Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1905-01-31
CALIFORNIA AS SEEN AND
APPRECIATED A. DECKER

at this season of the wear. After
travelling over a long stretch of
desert country, where the cactus and
sage brush hold full sway, We came to
San Bernardino which marked the
beginning of better things. The
heXt fifty miles TO Pasadena is dotted
with splendid orange groves. Most of
the trees are loaded with ripe fruit.
Often we would see a stretch of a
| mile between orange groves where
the country was Il complete desert
with nothing but cactus and sage
brush to be seen
Pasadena is one Of the pleasant
resident cities of southern CalifOrni
The immense amount of flowers in
nearly every yard suggests that this is
June instead of January. The ostrich
farm close 10 the city is well worth Il
few hours time. There is nothing
new to say about Los Angeles; it has
been elOQueDtly written in every
language. 1t is. however, the cleaneSt,
brightest city Of its size, | ever
visited The entire absence of coal
smoke adds much to its cleanliness,
My trip from Los Angeles to San
Diego was one Of special interest.
For the first few miles We passed
through orchards and vineyards, then
we came to Irvines' ranch Of one
hundred and forty thousand acres.
wheat, oats and barley are grown.
Next we came to grain and stock
ra 1ch of four hundred and eighty.tiVe
thousand acres, owned by Richard
O'Neal and extending on each side of
the railroad for forty miles. Much of
the distance, the road follows close to
the beach of the Pacific, in fact SO
close that the ocean spray would
strike the car windows.
At CapiStrano | visited the San
Jaun Catholic Mission built IN 1775.
This Mission was destroyed ny an
earthquake in 1911. ut which time
sixty-one people lost their lives It
has, however, been partially rebuilt.
The bells which were formerly in this
Mission are now in the tower at the
depot.
San Diego is a splendid residence
city. They doubtless have more
climate TO the square inch than any
city in the United States. 1t is on
the border of old Mexico and while
here | had an excellent opportunity to
attend a Spanish bull fight just across
the border,
From BarstOw to Bakersfield | had
the good fortune of getting trans
portatiOn in q cupalO in the cab0OSe
of freight train: this afforded me
an excellent opportunity to view the
country in every direction. 1t is far
superior to palace car, if one is try
ing to gain d knowledge OF the
country. On this trip we passed over
along stretch of desert also crossed
the Sierra Nevada mountains, where
we passed through seventeen tunnels:
it was one of the finest views l ever
had in crossing mountain range.
AS we were going down the mountains
about %. nj. we could see the Oil
wells on fire close TO Bakersfield and
it made one think of NesuviuS. TIL Sc
wells produce two hundred carloads
of oil per day. For hundreds Of miles
over this country it is Inhabited
only by Mexicans and their homes
are far inferior to the sod houses on
the frontier in Kansas. They are d
class of people that one would not
care to mingle with and are very
common all through New Mexico,
Arizona and part Of California.
[ became much interested in New
Mexico watching the Indians spin
their wool and weave their famous
blankets. 1t is surprising the amount
of skill they exhibit and it is equally
surprising the length Of time re-
auired to spin and weave d single
blanket.
have just completed a visit Of
three days with an old neiehbOr.
friend and school mate who is now a
prominent lawyer in San Francisco
and as | used to live in this city
thirty-two years ago, it was very in
teresting to note the progress that
has been made in this length Of time.
And right here | wish to say that if
any of the readers Of the REPORTER
should visit San Francisco in the
future by all means do not fail to
visit Golden Gate park, especially If
you are fortunate enough to be here
10 the winter season. / have spent
much time at Bell Isle park in De-
troit but it is not TO be compared to
the Golden Gate park Of San Fran
cisco. It is difficult for a tender
foot from the east to make himself
believe that this is really mid-wnter
as the flowers in this park are found
in great abundance on every hand.
The grass is dark, rich green and
like all the shrubbery, grows to per-
| lection. The large herd Of elk and
| buffalo are a fine sight. This park
will have TO be seen TO be appreciated:
the subject is too large and | am un-
able TO describe it, 1t is more than
four miles in length and there is