Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-06-08
A TRIP TO CALIFORNIA
Gr and Mrs T. B. Walker Found It a
 Delightful Country.


 MT and Mrs Thomas B. Walker of Highland avenue have returned rom California, where they spent the Mast few months. The trip proved beneficial to the health of MT and Mrs Walker and also was full of interest and pleasure for them. MT Walker, who was formerly superintendent at
 he plant of the Holmes, Booth & Hay denS Go. has few interesting remarks
 to make concerning the trip.
 We were in California for about
 four months, during which time we visited various places of interest both In the northern and southern parts of
 he state When we arrived there in February the roses were in full bloom and they were still blooming when we eft California may rightly be ternbed the land of flowers Every where one travels in that state, any uuantity of lovely flowers is sure to greet the eye. Beside the roadside grow the most beautiful wild roses and other wild flowers. When President Roosevelt visited California his train was literally covered with flowers. Engdne and cars, inside and outside, were profusely decorated. In regard tO the president, words cannot express the nnagni1cence of the reception (which was rendered to him in Los An geles. The floral and electrical dis splays were grand. I heartily believe IIn one utterance of the presidents s speech in Los Angeles. He said that khe people of Los Angeles should feel N 4,o n IAoa I1d-i Yes, it is a lovely place for man with A little money to make his home. The Californians were enthusiastic over the president and after he visited Los Angeles there were few democrats Neft there. The republican tariff IS very essential to the interests of the CaIifornians They are chiefly en- #gaged in fruit raising. Without the Drotective tarfff, the fruits of Italy couId be sent to this country and sold lat lower price than those In Gallfor- mia.
 ssrhe fruit industry is immense. The orchards of the Santa Cruz and santa Clara valleys are enormous and are yery remunerative to their owners. The land is very valuable. santa Cruz is fine residential place. It IS situated on high ground, overlooking A+he Pacific ocean. The climate IS &mild. The orange groves in Southern Calffornfa are beautiful and very valu- able. The irrigation is plenteous, without which the southern country would be far from prosperous. Santa Barbara and Riverside are large and growing towns owing to their me x orchards.
 eve found there was but little man. ufacturing outside of San Francisco. The Union Iron Works of that city # has an immense plant and employs D. ' 900 hands. There are many other fac tories employing from 100 to 2,OOO hands. There are about 5O,000 opera A tiyes in San Francisco.
 'tWe stopped the greater part of the time on ranch, Life on ranch is lovely. We visited all the old mis- sions which were established by the Spaniards in the earlier days of our country. Tn all the cities we found large and commodious churches. Judg- I ing from the size of the congregations the people of California are church going people.
 ssOne of the finest hotels in the country is the Hotel Del Monte, one of the most beautiful places in California. The grounds extend for about 50 acres, which are covered with lovely flowers and shrubs. My advice to the traveler in California is to be sure and visit this hotel.
 'The only drawback to our trip was experienced on the Journey homeward. We encountered the.b .big floods in Kan gas City and other parts of Missouri, which have caused immense damage and loss. Looking from the cars, we could see that the country for miles around was covered with water which was constantly rising. Railroad traf- fic was hampered. We were on the last train which could pass through Kansas City, Sunday May 31. There were two or three feet of water on the tracks near Kansas City at that time. At one place we had to leave the train and ride in carriages from one state to another. As said before, that was the only drawback to g most pleasant trip"