Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1907-05-24
San Diego. Cal. NAV 10.


While you in Vermont are lowering
over coal fires. here in San Diego it is
warm and pleasant and has been all
winter.
1t never freezes here and the oldest
inhabitant never saw snow in San Diego
and beautiful flowers are in bloom the
year round and all kinds of tropical
fruits are raised here.
The temperature is very equablt here
and from Jan. 1st, 1896 to Jan. LIST, 1906,
the maximum and minimum was in
January from 80 to IS degrees. In De-
cember 80 to 80. In June As to SO; July,
So to "a; August, 5S to 49,
One can wear the same weight of
clothing the year round. The nights are
cool and one at times needs light wrap
at night.
The harbor here is one of the best on
the Pacific coast and the water deep
enough for the largest vessels to enter
and is the nearest harbor to the Panama
Canal on American shores.
Perhaps il is not generally known that
the first white man to land upon the
Pacific coast and who discovered San
Diego harbor was Portuguese navigator
sailing with two ships under the Spanish
flag. He landed here in 1542, fifty years
after Columbus discovered America on
the Atlantic coast. His name was ga
brillo." He named it San Miguel. About
sixty years after Sebastian Viscaino
sailed into the harbor and renamed it
San Diego, which means "St. James"
Nothing more was heard of it until 1859
when the Mission Fathers made settle
ment. Father Junipere Sierra brought
from Spain some palm and olive trees
which are still thriving and from which
have sprung the olive orchards and palm
trees of today.
They established missions here and
other places farther north, and done a
good work among the Indians who were
the inhabitants at that time.
In 1916 Gen. j. c. Fremont, and
other government officials raised the first
American flag.
The old mission building is still stand.
ing but fast falling to ruins.
In 1867 Mr.. A. E. Horton. who fore
saw that the location of the site of what
Is now Old Town was not the proper
place for city, started the new San
Diego. He has purchased several thou
sand acres at very small figure. He
built a commodious hotel for those days
nearly mile from the settlement of
New San Diego at that time and called
it the Horton House, 1t has recently
been torn down.
Father Horton is still living here and
has seen some of the land sold for $500
a front foot. He was very liberal and
gave the city ''Plaza" in the center of
the city and 400 acres for a public
park.
There is a Carnegie Library costing
$50, 900, City Hall 100000 and many
modern business houses. 1t has twenty
three large churches of all denomina-
tons, sixteen grammar schools, eight
banks, fifteen hotels, good fire depart
ment, electric cars running through the
principal streets and to the suburbs
The water supply is sufficient for a
population of 500 600 in the city, and
to irrigate all the back country with its
large vineyards of the raisin grape,
orange, lemon and olive groves.
MIR. Bancroft, the historian has a
large olive grove in this vicinity.
John G. Spreckles has large interests
here and has commenced to build rail
road from San Diego through Imperial
Valley to Guma, Arizona, thus giving an
eastern outlet direct which is much
needed.
The population is now over $1,000 and
is increasing daily.
Many tourists come here for the sum-
mer as well as winter as it is always cool
here in the shadow.
/ do not know whether there are any
Middlebury people here or not but il
there are l would be pleased to have
their address.
A. II. COPELAND. 1854 10th st.