Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-10-23
THE b G HABIT.
Il Breaks Cut Again in the Land Of
Flowers.

a model train. Whether our fellow
townsman, James H. Stearns, took his
motto ctKeeping everlastingly at it
brings success') from the limited, or
the fast train heard of the motto and
determined to try Il, has not been re-
vealea to me: but certain It is the lin.
tied keeps 1eyerlastingly at it, and
gets there, too.
Thursday morning at daybreak we
left Las Vegas, and Friday morning
We're across the Colorado river. be-
yond the Needles, speeding toward the
Pacific.
The California Limited is a palace
on wheels, and life aboard a continu-
Gus luxury.
The first object Of special note was
the formation of the country e a Bag
dad. the mention Of which name car.
ries one back into the long ago when
Bagdad of old was among the famous
cities. Near this modern village the
remains Of an exhausted volcano are
to be seen. The lava belched forth
from the depths Of the earth has flown
down for miles, making a deep, black,
burned crust, with here and there
great gaps or breaks in the surface.
The region for miles near that place
is volcanic. There IS nothing attract
i've along the entire route from Albu-
querque westward TO Barstow. 1t IS
just 4 wide expanse of desert, with
here and there an oasis. but these are
few and far between. At Barstow,
leaving the main line, we went south,
and left the train at San Beenardino,
What Il Transformation out OF
hades into IN earthly heaven; from
the spirit of desolation to the haven
of rest. One a imagine BY this
change in scenery and conditions the
emotions of those who travel in cara
vans across the great African desert
when they reach the green spots
where water and green foliage greet
the weary traveller.
San Bernardino and Riverside con-
stitute one vast orange grove, inter
spersed here and there with apricots,
peach trees, English walnuts and other
fruit and nut trees. The roads are
oiled, the oil packing into the earth
and making the equivalent of asphalt
drives in all directions.
A drive to Smiley Heights, around
by Redlands and back to San Ber-
nardino, a distance Of about thirty
miles. is through n continuous gar
den, rich in the foliage Of v~aried-col
ored trees, beautifed by Towering
shrubs of almost countless varieties,
along paved sidewalks. over asphalt
roads. with pretty cottages and ele-
CANT missions standing out from the
luxury Of foliage about them.
Here is an evidence of what hui
man energy and enterprise may do.
given soil, climate and water. Smiley
Heights, as was said by President
Mckinley on his visit there Ito use
his words when he requested the car
riages halted that he might take In
the fullness OF the surrcundings), is
'.the surfeit OF the beautiful" Two
millionaire brothers have here erected
a monument to their names and to
their love OF the beautiful by the
construction OF a high hill on the one
side, while on the other 1t Is as nature
made 1t. The contrast proves what
man may do. Miles of roses and flow
ers is no ex%aggeration.
Reservoirs are Of cement and acqne-
ducts are of the same material. so
no drop OF water wastes.
On Saturday morning we left San
Bernardino for this place. stopping
two hours at Riverside, where | met
my old hoosier friend, Captain Melee.
or uncle to Art Melee. bookkeeper at
the Bell ranch, and well known to the
Indiana colony In Las Vegas. I found
him prosperous and happy and living
In the midst Of an earthly paradise.
The broad and well-paved streets,
the fine residences, the numerous
lovely cottages, the costly business
buildings, all In the highest state Of
repair, stand out as so many witness
es, testifying to the prosperity q the
country. The water supply seems
abundant about Riverside, furnished
by living streams and numerous artes.
Ian wells. The orange trees are IN
full bearing, and the surroundings
pleasing beyond description.
To one passing, the inquiry comes,
Ewhere. does the money come from
to produce this condition. Will the
l N#4#N -.&