The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-09-05
a Trip to California.
Stockton, CAL, Aug. 2Oa 1901

n TIP 10 California.
Stockton, CAL, Aug. 2Os 1901.
promised some of my friends to
write them about my trip and also this
country. Through the kindness of the
Editor will write them through the
REPORTER. We left Leon Tuesday
Aug Is. Arrived at Kansas City at 6
o'clock same day. Then we had to wait
in that smoky city until the next day at
II o'clock. We were turned out of the
depot to board train No. for Califor-
nia. After starting we were informed
that we we're on the wrong train so were
put off at station called Holiday.
There was lunch counter and big
water tank and a few old battered up
cars standing there and that was all.
This was thirteen miles below Kansas
City. We had to wait here until three
O'Clock p. m. Then we boarded train
No. Z, through California tourist train
on the Santa Fe. We were glad to get
started again. We saw good many
burned up corn fields in Kansas. Ran
on to Dodge City, Colo. We arrived
there at Loo and left at 1910. We only
had five minutes to stop at that place.
Here l had to turn my watch back one
hour as the time changes there. From
here we ran to La Junta. We arrived
there at $50 a. m. on the 10th; stopped
25 minutes for lunch and had our car
changed for nice clean one. Our next
stop was at Trinidad. After leaving
here we soon run through the first tun.
mel. After passing through it we were
in New Mexico. This mountain we
passed through was 1900 feet elevation.
We reached Winslow, New Mexico, on
the 18th. We saw lots Of adobe houses
which were occupied by Mexicans.
We reached Ash Fork, Ariz., at $50
p. m. same day. Here we began to
strike the washout. There were several
bad places caused by the heavy rains a
few days before and were just fixed
temporarily. There had been several
cloud bursts in the central and west
portion of Arizona.
About noon next day we struck the
desert. Nothing grows here but cactus.
We saw great many varieties. Some
were Is to 20 feet high and were fully Is
inches in diameter, and was a very
pretty sight. The sand was not so
pleasant. We closed all the windows to
keep the sand out and then it would
cover your clothes so you could hardly
tell what color they we're.
We passed on to the NEEDLES. A
group of mountains were pointed at the
top. One had tunnel through the
top and that is called the Needles Eye.
Here we crossed the Colorado River and
were then in California. We saw lots of
rough country for couple of hours
ride. Then we reached the Mojave Des-
ert-a desolate looking place indeed
sand and cactus as far as you could see
almost. 1t took about three hours to
run across it. Then we. came to the
mountains again. Here tie shrubs and
grass were green, Next we came to
Mcjave. Here there had been another
cloud burst. The track was washed
out ahead Of US for distance Of three
miles. and in the Tehacipi mountains
there was l4OO feet cut filled com.
pletely full by land slide caused by
the heavy rain, The Southern Pacific
run in little ahead of US and it was
trapped also. We all had to stay here
at Mojaye about IA hours. Then the
Santa Fe made arrangements with the
is. p. to carry us on their train round
by Los Angeles and up to Frisco by the
Coast Line. We got on the S. P. road
at Barstow and here we had an 80 mile
run down grade, and We ran as fast as
care to ride. We soon struck the val
ley, wide strip Of country all farmed
and as level as floor. We run through
a nice big bean patch at least thought
it large. It was on All average of -four
miles wide and eighty miles long. II
took us two hours and fifteen minutes
to run the length of it. This is one o.
the largest bean fields in California
| We soon came in sight of the old Pacific
Ocean. That was pleasant sight to vi
again to see the breakers roll in.
| We reached Santa Barbara in the eve
ming. That is beautiful city situated
on the coast. In few minutes ride
from Santa Barbara we struck the OF
fields. The derricks were all standing
out in the ocean. 1t looked queer t.
mesto see them standing so thickly ou
in the water. Some looked to be mil.
out in the ocean. Most of them ar.
paying we'll, producing lots of oil. Tht
ocean for several miles was dotted witt
derricks. AT day break we saw lots o.
oranges and lemons. Then we passed
| through nice flower garden of 5,20(
acres owned by the San Francisco Seec
and Flower Go. 1t was grand sight
The train ran the entire length of thu
I field. We did not stop to pick any o
the flowers as our train was about Il
hours behind time. 1t was among the
longest trains that pass over the road
Il mean passenger trains. 1t had 81
coaches and four engines-two pulling