The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1905-08-25
The Great Western TriD.
Continued from 4th page.)

solute desert are sandwiched between
gardens OF fairy-like loveliness. All
the way to Los Angeles we ran
through valley which draws its
supply OF water from the mountains
on both sides of it. Great water
companies are formed in which the
land owners are stockholders to ir-
lgate the country, and when man
buys a piece of land, he buys the
water rights with it. Only during
certain hours is he allowed to let
his water run, but this is enough to
change the desert into wilderness
OF beauty. In this country where
rain comes only in the winter time
and then in April showers, the
farmers absolutely control their
seasons by this system of irrigation.
| We reached Los Angeles soon
after breakfast on Monday morning.
We were met at the train by Mr..
ketchum, the representative of the
Southern railway, to whom Col.
Il. w. Hunt had wired that we
were coming. Mr.. Ketchum was
kindness itself in giving us infor-
nation and directing us to the train
for San Pedro, twenty-seven miles
away, whence a.. steamer sails for
Santa Catalina island, twenty-nine
miles out into the Pacific ocean.
This island, twenty-five miles long,
was bought by Banning Bros. for a
sheep ranch, and back in the in
terror of the island there are thous-
ands upon thousands of these valua-
bic animals, but it was found that
there was cove in it facing toward
the east, a direction from which
storms never come, and protected
on all sides by towering mountain
peaks, SO that the calm waters of
this little bay arc never ruffied.
These waters are 80 blue and clear
that the bottom can plainly be seen
even at depths of fifty feet and
greater. Upon this bottom grow
all manner of sea ferns, sea heather,
coral moss and iodine kelp, some
branches of which are sixty feet
long, among which dart fish of
every hue from deep gold to brilliant
blue, and most beautiful of all the
electric fish, gold with flashing
purple spots on its body. Big fish
and little fish, and myriads of them
can be seen in these wonderful ma
rihe gardens. So wonderful is this
sight that colony has grown up in
this cove, and winter and summer
its waters are dotted with small
tcraft, propelled by oars, gasoline or
naphtha. Bathing, too, is very
popular, and boat loads of small
boys come to meet incoming steam
ers, asking that coins be thrown
out, for which they will dive, put
ting the money in their mouths.
These boys have been burned brown
as negroes.
To such proportions has the enter
prise grown that Banning Bros.
have been offered $4,000, 900 for
the property. They hold, however,
for $2O,OOO,OOO. The trip to Ca
talina and back over the smooth
waters of the peaceful ocean is de-
lightful. These waters are much
bluer than those of the Atlantic,
though delicate green near the
shore and are great deal more
clear.
In the evening we went about
town, and everyone was struck with
the brilliant lighting of Broadway.
Clusters of lights, one large one
surrounded by six smaller ones, are
placed at frequent intervals on each
side of the street, there being 90
lights to each block, and the effect
is beautiful. Mr.. NJ. M. Clark,
who holds an important position
with the Los Angeles Electric Co.. i,
which by the way has one of the
most splendid plants in the world,
looked us up and took many of the
party to Chester Square, the most
beautiful spot in the city, entered
through gateways of lofty palms,
and surrounded by the houses of
millionaires. Here plant life flour
ishes with tropical luxuriance, and
no wagons, nor even carriages are
allowed to enter. He also took us
to his home, and gave each sprig
from the lemon and orange trees
growing in his back yard, on each
of which were clusters of unripe
fruit. Mr.. Clarke is nephew OF
Editor Applet, of the Manning
Times" and is native of Lake
City. He tried to prevail on us to
remain over another day and put a
, private car on the electric line at
our disposal, should we do so. This
! would have piyen us a very heanti-