Los Angeles herald., 1891-04-23
President HarrisOn's Arrival
in California.
From the Desert Into the Land
Of Flowers.
Met on the Threshold of the State by
Governor Markham.
Short stops at Indio, Banning, Beau
mont, Cotton and Pomona-The
Speeches Along the Way.
Associated Press Dispatches.


dental party entered the state of Cali
fornia at Fort Yuma, at 4:5O O'Clock
this morning, and was presented large
quantity of beautiful flowers and fruits
The entire party was asleep at the time,
80 did not see the presentation COM
mittee. When the party reached Indio,
at :15 o'clock, it was received by large
and influential delegation, including
Governor Markham and staff, ex-Gov-
ernor Perkins, Senator FELTON,, Judge
Van Vleet, of Sacramento; Stephen
M. White, of Los Angeles; Col, G. F.
Crocker, vice-president of the Southern
Pacific, and Mr.. Shimp, chairman OF the
Republican committee. Governor Mark
ham made an
ADDRESS OF WELCOME.
The governor said:e "Nr. President: !:
As governor of California, and in her
name and on behalf of her people,
greet you on the very threshold of her
territory and bid you a most hearty well
come to our state. This do on behalf
of all her people, irrespective Of party
affiliations; and, sir, as proof of this,
to you distinguished representatives of
both political parties, who are with me
and who heartily join in welcoming you as
the executive of our great nation. Let
me assure you that we fully appreciate
the great effort you have been obliged to
make to visit our coast, but | am conf
dent that you and your party will feel
repaid when you see the wonderful fea-
lures peculiar to the state, and of which
every Californian is justly proud, and of
which 80 little is known or correctly un-
derstood by the people of the great east.
California, Mr.. President, is an en-
pire of itself, seven hundred miles in
length and three hundred miles in
width, thus afording every graduation of
climate, and almost every production of
any country under the sun; and, sir,
permit me to say that though we are
hundreds of miles from the national cap
ital, and separated from the people of the
east and south by what may seem endless
plains and impossible mountains, yet
we are in close sympathy with them in
all national affairs, and exceedingly
proud of the position we occupy in the
great sisterhood of states over which
will be convinced of these facts, Mr..
President, by the cordiality with which
you, as the representative of the whole
country, will be received in every por-
tion of the state.
"I think it but justice to the immedi-
ate portion of the state upon which you
are entering, to say that almost the
whole of the wonderful development
which you will witness is the work of
the last decade. Ten years ago, with
few exceptions, what is termed Southern
California was desert, barren and un-
inviting, but now veritable garden,
beautiful to behold and producing mil
lions of dollars worth of products
annually, and bidding fair to sup
ply the markets of the world with
her products. Ten years ago Los Ange-
les was but barren country village
with less than $4,000 inhabitants, but
now city with nearly 10000, with all
the modern improvements for the COM
fort and happiness of man. What is
true of her progress, is also true of San
Diego, San Bernardino, and many other
places.
Pursuing your journey to the north
you will see the beauties of Santa Bar
bara, the immensity of the San Joaquin
valley-the natural grainery of the
world, developing like magic into or
,chards-and soon to the magnificent
city of San Francisco; and, Mr.. Presi
dent, when you reach that great city /
want you to remember that all the evil
dences of prosperity you will see-and
they are countless are but evidences Of
the immense resources OF this state.
The city has been created, built and
sustained out of money flowing in from
the sale of our own products, which can
be said of few cities of her Importance
in the United States.
ut has been arranged for you to see
the central portion of the state fairly
we'll, and need not dwell on what is in
store for you, as l do not believe such
country exists outside of California. 1
regret that your visit is so arranged that
you will not see in detail the northern
counties, which I assure you are of
themselves worth a trip across the con-
tinent. 1t is impossible to describe
them, and will not attempt it. In
some Of these counties lie millions
of dollars in gold, awaiting the discov-
cry of process of development which
will not injure other interests, and for
which we depend on the federal govern
ment. / am confident that if these
mines lay in England or Germany, those
governments would take immediate
steps to work Them
II regret exceedingly that the short
time you are permitted to stay among us
will not allow you to see the natural
scenery for which our state is 80 famed,
among which need only mention the
wonderful Yosemite valley, the great
redwood forests of the north and the
mighty mountains with their wealth OF
beauty.
"Mr. President, before closing want
to ask you to take particular notice OF
the great lack of national lpublicimprove-
ments; of our extensive shipping inter-
ests; our almost endless coast lines, al
most defenceless, and absolutely without
harbors of refuge, except at San Diego
and San Francisco, either of which could
accommodate the commerce OF the world,
and located nearly five hundred miles
apart"
THE PRESIDENTS REPLY.
In reply, the president said he would
not undertake while almost choked with
the dust of the plains he had just left,
to say all that he hoped to say in the
way Of pleasant greetings to the citizens
OF California. Some time, when he had
been refreshed by their olive oil and the
fruit of their vineyards, he would endea-
vor to express his qualification at being