Evening journal., 1901-05-09
Even Streets Were Carpeted
With Beautiful Blossoms
STATES WELCOME NOTABLE
Los Angeles Wonderfully Decorated
in Honor Of The Presidents
Coming

Los Angeles, Cal, May 9.-The presl-
dent and his party had their first taste
Of the hospitality of California yester-
day. The Introduction to the land of
sunshine, fruit and flowers was like
q dream of paradise after three days
spent in the alkali deserts of Texas,
New Mexico and Arizona. 1t was like
passing into fairyland. No words can
picture the beauty of the rich sun
flooded valleys between snow capped
peaks, the orange groves of the Santa
Anna and the trees and flowers which
the president saw yesterday.
Governor Gage and the California
congressional delegation met the presi-
dent at Redlands, in the San Bernar-
dino valley, at 8 o'clock in the morn
ing and welcomed him to the state.
1t was here that the president got his
first idea of the wonderful treat that
awaited him. Through an avenue lined
with palms and venetian masts he
drove over beds of roses, beneath a
triumphal arch of flowers and fruit to
the Casa Iona hotel, on the balcony
of which the exercises took place. A
drive through the orange groves and
parks followed. All along the route
of the drive ladies showered the presi-
dent and Mrs. Mckinley with flowers
and through the streets they lombard
ed him from the windows with con-
fetti until the air was a perfect maze
of color
From Redlands down to Los Angeles
II was a continuous ovation. Every
station was crowded by children with
wreaths of flowers in their hands, and
by cheering men and women.
The approach to the city Of Los
Angeles was heralded by terrific din,
which could be heard for miles. Steam
whistles screamed, cannon doomed
and as the train passed through the
Chinese quarter Of the city long strings
of fire crackers. hung from awnings,
exploded like the continuous rattle OF
musketry. The city had been beauti-
fully decorated in honor of the presi-
dents coming. The fiesta is in pro-
gress here, and the town was dressed
like a queen to receive the coming OF
her lord. The colors of the carnival
red. yellow and green, representing
the wine, orange and olive. predomi-
mated. The streets were avenues Of
masts festooned with yellow bunting
and crowned with palm leaves anC
wreaths OF laurel
At the stationtthe party was met by
the citizens committee and many dis
tinguished people from all over Cali
fornia. Gen. Shafter, with his entire
staff, in full uniform. had come dowI
from the Preside to greet his chief
Secretary of the Navy Long, who wal
to have met the party at San Fran
cisco, also came here to meet the presi
dent and was at the station. TIT
party was driven in carriages to th
Van Nuyes hotel. An escort of artil
lery and several companies of militii
had been provided to escort them, bu
both the military and police had t
fight their way through the enormou
4 crowds that had swarmed into the city
At the hotel the police were obliged Z
literally force a way to the entrance
There the president met Governo
Nash, of Ohio, and the congressiona
delegation, which had arrived by dit
ferent routes an hour before. In tn
rotunda of the hotel the mayor Of Lo
Angeles formally greeted the chief eS
ecutive and extended to him the free
dom of the city. The president rt
sponded in a speech extolling th
beauties of California.
In the evening the president an
Mrs. Mckinley dined at "Bivouac," tn
handsome residence OF Gen. Harriso
Grey Otis, and after a dinner a pr
vaSe reception was held there in the
honor. They spent the night at Il
"Bivouac" Governor Nash held
public reception at the Chamber
Commerce. Late in the afternoon son
of the members Of the president
marty ascended Mount Low, 5000 fe
high. whence they had birdseye vie
for 70 miles Of southern California al
the Pacific ocean, 20 miles out to sc
Last night the members of the cabin
and other members OF the party W
messed the brilliant Illumination in t
streets. The whole city blazed wi
fantastic coiors, and the air was
binding storm Of confetti, thrown
the merry rioters.
This forenoon the president and
party witnessed the floral parade, a
this afternoon visit will be made
the Soldiers Home at Santa Monica