutes after leaving Ferris, the train
pulled up alongside a grove Of magni-
ficent cottonwood trees, where
some two thousand people, on
foot, horseback and in buggies,
headed by brass band impatieniiiy
awaited its arrival. The band struck
up martial air which some wag pro-
nounced See the Conquering Hero
Comes and cheer after cheer was
reechoed from the grove. Immedi-
ately after Decentralization an adj
journment was made for dinner, 4
which was served in the shade OF the
cottonwoods. An OK had been bar
becued and dozens of hams boiled for
the occasion, and the supply Of bread,
coffee, milk and sugar being unlim-
tied, there was more than enough for
all, and the band having taken up a
position near raised platform built
for the occasion, the younger portion
of the company danced to their hearts
content; while the elder gathered
round another platform.
At 3:15 the Rev. Irving r. Love-
Joy was introduced and in an able
and terse speech in which he spoke of
the early history Of San Jacinto, its
present and future prospects, he bade
all welcome. He also spoke in warm
terms OF the efforts OF Mr.. +. I. Perris
and the California Southern Railroads
enterprise and SO forth, after which
the whole company enjoyed them
selves in various ways until about 5
p. NJ, when all kinds OF vehicles, from
Bibles old stage, which until then
had been the only means of trans
portation for the traveller from Perris,
to the ohe-horse SHAY" were be-
sieged by the excursionists, who were
anxious to visit the town in order to
procure rooms for the night. On ar
rival there it was found to he en- fete,
being festooned with bunting and tri-
colored ribbons, giving one the idea
that the Fourth" was around before
its time. A great many seemed under
the impression that the town would
not be able to accommodate the WISH
tors. but there did not appear to be
any difficulty, all who were unable to
obtain rooms at the hotels being hos
pitably taken in by the residents. In
the evening several enter ailments
were provided, the most popular being
a performance Of "Among the Break
ers," followed by the farce, "a
Little More Cider.' The acting in
both plays was very creditable and
far above what was expected by the
visitors. After these had been en-
acted the large skating rink was
cleared OF the seats and the floor was
held by the whirling couples until
n lin not Il vliyhf
Next morning, despite the cloudy
aspect of the weather, the Wis
itors were driven all over the
surrounding country by the citi-
zens, and they were unanimous
in their verdict on their return.
No more magnificent picture can be
imagined than that which was seen
from the carriage, as the sun, which
had burst through the clouds, tiHged
the snow-capped "Gray Back" and
the San. Bernardino mountains as il
with gold, while at their feet lay the
valley with it's 200,0 900 acres Of land,
covered with rank growth Of alfiler-
lila and grass standing knee deep,
studded, or rather belted, with groves
trees, framing the town
with it's brick and other buildings.
The valley is distant from. Los Ange-
les IS miles, east, and 100 miles north
of San Diego. Its soil is Of light
sandy loan, of grayish color, and
it's productiveness is evidenced by the
growth of wild flowers and grass which
adorn it everywhere. The mountains
and foothills are covered with trees,