The Republican journal., 1907-02-21
1.-THE CITY BEAUTIFUL"
That is the Name Correspondent Gives to
San Diego, California


When we returned from California in
1904 we were asked by many people
did you go to San Diego?" And when
we would reply, ''no," they would say:
"You don't know what you missed
Then we would always say, "well, it
could not be prettier than Los An
geles." But this time, perhaps with
an Unborn New England curiosity, we
thought we would go to San Diego,
and one thing we certainly found out,
if nothing more, and that was that we
had returned east without seeing Cali
fornia's most beautiful spot. We left
Los Angeles at 2.05, Feb. 18th, on the
San Diego express, over the Santa Fe
R. R. 1t was one of the most perfect
days | have ever seen in California; so
warm and balmy, and the air was filled
with the perfume of flowers and the
melody of the hooking birds. San
Diego is 100 miles south of Los Angeles
and it is the most beautiful railroad
ride we ever took. Sixty eight miles
were along the shore of the grand old
Pacific ocean. l want to tell you of
one thing that left the greatest impress
sion as we rolled along to the Getty
Beautiful as we have named San Die
go, and that is the sunset. The bay
was like mirror, and the soft, beauti-
full tints of the sky were reproduced on
the water so perfectly that one could
not tell where the sky ended or the
water began.
San Diego has the distinction of be-
ing located the fartherest southwest of
any city in the United States and that,
with numberless other things com
bined, make it interesting to know
about. 1t is situated on San Diego bay,
has $4,000 inhabitants, and, unlike any
other city on the whole Pacific coast,
has absolutely pure water. The water
supply comes from the mountains 40
miles away and should no rain fall for
years there would still be water
enough in the big Sweetwater dam for
all purposes But the climate, the peo-
pie and the wonderful harbor are chief
ly what want to tell you about. The
normal temperature for "a years
was 81 >. The warmest weather was
Aug, 1891, with an average of 72o. TIE
coolest months were January and Feb
ruary, 1894, averaging 500. There has
never been killing frost. The average
rainfall for the year was 1851 inches
IFS; partly cloudy 116; cloudy II. The
climate is simply perfect. Everything
that can be grown on the face of the
earth can be grown here. The flowers
are the most beautiful l have seen on
the whole coast and the fruit and vegta-
bles the sweetest and best. Next come
the people. They are the most content
ed, cordial and happy 1 have ever seen
anywhere, and why should they not be
so? Think of what it must be to be
able to live out-of-doors the whole year
around, and to pick roses, pinks and all
the most beautiful flowers that grow
everywhere in this "City Beautiful"
The sun never shines so brightly, the
sky is never so blue and the birds never
sing so sweetly as in this most lovely
spot.
Now a bit about the harbor. Tie
day we arrived the U. S. Cruiser
charleston" the largest ship that
ever came into the port, was gently
swinging at her anchor. She draws %
feet of water and was as near to the
slip as the ice house wharf across the
stream in our own Belfast bay. The
cruiser Boston and the torpedo boat
destroyer Paul Jones were at anchor
close by. Among the many attractions
is the visit to La Jolla, where there are
many historical points of interest. The
first American flag in California was
raised here, the first church founded,
and last, but not least, the heroine of
Helen Hunt Jackson's novel, "Ramo-
na,'' is supposed to have lived here.
Anotherplace of interest is University
Heights, reached by trolley. There one
can stand and look down into the Mis-
sion Valley, where the San Diego riv
er runs so peacefully into Mission bay.
AS looked down into the valley and
saw all the grain, fruit and vegetables
growing in such profusion there came
to my mind the old hymn:
I've reached the land of corn and wine,
And all its riches freely mine.
Here shines undimmed one bliSsful day,
For all my night has passed away.
The invitation is extended to all who
wish to make San Diego their home.
Her unrivaled climate invites you; her
people invite you; he that hath money
may come; he that hath no money may
come and partake of the water OF life
freely, without money and without
price. The loving Father of all man
kind invites you to come, for nowhere
in this whole earth is the love of God,
the Father, felt more truly than within
the gates of the ''City Beautiful"
MRS. CHARLES F. SHAW.