Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-02-23
THE WINTER IN CALIFORNIA.
Norman Gerard Writes from the Land Of
Sunshine and Flowers.

a
dropped from winter into summer
1t was here we saw the first orange
trees and roses. San Bernardino wa,
first settled by the Mormans and is {
very pretty place.
The railroad follows the range OF
mountains west, known as the Sierra
Madrid range, and every few miles we
note small towns, whose main industry
seems to be fruit raising. Near Dur
ant, what was once the San Gabrie-
river, now bed of sand crosses the
valley.
We. next arrived at Monrovia. a
pretty little town Of 2000 inhabitants
and located near the foot of the
mountains, where the land has a gen
| tie slope to the south for distance of
about two miles. There is an mex
haustible supply Of pure water from
the mountains, which is owned and
controlled by the city and in purchas-
ing property here one also buys water
privileges. 1t is moral temperance
town without saloons. The principal
business is fruit growing. They have
just begun picking oranges. for which
the grower realizes about one dollar
per box.
We visited Pasadena, the pride of
the valley. The railroad follows the
mountains directly west and every
three or four miles there's little
town at the foot of the hills. We
passed through Arcadia on the "Bald-
VIM ranch of thirty thousand acres.
The owner is called Lucky Baldwin. .
1t is here that the noted hotel Oak
wood is situated, which is a favorite
drive from Pasadena.
-Four miles west of Pasadena is
Sierra Madre. close up to the noun
tains. This is also on the Baldwin
ranch and is fav0rite resort for
tourists, and a prominent drive.
There is large vineyard west Of here
with extensive wineries. Next is
Echo Mountain house, on top of
Sierra Madre mountains. Mount
Lowe R. r. Co. has a cable line
running up to this hotel at an angle
of 45 degrees, and part of the way
from hundred to a hundred and
fifty feet from the ground. The fare
amounts to $3.50, or you can hire a
burrO for 80 cents and ride up on a
stroll in three or four hours. We
were satisfied to look up and let it go
at that. Echo Mountain house affords
many attractions, among them a
large observatory and search light. I
am told that from four to five thou
sand people visit this hotel annually.
Pasadena, with population Of
$4,000, boasts of its pure mountain
water, fine business blocks, hotels and
schools. There are seven school
buildings with corps of fifty-five
teachers. who receive from S75 per
month, up. A library building has
been erected at d cost of $50, 900 and
contains $500 books. We found Mr..
Thos. Lormer very pleasantly situated
and at whose place we enjoyed the
day. Pasadena, like MOnrovia. is a
''dry' town. One must patronize one
of Los Angeles two hundred and
fifty saloons for his wet goods. PasSa-
dena has two lines of railroad besides
an electric road in connection with
Los Angeles. The round trip being
only % cents.
Three miles south of Pasadena is
San Gabriel Mission, which is said to
be one hundred years old and consid-
cred one Of the oldest and richest of
the valley. In this mission Helen
Hunt Jackson laid the. scene Of her
great story. which has given the place
much nOtoriety.
At Los Angeles | spent several days
very pleasantly with Mr.. and Mrs. II.
W. Collins. He acted as guide to pilot
me around the city, and proved a good
one. A trip to California is not COM
plete without a visit to Santa Catu-
lena island. On Saturday last. with
| Mr.. and Mr.. Collins, | made the trip
of a twenty-five mile ocean voyage to
the island. Collins watched out for
whales and sharks, while [ kept an
eye on the sea -gulls that followed our
vessel. I left Mr.. and Mrs. Collins on
the mountainous island nicely located
in a small cottage where they will re
main for a week. Mr.. Collins has a
sensational mountain stage ride to
relate to his friends on his return. We
took a ride on the ocean in a glass
bOttomed boat, where we could plainly
see fish and shells at a depth of forty
feet and also view the gardens at the
bottom of the sea. Mr.. Collins has
been exceedingly good while here
having attended church regularly
twice every Sunday.
/ hope to be with my Stoughton
friends sometime in March. Will
| close with kind regards to all.
NORMAN GERARD.
Monrovia. Cal.