Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-09-01
THE MAINE G. A. r. PARTY.
Enjoys Pleasant Trip to Santa Barbara
and Los Angeles.

Los Angeles, Cal, Aug. 4.-(Speclal}
Inc Merrick party reached santa
Barbara late Saturday night. On leaV-
ing the train we found BUSES awaiting
US, and were soon whirled along the
streets to the Hotel Mascarel, where
we We're made very comfortable and
sunday passed very swiftly and pleas
antly to us all. Some of the party at
tended church in the morning. Others
TOOK tally-ho ride: visited the old mis-
sion at Santa Barbara, entered and lis
tened to the latter part of the service.
At four P. M. Sunday we left this
beautiful place for Los Angeles and a
most delightful ride it was For more
than a hundred miles our route fol-
lowed the shore of the Pacific, and all
enjoyed the grand and splendid view.
After leaving the ocean we passed
through fertile valley with tall noun
Jams on either side. Here We passed
acres and acres of growing crops,
sugar beets, grain, corn and such i'm
mense orchards of peach and orange
trees. Lemons, olives and lines also
grow here. In Ventura county we
passed miles of fields Of lima beans
SioNiiS. ioO'Iie lOOheu 10 Ue nearly
ripe and others We're a rich green color.
we passed the oil wells, where they
take out crude petroleum. There are
immense tanks and great deal of ma
chinery used in operating the wells.
Now we frequently pass large villages
IN the valley. The mountains are
around about us and now and then is
seen a small house or set of buildings
nestled close to the base of these tow
erinS hills, the Coast Range mountains.
Beautiful trees and flowers grow here
III great prOfusion but little farther
on the character of the soil is very
different, fit only for grazing. There
are large herds of cattle in the sandy
lowlands and numbers of black hogs.
We do net get very hungry here as
boys go through the cars often with
large baskets of fruit the most de-
licious grapes and plums of many
kinds. Just at nightfall we passed
through tunnel nearly two miles
long. The train was six minutes in
going through.
We arrived at Los Angeles at nine
fifteen and boarding an electric car,
after a few minutes ride found our
selves filing into the spacious and ele-
giant Office OF the Westminster Hotel.
The genial landlord had dinner waiting
for us, and q most excellent repaSt was
served us. On Monday nearly all our
party took a trolley ride to Santa
Monica. Through the kindness and
generosity of Mr.. Geo. r. Kelley of this
city this ride was free to all members
OF the Maine party. The car was a
very nice one, unlike any We nave ever
seen, being furnished with elegant
chairs and having the appearance of a
Pullman palace car, 1t is seventeen
miles to Santa Monica and all the way
the scenery is interesting and varied
Groves Of orange, olive and lemon
trees, many acres in extent, are passed
ana Tor miles we run through field of
llnia beans, and great patches OF
melons and squash, all ripe and ready
for the harvest, and great fields of
wheat where men We're busy harvest
ing. They have a machine that cuts
the heads from the stalks. then
threshes it out and puts it into bags.
We were not told whether this wonder
full machine ties the bags or not. We
passed the old mission bearing the
words, Reina de Los Angeles, which
looked much like the two we had seen
before since arriving in California.
About halfway out we passed the new
park. q large tract of land that is soon
to become a place of beauty.
Arriving at Santa Monica we all
alighted and passed through the park
to the cliff overlooking the Pacific Here
we had another fine view of the ocean,
as the great white pillows came dashing
in shore below us, The grounds here
are filled with rare and beautiful
shrubs and Towering plants MANY
kinds of cactus are growing here, and
we do not wonder that the Indians il,
the early days used them as a means
OF defense, as no one can touch them
without getting painful pricks from
their ugly thorns. There are so many
KINDS ana varieties of flowers and
foliage plants growing in this part
CT our country that / will MOI IN
dertake to name them. They are all
beautiful and over all there falls the
golden California sunshine. The
weather is warm in the middle of the
day. but there is a cool little breeze
comfortably cool. so far.
Our party numbers about fifty nov.
Several have met friends and relatives
here and it is a common occurrence to
meet some one who calls out to us,
Hello, Maine. / lived in Maine once, >
and then follows an interchange of
greetings. We met Captain Blake OF
Pasadena at this hotel this morning
and he arranged to welcome us at his
home tomorrow. He, too, was a son of
Maine. We have no reason to blush for
the sons and daughters of Maine who
have gone out to seek their fame and
fortune in this broader and more prom
Using field of labor
There is no denying the fact that
California is state of fine and mag
nificent attractions of climate. scenery
and productions, but after all is seen
and told ! believe there are few. if anv.
among our little party of Maine people
who are not glad and eager to return
to our small corner, content to live and
die among its rugged hills and pleas
ant wales. Though it's pleasant to roam
yet there's no place like home.
ONE OF THE PARTY