Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-05-08
Picturesque Greeting to the President
at Redlands, Cal.
CHILDREN THROW HIM BOUQUETS
The Party Delighted at the Beauty
Of the Country.
F r UT IN ALB n D AN G E

REDIANDS. Cal, May s.-President Nc
Kinley and his party entered the land of
fruit and flowers shortly after midnight.
The Colorado river was passed at Yuma.
The first glimpse of California this morn
ing was not prepossessing, but it was
novel sight. The train was running through
the bed of an ancient salt sea south Of the
Mojave desert. 1t is POO feet below the sea
level and is white sheet of incrusted salt
which is plowed up as eastern farmers
plow their fields. This was passed very
early in the morning. The train was mount
ing a gorgeous pass between SnoW-capped
mounta ain peaks when the President first
looked from his window. The noun
tains 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 it's wonderful
fruits. and hurried along through green.
enchanting orange groves, orchards OF
citrus fruits and gardens of beautiful flow
erS.
In the distance lowered the snow-mantled
summit of San Jacinto and San Bernar-
dino each 10000 feet high.
At every little station were groups OF
smiling. happy people. The women ana
children held roses in their arms and pelt-
ed the Presidents car with them as the
come to the state of California.
First stop at Redlnnds.
Redlands, the first stop in the state, was
reached at o'clock. Here great prepara
tions had been made to welcome the Pres
ident and his party.
Gov Gage and the senators and repre-
sentatives in Congress had gathered here
to welcome the chief executive to Califor-
MIA The city was beautifully 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 luplns and red poppies. and the
wealth of flowers everywhere filled the air
with fragrance. company of local MIL
itia and the high school cadets escorted the
party to the hotel through lanes Of cheering
people. Oranges were profusey used in the
decorations. while the marshals Of the
parade wore orange ribbons across their
shoulders. The exercises took place on the
flower -bedecked balcony of the hotel, in
plain view OF the thousands gathered be-
low. An Indian band from the school at
Paris, Cal, played patriotic airs while the
President exchanged greetings with Gov.
Gage and the distinguished assemblage on
the platform.
The mayor of Redlands introduced Gov
Gage, who, in eloquent language, that
aroused an enthusiastic echo from the audi
ence. welcomed the President and extended
to him the freedom of the state. The Pres
idents response. delivered in graceful style
drew repeated cheers The exercises were
followed by drive of an hour and a half
through the orange-groWing section.
Mrs. Mckinley and the ladies Of the
party met Mrs. Gage and the ladies Of Red
lands in the pariors of the hotel during the
exercises and We're taken for a drive
through the beautiful valley Of San Ber-
nardinO.