Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-05-09
PRESIDENT ENTERS LAND
OF FRUITS AND FLOWERS.
ENTHUSIASTIC CALIFoRNIANs PEL1
HIS TRAIN WITH voLLEYS
OF ROSES.
BLOOMS CARPETED STREETS.
OUT OF THE VALLEY OF SALT SEA
INTO THE GLORIOUS LAND OF
PROMISE.


Land of fruit and flowers" shortly af-
ter midnight. The Colorado river was
passed at Yuma. The first glimpse Of
California this morning was not pre-
possessing, but it was a novel sight.
The train was running through the bed
of an ancient salt sea south of the
Mojave desert. 1t is 200 feet below the
sea level and is a white sheet of en-
crusted salt which is plowed up as
eastern farmers plow their fields. This
was passed very early in the morning
The train was mounting gorgeous
pass between snow-capped mountain
peaks when the President first looked
from his car window. Then mountains
were covered with verdure to the snow
line and to the foothills on both sides
stretched waving fields of wheat.
Soon after, the train entered San Ber-
nardino county, famed for its wonder
Jul fruits and hurried along through
green enchanting orange groves, or
chards of citrus fruits, and gardens Of
beautiful flowers.
In the distance lowered the snow
mantled summit of San Jacinto and San
Bernardino, each 10000 feet high.
At every little station were groups
of smiling, happy people. The women
and children held roses in their arms
and pelted the Presidents car with
them as the train rushed by.
1T was a charming welcome to the
State of California
Redlands, the first stop in the State,
was reached at o'clock. Here great
preparations had been made to well
come the President and'his party.
Governor Gage and the Senators and
Representatives in Congress had gath
utiye to California. The city was beaut-
fully decorated. Venetian masts with
streamers formed an arcade of color
over Orange street, under which the
party drove to Casa Iona hotel where
the exercises took place. The broad
street was literally carpeted with roses,
purple lupins and red peoples, and the
wealth of flowers everywhere filled the
air with fragrance.
A company of local militia and the
high school cadets escorted the party
to the hotel through lanes of cheering
people. Oranges were profusely used in
the decorations while the marshals of
the parade wore orange ribbons across
their shoulders. The exercises took
place On the f1ower-bedecked balcony Of
the hotel in plain view of the thousands
gathered below. An Indian band from
the school at Perris, Cal, played patri-
otto airs while the President exchanged
greetings with Governor Gage and the
distinguished assemblage on the plat
form.
The Mayor of Redlands introduced
Gov. Gage, who, in eloquent language
that aroused an enthusiastic echo from
the audience, welcomed the President
and extended to him the freedom of the
State The Presidents response, deliv-
cred in graceful style, drew repeated
cheers. The exercises were followed by
a drive of an hour and half through
the orange growing section.
Mrs. Mckinley and the ladies OF the
party met Mrs. Gage and the ladies of
Redlands in the parlors of the hotel
J,,r fbo +alr
for a drive through the beautiful val
ley of San Bernardino.
Leaving the hotel, the President and
his party drove under an arch of flow
ers and oranges. A floral bell hung in
the dome and as the Presidents car
riage passed underneath, two pretty
little girls ~ white rang it with flower
ropes. Smiley Park and Canyon Crest
through which the party drove, were
like dream of paradise. The native
songsters sang in the trees and the
whole air was vivid with the kaleido-
scopic color of myriads of flowers. A
thousand varieties of shrubs and flow
er trees, including the eucalyptus, am
Der blossomed gravillas and palms of
every description, banks of roses of
every variety. violets, pansies, geran-
iums, petunias, scarlet peoples and
sweet peas formed a ravishing scene of
beauty. The President and his party
were fairly dazed with the natural
splendor of it all and could hardly cred
1t the statements of the citizens that
all orange groves and gardens were the
work of fourteen years of cultivation
under the system of irrigation While
The party was driving, committees had
been busy decorating the train and
when the President returned it was fill
Ell with flowers.
The train left for Los Angeles at
noon.
Los ANGELES. Cal, May s.-The
President and his party had their first
taste of the hospitality of California to-
day. The introduction to the land of
sunshine, fruit and flowers was like a
dream OF paradise, after the three days